Starting Out

The Swann House bed and breakfast in Washington DC is located in historic Dupont Circle. It’s located 12 blocks from The White House. If you haven’t been to DC before, that means the location of this bed and breakfast is not ideal to walk to all the attractions. You would need to take the bus or drive closer and then walk. The interior of the bed and breakfast is decorated in a traditional fashion. I stayed in the Jennifer Green room, which averages $245-$345 per night. That room has its own patio with lounge chairs that overlooks the pool and a large, two room bathroom. While I was there, I looked at all the rooms and they all looked nice. The Nantucket Room was very small, so you might want to avoid it, although the decorations are cute.

There’s a kitchen area for guest use with drinks, snacks, an ice machine, ice buckets and a computer. A full breakfast is served buffet style in the morning and includes items like eggs, homemade granola and toast. The innkeepers are friendly and make you feel very welcome. They are happy to assist you with information and reservations about area attractions and restaurants. Parking is limited to a few spaces in front of the bed and breakfast. Make sure you reserve a spot because it’s impossible to find parking on the street.

You will defiantly want to pack a couple pairs of running shoes, extra socks and a cooler full of drinks if you plan on walking around DC and seeing the attractions. That may sound like stupid advice if you haven’t been there, but trust me. You will walk so much that you’ll be worn out at the end of the day.

Zed's Ethiopian Cuisine is located in the Georgetown area of Washington DC. It’s been frequented by all kinds of famous people from Hillary Clinton to Mike Tyson. They have a collection of photos on the wall of everyone famous who has been there. Despite the endorsements, I thought the food was below average. Plus, the food is overpriced for the portions you receive. I asked the waitress for suggestions and ended up trying one beef and one chicken dish. The food is served in a large bowl atop a thin pancake-like bread. You use the bread to scoop up and eat your food. The atmosphere wasn’t as nice as I had expected. The inside of the building is more enticing than the interior.

The Intown Uptown Inn is a bed and breakfast located in Washington, DC. The first thing I said when I walked in was “now this is somewhere I’d like to live.” I really enjoyed my stay at The Intown Uptown Inn and would recommend it to others. I loved that the inn was modern and not decorated in 80’s floral prints like so many bed and breakfasts. The rooms were relaxing and well kept. I stayed in the Uptown room, which has a deep jacuzzi tub that was perfect after walking a million miles around DC. I looked at all the rooms while I was there and the other room that caught my eye was the Wysteria. It did not appeal to me at all on the website, in fact it looked cheaply decorated. However, in person I thought it was really cute. The Wysteria had the best bathroom of all the rooms, with a huge soaking tub surrounded by some windows with a view.

Breakfast was yummy every morning and included both hot and cold entrees. Fresh fruit was served in martini glasses, which was a nice touch. The main course changed daily, which kept things fresh. The dining room was a site in and of itself, as it was decorated like a modern castle. Even my husband commented how nice it looked. The evening snacks were more limited than other bed and breakfasts. During my stay, gummy bears and water with lemon was served. There are two sitting rooms with magazines that provide a nice place to unwind after a busy day in the city.

The inn is not convenient if you want to walk to attractions, nor is it located near the bus line. You will need to drive closer to the attractions and then park. I didn’t have any trouble doing this, but I went on a holiday weekend so it was less busy than normal. There is free on street parking at the bed and breakfast, and it is surprisingly easy to find a spot no matter what time of day you return to the inn. Free parking is a major perk in DC. Most hotels charge around $20 just for parking.