Washington Marriott Wardman Park

The venue was beautiful and worked well for my conference. You could see the screens from the back, and the staff were attentive. My room stayed very cold even with the thermostat showing 78. That was fine for sleeping, but not for sitting around. I use a cane and have a cast, so valet was the easiest option, but it took over 20 minutes to bring my car when I was leaving. The valet area seemed understaffed, while the rest of the hotel seemed appropriately staffed or even overstaffed. If I hadn’t been left waiting in the cold for the car, this would have been a wonderful stay.

I spent just one day at the hotel for a week-long convention attended by people from across the US and other countries. It felt welcoming and had a great atmosphere, with lots of room for people to sit, talk, or get a snack. Some attendees stayed at the hotel for the whole convention. It was easy to check in and find the room for the panel discussion. I also had lunch at the hotel restaurant, where the food was excellent and the service wonderful. As a convention attendee, I got 20% off my bill. It’s a lovely place to hold a convention, with rooms for panel discussions.

The gardens are gorgeous, and I’ve now stayed here for two conventions. I love the vintage decor throughout many wings, and the rooms are arranged and decorated beautifully. There’s also a sauna, and breakfast on the concierge level is the best I’ve had at a hotel. When you’re stuck inside at 11 p.m. with no time and a budget, room service is quick and surprisingly cheap for this area. A pasta and meatball marinara was $14, with a $5 delivery charge for the whole order. It wasn’t great food, but it’s the best option besides pizza when you can’t go out.

I spent nearly the whole weekend inside because of the conference and cold weather. The facility was well kept, the food was good, and the staff were consistently professional and kind. The rooms were small and the price high, though it was similar to other places nearby. The customer service is what makes this hotel stand out.