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.)

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  April 2, 1998