<p>This would be a minor point for most people, but I hate driving in the DC area (well, I guess that would be most people). I’m trying to choose between two Crystal City hotels that seem pretty identical, and I think that one or the other is probably easier to get in/out of. I’m looking at the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan Airport and at the Crystal Gateway Marriott. Same rate, just about the same parking fees. The Gateway’s at 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway; the one at Reagan Airport is at 1999 Jefferson Davis.</p>
<p>We’ll just be staying over a Saturday night - going down to help one of our ds move in to a DC townhouse (oh, the lingering joys of parenthood). So pretty much our only requirement is easier access to 395. We do prefer to stay at a Marriott, because the weekend rates are great and we want the points.</p>
<p>Anyone have any idea of which is better, especially for getting to/from? Thanks if you can help!</p>
<p>Frankly most of the Crystal City hotels are old and overpriced because of proximity to Reagan National. Also, Crystal City shuts down on weekends because it tends to serve a M-F business crowd thus basic stores may not be available. Suggest you try Marriott Key Bridge (you can walk to Georgetown) or hotels in Courthouse/Clarendon/Ballston area of Arlington. Lots of choices, better selection of things to do plus Orange line Metro subway access.</p>
<p>I just moved from the Crystal City area. I lived about a block away from the Marriott Crystal Gateway. It sounds like maybe you’re moving your D into the Georgetown area? ‘Townhouse’ always makes me think Georgetown. If this is the case, both of these hotels offer easy access to 110–> 66–> Key Bridge. It’s an easy 10 or 15 minute drive into Georgetown at all times except for morning rush hour. For other parts of DC, the drive from either hotel to 395 will be virtually identical and you will likely experience traffic no matter what.</p>
<p>If access to 395 is your only concern, then either hotel is fine. If you are moving into the Georgetown area, then Oakton Parent’s suggestion of the Key Bridge Marriott in the Rosslyn area of Arlington is not a bad suggestion. I forget what parking rates at the hotel are (likely expensive, perhaps $30/night) but you would be separated from Georgetown only by the Key Bridge.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions! I’m sure my d aspires to live in a Georgetown-area townhouse some day. But that’s not in her financial cards at the moment. She’s living in what she tells me is an “up-and-coming” SW neighborhood with 3 other girls (translation: less to worry about than in the eastern areas, I guess). I did find a Marriott in the Navy Yards which is probably closer than the Arlington hotels, but ds older sister, who lives in the area, told me I would not be happy there.</p>
<p>Theres no point in asking older d which Crystal City hotel is easier to get in and out of. Shes not at all bothered by driving in the DC area and doesnt mind trying to move over 4 lanes in a quarter mile. I, on the other hand, do! (Hard to believe I taught that kid to drive.) If we need to do anything other than collapse after moving d2 in, d1 will chauffeur us around to restaurants or stores.</p>
<p>Frazzled, I usually leave the driving up to my boyfriend! I only recently bought my first car, but rarely drive anywhere but to/from work, along exactly the same route every time. I hate, hate, hate driving downtown. And those crazy highway maneuvers…don’t even get me started!</p>
<p>Thanks, both of you, for suggesting the Key Bridge Marriott - I just asked d1 if it would be as convenient as the others, and she said yes, so I think we’ll try it. I’ve driven to that area before, and didn’t mind it too much. And the weekend rate’s the same ($99 - what a steal), and the parking is less than the Crystal City hotels. Thanks again for the suggestion!</p>
<p>I lived in the SW and it is still one of my favorite places, but I lived in a gated complex with its own security. The waterfront and the Marina area is very nice. There is an hotel there called the Channel Inn. It is right off the 14th Street bridge and very convenient to the rest of the area. Reviews on Travel Advisor are mixed.</p>
<p>You might want to check out the Courtyard by Marriott in the Rosslyn section of Arlington. Nice area, much to do with good eats nearby and also very close to GWU and Georgetown U.</p>
<p>About 6yrs ago we stayed at the Hilton Hotel in the Ballston section of Arlington. The nice thing was, the parking garage AND metro station were directly below the hotel.</p>
<p>Skywalks connected the hotel to a nearby mall and restaurants, so even in December, we didn’t have to go outside.</p>
<p>We stayed at Hyatt(Regency) at Crystal city about 3 yrs ago. It was inexpensive, and breakfast was included on the weekend. There was easy access to the metro. As to the quality of the rooms, it was fairly standard. It was a very busy weekend since it was memorial day, and the rolling thunder motorcycle event was taking place all over the area (two stops or so from arlington cemetery). It made for a strange contrast to the wedding that we attended.</p>
<p>Man, Rolling Thunder - when I dropped d2 off in DC for an internship last summer, it was during that weekend - they make quite an impact, don’t they? The GPS unit was no help at all because every other street was closed. Even one of the bridges at one point! The backups were nuts.</p>
<p>My GPS unit hates me, anyway. When I was leaving DC that time, it somehow got me - I kid you not - into the parking lot at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. All but deserted and not a fun place to become disoriented. I still have no idea how that happened (I swear I was just doing what the damned thing said). So you can see my trepidations about driving around in the District!</p>
<p>Funny thing, our GPS also was not useful in getting us to our hotel in Arlington. I just thought it needed an update…Always good to have a map printed out from mapquest in case the GPS is wrong (which happens to us with some regularity).</p>
But that’s not in her financial cards at the moment. She’s living in what she tells me is an “up-and-coming” SW neighborhood with 3 other girls (translation: less to worry about than in the eastern areas, I guess). I did find a Marriott in the Navy Yards which is probably closer than the Arlington hotels, but ds older sister, who lives in the area, told me I would not be happy there.</p>