Le Méridien Washington, D.C., The Madison

The $30 nightly destination fee was the one thing that took away from an otherwise spot-on visit. I know many chains charge something like this now, but it was a surprise at check-in and should be made clearer beforehand. We only stayed one night, and it was just what we wanted: a comfortable, polished room with thoughtful little touches. The staff were welcoming and check-in went smoothly. I didn’t get to try the restaurant or lounge, but the coffee from the marketplace was delicious. The location is a real plus, just a few blocks from the White House and easy for walking around.

The lounge for elite members was a nice extra, with a full breakfast and evening appetizers that were basically dinner. The staff were excellent too. Everyone I interacted with was friendly, kind, hospitable, and seemed genuinely glad to be there. It’s a beautiful, enormous hotel in downtown, modern and impeccably clean throughout. The rooms have brand new LG smart TVs, large windows, and very comfortable mattresses. Probably the best Marriott I’ve stayed at in the US.

Samira sorted out a few credits and charges that hadn’t adjusted properly when I checked out. She made the corrections quickly and without question. The lounge had good breakfast and evening food, and the staff there made sure we were taken care of. Lady Madison was fantastic as well. I rarely review hotels, but this quick DC getaway was phenomenal from check-in to check-out. The staff were great throughout. I’ll definitely consider Le Meridien next time I’m in DC for work or a personal trip.

I won’t be coming back. There are much better places for the same price or less. I booked five nights at Le Meridien and found the service awful and stingy. The mini fridge costs extra, and the coffee machine, which was terrible, was only available by request. I had to call twice to get one, and the front desk didn’t sound friendly either time. The breakfast buffet was around $20 per person, yet seemed about the same quality as the free breakfast at cheaper hotels. I paid mostly with points through my credit card portal, but still got billed after checkout for the mandatory $30 per night “destination package.” Watch out for that hidden fee. After I left, I spotted an error on the bill and quickly asked for it to be fixed. They never sent an updated bill, and the chat vanished from the Marriott app, though my card was charged the corrected amount.