Staycation at local hotel

[Anonymous]

Anyone do this? We don't have access to a pool, but I'm noticing that points/cash rates for nearby luxury hotels are much lower on weekends. Seems like it could be a fun weekend activity for kids. Or is it more of a hassle than it's worth?

[Anonymous]

We did it occasionally in winter when our kids were young to use an indoor pool. That was kind of fun as a diversion from the routine. Also, we didn't have pets to worry about then. We combined it with walking to museums and out to meals.

I don't enjoy sleeping in hotel rooms with my kids that much (snorers) so that's a downside. I probably would pick an Embassy Suites or something, with breakfast, and where kids are welcome in the pool. If it were a luxury hotel in our own city, I would rather leave them with grandparents for a weekend and go with dh.

[Anonymous]

Try it and see! Pick one where you don't have to fight traffic to go eat.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Looking at a few options, suites vs higher-end hotels. The advantage of the hotels are they are more likely to be walking distance to restaurants etc. Suites (like residence inn) tend to be further out but more space and separate rooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Looking at a few options, suites vs higher-end hotels. The advantage of the hotels are they are more likely to be walking distance to restaurants etc. Suites (like residence inn) tend to be further out but more space and separate rooms.

I'm the one with the snoring children. While i prefer suites, the whole point and fun of something like this is to experience city living, walk to everything, and do much more than you would if you were driving/metro-ing into the city. If you're going to drive, just stay at home and go in for the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Looking at a few options, suites vs higher-end hotels. The advantage of the hotels are they are more likely to be walking distance to restaurants etc. Suites (like residence inn) tend to be further out but more space and separate rooms.

I'm the one with the snoring children. While i prefer suites, the whole point and fun of something like this is to experience city living, walk to everything, and do much more than you would if you were driving/metro-ing into the city. If you're going to drive, just stay at home and go in for the day.

Depending on the ages and interest of the kids, I'd think for many, the whole fun would be the pool, watching unlimited TV, maybe getting room service, and saying up late.

However, one of my kids does love DC and I've thought about getting a hotel in the city but may not ever do it because we go to DC regularly and they've stayed in hotels downtown in multiple other cities.

First determine what your kids like or would like. Mine like the hotel experience in general they've never been to a high-end hotel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Looking at a few options, suites vs higher-end hotels. The advantage of the hotels are they are more likely to be walking distance to restaurants etc. Suites (like residence inn) tend to be further out but more space and separate rooms.

Is this about DC? How often do you go to DC already, if you're local? I'm asking because for my kids, Metro is a big and fun part of going to DC. I do drive sometimes depending on destination and time constraints, but many times I've taken the Metro when I otherwise wouldn't need to just because they like it.

Embassy Suites in Alexandria is right by the Metro and is often recommended in a DC group I'm in. My kid that I take into DC often also loves being in either Rosslyn or Crystal City, both of which have places to stay near Metro stations and may be fun for them to walk around. Alexandria has the waterfront and Hooray for Books, Crystal City has National Landing, Rosslyn has McDonald's. 🤣

If your goal is just to see DC more rather than sleep there per se, I'd encourage you to make it an explicit goal and go for it, regardless of whether you do an overnight stay. In January 2024, we made goal to average monthly in and since have been about 18 times. Before that, it had been maybe once a year because the time never seemed perfect for planning a whole day. Many of our 18 visits are just for a few hours or one destination, but we've seen a lot and still have a huge list to go!

[Anonymous]

To add, if you do stay or even if not, go see the sunrise from the Lincoln Memorial looking out to the Washington Monument.

[Anonymous]

Why not? With young kids, suite, pool and free breakfast is useful. Have fun!

[Anonymous]

100% yes to staying in a DC hotel and enjoying city life. Totally beats suburban boredom. Use metro, walk around, see free museums, dip in hotel pool, have free breakfast, try food trucks and fun restaurants.

With little kids, be patient, don't be paranoid about safety, have water and snacks in backpacks, use Uber when tired.

[Anonymous]

We haven’t done it but it sounds fun! Go for it! For one night I would opt for a better location plus ear plugs

[Anonymous]

The Omni Shoreham's grounds in DC feels like a resort. They have a great pool with food/drink service and backs to Rock Creek Park. You can walk to the zoo, Adams Morgan, Dupont.

The Ritz Tysons has a nice indoor pool and hot tub and attached to Tysons Galleria for Bowlero, restaurants, shopping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Omni Shoreham's grounds in DC feels like a resort. They have a great pool with food/drink service and backs to Rock Creek Park. You can walk to the zoo, Adams Morgan, Dupont.

Poster who takes her kid to DC a lot. Thank you for this recommendation. Dupont Circle is on their bucket list, plus the National Cathedral, and I've been wanting to show them Rock Creek Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Omni Shoreham's grounds in DC feels like a resort. They have a great pool with food/drink service and backs to Rock Creek Park. You can walk to the zoo, Adams Morgan, Dupont.

Poster who takes her kid to DC a lot. Thank you for this recommendation. Dupont Circle is on their bucket list, plus the National Cathedral, and I've been wanting to show them Rock Creek Park.

I don't know how old your kids are, but the National cathedral playground is amazing. My DCs used to love going there on the weekends if we were nearby.

https://www.beauvoirschool.org/discover/campus/beauvoir-playground/