Washington, DC luxury hotels

I spent last weekend in Washington, DC to attend my nephew's wedding. I took advantage of being there to make some hotel site inspections ... and to see some sights along the way. Pictured above is one of the more famous residences in the city. However, it's not an easy place to book a room!

The most requested luxury hotels in Washington, DC are the Four Seasons Washington, the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, the Park Hyatt, and the Hay Adams (currently undergoing a complete renovation). I took the opportunity to visit some less requested Virtuoso hotels. Here are my inspection reports of those Washington DC luxury hotels.

St. Regis Washington. An intimate hotel built in 1926 by a Turkish businessman in the style of an Italian Renaissance palace, I was impressed by the intricately carved 18-foot high wooden ceiling in the hotel's lobby. The location of the St. Regis is ideal for business travelers who want to be convenient to the lobbying firms on K Street or Washington's high-powered corporate law firms - and it is the home to Adour by Alain Ducasse. Guest rooms are small and feature a traditional style. The Superior room I saw was 350 square feet with a gold and red color scheme. Built-ins installed during the 2007 renovation provide hanging space and drawers, creating a bit more floor space in the process. Bathrooms are very small with a single vanity and a shower (but not a tub).

The Willard InterContinental has an impressive history. Abraham Lincoln stayed at the Willard prior to his Inauguration, and Ulysses Grant used to smoke cigars in the lobby and "hold court" with individuals seeking favors (giving rise to the term lobbyist). Rooms have traditional styling in shades of red, green, and gold. Rooms are comfortably sized, beginning at 450 square feet, but bathrooms are small with a shower in the tub and only a single vanity.

The Mandarin Oriental Washington is located near the Department of Agriculture and is quite convenient to the various Smithsonian museums. The hotel has constructed a private footbridge to the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial, and the lobby has a round atrium reminiscent of the architecture of the memorial. Guest rooms are comfortable and well-sized, 400-700 square feet, with large bathrooms that feature step-in showers but only a single vanity. The hotel's restaurant, CityZen, is one of the best restaurants in the city, overseen by Chef Eric Ziebold (who worked with Thomas Keller at The French Laundry).

Want to enjoy free breakfasts and more at the seven hotels mentioned in this article? Just book through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant to receive complimentary daily breakfasts for two, room upgrade upon arrival if available, and additional amenities that differ by property.


Washington DC luxury hotels (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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