Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Embassy Row

The Courtyard by Marriott Embassy Row gets applause for its unusually spacious rooms free internet connections and close-to-it-all location. Maybe this hotel's 158 rooms are so spacious—starting at around 400 square feet—because the eight-story building once housed a lobbying organization. The furnishings are extra plush especially the 11-inch mattresses topped with luxe 300-thread-count sheets and quilted down comforters. The amenities are all up to date including plasma TVs and free Wi-Fi in the rooms and public areas.

The basement-level fitness center has a whimsical design (tiny figures seem to climb up the wall) and a wide range of equipment. The hotel also touts its eco-friendly policies such as recycling paper in the business center and using chlorine-free chemicals in the heated indoor pool and hot tub. Three blocks from Dupont Circle the Courtyard by Marriott is steps to sophisticated shopping and dining. Any of the streets radiating off this gorgeous green park lead to clothing shops and sidewalk cafes.

(For the choicest spots head north on Connecticut Avenue or west on P Street.) The closest subway station is also at Dupont Circle also a major stop for many of the bus lines heading to favorite spots for travelers. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a quick five miles away.