If you get off at Dupont Circle, you'll get to take the longest escalator ride this side of Dulles Airport. If the escalators are broken, which was a recurring theme last summer, good luck!

 

The Windsor Park is fine, if you are into budget travel. In fact, I'd argue if you want a true DC city experience you'd be better off staying there than say the Hay-Adams or some higher-end hotel located closer to the monuments. Like Dan said, it's proximity to Adams Morgan is worth it from that aspect. If you got more time to kill I'd even venture up to Columbia Heights.

 

If you stay at the Days Inn near Van Ness and UDC.....you can stock up on supplies at Safeway! You're about 3 minutes from the Zoo via metro. Also if you're stay up in that 'hood....check out the National Cathedral. It's a bit of a hike, but worth it.

I live about a block from the Windsor Park.  It is a great location, especially if the weather is good and you like to walk around.  The neighborhoods and architecture around there are great as are spring gardens etc..  Just steps away are many embassy houses, as well as the homes of people like Rumsfeld, Teddy Kennedy etc...  Its a great area to walk in (I house sit a 3.5 million dollar house 2 houses over from Rumsfled, the house is just OK... would be a $650,000 house in Cleveland). 

 

Keep in mind that D.C. can be pretty dangerous at night, even in the "good" areas.  While that hotel is in a good area, the further toward 18th, the more you need to watch (at night).  I walk around all the time, and don't generally feel it is unsafe, but have recently been held up at gunpoint, as has most of my neighbors both in Mt. Pleasant and Kolarama.  Last summer there were a rash of robberies on the National Mall of unsuspecting tourists as well as a rash of other senseless crimes that led to a crime emergency. :shoot:  

Oh, and you will experience many panhandlers, that will try to engage you... ignore and keep walking!

 

There was some good advice about restaurants above.  Traditionally DC doesn't have the best restaurant scene, I generally have had a hard time finding a place that wasn't a dump, terrible service, or dirty or just bad food, yes there are good things like authentic Ethiopian or probably Guatemalan, and it was traditionally recommended that you eat at a chain because they had higher standards believe it or not!  But things have been evolving a bit, as Washington has become a bit more of a real city.  I have seen some creative talent enter the scene and agree with some of the above recommendations.           

^Just be street smart, and you'll have no worries.  The parts of town you'll be are safer than most other cities.  I've been here nearly 6 years and never had a problem with anyone.

 

In other words, leave the fanny pack and t-shirt of where you're from at home.  Having maps overflowing from your shirt and pants pockets isn't such a bright idea either. 

 

Reasonable people can find plenty of good food and remain plenty safe here. 

I live about a block from the Windsor Park.  It is a great location, especially if the weather is good and you like to walk around.  The neighborhoods and architecture around there are great as are spring gardens etc..  Just steps away are many embassy houses, as well as the homes of people like Rumsfeld, Teddy Kennedy etc...  Its a great area to walk in (I house sit a 3.5 million dollar house 2 houses over from Rumsfled, the house is just OK... would be a $650,000 house in Cleveland). 

 

Keep in mind that D.C. can be pretty dangerous at night, even in the "good" areas.  While that hotel is in a good area, the further toward 18th, the more you need to watch (at night).  I walk around all the time, and don't generally feel it is unsafe, but have recently been held up at gunpoint, as has most of my neighbors both in Mt. Pleasant and Kolarama.  Last summer there were a rash of robberies on the National Mall of unsuspecting tourists as well as a rash of other senseless crimes that led to a crime emergency. :shoot:  

Oh, and you will experience many panhandlers, that will try to engage you... ignore and keep walking!

 

There was some good advice about restaurants above.  Traditionally DC doesn't have the best restaurant scene, I generally have had a hard time finding a place that wasn't a dump, terrible service, or dirty or just bad food, yes there are good things like authentic Ethiopian or probably Guatemalan, and it was traditionally recommended that you eat at a chain because they had higher standards believe it or not!  But things have been evolving a bit, as Washington has become a bit more of a real city.  I have seen some creative talent enter the scene and agree with some of the above recommendations.           

 

Willy...you do live in a nice area. Those townhomes are beautiful!

 

I have a friend who lives on Wyoming and said pretty much what you said.   We recently stubmled up, or rather, prevented a mugging when we were going to the Diner on 18.

 

In other words, leave the fanny pack and t-shirt of where you're from at home.  Having maps overflowing from your shirt and pants pockets isn't such a bright idea either. 

 

that goes for any city or state!  in addition, don't leave things like this or a car rental receipt on the seat of the car either!

Yes, I live in an old building on Kolarama, so not actually in one of the beautiful townhomes but a beautiful building. 

 

Ive been lucky most of my time here, seems everyone around me has been involved in some kind of robbery/holdup.  My good friend (that wants to move to Cleveland) was held up 4 times in 4 years (by gun and knife) and had several bicicles stolen.  So I'm not sure that I would go with what Dan said about the area being safer than most cities (the holdups don't necessarily make the news since there are so many murders.)

 

But, in addition, another benefit to the Windsor Park location is that on that side of Connecticut, with the embassies and bigwigs, there are lots of secret service police, which do make it safer.  The criminals have moved into the nicer areas, but one block sometimes can make a difference. 

 

     

Don't come to DC.  There are black and brown people here. 

 

And the gays!  Oh, the gays!

Yes, I live in an old building on Kolarama, so not actually in one of the beautiful townhomes but a beautiful building.  

 

Ive been lucky most of my time here, seems everyone around me has been involved in some kind of robbery/holdup.  My good friend (that wants to move to Cleveland) was held up 4 times in 4 years (by gun and knife) and had several bicicles stolen.  So I'm not sure that I would go with what Dan said about the area being safer than most cities (the holdups don't necessarily make the news since there are so many murders.)

 

But, in addition, another benefit to the Windsor Park location is that on that side of Connecticut, with the embassies and bigwigs, there are lots of secret service police, which do make it safer.  The criminals have moved into the nicer areas, but one block sometimes can make a difference.  

 

     

I never realized that, that part, of DC had gotten so bad.  My Friend works for the Brazil embassy and he's like "dont go past Conn. (on the other side of the Hilton, down Florida) because it's dangerous over there. 

 

I've personally never had any issues over there, the El Salvadorian and african neighborhood over in Kolarama is kinda festive to me.  He says the area over by 16 street is really bad, and people pray that it doesn't move toward Mass Ave.  I understand someone recently got shot over a parking space.  I know unless you have an on street parking permit in some of those areas you can't park and someone was illegally parked and when the "legal" parker confronted the person they got shot.

 

Don't come to DC.  There are black and brown people here. 

 

And the gays!  Oh, the gays!

 

Ya don't say!  Who knew??  :laugh: