My gf and I drove all the way from Toronto, Ontario, Canada to Washingtond DC on a Friday (February 18, 2011) right after work to celebrate Family Day. It was a little over about a10.5 hour drive, so we didn't get here until around 3:30 AM. Seeing the hotel, I was so happy, right next to Capitol Hill, 4 stars and in a convenient location to go on the highway...but...that's about all that was good about it.
We got there and no valet parking, I wasn't going to be picky with that since I don't mind parking on my own...but what got me frustrated was the lack of care the Guest Services showed. NO ONE WAS THERE!!!! We Guest Services door and said "Hello?" many times...before we were forced to run around looking in our heavy packs, for a friendly person who was vacuuming the restaurant, who went in and got the lazy bum to go and register us.
Standard registration process and soon we had our keys. My gut already told me something was wrong with the keys...but my gf was a bit more trusting. We were originally given Room 808 and after taking the elevators and going to that room...the keys didn't work. I swiped it a few times just to make sure, but I was pretty sure he had tried to give us a room with SOMEONE ELSE in there already! There was a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign hanging on the door! BUT, to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, I went downstairs and told the guy the keys didn't work. He made a new one for the same room and hocus pocus...it didn't work either. Fortunately, they have a phone near the elevator of each floor...at least I think it's each floor. I called the guy telling him the keys don't work...at which point he came up and made some sort of excuse saying,"Something is wrong with the room. So, I'm switching you to room 324." Looking at that "DO NOT DISTURB" sign...I think I can figure out what's wrong.
Any how, we got into our new room and it's a standard room. The room was clean and decent sized...though, it does get quite squished due to the many large furitures they have...as per example...my gf will have to climb over the bed in order to pass by me on the computer right now as there's no walkway left over. The showers are nice, though we did get a broken sink...the water plug won't go up. I had to take it out myself so we could use the sink. To me, however, it didn't really didn't matter. As long as it's standard, clean and safe...what more can you ask from a hotel room right? The biggest thing that I care about most in a hotel room is the bed, because let's be honest....I didn't go to DC to spend my vacation in the hotel. I just need a comfortable good sleep with a cleaning crew to clean up the rooms daily. The cleaning crew here is top notch by the way...so no problems there. The beds and pillows however...I have never had a more uncomfortable bed and pillow combination anywhere.
When I drove to Atlantic City and stayed in The Chelsea (AMAZING HOTEL BTW), I was able to pass out from 2AM until close to noon, just because of how amazing the bed is. I woke up refreshed and ready to take on the city. Such is not the case with the beds here at Liaison. I slept upon arrival at roughly 4 AM and woke up at 9 AM with a sore back and neck! Again, the same thing happened yesterday (February 19), I slept at 2 AM and woke up at 7:30 AM with back and neck pain. It's like their bed and pillows were made out of some sort of mud or something.
I might try sleeping on the floor and see how that helps tonight (Feb 20)....but honestly...do you come to a hotel to sleep on the floor? Might as well go camping!
Internet and phones are at a price...but just be warned, after paying the 10.95 for both...the phone is only free for domestic call for the first 20 minutes only. We're here to visit my gf's cousin, so we had to get the phone.
To their credit regarding service however, I went down to the lobby in the morning when I was going to tour the city and it seemed much better than what they had when I arrived. I asked for a map and one of the guest services person was on it like bees on honey...with a smile and a "have a nice day" too!
All-in-all a quaint hotel, but I wouldn't recommend it....actually I've already written on my Facebook to warn my friends not to come to this hotel. I'm dreading the 10.5 hour drive back to Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 5 hours of sleep...thank goodnes for Red Bull.
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