1199 Vermont Ave NW, Washington DC, United States | (202) 898-1100
Close to downtown business district and Dupont Circle
Free Wi-Fi in rooms and throughout hotel
Free hot breakfast buffet
Free dinner; Monday to Wednesday
Quality bedding
Only one queen-size bed in all room types
Fee to bring your pet
Its central location between the downtown attractions and the bars and restaurants of Dupont Circle, solid fitness center, free breakfast buffets, and even free dinners (Monday through Wednesday) makes the Residence Inn a fine pick for the price. But its rooms -- all kitchen-equipped studios and one-bedroom suites -- are older and more worn than the rooms at competing hotels.
Scene
Though the rooms could use an update, this all-suites hotel is a popular choice, mostly for its central location.
One of three Residence Inns in the greater D.C. area, this moderately busy 202-room outpost on Vermont Avenue has accommodating and friendly staffers, clean and spacious -- though slightly dated -- studios and one bedroom suites, and provides several hearty meals to guests.Compared to other suite-style hotels in D.C., like Embassy Suites or Homewood Suites, Residence Inns offer a little less flexibility for sleeping time. Rooms come with just one queen size bed (though all have a full size pullout couch). Decor is a bit outdated with scuffed-up furniture, but all of the rooms have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and well-equipped kitchen areas with plenty of cooking supplies and place settings for four. (In addition, staffers can do your grocery shopping for you. All you have to do is provide the shopping list.)Those who don't feel like picking up a spatula can also head downstairs to the hotel's "Hearth Room" for a hearty buffet breakfast (served Monday through Friday from 6 to 9 a.m. and weekends 7 to 10 a.m.) which includes a waffle bar, oatmeal bar, cold cereal, hot breakfast item like scrambled eggs and sausages, as well as assorted pastries, juice, coffee and tea. There's also free dinner buffet Monday through Wednesday, with filling American favorites like mac and cheese, barbequed chicken, and meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Thankfully, there's also a pleasant place to work it all off -- the fitness center is well-equipped and housed in a room with plenty of windows.Though this hotel could stand some improvements and updates, it's not a bad choice, if only for its central location: close to the popular tourist sites of downtown and restaurants and nightlife of Dupont Circle. Those set on collecting (or cashing in on) their Marriott Rewards points might also want to consider the Residence Inn Capitol. It's just just three blocks from the National Mall and has both an indoor pool and a Jacuzzi. Embassy Suites, which is closer to Georgetown, is the big winner for families with its festive lobby that includes a koi fish pond, as well as an indoor pool. If updated, modern, and stylish is what you need there's also Carlyle Suites in Dupont Circle, which has studio-style guest rooms and a great Art-Deco-style lobby.
Location
Great, central location with easy access to the sites of downtown D.C. and the restaurants and nightlife of Dupont Circle
The Residence Inn is located on Vermont Avenue, at the southern edge of Thomas Circle, which also joins Massachusetts, L, M, and 14th Streets. The area straddles two very disparate neighborhoods: the bustling business district and the vibrant, flourishing residential section at 14th Street, near Logan Circle.- Three blocks to the McPherson Square Metro Station (Orange and Blue Lines) which provides easy access to Smithsonian Center, the National Mall, the White House, and virtually every sight in downtown D.C.
Rooms
Studios and one bedroooms offer plenty of space but they're a little dated.
There's much that feels dated about the rooms at the Residence Inn, including worn-out furnishings. When I stayed, there were only tube TVs but the hotel has since updated to flat-screen TVs and all of the rooms have free Wi-Fi. The hotel has only studios and one-bedrooms.- All suites and studios just have a single queen-size bed.
One Bedroom Suite
Studio
1199 Vermont Ave NW, Washington DC, United States
(202) 898-1100