The Westin Washington, DC Downtown

Yusuf made check-in easy and cheerful, and had some tasty, useful recommendations for DC. His service alone would earn this place five stars. The rooms were spotless, the showers had plenty of pressure, and the location is central. There are good dining and grab-and-go options, the bar and restaurant staff were pleasant, and I had a very helpful experience at the gift shop. The Westin DC Downtown is a real gem 💎.

The front desk staff were very nice, which was the one redeeming part of this stay. I can't say whether they were involved in the pricing issue, though. There were plenty of problems. The room was dirty, with used chewing gum left on the countertop and hair on the towels. I couldn't photograph the hair, but I did take a picture of the gum. At valet check-in, we were told there were no taxes. At checkout, we were charged $15/day in taxes, bringing parking to $100/day. We booked through the Amex hotel collection, which is supposed to include a $100 experience credit. It appeared on our folio at checkout, so we thought it was settled. Then at 3 am the next day, a new folio arrived with the credit removed. I've filed a ticket with Marriot corporate and will see what happens, but the bait-and-switch approach seems to be something this hotel likes. Gift shop items rang up for significantly more than their price tags, and the thank-you placard for our status had someone else's name on it. Sloppy. They were also selling hats labeled “made in America” that were made in China, during the 250th anniversary.

I like being able to keep the room fan running continuously at low, medium, or high. It’s perfect if, like me, you need white noise to sleep. The rooms are updated and quiet, and the main floor is a nice spot to lounge or catch up with colleagues. It’s my favorite hotel for the convention center. It isn’t attached, but it’s very close, and there are quick breakfast options.

They seem to have neglected just about every detail that makes a hotel stay comfortable. The rooms are poorly soundproofed, and if you’re within 40 feet of an elevator, expect constant banging and squeaking. They’ll send earplugs, at least. The door won’t latch properly unless you force it, and the valet price they tell you doesn’t match the price on their materials. Room service is a joke. You can’t talk to anyone when ordering, they can’t make a cocktail and send it up, only canned drinks. Food arrives in takeout boxes, and they leave out utensils unless you specifically ask. Even then, they still don’t bring them. This feels like a classless hotel dressed up with a nice lobby and exorbitant prices. When I think about the stay, I’d rather go to a Motel 6 because at least there I get what I pay for. I’m starting to think an insane asylum and straight jacket would be preferable. Marriott is absolute garbage.