Rendale Washington DC Hotel

The location is good, and the modern, fun design looks appealing, but the quality was poor. This is a hostel, not the three-star hotel it presents itself as online. There’s a $50 resort fee that only came up at check-in, and if I’d known the full cost, I would have stayed across the street at a recognizable hotel. There’s no room service, and standard items like shampoo and bottled water cost extra. The TV barely gets cable, has no streaming apps, and its sound kept cutting out. The room phone couldn’t call outside lines. The bathroom had no ventilation, and the shower head was poor. The pillows weren’t great either, and the lighting was inadequate. Service was all right, but when I called to ask if something was wrong with the TV, a man came to my room just to say the streaming apps didn’t work and the old Direct TV setup couldn’t be fixed. The restaurant, bar, and cafe also count as separate businesses, so you can’t charge orders to the room even though they’re in the same building. We were glad to leave.

Amanda at the coffee shop made the visit especially nice. She was cheerful every time, the service was great, and the coffee was fabulous. Thanks, Amanda. I’ll come back next year. The Rendale exceeded what I expected. My room was spacious and clean, with a great feel and decor, and I had no concerns about the bathroom, gym, or other amenities. The bath, heat, and lighting were all good. Staff throughout the hotel were friendly, patient, gracious, and helpful. It felt like good value, and the location made it easy to walk everywhere. I also felt safer here than at other similar places I’ve stayed around the world. I’d happily stay again.

There was no hot water, even though it was -3°C (27°F) outside. After flying in from LA, I wanted a hot shower, but staff said they had to cut the gas. I was paying full price and ended up with an ice-cold shower in the middle of winter. The room situation was unsettling too. I booked a bed at Generator Washington DC and was assigned to Room 701, which felt like someone’s permanent home. It was full of water crates, personal clothes, candles, and desktop monitors. People there seemed to live in the room, moved my luggage, played speakers loudly, and one person sprayed air freshener over my head. The front desk admitted they were long-term residents. I was there for work and couldn’t rest while they shouted at each other at 5 a.m. It felt awkward and unsafe, like I was intruding in someone else’s life. I’ve stayed in motels ten times more professional. Generator DC is selling hostel beds in rooms used by permanent residents. If you get a key to 701, run.

Amanda, one of the baristas, is so sweet and makes really good drinks. Whether you’re staying at the hotel or just nearby, I’d definitely recommend stopping by its cafe. It’s a great spot for locals and visitors.