Holiday Inn Washington-Georgetown

Despite the name, and contrary to what its website says, this hotel is not in the heart of Georgetown but rather about a mile up Wisconsin Avenue from where the real action is. That's not terribly far, but it's certainly not "surrounded by chic boutiques, sumptuous dining and popular attractions" (as the website puts it). Indeed, location is probably the hotel's biggest shortcoming relative to many D.C. competitors: Most leisure travelers visit D.C. for the monuments, business, and nightlife, and all of that good stuff is a serious distance. The closest Metro stations, Foggy Bottom/GWU and Dupont Circle are both about two miles away.

Nonetheless, there's something pleasant and homey about this modest, 285-room property. Its standard rooms are clean and comfortable. The furnishings and decor are basic chain hotel stuff, but the bedding is better than you usually get in this price range: a nice firm Serta Sleeper mattress, cotton sheets, polyester fill comforter that felt like down, and a selection of soft and firm polyester fill pillows. Strangely, my double queen room didn't have a desk; I had to use the side table for my computer and the bed to eat my room-service dinner. King Rooms have a desk, though, and more drawer space. Also, none of the rooms have real closets, just alcoves near the bathrooms. When I stayed, some rooms still had tube TVs, but now all rooms have 37-inch flat-screen TVs. The service here also is down-homey and super friendly, but also somewhat limited. There's one bellmen on duty at any given time who functions as bellhop and concierge, and two desk attendants, but no valet. Parking is do-it-yourself.

The hotel has a large outoor swimming pool that is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and was closed during my November visit. The fitness room is very small, tucked away on the 2nd floor with very limited equipment -- just some old-school Maxicam strength machines, one treadmill, one bike, and one Stepmaster. They're in fine shape, but travelers who like to spend quality time breaking a sweat will be disappointed. The hotel's 24-hour business center has two computer terminals and is cheap compared to other D.C. hotels -- 40 cents a minute for Internet surfing and printing.

Though far from the beaten track, this Holiday Inn is one of the best hotel deals in town, especially for families. On the other hand, if you want to be closer to the center of town and see the sights and the nightlife by foot or subway rather than by car, for a few dollars more you can stay at the Foggy Bottom Embassy Suites, which is closer to the action (The White House and Dupont Circle are five blocks away), just as family friendly, has much larger rooms, an indoor year-round swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and a soaring atrium with palm trees, waterfalls and a koi pond.

Despite the name, and contrary to what its website says, this hotel is not in the heart of Georgetown but rather about a mile up Wisconsin Avenue from the corner of Wisconsin and M Street, where the real Georgetown action is. Nor is it close to D.C.'s most popular tourist attractions. You definitely need a car to stay here -- the Metro system doesn't even stop in Georgetown, and the closest stations, at Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom/GWU are both two miles away. Georgetown University is about five blocks away and the beautiful gardens of Dumbarton Oaks Park are just one block away.

• 4.5 miles to Union Station; 15-minute cab ride
• The closest Metro stops, Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom/GWU, are two miles away.
• Seven miles to Reagan National Airport, 20- to 30-minute cab ride
• 27 miles to Dulles International Airport (a 45- to 60-minute cab ride)
• Three mile walk to the White House or a ten minute cab ride
• 3.5 miles to the center of the Mall (Washington Monument, WW II, etc.)
• 3.2 miles to the Smithsonian
• Five miles to the U.S. Capitol, 15 minutes by cab