map of the washington dc mall All child seats manufac tured af ter 1985 ar e c ertified f or airline use , but make sure your chai

Because many hotels in the city center are housed in older buildings, guest r ooms ar e often small and inter connecting r ooms ar e not an option. Small guest rooms also mean that it s har d to find tr uly budget options downtown, since r ooms ar en t big enough for a family of four meaning y ou d hav e to spring for a suite or two r ooms. I n the

All child seats manufac tured af ter 1985 ar e c ertified f or airline use , but make sure your chair will fit in an airline seat it must be less than 16 inches wide. You ma y not use boost er seats or seatless v ests or harness sy stems. Safety seats must be placed in window seats except in exit rows, where they are pr ohibited, so as not t o block the passage of other tra velers in the case of an emer gency.

Although this Eastern-influenced hotel caters largely to corporate travelers, it holds one of the fe w, and one of the most spacious, indoor swimming pools in the city. The pool is connected to the N ikko s health club, but the staff insists that guests tend to exercise in the early morning and evening, which means the rest of the day children can splash around freely. The pool is located in an expansive glass-roofed atrium, which also houses ex ercise equipment and J apanese hot tubs, so y ou can wor k out or enjoy a soak while y ou keep on ey e on the kids. A full-ser vice spa is set to open in 2009. Decor is tastefully understated, and rooms get a lot of natural sunlight. With a pullout sofa and guest washr oom, the N ikko s junior suites ar e quite family-friendly. E ven standard double-double rooms are large and have entryways that give the impression of more space. Views start above the 10th floor. Rooms on the three executive-level Nikko Floors also have vanities and more spacious bathrooms, and the Nikko Lounge offers board games and Internet access, so your teenagers can still IM their pals at home. The Nikko welcomes all pets. (Just be sure to inform the hotel if y ou plan to leave a Great Dane in y our r oom for the day , so they can aler t the housekeeping staff!) The white marble lobby is stark, but kids will enjoy the indoor fountain, which has become a multi- currency wishing well. The hotel houses an on-site Starbucks and Anzu restaurant, which specializes in sushi and steak, but has a childr en s menu as well.