DC Travel Guide
Tags: Hotel Renovations / Marriott Hotels / Washington DC Hotels / → All Tags
Washington Marriott at Metro Center Gets Spiffed Up
In recent years, Washington DC's downtown has transformed into a destination you might actually want to hang out. Or at the very least, those safe-clean-friendly claims being made about it a few years ago are now much closer to being true! Think haute restaurants, quality theatre and galleries, and much, much more foot traffic. (There's even a trendier name for the 'hood: Penn Quarter.)
For Marriott's part, they've responded to the neighborhood's spiffier image with an $11 million renovation at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center, just in time to celebrate the hotel's 15-year anniversary. The 459-room hotel recently unveiled its new contemporary look and feel, which includes 32-inch plasma screen TVs, tech-friendly plug-in panels, and check-in self-serve kiosks. In the lobby, "semi-private seating nooks" give comfortable spaces for guests to work or mingle, particularly thanks to the free WiFi.
Tags: Washington DC Hotels / Kimpton Hotels / Aloft Hotels / Doubletree Hotels / Five Best / Lists / → All Tags
The Five Best Hotels Just Outside of Washington, D.C.
In many cities, a suburban stay equals hours on the train each morning and night. But Washington D.C. is small enough that its closest suburbs are often destinations in their own rights — from Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, to downtown Bethesda, Maryland. Throw in D.C.’s crime-ridden rap, combined with the suburbs-serving Metro, and suddenly it makes sense why so many D.C. tourists actually spend the night in a neighboring city (where, ahem, the residents have the right to vote).
Of course, this is hardly a secret; so if you’re looking to the suburbs for a no-frills deal, stick to family-friendly classics. Otherwise, here are our picks for five convenient suburban DC hotels that offer more than just a free (stale) breakfast.
Tags: Hotels Under 150 / DC Hotels / Five Best / Lists / → All Tags
The Five Best Hotels in D.C. For Under $150
With the opening of the W and Jefferson Hotels in DC this summer, we’ve had downtown luxury DC hotels on the brain.
But for the expense account-free folks in our midst, we thought we better take a moment to remind everyone it actually can be affordable to stay in the District — that’s right, suburban family-filled chains need not apply.
Here, we rounded up five of our favorite DC hotels where weekend rates start under $150.
1. Donovan House
Thompson Hotel’s mod Donovan House sits on Thomas Circle straddles downtown offices and trendy 14th Street restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Though if you stay here you should probably eat at the hotel’s own restaurant, Zentan, if nothing else for the teensy chance that you could run into Hanson. Oh! And good news: Zentan finally got a real website up. Rooms from $129.
[Photo: Scott Michael Nash]
Tags: Hotel Packages / Loews Hotels / Washington DC Hotels / → All Tags
Live Out Your National Geographic Dreams at the Loews Madison
We’ll admit, we’ve always been suckers for a good pile of in-room magazines. But the Loews Madison in DC is offering something even better — the chance to step into, literally, one of everyone’s favorite magazines, National Geographic. To coincide with the National Geographic Museum’s upcoming exhibit, “Terra Cotta Warriors,” the Loews Madison is celebrating its close proximity — two blocks away — with a package deal.
The “National Geographic Museum Terra Cotta Warriors” package features two premium “anytime” tickets to the museum exhibition, overnight “deluxe” accommodations, and a 20-percent discount at the NatGeo store.
The exhibit runs Nov. 19 through March 31, showcasing 15 terra cotta warriors and other artifacts from the tomb of China’s first emperor, from stone armor and weapons to coins and bronze vessels.
Package rates start at $149 and is available throughout the exhibition run.
Tags: Hotel Packages / Washington DC Hotels / Literary Hotels / → All Tags
Relive Robert Langdon's Quest at DC's Dupont Hotel (And Empty Your Wallets Too)
Oh lordy, it’s begun. We speak, of course, of the inevitable descent of Dan Brown fanatics looking to unlock the secrets of the Masonry in DC as described in his new bestseller novel, “The Lost Symbol.” And just as inevitable: DC hotels looking to cash in on the influx of tourists. The new boutique Dupont Hotel leads the way with its “Ultimate Lost Symbol Package.”
With a $5,999 price tag, you might need to sweet talk Dan Brown into footing your bill, but that’s besides the point. True devotees know no cost, we suppose.
Tags: Hotel News / Washington DC Hotels / W Hotels / → All Tags
Can Washington D.C. Handle More W Hotels?
So the W Washington D.C. is officially open after last week’s splashy opening party, and apparently now that the journalists who attended have emerged from their hangovers, we hear there was more than just John Legend, Marie Antoinette look-alikes, and powder-wigged folks working the crowd.
Starwood CEO Frits van Paasschen not only made an appearance but revealed a juicy bit of news — DC is among the cities he’s eyeing for a “more expansive rollout of the W brand,” such as New York City’s 5 Ws, reports the Washington Business Journal. Of course, what that means in reality is yet to be seen, but it’s interesting to hear such optimism for D.C. only a few months after the nation’s capital finally got its first W.
“Washington is certainly a place where we’d love to do that, and we’re always looking at opportunities,” van Paasschen said. “I think the W brand brings something new to the DC market, fills a void.”
The WBJ also reports that Starwood plans to open 30 to 60 new W Hotels over the next three years.
