The Fairmont Washington, D.C. Rating: 4.0 Pearls

West End, Washington, D.C., United States

A Fairmont Room

Located in staid Foggy Bottom, this formal, 415-room conference- and wedding-focused hotel opened in 2001, but doesn't appear to have been updated much since. The guest rooms, for example, have outdated electronics, bland furnishings, peeling paint, and disappointing water pressure in the shower. Still, it's hard not to consider the Fairmont a true luxury hotel -- a Jordanian prince was among the guests at the hotel during my visit -- especially as the the standard rooms are a larger-than-average 450 square feet and the health club, with its 50-foot lap pool, yoga room, and squash courts, is among the city's best.

Like many D.C. luxury properties, the Fairmont caters mainly to business travelers during the week, but almost exclusively to tourists and families on the weekends. Because room prices tend to plummet on the weekends, once the expense-account guests clear out, it can often be a terrific value, as its gym (even with the $15-per-day access fee to use everything but the pool) gives it a significant advantage over other D.C. hotels in its price range, like the Westin Grand, the Marriott Washington, and Embassy Suites. But if a great room in Foggy Bottom is all that matters, opt for the Westin Grand or splurge on the Park Hyatt, which bests the Fairmont on every dimension.

View on a Larger Map

The Fairmont has a convenient location in the West End, though it's decidedly sleepier than Georgetown, its wealthier, more historic neighbor, a 10- to 15-minute walk west. The downside to the vicinity is that there aren't many restaurants, cafes, or signs of life -- for those you'll need to head to Dupont Circle, a 15-minute walk (or quick taxi), or to nearby Georgetown.

• 5-minute walk to the Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro stop (three stops on the Blue or Orange Line to downtown's Metro Center; five stops to Smithsonian museums)
• 10- to 20-minute walk to the heart of Georgetown and some of the city's best shopping and restaurants
• 10- to 15-minute walk to the Potomac River waterfront
• Five-minute walk to George Washington University
• 20- to 25-minute walk, or 5- to 10-minute taxi ride, to the White House and the Lincoln Memorial
• 15- to 20-minute walk, or two Metro stops (including a transfer), or five- to 10-minute taxi ride to Dupont Circle

The weight room

The Health Club at the Fairmont is a huge fitness center with top-of-the-line TechnoGym cardio and circuit-weight-training equipment. While the pool is free for guests to access, entry into the gym costs $15 per day.

• Cardio machines all have personal TV screens.
• Two beautiful studios for yoga, Pilates, and aerobics
• Speed bag, heavy bag, and boxing gloves
• Combination basketball, raquetball, and squash court
• Separate spinning room
• Steam room and dry saunas
• Well-outfitted locker rooms and a lounge with a flat-screen TV
• Workout clothes and swim trunks to borrow
• Personal trainers available for an extra fee
• Open Monday to Friday 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Spa offers massages, facials, nail care, and waxing services.

The pool

• 50-foot lap pool and separate whirlpool (free to access)
• Technology center with desktop PCs, a copier, and fax machine, but nothing is free; Internet for 34 cents a minute with a $7.40 minimum credit card swipe (staffed Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; key card access all other times)
• Pretty courtyard patio and garden with outdoor seating (a popular spot for wedding receptions)
• Miller Harris bath products in the guest rooms
• Spa offers massages, facials, nail care, and waxing services.
• Juniper restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch.
• Lobby Lounge serves light fare and cocktails throughout the day and evening.
• Colonnade Room serves an elaborate Sunday champagne brunch buffet ($65 a person).