HYATT house Sterling/Dulles Airport-North

The $11 daily parking fee was a lot to pay on top of the discomfort and inconvenience we dealt with. The property felt poorly managed, with weak maintenance and little enforcement of the smoking policy. Front desk staff were left to deal with problems they couldn’t control, including upkeep and infrastructure investment, and apparently couldn’t remove guests openly breaking the no-smoking rule. People following the rules were the ones inconvenienced, and even ignored. Marijuana smell kept turning up throughout the hotel, including in non-smoking rooms, by the entrance and in the lot, and even from employee-only areas. We were assigned room 607 for a week, and the odor hit us as soon as we walked in. The front desk manager confirmed the hotel was entirely non-smoking, but had no other room to offer and only suggested housekeeping spray air freshener. We opened the window and went to dinner; when we got back, it was less pungent, so we stayed that night. The next day the smell returned. Danielle at the front desk was very helpful. She spoke with the occupants in the adjoining suite, which we figured was the source, and moved us to the first floor. The new room had no marijuana smell, but the hallway did. Most of the odor seemed to come from the fire sprinkler room a few doors away, which only employees could access. Our new window wouldn’t open; the desk said they were secured for safety, though room 607’s window opened wide. The two elevators were slow, and one was out of service for our entire visit. The business center computer never worked either, but Jean at the desk went out of her way to print things for us. Karen was also very helpful and professional. I emailed the front desk manager, Sunny, about the issues and asked that they be raised with the general manager. The GM’s office is off the lobby, but its door was always shut and we never saw anyone there. Sunny replied, but the message didn’t materially change anything about our stay. It felt like an attempt to pacify me. No one else from the hotel got back to me despite my specific request, which is why I’m writing this review.

The $11-a-night parking fee spoiled an otherwise pleasant experience. This is a suburban property with an open lot beside a highway, not a downtown business district. Someone moderating reviews told another guest the charge was for maintaining the lot. That’s a ridiculous explanation. Why not tack on another $11 for the room, breakfast, or elevator since those need maintenance too? The rooms were clean and comfortable. Front desk service was friendly across all three shifts, and the general manager we met was very nice.

This is a lovely place, and the staff were friendly and helpful, apart from the housekeeping problems. Breakfast was pretty upscale for a hotel, and I’d recommend it if you want a nice place with privacy. Bring a car, though, since it’s not very walkable. Housekeeping was uneven during our stay. On day one they changed the trash but left the dirty bag in our luggage and didn’t clean the bathroom. They came around 1 pm on the second day and did okay; someone was sleeping, so they were limited, and I don’t hold that against them. They didn’t come at all on day three.

The lobby has upscale decor, with flagstones and rock details on the walls. The airport shuttle left on time, and getting to Dulles was easy. My room was spacious, with a full-size fridge, microwave, and stovetop. I was especially glad to find a regular hinged bathroom door, since the sliding doors in several recent hotels I’ve used didn’t block sound. Breakfast was excellent, starting at 6 am, or 6:30 on weekends. You can slip in and get started while they’re still setting up.