American Guest House

Lucia, the owner, and Matthew, the manager, made our Washington DC stay feel special. Lucia is warm and sweet, and always seemed to be looking for ways to go beyond what we'd expect. Matthew was capable, polite, and efficient. We really appreciated the kindness, recommendations, and help from both of them. We were in town to submit a visa application at the SA Embassy, so we needed a place near Massachusetts Ave, or “Embassy Row”. We like boutique hotels, B&Bs, and smaller places for the personal service, and The American Guest House delivered that and more. It's a historic colonial style house with twelve rooms and plenty of history. There are four floors and no elevator, so it's a chance to get some exercise, but don't let that put you off. Staff will bring your luggage to your room. The whole B&B, including our spotless room, was clean. The warm breakfast was served with care and could be personalized. In the dining area, there was a refrigerator with fruit, Greek yogurt, different kinds of milk, butter, peanut butter, and more, plus breads, muffins, coffee, and tea. The hot option included eggs with vegetables and bacon. Lots of restaurants are within walking distance. Being there felt like stepping back to a time when quality mattered.

We had a really good stay. The staff were so friendly, the room was comfortable, and breakfast was great. We especially liked the owner, who took time to chat with us during our visit.

The place is old and run down, and the toilet kept running after I flushed. I managed to stop it that evening, but it was doing it again by morning. Breakfast is charged for, yet it doesn't start until 8:30. Early travelers are promised a banana and muffin, but neither was there. Check-in doesn't begin until 4 p.m., later than at other hotels nearby, and they charge extra if you want to arrive earlier. A very disappointing experience.

The host was wonderful and knew so much about the area. This had the feel of a friendly home, with privacy when I wanted it, and the central location made it easy to get around. The Metro was easy to reach, too. Breakfast was a great start to the day. It felt like a concierge style experience, and I'm so glad I found this place. I'll definitely stay again. You all did a great job, and I'll see you soon. Many thanks for having me as your guest.