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310 sq. ft with 2 Double beds.
A Surrounding building, or interior atrium view.
310 sq. ft with a King bed or 2 Doubles.
A Surrounding building, or interior atrium view.
Photos and review by Sara B., Oyster Expert Hotel Investigator.
Updated: May 20, 2010
Pros
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Cons
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The 888-room Grand Hyatt feels every bit as big as it is: Rooms are dark and loud, lines often wrap around the check-in desk, and the gym is in disrepair. But it's conveniently located steps from the Metro Center stop in the Penn Quarter and within a 10-minute walk of the White House and convention center.
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Two Double Beds Room
310 sq. ft with 2 Double beds. A Surrounding building, or interior atrium view. |
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Business Plan Room
310 sq. ft with a King bed or 2 Doubles. A Surrounding building, or interior atrium view. |
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One Queen Bed Room
310 sq. ft with a Queen bed. A Surrounding building, or interior atrium view. |
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Grand Club Room
310 sq. ft with a King bed or 2 Doubles. A Surrounding building, or interior atrium view. |
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One King Bed Room
310 sq. ft with a King bed. A Surrounding building, or interior atrium view. |
An 888-room hotel in the Penn Quarter that feels vast and impersonal
The 888-room Grand Hyatt is one of the largest hotels in the city -- and feels every bit that big. The hotel is centered around a soaring 12-story atrium with five restaurants, six elevators, and a blue tiled lagoon with a piano propped on an island in the middle. Between the escalators ferrying guests to and from floors, the crowds spilling out of the Starbucks, and the lines that can form at peak hours around the check-in desk, the building feels more like a mall than a hotel.
With the elevators are at the far end of the main entrance, it can feel like a short hike to get to a room near the middle of the atrium. Rooms themselves are ordinary in just about every way except for the 42-inch LG flat-screen TVs and the iHome iPod docks. The décor is dark and stale, the lighting oddly yellow, and and noise from the halls, other rooms, and the atrium can be a problem. Located six blocks from the White House and steps from three Metro lines, the hotel is convenient for getting around D.C. With more than 40,000 square feet of event space, the Grand Hyatt is a business hotel first and foremost, and it feels like one -- big, crowded, and impersonal, with a staff that's there to crank guests in and out.
Compared to its closest neighbor, the Marriott Metro around the corner, the Grand Hyatt's rooms are slightly larger and better equipped. But the Marriott has a nicer gym and pool. Plus they're both free, whereas the Grand Hyatt charges a $10 fee to use the gym, and I found much of the cardio equipment to be in disrepair. The Hyatt has a more lively vibe than the Marriott, but it's also typically more expensive. Both hotels are equally convenient to the Metro Center subway stop, so unless you have to stay at the Grand Hyatt on business, it's worth price shopping.
With so many guests, service can be sluggish and elevator waits can be long.
With 888 rooms spread over 12 stories, the Grand Hyatt is one of the largest hotels in the city. It's so big that velvet ropes are set up at the front desk to keep waiting guests organized during peak hours. Though I had to wait only about five minutes to check in, another guest complained of waiting almost 15 minutes. With the staff cranking guests in and out, service can be impersonal and sluggish. The concierge was fairly knowledgeable -- he was quick to answer my questions about Metro stops and was able to point out several tapas restaurants within walking distance (and even boasted of being able to write upside down on the map since he marked up so many every day). But my request for toothpaste took half an hour.
Located in the Penn Quarter, steps from Metro Center stop, and within a 10- to 15-minute walk of the White House and the Washington Convention Center
Located in the compact section of the city called Penn Quarter, the Grand Hyatt is a safe, convenient option for both business and leisure travelers -- full of restaurants and shops (well-known franchises, mostly), but still close to the major sights and monuments. In recent decades, this once-seedy section of town has been revamped -- the most notable addition is the Verizon Center sports arena, host to high-profile concerts, the Capitals, and the Wizzards (about a five- to 10-minute walk from the hotel). What makes the hotel especially convenient is its underground tunnel to the Metro Center subway station -- a stop for three of the city's five metro lines.
Unremarkable rooms with 42-inch flat-screen TVs and iPod docks -- and lots of noise
With poor lighting, drab décor, and dark wood furniture, the rooms won't excite anyone. But, at 350 square feet, they are slightly larger than the rooms at the Marriott Metro around the corner (and the flat-screen TVs are bigger). Plus, the beds are comfortable and cleanliness isn't a problem. However, beware of the noise, a common complaint among guests. It can come from anywhere -- the halls, the room next door, the street, or the atrium, which half the rooms face. Everything seemed to simmer down around 9 p.m., but from my 10th floor room facing the atrium, I could still hear noise.
Expect to be nickel and dimed, from the gym to the Internet.
Guests pay a fee for nearly every extra at the Grand Hyatt, including the gym ($10 per day, per room), which is spacious and packed with equipment, but budget extra time to find a machine that works. I struck out three times in a row.
Not a bad option for kids, but there are better alternatives
Although the hotel doesn't have the most kid-friendly atmosphere, it's not a bad place to bring the family. With connecting rooms, children's menus, and rollaway beds at $20 per stay (not per day), it's a fairly economic option. However, between the escalators and the lagoon, plus the vastness of the hotel, you'll want to keep an eye on the little ones. A better option for families would be the nearby Embassy Suites Convention Center, which has much bigger rooms, plus free breakfast and free cocktails (for the parents, of course).
Five restaurants, including Starbucks, a sports bar, and a bistro
Guests will find some variety among the four restaurants (plus a Starbucks) -- the Grand Café is the only one with a breakfast buffet, and Cure emphasizes seasonal local ingredients -- but in general most of the dining spots serve standard American fare for inflated hotel prices.
Furnishings in the public areas are worn, but rooms are generally well maintained.
Some of the seating areas in the lobby are frayed and worn, but rooms are generally well kept up. Showers are beginning to show a bit of wear -- I found a few specks of mildew in the hard to reach corners -- but all in all, the rooms are clean and well cared for.
The 888-room Grand Hyatt feels every bit as big as it is: Rooms are dark and loud, lines often wrap around the check-in desk, and the gym is in disrepair. But it's conveniently located steps from the Metro Center stop in the Penn Quarter and within a 10-minute walk of the White House and convention center.
| Number of Rooms: | 888 |
| Pool: | Yes |
| Fitness Center: | Yes |
| Spa: | No |
| Internet Access: | Yes |
| Pets Allowed: | No |
| Cribs: | Yes |
| Kids Club: | No |
| Jacuzzi (in room): | No |
| Casino: | No |
| Location: | Penn Quarter, Washington, D.C. |
| Toll Free Bookings: | 1-888-776-9783 |
| Website: | Official Site |
| Address: | 1000 H Street, Washington, DC 20001 (See Map) |
Have you been to the Grand Hyatt Washington? Did you agree with Oyster's review? Did we miss something?