Back in May 2009, I rated this a three star and offered a mixed-to-positive review. Based on my experience during a February 2010 stay over a very very snowy weekend, I rate this a four-to-five star hotel at a three star price. During the intervening nine months, the hotel continued with a major room renovation program and fixed smaller problems.
ROOM: My renovated room on this visit was great, my unrenovated room on the last visit was so so. The unrenovated rooms are adequate, the renovated rooms are excellent.
HINT: Politely request a renovated room at check-in.
Renovated Room on Upper Floor: Comfortable, spacious and clean room with decent view and nice furnishings. New bed, nice bedding, abundant electric outlets, functional desk and chest of drawers, functional lamps, medium sized flat screen HD TV. Plenty of outlets, including two on the desk. Bathroom was well renovated - and they kept the bath tubs.
Unrenovated Room on Lower Floor: Comfortable and clean with dated furnishings. Bathroom with a tub. View of adjacent apartment buildings and rooftop AC ducts. Small TV. There was no electric outlet accessible within reach of the desk. Bring an extension cord if you wish to hook up a computer.
Both rooms: Free but slow wifi, coffee maker, ironing board, Washington Post, decent towels, good quality soaps and lotions.....but no in room safe, fridge or bathrobe.
SERVICES: The front desk was helpful, courteous and efficient, with good advice to out of town guests on dining and tourism options, extra effort figuring out transportation options when much of the city was paralyzed by snow. The maids did a nice job on the rooms - spotless. The maintenance staff was superb under extreme conditions - the hotel had well shoveled driveways and walks (unlike most of DC). Restaurant was adequate, with a good buffet breakfast and OK lunch and dinner fare. Prices were a bit high for the quality.
LOCATION: The hotel is reasonably proximate to places you may need to visit. It is several blocks east of Dupont Circle, north of downtown DC.and west of the Convention Center. You have a 10 minute walk straight down 14th street to the Macpherson Metro station..
HINT: If you get the RFID embedded Metro Card, the bus rides from Metro stations to the hotel are a free transfer if you used the Metro.
HINT: Use the Metro.... a straight shot on the blue line from National Airport to MacPherson. with a four blook walk.
HINT: Hit the CVS across Thomas Circle for snacks and sundries at reasonable prices or walk a couple of blocks north to a Whole Foods Market on P street just west of 14th. .
HINT: Walk to Dupont Circle for a huge sports bar (Buffalo Billiards 19th just south of Dupont Circle) or a good independent bookstore (Kramer books just north) or take the 42 bus from Dupont Circle up to Adams Morgan for many interesting ethnic dining options.
hotel reviews