Harrington Hotel in DC -- has anyone stayed there?

[Kristin Ann]

We're traveling from NJ to NC this week and looking to stop overnight en route, possibly in DC. We won't have much time in DC -- only an afternoon -- so I was looking for a hotel within walking distance (with 2 4-year olds, so walking distance is limited to a few blocks) from the Natural History Museum that isn't a fortune.

The Harrington Hotel came up in my Expedia search and the rate is cheap (for DC) and it looks close. But I've never heard of it, so am a little hesitant to book without more knowledge. Has anyone ever stayed there, or know anything about it? It's only ~$150/night, so I'm afraid it might be a total dump!

Kristin

[psilverman]

What do the reviews say?

I've found expedia and travelocity reviews to be pretty on target -- just make sure they are from the last 6-12 months. I've never heard of it, but that doesn't mean much...it IS cheap for in-city summer.

[Kristin Ann]

No reviews on expedia. I'll try googling it and see what I can come up with.

Thanks,
Kristin

[psilverman]

Check these from tripadvisor

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Columbia.html

[Kristin Ann]

Thanks! I did find them. Seems like a mixed bag. We're only looking for someplace to essentially sleep for one night, so I'm ok with basic, but I do want clean. I found out my friend's brother stayed there and his review was "location ok, clean borderline, like a dorm".

It's the "clean borderline" (coming from a guy) that makes me hesitate. I might look for something farther away but close to the metro. But I don't want there to be too much overhead for what is essentially, a stop en route to somewhere else, KWIM?

Thanks for your help!
Kristin

[psilverman]

I so know what you mean.

Let me think about it -- we've done lots of trips there, but often could use my corporate rate. But not always...
I will post back if I think of somewhere.

[psilverman]

OK, I just looked on Kayak.com

Try:

Hotel Monoco -- listed as $169 only .4 miles from Natural History -- 4 star and their readers rate it a 3.8 (versus 2.7 for the other one)

also

Holiday Inn Washington Capital -- listed as $110 and .5 miles away, 3 star but reader rates at 3.7

L'Enfant Plaza -- listed as $93 but listed as a 4 star and user rated as 3.4. It is .6 miles from the museum, but I think there is a l'enfant plaza metro station if memory serves.

If you do kayak.com -- then enter hotels for washington dc, then on the left it will allow you to search by sites in washington, you will see the museum listed there and then you can get a list by distance. I've found user ratings on kayak to be pretty accurate.

[Troy]

How shall I say this? The Hotel Harrington is an original -- unrenovated, not exactly the nicest and cleanest rooms, but incredibly cheap, and for that reason, very appealing to tourists. You might want to try something else near by if you can get a good deal. (I doubt those rates for the Hotel Monaco, but maybe they are desperate. Hotel Monaco is pretty nice and new . . .)

[Kristin Ann]

Thanks for your input. That's what I feared!

We ended up going a different direction altogether at another friend's suggestion. We're staying in Chantilly, VA and planning to spend the afternoon at the Udvar-Hazy center instead of trying to stay in DC and see one of the museums in town.

I really appreciate all the input and advice and will keep it in mind for when we plan a real trip to DC! I would really like to take the kids, but it just wasn't worth it for a 1/2 day stopover.

Kristin