Washington Marriott Rating: 3.5 Pearls

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

A Standard Room

As with many midlevel chain hotels, one of the key variables is when the property was last renovated. This Marriott is still feeling pretty fresh thanks to a top-to-bottom renovation in 2007. The lobby is colorful, bright, and open with a massive skylight and a lot of people tapping away on their laptops, making use of the free Wi-Fi. (Wi-Fi is $12.95 a day in the rooms.)

Likewise, the large (420-square-foot on average) rooms are well appointed with deep carpeting; granite-topped hardwood dressers; a big swivel-top desk; a cool connectivity board for plugging your computer into the 32-inch flat-screen; plush and bouncy beds with 300-thread-count linens, featherbeds, down comforters, and good pillows. The bathrooms also have quality goods: granite counters, Kohler faucets, soft combed-cotton towels, a pair of plush terry-cotton robes, and orange-and-ginger infused bath products.

The amenities are ample, if not extraordinary for the area. The heated indoor pool is a substantial 30 feet by 15 feet and is adjoined by a small Jacuzzi and a dry sauna. The adjacent fitness center has plenty of up-to-date equipment, including five Life Fitness treadmills, three stepmasters, two bikes, and a bunch of strength machines. And the 2nd-floor mezzanine houses a fairly serious business center that's staffed from 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (Use of the computers costs 50 cents a minute; copies and faxes are free up to 20 pages.)

If the place has a deficiency, it's the service. A doorman watched disinterestedly as I dragged my bag out of the cab on my own; later I noticed a bellhop behind the front door talking on his cell phone -- and he was doing the same thing when I left the next day. I got much friendlier and more responsive service from the staff at the Embassy Suites across the street.

The rooms are bigger at the comparably priced Embassy Suites as well. In fact, were it not for the rowdy, kid-filled lobby there, I'd say it's the better option of the two for anyone. As it is, families traveling with kids should choose the Embassy Suites. If you're hoping for a mellower environment, or to get a little work done in the lobby, you'll prefer the Marriott.

View on a Larger Map

The Washington Marriott is located on a quiet strip of 22nd Street between M and N Streets, in a convenient spot on the edge of the West End. 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 nightlife -- for those you'll need to head to Dupont Circle, a 15- to 20-minute walk (or quick taxi), or to nearby Georgetown.

• Eight-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 five to 10 minutes by taxi) to the White House and the Lincoln Memorial
• 15- to 20-minute walk, or two Metro stops to Dupont Circle