SpringHill Suites by Marriott Ashburn Dulles North

The late Saturday evening front desk gentleman was exceptional. He stayed patient and understanding when the system blocked our cards for security reasons, and that was the best service we’ve ever had at a front desk. The hotel was tidy from the entrance through to the room, with enough towels for our short day trip. The shower soap amenities were amazing.

The cleaning and breakfast staff were friendly and easy to approach. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, though they could have been cleaner. There’s no restaurant at this location, and the bed only has an outlet on one side. The biggest problem was the snow. I stayed here to be near the hospital so I could go to work, but they didn’t plow the parking lot during or after the storm. When it was time to leave, my SUV got stuck. Luckily I had a shovel, but it took several hours to shovel a path through the lot, and I missed my shift.

The rooms are spacious, clean, and all suites, and I liked the European-style bathroom, with the toilet and shower in a separate room. There’s plenty of free parking, and the hotel is fairly modern and clean. The walls are thin, though. I could hear the elevator, people talking outside my room, and someone’s loud TV next door at midnight. The free breakfast was generous, but it often ended early. Staff seemed to signal that it was over by not refilling the coffee or hot water. I also couldn’t turn on any lights from bed, even with the nearest switch, unless I got up. Night check-in felt rushed, and the employee didn’t explain the amenities or give me the free points gift as a lifetime gold member. Still, it was a pretty good stay, and I’d likely return if I needed to be in or near Ashburn.

The room itself was nice and clean, which matters most, but a bunch of smaller problems made the stay mediocre. It was 1:30 am and I couldn’t sleep because I was cold and could clearly hear the person next door talking at a normal volume. The thermostat seemed to be there for show. I turned it up to 76 to test it, which should’ve made me miserably hot, but the room stayed around 67-68 degrees. The bathroom lighting was poor too. Only a tiny light above the small sink worked, while the low toilet light and fan were out. On the shower side, the little light above the shower worked, but the main mirror light didn’t, and the sinks were clogged. I’m not very happy with the stay.