Category: DC

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Westin Crystal City, VA (January 2021)

Booking

Booked using Marriott.com for $59 per night before tax. Total room charges inculsive of tax was $133.74.

Property

Once upon a time, this property was a Sharaton (I’d guess around seven years ago). That’s about where the fixtures are in the refresh cycle; worn, but not terrible.

Checkin

Checkin was easy, and they asked if I’d stayed at the hotel. Despite COVID, the bar was open past five, and for breakfast they offered a selection of items from the gift shop on a prefilled card. I got a frozen breakfast sandwich, Kind bar, and OJ both days.

Room

Reasonably large, fairly typical Westin room. Looking at the fire-escape map on the door, it looks like most rooms on my floor were the same.

Food and beverage

I did get several very strong vodka-tonics from the bartender, who was very nice.

Service

Service was friendly and helpful.

Rating (out of five)

Three stars.

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The Chaedrol Hotel Guide does not provide “balanced” reviews of stays, but rather our reviewers’ experiences at properties. Star ratings are based on price, so that a luxury or budget hotel may both receive either no or five stars, and factor in extenuating circumstances. Your actual experience may vary.

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Westin Washington, D.C. City Center (December 2020)

Boarded up downtown Washington, DC, somewhat near Westin

Booking

Used marriott.com to prepay for a Traditional King as a Bonvoy Platinum. Upgraded one notch to a Cityview King, surprising (in a bad way) for a legacy SPG property. Unfortunately, the unpleasant surprises didn’t end there.

Property

Yes, this is where Marion Barry uttered his infamous catch phrase, and the lobby is a throwback to brutal, semiatrium-style luxury. We all looked better back in the day, so there’s that.

Checkin

Terse front desk associate started off by scolding me for not standing directly in front of the plastic shield. She then explained the “upgrade” and that the hotel had no food or beverages, aside from the bottles water she handed me. Delivery drivers could meet me in the lobby, she helpfully pointed out.

Room

A standard Westin room at the midway point in the refresh life cycle. One “Juliet” balcony and no other windows. Fifty days here would be a bleak path to Platinum.

Food and beverage

Nope.

Service

Nope.

Rating (out of five)

There is a lot of hotel competition in DC, except right now. I’m guessing the Westin brand (and approach to revenue management) keeps this stale rooming house afloat.

Two stars.

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The Chaedrol Hotel Guide does not provide “balanced” reviews of stays, but rather our reviewers’ experiences at properties. Star ratings are based on price, so that a luxury or budget hotel may both receive either no or five stars, and factor in extenuating circumstances. Your actual experience may vary.