The Westin Georgetown

The Westin is an upscale business chain hotel that's popular with business travelers and wedding parties (it's got a lovely outdoor courtyard with a fountain that makes for a good nuptial backdrop). It's housed in a light-stone building amidst the corporate buildings and apartments of D.C.'s West End, with a wrought-iron awning that adds sophistication to the entrance. Inside, the lobby is casual but well-maintained, with booth-style seating arrangements (each with USB-enabled plug points) that allow for some privacy when conducting informal business chats, and most guests are business travelers. However, extensive kid-friendly facilities, such as a kids' club, children's menus, and the option of arranging connecting rooms or renting cribs and rollaway beds make it a good choice for families who don't mind being away from the city's main political and cultural attractions. The hotel is also dog-friendly, and dogs are allowed free of charge in some rooms. 

Despite its name, The Westin Georgetown is actually located in the heart of the West End, Georgetown's decidedly sleepier, less interesting neighbor, in an area dominated by corporate buildings. The downside to the neighborhood is that most popular tourist attractions are a bit of a hike, and it doesn't have many restaurants, cafes, or bars (aside from those in neighboring luxury hotels, the Park Hyatt Washington, Fairmont Washington, and Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C.). For more action, its best to head to Dupont Circle, a 15-minute walk away, or to nearby Georgetown, a 10- to 15-minute walk away. It's a five-minute walk to George Washington University and to the Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro stop (three stops on the Blue or Orange Line to downtown's Metro Center; five stops to Smithsonian museums). In addition, it's a 10- to 15-minute walk to the Potomac River waterfront, home of the Kennedy Center and the Watergate Hotel, and a 20- to 25-minute walk or five- to 10-minute taxi ride to the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. It takes around 15 minutes or so by taxi to get to other points of interest on The Mall, such as the Smithsonian Museum and the Capitol Building, and it's 15-minute drive to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, while Dulles International Airport takes a minimum of 35 minutes to reach by car. 

The Westin offers a variety of rooms and suites, ranging from 200- to 300-square-foot (61- to 91-square meter) Traditional Rooms clear up to a one-of-a-kind 1,575-square-foot (480-square-meter) Presidential Suite, complete with a kitchenette, dining area, and even its own pool table. Decor is neutral and easily forgettable, but not unpleasant, with light-wood furniture, sofas and easy chairs in muted earth tones, and floor-to-ceiling windows with light-hued blackout curtains. Bathrooms are equally plain, but big, with separate walk-in rainfall showers and deep soaking tubs, plus water closets with doors to keep them separated from the main part of the bathrooms. All rooms have air-conditioning, safes, flat-screen TVs with video check-out options, and coffeemakers with Starbucks coffee; fridges and microwaves can be arranged on request. Rollaway beds and cribs are available for a fee and connecting rooms are on offer. 

The Westin offers a good array of features, including a large fitness center with cardio and weight-trianing equipment. As standard at Westin properties around the world, New Balance exercise clothes and shoes can be borrowed from the front desk. There's also a small outdoor lap pool with a few sofa-style benches and lounge chairs, but it's only open during the late spring and summer months. The pool is more designed for lap swimming than for playing, though there is a Westin Kids' Club on the property for younger guests. The Caucus Room Brasserie-Steakhouse seres breakfast and lunch seven days a week plus dinner on weekends. The menu focuses on French-inspired bistro fare, and there's a kids menu on the weekends. The bar, Boveda, touts itself as a "Latin Speakeasy" and served dinner seven days a week, with long happy hours on weekday evenings.Business facilities include a variety of indoor and outdoor meeting space for business groups of up to 200 people or weddings of up to 180 people, including six smaller rooms and a huge contemporary ballroom. Guests with last-minute meeting needs can also book Tangent at Westin, a work space that can be booked out by the hour. There's also a business center, and Starwood loyalty club (SPG) members get free Wi-Fi if they book through the hotel's website; those booking through third parties should expect to pay for the privilege in 24-hour increments. Wi-Fi is free for all guests in the lobby. Dogs (but not cats) are allowed in select rooms, and fees are only charged in case of damages. The hotel also provides dog bed, bowls, waste bags, and treats for guests traveling with their pups. Parking is available for a hefty daily fee.