The Westin Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Rating: 3.5 Pearls

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

Small, but comfortable lobby area

"You know, it's a Westin." That would be my first response if you asked how my stay was at the Westin Grand. Cheap shorthand, sure, but effective. The translation? Pleasant, but pretty generic -- you won't find particularly innovative design, fun extra touches, or variety in the artwork or room layouts. Yet rooms are clean and comfortable, with all the Westin signatures you find in all the chain's hotels -- white-tea-aloe bath products and those popular "Heavenly" beds -- and the service is efficient and cordial, but not doting. In other words, it's just what you'd expect from an upper-middle-range chain hotel in the middle of a big city. It's a lot like describing a Starbucks ("You know, it's a Starbucks ..."), which, incidentally, is another Westin staple: Every room features a coffee machine and several bags of Starbucks brew. The hotel also has a lounge and restaurant on site. Dusk serves wine, microbrews, and small plates, while the M Street Grill is open for breakfast and lunch daily. For sit-down dinner, guests will have to look elsewhere.

That said, this Westin distinguishes itself in several key ways. First, its small lobby and eight-story layout -- the hotel resembles an apartment building -- help lend the place a boutique vibe. Nice extra touches like flavored water in the lobby and cocktail hours (apple cider in the winter) three to five evenings a week add to the intimacy. Also, the Westin's main themes (wellness, peace of mind, and an emphasis on the senses), which are often more gimmickery than anything else, actually manifest themselves at the Westin Georgetown. The restaurant serves healthy fare; the hotel manager occasionally leads morning jogs; and a pleasant scent fills the air in the lobby.

With these midsize, business-oriented hotels, a huge factor is inevitably how recently the property, and especially the rooms, were renovated. In that respect, the Westin Georgetown comes out ahead of most of its competitors. All rooms were renovated in 2008; with the exception of a few small nicks and stains, my room looked great. At about 350 square feet, the standard rooms are average size for a Washington hotel, but they seemed to me plenty spacious. They're also fairly average priced relative to the competition, though like many hotels in D.C., the Westin can get pricey on certain busy nights.

You can't really go wrong with any of the Westin's Foggy Bottom neighbors. Although most are high-end places -- the Ritz, the Fairmont, the Park Hyatt -- the Washington Marriott and Embassy Suites are solid midrange alternatives. Then again, you can't go too wrong with the Westin Georgetown either.

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Despite the name, the Westin sits in the heart of the West End, Georgetown's decidedly sleepier, less interesting neighbor. The downside to the neighborhood is that most popular tourist attractions are a bit of a hike; and it doesn't have many restaurants, cafes, or bars. For those, you'll need to head to Dupont Circle, a 15- to 20-minute walk (or quick taxi), or to nearby Georgetown.

• Five-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 15-minute walk to the heart of Georgetown and some of the city's best shopping and dining
• 10- to 15-minute walk to the Potomac River waterfront, home of the Kennedy Center and the Watergate Hotel
• Five-minute walk to George Washington University
• 20- to 25-minute walk or five- to 10-minute taxi to the White House and Lincoln Memorial
• 15-minute taxi to other points of interest on the Mall (Smithsonian, Capitol Building)
• Close to Foggy Bottom stop on the Metro (D.C.'s subway), but more than half a mile from any other stops

The outdoor courtyard, one of several ceremony and reception locations

• Wedding Size: Up to 170 people; up to two weddings may occur at once

• Extra Fees: In addition to the ceremony fee, you'll have to spend a minimum, depending on the day of the week and the wedding location. Also, note that there's an additional service charge as well as the food and beverage tax.

• Wedding Package: The standard wedding package includes between three and five hours of an open bar, passed hors d'oeuvres (canapés), a plated dinner or food stations with wine, and a honeymoon suite for the bride and groom.

• Ceremony and Reception Locations: In the courtyard, the Washington Ballroom, the Washington Foyer, the M Street Grille, or the Promenade

• Food: You can choose between a plated dinner or a number of dining stations; the large menu is adjusted seasonally but generally includes entrees like roasted chicken, pan-seared salmon, or slow grilled rib eye as well as more eclectic items like Israeli couscous or vegetarian white truffle risotto. Kids', kosher, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu items are available on request.

• Cakes: On top of the standard package price, a cake is an additional price per person.

• Spa Treatments: There's no full service spa and salon facilities on-site, so you'll have to make hair and makeup appointments elsewhere.

• Honeymoon Suite: Each wedding package includes one of two honeymoon suites for the bride and groom.