Hilton Washington, Washington, D.C.
Hilton Washington
1919 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington, District of Columbia (DC)
By: Dave Grossman, Hotel Magician
April 2008
We checked into the Hilton Washington on a prepaid rate of $119 + tax – not bad for a weekend rate in April in the heart of D.C.
Unfortunately, $119 was about what the hotel was worth – which is to say that while the hotel was completely “acceptable”, it was not at a level of luxury I’d expected when booking and, thus, seemed more appropriately priced than a “deal”.
Check-in was not very smooth. While we’d booked a room with 2 Queen Beds, at checkin we were told that (as a Hilton Honors Gold member) I’d been upgraded to the 9th floor. However, that room was not ready (at 8:30 pm no less) and we could either wait “an hour or more” for the room or accept one on the eighth floor with two double beds. The clerk was anything but apologetic and after a 5 hour drive, we accepted the downgrade so we could get on with the trip.
Further, the Executive Lounge was closed early due to a water leak issue and, while we were told we could still go up and ask for beverages to be brought to us, there was nobody at the lounge desk and when I walked in, I was treated to a surly “we’re closed” while I was mid-explanation about how we were told we could still come up for beverages.
Not a great start.
The room itself was perfectly fine – nothing very modern but not very aged either. No flat screen TVs in these rooms but an adequate selection of cable stations were offered along with the usual selection of pay movies.
The next morning, the Executive Lounge was open and, I’m happy to say, the service was very good. When I asked for a newspaper, the lounge attendant promptly offered to go downstairs and get me one – which he did. That is the kind of service that should be given throughout a 4 Star hotel. Free wifi in the lounge is also a nice touch.
One thing the Hilton Washington has going for it, regardless of service, is its location near Dupont Circle. Convenient to the subway, restaurants, bars, lounges, and area attractions yet just off the beaten path enough to not feel trapped in tourist land, the hotel is very well situated.
I’d stay here again, but only on a sub $120 rate. I wouldn’t pay a premium to stay here. The hotel does also offer an outdoor pool, fitness center, and a nice looking restaurant/bar option. We did not have an opportunity to sample the fare.
- DG
Other Hilton family Hotels in the Washington DC area include:
Homewood Washington DC Downtown
Doubletree Guest Suites, Washington DC
Embassy Suites, Washington D.C.
Capital Hilton- Washington DC
Hilton Washington DC – Embassy Row
Embassy Suites, Washington DC Convention Center
Hilton Garden Inn, Washington DC Downtown
Hampton Inn – Washington DC Convention Center
Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase Pavillion – DC
