Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol Rating: 3.0 Pearls

Southwest, Washington, D.C., United States

The lobby

The 532-room Holiday Inn Washington - Capitol needs some serious freshening up. Though the hotel recently began bringing its facilities up to date -- so far, only the spiffy new Holiday Inn sign at the entrance and the parking garage have benefited -- this property hasn't had a full revamp since the early oughts.

Presumably because of its location near the Mall and the low prices, the hotel is consistently booked by the business/government crowd, large groups, and families. Guests seem to ignore the dank fitness center and spend their time utilizing the free lobby Wi-Fi or the decent business center. Guests are allowed free access to the facilities at Gold's Gym, three blocks from the hotel. The on-site bar, continental restaurant, and a cafeteria-style eatery are middling at best, but offer convenience in a neighborhood where restaurants are scarce and most are closed on weekends.

Mediocrity also reigns in the guest rooms, which are on the small side (usually about 220 square feet, though some can be a little larger) and just serviceable. They have mini-fridges, coffeemakers, jacquard bed sheets, and Holiday Inn's trademark pillow menu. Though there's cable TV with HBO, it's currently on a small, old tube TV -- flat-screen TVs said to be on the way in early 2010. Plus, there's only wired Internet access in the guest rooms.

For a better option in the same price range and in the immediate neighborhood, the Residence Inn Capitol Hill offers oversize rooms with kitchenettes, more up-to-date facilities, and free breakfast. Those not intent on sleeping in this area should consider the newly spruced up and very affordable Washington Plaza, where the vintage appeal is intentional.

View on a Larger Map

The Holiday Inn Washington - Capitol is on the corner of C and 6th Street, a block and a half from the Mall. The immediate area is filled with 1970s era office buildings; across the street is the Department of Education building; next to that is FEMA. It's hardly picturesque, but the hotel fits right in. During the weekends, guests are likely to feel a little isolated, since even the small selection of fast food joints and convenience stores like CVS are shuttered. On the plus side, the area is exceedingly quiet at night and provides easy access to the monuments on the Mall, plenty of museums, and the U.S. Capitol.

• Easy to catch a cab in front of the hotel
• Entrance to the Mall is just a block and half away.
• Two to four blocks from cultural institutions and museums including the National Air and Space Museum, the Museum of African Art, National Museum of the American Indian, the Sackler Gallery, and the U.S. Botanic Garden
• Other top museums surrounding the Mall are all within six blocks from the hotel, including the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of Natural History, the Newseum.
• For a meal in a real restaurant -- other than the hotel's offering -- Pennsylvania Avenue is six blocks away.
• 15 minutes by taxi (about $20) to Reagan National Airport
• 30 minutes by taxi (about $40) to Dulles International Airport
• Union Station, D.C.'s main station served by Amtrak and commuter rails, is 10 minutes by metro (or a $10 taxi ride).
• Two blocks from the L'Enfant Plaza Metro stop (Orange and Green lines)