Hilton Arlington

The walls are thin enough that I could hear my neighbors talking. Still, the beds were comfortable, and the food was better than at most Hilton hotels I’ve visited. Service was good, and the staff were friendly and helpful. I’d consider staying again if I’m in the area.

The location is excellent, with IHOP across the street and major chains and good restaurants nearby. It isn’t far from the city center, and the staff are friendly. The restaurant serves good food. For Honors members, restaurant and parking charges code as Hilton, so you can use the $50 Surpass credit here. There’s a lounge, and members at Gold level or above should find it useful. It has water, soda, fruit, and granola bars, though there’s no welcome snack or drink. Diamond members can use it from 6:30am to 10pm. Breakfast runs 6:30am to 10:30am, has a wide selection, and costs $18 unless you’re Gold or above, when it’s free. Honors members can also order discounted omelets for $6. Parking is $22 a day. SpotHero at the next block costs half as much, and the hotel garage is extremely narrow. I’ve parked in major cities all over the US, including Chicago, NYC, Honolulu, and LA, and this was the worst garage I’ve encountered. The entrance turn is so tight, with a high curb or barrier, that I think your rims will get scratched no matter how slowly and carefully you drive. The garage also has a separate elevator from the ones serving the hotel floors. The rooms are small, and the carpet felt sticky. The bathroom has no lock, which makes no sense to me. Bathroom privacy matters, especially when you’re traveling with very young children. The refrigerator is hard to find because it’s hidden behind a cabinet door that looks like drawers. As a Diamond member, I asked for a larger room and wasn’t upgraded to one. I did get an automatic upgrade to the executive floor, but it was the same small, basic room, just higher up. At a reasonable rate this could be a good stay. At a higher price, I’d choose somewhere outside DC with more space and free parking.

I come to DC often for work and keep choosing this hotel for its location and convenience. The staff always try to accommodate me, and I’m grateful for that. On one visit I wasn’t feeling well after traveling, and the bald front desk employee with a beard got me into my room very early. He was especially helpful. Some of my recent stays, though, have been in rooms that smelled moldy or had fixtures that didn’t work or looked worn out. The staff are phenomenal, and the location is hard to beat, but the building needs a remodel. Coworkers stay at the Marriott or Westin across the street and walk a couple of blocks because they feel better in those rooms. I think renovating would help this hotel compete with both Ballston Marriotts.

The front desk team were so hospitable, and the restaurant crew were great. I hate giving less than five stars when the service was excellent, but the hotel itself is aged and needs care. Apart from the nicely decorated lobby, the decor looks like it’s from the ’80s. Every wall outlet was loose, so charging anything was a pain, with power bricks falling out. Worst of all was the bedding: sheet, duvet, sheet. It came apart easily, and the linens felt incredibly cheap and didn’t breathe. Under that blanket, I felt like I was inside a tent.