My family will be in D.C. from June 30 to July 5 -- two adults and three kids ages 4, 10, 13. (When using Hotwire, I only input 2 children. Four-year-old sleeps between us or with her older siblings.) I understand the risk of using Priceline and getting a one-bed room, so I realize Hotwire is probably our best bet to reduce all risk. Hotwire currently has a 4* for $119 with fitness, pool, restaurant, business center, internet (Omni Shoreham or Hotel Palomar); and a 3* for $109 with fitness, pool, restaurant, business center, and laundry (Holiday Inn Central). Since I am with the family, I would really like to increase my chances to receive a hotel with a pool. Another plus would be proximity to a Metro stop so we can do the typical D.C. attractions (Capitol, White House, National Monument, Smithsonian, etc.) as well as July 4th activities on the National Mall. I can also get a family-member discount at a Georgetown 4* ($99 for a suite with King bed and sofa sleeper) which would be great except the hotel has no pool and is serviced only by bus, not Metro. Maybe this is no big deal for the activities we want to do -- I don't know enough about D.C. yet to know this for sure. I also saw the Sheraton at National Airport (Arlington) go for $45, and it has a pool, but I don't know about getting around DC without using the Metro. Does anyone have suggestions for: 1) good areas for families to stay in DC to have easy access to attractions; and, 2) a suggested strategy on getting at least a 3* hotel on Priceline that has a high likelihood of being one with a pool? PS I will be staying at the Omni Shoreham for a conference on the two prior days (6/28 - 6/30). Omni has a pool and is close to a Metro stop, but it is on the high side when not using an opaque site ($179+).