Tags: Hotel Parties / W Hotels / DC Hotels / Frits van Paasschen / → All Tags
The Congress of Cool is Now Officially In Session (And Probably a Little Hungover)
The W Washington DC opened to guests back in July, and has racked up some pretty partisan reviews ever since. But last night a scene-y DC crowd — the Congress of Cool, if you will — reached across the aisle to join in and play dress-up for the W’s official opening bash.
As we all know, the W loves splashy parties awash in velvet ropes and a purple carpet. And for this installation they hired John Legend for a rooftop performance (and to up the crowd’s star ante). This being DC, and with the W across the street from the White House, it’s also worth noting that Obama’s aide Reggie Love stopped by for the festivities. On the celeb circuit, actress-singer-songwriter Emmy Rossum was also in attendance. You can watch a short video here for a better sense of the scene.
Tags: Hotel Deals / Washington DC Hotels / Hotel Bars / → All Tags
Buy Champagne, Get a Free Night's Stay at the DC Sofitel
Few things make an ordinary evening sparkle quite like, well, good bubbly. (Not that we’re all that experienced in the realm of actual good-quality Champagne, mind you, but even the cheapo bottles of Andre always seemed to do the trick in college.)
So we imagine a nice bottle of Champagne would have the same effect on what might otherwise be a relatively ordinary — albeit, yes, fancypants — stay at the Sofitel in Washington, DC. The top-tier French hotel has paired with Champagne Pommery to inject DC with a double-dose of classic French luxury. Patrons of the hotel’s bar who purchase a $299 bottle of the Cuvée Louise 1998 Champagne will receive quite a nice reward: a free night’s stay at the hotel.
The offer fizzles Dec. 31 and is available with or without reservations (based on availability, obviously). Weekend rates for the next month at the Sofitel start anywhere from $175 (Halloween weekend) to $330 (tonight).
Tags: DC Hotels / What's On The Block / Hotel Openings / → All Tags
What's On the Block at the Jefferson Hotel?
In this regular feature on HotelChatter, we choose a hotel and take a look at what other businesses or buildings are on its block. Because what's close by is nearly just as important as what's inside the hotel.
Today we look at the newly opened Jefferson Hotel. Here’s what they have to say about their location:
The Jefferson's enviable location – straddling the city's political and social scenes at the corner of 16th and M Streets NW – puts guests in the center of it all.
… D.C.'s liveliest neighborhood, Dupont Circle, beckons to the immediate northwest with a cosmopolitan mix of restaurants, coffeehouses, blue-chip galleries and trend-setting retail shops.
… The Jefferson is also near two of Washington's trendiest "new" neighborhoods: Penn Quarter and the U Street Corridor.
And they’re right on target: The hotel is located in a pretty prime spot for walking both downtown and to lively Dupont and Logan Circles, and a long but definitely doable trek to Penn Quarter and the U Street Corridor. And from its corner, you have a straight shot view of the White House, a nice reminder of where you are.
Tags: Refereeing Hotel Reviews / W Hotels / Washington DC Hotels / → All Tags
The W's 'Congress of Cool' Gets Some Partisan Reviews
It’s been two months since the doors swung wide at what's arguably DC’s most hyped hotel opening of the year — the W, duh — so we thought we’d check back in on the swirling review chatter, especially now that people are talking about the hotel itself and not just the rooftop POV bar.
Over at TripAdvisor, it’s registering with a 68% approval rating. Not too shabby. But true to DC form, people seem to be awfully partisan when it comes to the Congress of Cool, making reviews range from scathing to glowing.
Tags: Hotel Bars / DC Hotels / First Look / Hotel Openings / → All Tags
Your First Look at The Jefferson Hotel's Quill Bar
We popped into DC's shiny-new Jefferson Hotel this week for a nightcap at the hotel's bar, Quill. And true to hype, Quill delivered with a high-class vibe and top-shelf cocktails. We snapped a few (admittedly not amazing) photos of the bar and entryway.
A few highlights from our experience:
Even though we're younger and far less moneyed than the Jefferson's chi-chi target clientele, everyone we encountered — from the doorman to the bartender — struck us as genuinely appreciative of our patronage.
We ordered off the signature cocktail list ($15 each; pictures below), including one called the Master Mind that involved chatting with the bartender about our preferences and mood. He came up with a refreshing berry-infused vodka and ginger liqueur cocktail with mint, basil, cucumber, and a foamy pineapple puree topping. Our date ordered the Agave, a tequila, white peach puree, pineapple, cointreau, and vanilla sugar elixir.
Tags: Snapshot / Hotel Openings / Hotel Photos / DC Hotels / → All Tags
Photo Op at the Just-Reopened Jefferson Hotel
Alright, so we confess we haven't yet had a chance to check out DC's Jefferson Hotel, which reopened Monday after a two-year, floorboard-to-ceiling renovation. When we toured the construction site back in May, the place was a long way from being guest-ready, but the parts that were ready were more than suitably swank. Of course, we're still skeptical about $300 and up introductory room rates, but that's probably more a reflection of our ever-thinning wallets. Anyways! We hope to have some real photos of the lobby and public areas next week, but to tide you over here's a press photo op that's sort of fun.
The photo shows managing director Franck Arnold (pictured right) and doorman Ahmed Omer doing the honors of the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Omer is The Jefferson’s longest standing employee, with his 25th anniversary coinciding with the hotel’s re-opening. When we met him briefly back in May, his dedication to the hotel struck us as endearing, so we like that he was honored at the festivities.
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