Springhill Suites by Marriott Alexandria Old Town/Southwest

It was hard to find, and I wouldn’t book here again. I had trouble sleeping because the room was noisy by the elevator, with sound coming from the hallway air vents. We found free earplugs by the bed, so maybe we should have known. Parking and Tesla charging both cost extra. The charging fee wasn’t disclosed clearly, and the price wasn’t reasonable. I could have gone to a standard Tesla service station for a quick charge that’s free for me. On the plus side, the rooms are nicer than average, the toilet is separate from the shower, and the pullout sofa bed is good.

We were there for three nights, and the location was really convenient. The suites felt new and were very nice, with comfortable beds and great shower pressure. Breakfast was decent. I chose the hotel partly because its website said it had a pool and hot tub, but a sign when we arrived said the pool area would be closed for another week. That was disappointing. Looking more closely, it seems the hot tub has been filled in for some time, so they no longer have one despite advertising it. 8/10.

The beds are comfortable, and the internet is fast and free. Furniture in the rooms has been updated, but the heating and cooling system is very old, and the shower pressure is poor. Parking costs $15 per day. You can open the windows, but one side of the hotel faces a train yard where the air is dirty, and it’s also by the highway.

I made my reservation just before 3 PM, but they couldn’t issue a mobile key before I arrived at 9:30 PM. The check-in process feels ridiculously outdated. Parking was $15 for an open lot where cars had clearly been sitting for over a week in the snow. I’m a Titanium Elite member, travel all the time, and other properties issue mobile keys. Before anyone responds, don’t make up an excuse about needing to check IDs. From now on, I’m making a habit of giving one-star reviews to Marriott properties that don’t issue mobile keys. Do better. I won’t stay here again.