The Watergate Hotel

Breakfast was the one disappointment. The options were awful, though there are plenty of great breakfast places nearby. Otherwise my first stay at the Watergate Hotel was a big success. The valet and bell staff were especially good, and service was top notch. Our room was spacious with incredible views of the Potomac and the Washington monument. My son loved the indoor pool, and his mom enjoyed the sauna and other spa options. The downstairs bar has a great outdoor space for cigars. The location works well with or without a car. If you’re driving, daily parking was reasonable and the hotel is right off Rock Creek Parkway. Without a car, there are lots of taxis around, which I think are a much better value in DC these days.

The front desk manager, Dayron, handled a small room issue quickly and professionally, and immediately upgraded us. Aziz the bellman was also a gem, so kind, attentive, and welcoming. The front desk staff were phenomenal throughout, and room service was fast. Housekeeping left everything neat and organized with real care. We had an incredible stay at the Watergate Hotel. The sauna and pool were spotless and beautifully maintained, which made the experience feel luxurious. We’ll definitely stay here again when we’re in DC. Highly recommend!

We had a comfortable bed, and the room was clean and nicely decorated. Our balcony overlooked the courtyard. The hotel was beautiful inside, in a great location, and the staff were pleasant and accommodating. My family of four enjoyed our stay very much, and there was storage for our bikes. A couple of small things: the trash cans didn’t have bags, and it would’ve been nice to have room in the mini-fridge for our own things. It was stocked with drinks, so we took a few out to make space and put them back before leaving. We used the pull-out bed, but had to call down for linens. The pool and fitness center are downstairs. The saltwater pool is kept at 80 degrees F, and the sauna and hot tub were relaxing. The facilities close at 9pm, which I wish had been later, maybe 10 or 11pm. I highly recommend the hotel.

Everyone was very nice and our room was very clean, but I’m rating the stay a two because communication around the hotel was poor. I explained at check-in that we had a spa package and was told to book quickly because appointments would fill up. No one made clear that I had to call the spa separately, which would’ve been useful to know. My partner and I are both sober, but when we ordered mocktails at the whiskey bar, I was served a drink with tequila in it. I’m in recovery, so you can imagine how upsetting that felt. I talked to the GM about taking a meal or two off my bill, but that never happened. The bill still showed all the meals, despite what I’d been promised. The package also included a 3pm checkout. The front desk staff initially didn’t know about it, though we sorted out the late checkout in the end. Between 12 and 2, at least three people came into our room because they hadn’t been told about the arrangement. The food at the restaurants was good, but being served alcohol and the confusion over the spa package were frustrating.