The Hampton Inn and Suites and the Fairfield Inn and Suites (the one in NW DC, not NE DC) might work for you. But there are quite a few hotels of all sizes within a few blocks of the Convention Center. And there is a Metro station right at the Convention Center on the Green and Yellow lines.

http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=SGKNE3LD1C5F4CSGBJC3MQQ?ctyhocn=WASHHHX

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasfc-fairfield-inn-and-suites-washington-dc-downtown/

http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=WASHHHX

What are your exact dates of travel? Prices can vary dependent on the exact day of the week...Thursday can be $529 per night, Friday $179...so determining my recommendations is rather hard not knowing the dates you're coming to work with the budget given.

You will be coming at the height of the tourist season, so the chance of getting any bargain hotel is slim. However, without the exact dates, no one can check for you to see if you have a chance. So please do post back with your exact dates.

Of the hotels in the immediate vicinity, the Hampton Inn and Fairfield Inn mentioned by Darrell6t will likely to be the lowest priced. But everything is relative. When you search for and compare hotels, keep in mind that there are many hotels with the same name in DC. ie, there are more than one Hampton Inn and more than one Fairfield Inn. You need to pay close attention to the street addresses. Both Hilton and Marriott have their worldwide headquarters here, so this is a major battle ground for them and they are well represented.

Also, the convention center is near a couple of Metro stops, so you do have the option to staying in other areas if the rates in Penn Quarter are too high for your dates.

Another nice option to consider is the Americana Hotel in Arlington if your budget proves too modest to get in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of downtown. The Americana is a great way to save $$ because typical rates go for around $100 per night at that time of year, and the hotel offers a large variety of services including free parking, free breakfast, free shuttle to the airport, around Crystal City and Pentagon City, and to the metro (which is just a short walk, anyways...), as well as free wireless internet. From that persecutive it is a great deal

A room tip: ask for a newly renovated room with a flat panel TV. These are the most up-to-date rooms in the hotel, as some have not been renovated and others have. A recent reviewer (and contributor to the board, CMOTO) had TV troubles with the old TV in their room. Just a piece of advice....

But if you would like me to search for Penn Quarter area hotels for you, my offer still stands if you would give me your dates of travel to look into things further.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Arlingtonman13

The Americana is often suggested for budget travelers here and is a no frill motel that is cleana and in an excellent closeby location. It has good reviews by people who stayed there.

It is a little old style looking though. Everything I pass by it, it reminded me of Route A1A in Florida - in the 80s'.

http://www.americanahotel.com/

It is certainly a good backup option.

Thanks for all of the great tips. My travel dates will be Friday, March 23- Monday. March 26. I would love to get in the Renaissance that appears to be across the street, but it is way out of my budget. I think the fairfield inn and Hampton Inn are probably my best bets for the area. Does anyone have any experience with the Eldon Luxery Suites or Henley Park? What streets are the boundaries of the Penn Quarter Area?

Mitchell-

We can fit the Renaissance into your budget. Easily. You may not think so, but I know so, and you don't even have to get a fully prepaid rate.

I want you to go to LastMinuteTravel.com. LastMinuteTravel.com is a "unpublished rate" website, meaning that they don't reveal the name of the hotel until after you book. However, they do give you photos and some helpful clues to determine the identity of the hotel you'll be getting.

So enter your dates, number of adults, and click "Search Now." On the left side of the search results, there is an option to filter results. Click on the four gold stars (there should be 18 hotels listed) and then scroll through the list of results until you find one listed at $155.26 per night for a standard room (it says it is 5.18 miles from the airport...). Click on "Photos" and there should be twelve photos. The photo in the last column, second row is of a event room and on the projector screen in the front of the room, do you see the Renaissance logo, such as this link below, only in white on a black background?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UZImdYAiry8/SREvo9BgREI/AAAAAAAAJ6Q/Js_JHn-XS1g/s400/renaissance_hotel_logo.jpg

Now click on "Features and Amenities." It says that it is has 807 guest rooms. Now look on the renaissance website, and it too, says that the hotel has 807 guest rooms. LMT also tells you it is just 1 block from the convention center...so hopefully by now, you can rest assured that that hotel will be, in fact, the Renaissance that you so desperately want.

Plus, it is well within your budget - about $50 cheaper than your maximum budget!

Hope this helps, and any ?s, please let me know-

Arlingtonman13

This is great! Thanks so much! You are right, the photos match! I had no idea that you could get a hotel that much cheaper on a site like that!

Arlingtonman13:

This is great detective work. Must compliment your analytical skills.