Crowne Plaza Crystal City Washington, D.C

I was nervous about the stay since American airlines had booked me here after my flight was canceled, and I’d never dealt with an overnight delay before. The emailed security code made check-in easy, and the staff were very kind. There’s an airport shuttle every 30 minutes starting at 430am. The room looked old, with a broken desk, a bedside lamp with a plug that didn’t work, and rust spots on the frames around the bathroom and hall doors. Still, the bed and pillows were really comfortable and the shower pressure was great. Since I only needed somewhere to sleep, those problems mattered less.

The bed was good once I finally got some sleep, and the location is great. But the lack of sound between rooms and the way noisy guests were handled made this a rough stay. I arrived after 11 pm, and the people next door yelled, swore, and threw things against our shared wall. Reception said staff had already asked them twice to quiet down, but they kept going. By 1 am, I gave up trying to sleep, got dressed, packed, and went downstairs for another room. I could still hear a group of women talking loudly through the vent in the new room, though it wasn’t as bad. Turning on the fan helped me fall asleep. At 4 am, when I got up to use the bathroom, they were still talking. Staff apologized and tried to help, but after two warnings the first group was still there. I don’t think the staff are able or willing to remove people for behavior like that, and the hotel seems to have almost no soundproofing. The hotel itself is fine for an ordinary trip, but being unable to sleep in a room you paid for is a serious problem. The next morning the lobby was full of National Guard in uniform. I don’t know whether that had anything to do with the sleepless night, but it stood out.

The location is convenient for walking to Whole Foods, a CVS, and some restaurants, and it felt safe. The staff were friendly and my room was clean. Still, I’d probably stay somewhere else next time I’m in Crystal City. The building needs a lot of attention: my headboard was badly worn and had a sticky stain, a past leak had been covered with a poor patch job, the carpet was stained, and wallpaper was peeling in spots. The elevators were especially worrying. They moved very slowly, stopped on floors nobody had selected, and each ride had me hoping I wouldn’t need a rescue. With so many choices near Reagan airport, I’d rather pay a little more for a better maintained hotel.

Crowne Plaza has a great team, kind, courteous, and fun to deal with. The location also makes it easy to get to trains, planes, and Ubers, with some of the best local restaurants close by. You’re near downtown DC but far enough out that it almost feels like a resort. The service and amenities are wonderful.