Katie
Los Angeles
I've never been to Arlington (Virginia) and I'm a little overwhelmed by all the hotel options. I'd like to stay in a hotel that is central and gives me good sense of what Arlington (Virginia) is like. I'd love to know where locals tell their friends to stay when they visit, and why those areas and hotels are special. thanks!
Your best bet is to stay in Crystal City area of Arlington (Virginia) near to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It is a 10 minute metro ride to downtown DC and there are lots of restaurants in the area and lots of hotels too. Also near to a nice shopping mall (Pentagon City). Stay at one of the hotels around the metro stop of Crystal City (any one of them are decent) The Westin Arlington Gateway, Marriott Marquis Washington, DC etc There is also a nice The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. attached to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City Mall. Pentagon City also has a metro stop. There is not much memorable about Arlington itself... it's a county of Virginia. But the The Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, Carillon House, and US Marine Corps War Memorial, all located here and worth a visit too.
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There are not a ton of hotel options in Arlington. Perhaps Le Méridien Arlington?
You may want to consider an AirBNB in Clarendon that will put you in the heart of the action and you'll be a 10 minute bike ride from Georgetown (Washington DC).
In addition, you'll be walking distance from the Clarendon metro, which will allow you easy access to DC.
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Courthouse and Clarendon are the busiest areas of Arlington, if you are looking for a lot of restaurant options and bars (Clarendon in particular). Age range there tends to be in the mid-20s to mid-30s.
Katie