Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington D.C. Georgetown

Fully renovated in 2016, the hotel scrapped the palm trees and lush greenery in its sprawling central atrium for a more, clean, modern look. It now features contemporary decor in cool shades of gray, blue, and purple. The atrium is also home to a lobby bar and restaurant that is open for dinner. It's geared towards families and groups, who are attracted by its indoor pool, third-party kid-friendly game room, free cooked-to-order breakfasts, and most importantly, its big two-room suites with sofa beds. It's also popular with business travelers, but Wi-Fi costs a daily fee, and they might have to compete with kids running through the atrium's open business center.

The hotel is conveniently located within a 10-minute drive of the downtown business district, National Mall, heart of Georgetown, and The White House -- but don't expect to walk out the door and step into the action. There are a few restaurants nearby, but most attractions, dining, and shopping, are at least a 10-minute walk, around Dupont Circle. It's a 10-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). The heart of Georgetown and some of the city's best shopping and restaurants, are about a 15- to 20-minute walk away.  Expect a 15-minute drive to either the White House or the Lincoln Memorial. Dulles International Airport is a 40-minute drive away.

The hotel's 318 suites are large and include separate living rooms with sofa beds, armchairs and dining (or work) tables. The decor was updated in 2016, and has a contemporary look and neutral palate, accented by cherry blossom wall art. Standard suites have bedrooms with one king-size, or two queen-size beds, while Executive Suites add boardrooms with seating for 12 on roller chairs. Living rooms have wet bars, mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. iPod docks also come standard, along with 42-inch flat-screen TVs, but Wi-Fi incurs a fee for everyone except Hilton members who book direct. The bathrooms have large lighted vanities and tiled shower/tub combos.

The heart of the hotel is its bright atrium lobby, with a sprawling lounge area and a lobby bar. A daily manager's reception lasts for two hours and includes wine, beer, and cocktails, along with free snacks. Free breakfast is served here, as a hot buffet with cooked-to-order omelets, and District Tap, the restaurant, is open for dinner. There's a 24-hour business center with several computers (both Mac and PC) along with a printer/fax machine. The heated indoor pool and hot tub has a few loungers with towels thoughtfully accessible, and there's an adjacent fitness center on the second floor, with an array of cardio machines, weight trainers, and free weights. A gift shop and game room in the lobby are operated by third parties. Self-parking is pricey and the hotel has no valet parking.