June 1998 ZIG Meeting -- Accomodations -- Survey Comments from previous DC meeting
Following the April 1997 ZIG meeting in DC a survey was taken to get comments on hotels where participants stayed. The comments are given below. These do not constitute endorsement nor criticicm from the Maintenance Agency or LC. The comments are supplied mostly verbatim (with some sanitizing, and personal names and identifications removed).
- Radisson Barcelo, P Street NW
The rate was about twice what I'd paid at the same hotel
two weeks earlier; I don't make my own reservations (though
I asked the person who does to book this hotel because I like
being in Dupont Circle better than Capitol Hill) so who
knows what the deal was. It was expensive.
- Capitor Hill Suites, Capitol Hill.
Rate $139 per night. Location very convenient. Rooms tired and
service on the minimal side. I would stay there again for the
convenience.
- Capitol Hill Suites.
Convenient location.
- The Hampshire Hotel
1310 New HAmpshire Ave. N.W.
rate: $108.00 US (gov't rate)
Although the hotel is old and well worn at the corners,
the rooms are very large and comfortable and there is a
good restaurant in the hotel. The location is great -
one block from Dupont Circle and a metro ride away from LC.
I would recommend it, unless you are the type that prefers
plastic and new.
- Best Western Capitol Skyline
Location: 10, I street SW
Rate : Approx 100$+Tx/night (Corporate rate)
Recomm. ? No, for one main reason: the area became
incredibly NOISY at night!
Conv. loc? Not really. Had to take cabs (or walk). No metro
nearby.
- Sheraton City Centre, 1145 New Hamsphire Ave NW.
gov't
$124.
It's our regular DC hotel. Most folks complain that the rooms are
small. It is well kept, the staff is very pleasant. If you are
willing to take the metro it is conveniently located two blocks
from the Foggy Bottom Station in one direction and Dupont Circle in
the other. Or a $5-7 cab ride.
- Capitol Hill Suites
$108.41 plus tax per night convenient, would recommend in
general... BUT... They had no record of my CONFIRMED reservation,
and I had a bit of a hassel getting a room, although the
reservation had been made and confirmed a couple of months ahead of
time.
- Sheffield Suites(? The old Embassy Square)
$139/night I liked it. It had a nice view from the 7th floor.
The room was a reasonably large suite and the hotel
was 3 blocks from the Dupont Circle Metro hole.
- Radisson, near Dupont Circle.
I will stay near LC next time. I find it inconvvient to
travel to the meeting in the morning - a personal preference.
I remember liking the Capital Suites so will be there
next time.
- Hampshire Hotel
New Hampshire Ave NW, 1 block from Dupont Circle
Government rate: $108 + 15.54 tax
Very convenient location; 20 minutes by Metro from LC
The rooms are very large, but becoming worn. The bathroom is very
small. Separate WC/bath from washbasin Rooms have kitchen
facilities. Staff are pleasant. Not my favourite hotel, but cheap.
- Hotel: Holiday Inn Central, Rhode Island Avenue and
15th
Nightly rate: 157.41
Pleasant hotel, big room, good breakfasts, but room rate seemed
high. Easy to get to from McPherson or Dupont Circle Metro
stations. My only complaint would be the price. If I could get a
better rate I would be happy to stay there again.
- Holiday Inn Central
1501 Rhode Island Avenue
$109+taxes,etc=$129 (but they seem to negotiate - quoted $129
then when asked they discounted to $109 - but sometimes
"special rates" as low as $69).
Hotel rooms are fine as have been recently refurbished.
Hotel has bar and a resteraunt which includes a buffet dinner
that is good value at $12.95 and buffet breakfast at $8.95.
Is 10 mins walk from the metro - which is not so convenient.
But is on fringe of bad area - so dont feel like walking from
McPherson Square after dark - I walked from Dupont Circle.
I will try a hotel nearer the metro next time!
- Capitol Hill Suites
($109/night). Convenient
location, but I wouldn't recommend it or stay there again. The
rooms are shabby and not terribly clean. I stayed there a year
ago, and it seemed worse this time.
- Capitol Hill Suites
$109 per night. Yes, I
would recommend it. The location was wonderful - I'd far rather
sleep a little later in the morning and be right next to where I
have to meet than stay in a more lively location and have to
commute. Taking the metro in the evening to go out isn't bad.
The staff on the night (late) I arrived weren't too pleasant but,
after that, everyone was terrific. The room was pleasant and I
thank you for the recommendations.
- Dupont Plaza
1500 New Hampshire Ave NW (Dupont Circle) $110 (asked for a
government rate) I'd recommend this hotel. On the Metro -- an
easy ride to LC and the airport. Interesting
eating/shopping/entertainment
nearby.
- Howard Johnson 600 New York Ave NE
$62.50. One of the worst hotels I've ever stayed in; very noisy
(right over the train tracks and adjacent to US 50). No nearby
public transportation. Dismal neighborhood.
- Capitol Hill Suites
$109 per night (approx) Hotel was fine. Location was fine.
No on-site food preparred - you have to get a token and go to
the nearby restaurant.
- Dupont at the circle bed and breakfast
Off of
dupont circle Nice hosts, great breakfast. ONLY recomended for
heavy sleepers (light + noise in the rooms); and if privacy (among
other things the phone) is not an issue
- Dupont plaza hotel
Dupont circle. Fine
- Carlyle Suites, Dupont Circle
$100 per night
Convienent location but hotel poorly run and several problems made
stay unpleasent.
- Dupont Plaza
$144. Yes. Yes. Getting a bit
'long in the tooth, though'. Some of the other guests look like KGB
agents.
- Dupont At The Circle
Rate: not sure, I think around $120/night
Convenience: fine -- close to Dupont Circle and therefore
close to dining and Metro to LC. I liked this B&B (this is not a
hotel!). The bathroom was especially nice (jacuzzi), the people
friendly.
- Carlyle Suites
We told our travel department that we wanted to stay in the
Dupont circle area, and they put us into the Carlyle Suites. Our
rooms were about $100/night. It's on a very nice street, close to
many good restaurants. The hotel facility is fairly nice, but it's
very poorly run. They may be in the process of renovating the
place. It seems that they've divided former suites into to rooms,
so some are just sleeping rooms, and others are just living
room/kitchen facilities. These accommodations used fold-out sofas,
which weren't very comfortable for sleeping. There's a small bar
area off the lobby which provides a very small continental
breakfast (coffee, juice, and donuts). We stopped in one morning
before heading to the ZIG, and as we were leaving, someone handed
us a bill for $7.45. There was no warning that there was a charge
for the 'buffet'. Be warned! (The hotel staff told me that this was
a private enterprise, not connected to the hotel.)
April 2, 1998