Whether it's for reasons of price, perceived safety or familiarity, staying in the suburbs has become increasingly popular for visitors to Washington. With so many properties from familiar lodging names, it's difficult to recommend specific hotels, but here's a rundown on some of the city's suburban jurisdictions. Click on the location name for a search return of hotels in that area.

A few words of warning: Washington has some of the nation's worst commuter traffic, even at off hours, so don't plan on driving into the city each day. In addition, Metro trains to the suburbs can be very crowded at rush hour, so bear this in mind if you have a family of four and a stroller.

Rosslyn
Directly across the Potomac from the city, Rosslyn is by far the most convenient suburban locale for visitors to Washington. Within walking distance of Georgetown, it is also served by Metro's Blue and Orange lines. And because of height restrictions in Washington, Rosslyn has taller buildings than downtown, some of which house hotels that yield excellent river and city views. Just up the road is the Courthouse neighborhood, also a convenient base for a D.C. trip.

Crystal City
Practically adjacent to National Airport, between Rosslyn and Alexandria, Crystal City has a concentration of high-rise hotels, some with nice city views. It also has a decent restaurant row, and is a short ride into the city on Metro's Blue Line. There is an underground shopping mall in Crystal City and most hotels are fairly close to the popular Pentagon City Mall.

Alexandria
Unique among suburban places to stay, Alexandria is also a tourist destination in its own right. Alexandria has a mixture of hotel properties, from chain motels to historic inns. You'll also find an excellent assortment of restaurants and bars, and a charming colonial atmosphere. Metro's Blue Line services several Alexandria stations.

Springfield
Located next to one of the busiest highway exchanges in the world, this Virginia suburb has dozens of hotels and motels scattered along Interstates 395 and 495. The atmosphere is strictly suburban strip mall, but there is a Metro station (Blue Line) and if you're heading south on the highway, this is the most convenient departure point.

Tysons Corner
The site of the area's first suburban shopping mall, Tysons today has grown into a thriving hub that anchors the Dulles technology corridor. It is serviced by dozens of hotels, from the ultra-luxurious to budget motels, and an equal number of restaurants. It is not well serviced, however, by public transportation, so bring the car if you decide to stay here.

Bethesda
The closest Maryland town to the city, Bethesda is decidedly upscale, with a mixture of hotels, shops and a staggering density of quality restaurants. It's not particularly convenient to most area tourist attractions, but it is serviced by Metro's Red Line, so you can easily ditch the car if you're staying here.

Rockville
Rockville is also serviced by Metro's Red Line, though it's a fairly long ride to the city center. This sprawling suburb is also the second largest "city" in Maryland. You'll find several shopping malls scattered along Rockville Pike and I-270, with all the familiar big box stores and chain restaurants.

-- Ben Abramson