WhyHotel by Placemakr, National Mall

The rooftop pool and gym were a real highlight, and having a grocery store six minutes away made it easy to stock the fridge without a car. We were visiting DC as a family, and the apartment was spacious and freshly renovated, with everything smelling new. Our original room had a problem on the first night, so I’d rate that room four stars. The staff found us a free backup corner room, which helped. For the price, the stay was a steal. One small hiccup at checkout: we’d been told we could pay with a different card if we brought it along, but the card on file had already been charged and they said it couldn’t be reversed. Not a big deal, but the information we got was different. Hope they can explain that more clearly.

For a $300 night, with parking and a cleaning fee on top, I expected a much easier stay. The app failed, check-in was a struggle, and I had to call several times. Nobody answered the phone or replied to my texts, and I never got the parking pass I’d requested ahead of time. The room was tiny, with about six inches between the bed and the surrounding walls. We had to move it just so both of us could climb in. Luckily we’re skinny. The bed was so low it was practically on the floor, and it was rock hard. The flat pillows didn’t help us sleep, either. I kept wondering why I hadn’t picked a reputable hotel. If you want a good night’s sleep and a stay without hassles, I’d look elsewhere.

The two-room setup worked perfectly for our family, or for two couples like us. The couple we traveled with kept saying what a good find it was because of the location. With the scooters around DC, you can get almost anywhere in 5-10 minutes. We’d recommend the week pass with “spin”. Everything was clean and had what we needed. The beds were comfortable, the AC worked well, and the washer and dryer were smaller units but did the job. There was enough shared space to relax in the evening. Communication was fantastic before, during, and after our stay. We had a few random questions and got quick, helpful replies, mostly by text, which was easy. For the price, location, staff, and value, this was a great choice. We’ll be back in DC and plan to stay here again!

Our room itself was nice enough, and the staff were very helpful. We’d been excited after seeing the online photos and the promise of staying so close to the National Mall, but the location turned out to be a problem. The highway outside our window had nonstop traffic all evening. The windows barely blocked any sound, and sleeping was almost impossible without headphones or earplugs. If we come back to DC, we’ll find somewhere else.