Residence Inn by Marriott Washington, DC/Foggy Bottom — Hotel in Washington

When George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln invented America many millennia ago, they knew that their grand vision of a nation needed a strong and welcoming national capital. Miraculously, they managed to transform a plot of barren swampland in Maryland into a flourishing and vibrant city, but just as our founding fathers could not have foreseen the trajectory of the government they established, they certainly could not have foreseen the great travesty that currently afflicts our national capital – if they had, they would have certainly scrapped their plans for the entire city. The travesty I speak of is, of course, the existence of the Residence Inn by Marriott Washington, D.C./Foggy Bottom, the worst hotel I have stayed at and likely the worst hotel I will ever stay at.

I almost died on several occasions during my stay at the Residence Inn by Marriott Washington, D.C./Foggy Bottom, and while I will forever cherish my unexpected second chance on life, a deep, nihilistic urge within me wishes I had died during, or better yet before, my stay at the Inn. My first near death experience occurred while boiling water to make pasta: As I lifted the pot off the stove, the pot handle snapped completely off and the pot and scalding water crashed to the floor, the water burning my feet and the pot missing me by mere inches. Days later, while still recovering from my injuries, I went to take a shower, and as I turned on the water, the knob fell off the wall and landed squarely on my already-injured feet. Words cannot express the agony I experienced nor the pain that lingers, and it will be a miracle if I ever fully regain my walking ability.

The Residence Inn by Marriott is marred by decrepit, nonfunctional appliances – aside from the notable structural failures that nearly took my life, there were major issues with the ceiling (leakage), elevator, A/C, plumbing, can opener, dishwasher, power outlets, TV and internet during my stay. But what pushes the Inn from unpleasant to grotesque is the deep psychological trauma I experienced here. When I checked in, the hotel tried to gaslight me into believing there wasn’t a room under my name (in hindsight, I should have obliged and stayed elsewhere). When I asked the desk about accessing the rooftop, I received unhelpful answers and vague discouragement; when I defied them and found the roof to be unlocked, I was swiftly removed by a suspicious man whose only credential was his claim to be “with the hotel.” Did I accidentally stumble into an “underground” criminal ring? Regardless, my experience with the desk prepared me for my similarly frustrating experiences with housekeeping, who only cleaned the room when specifically asked to, frequently came in the morning when I would obviously still be in my room, and allowed a colossal mountain of uncollected trash to accumulate in the kitchen, a fitting monument to their lackluster efforts.

For all of the hotel’s flaws, one could make the case that the shortcomings of The Residence Inn by Marriott Washington, D.C./Foggy Bottom are simply the byproduct of the hotel’s suboptimal location within Washington, close to neither the National Mall’s renowned tourist venues nor Georgetown’s bustling commercial district. This is a convenient assumption, but it does not accurately depict the more sinister and disturbing reality I believe to be true: The Residence Inn by Marriott Washington, D.C./Foggy Bottom is so unbelievably bad that its ineptitude cannot be contained within its crumbling walls. The hotel is a nuclear disaster, a runaway chain reaction that is forever doomed to slowly mutate the city. One could overlook the Foggy Bottom neighborhood’s rat and mosquito infestations, homelessness crisis and generally foul aroma as inevitable byproducts of urbanization, but after staying at this hotel, I have seen the horrifying ultimate truth that these factors are not coincidental. There is but one unifying force connecting these plagues and amplifying their effects: the Residence Inn by Marriott Washington,...

GW FAMILIES...STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! We were in town to tour the university. We were very excited to be staying at a location so close to the college. After a long flight, we were looking forward to relaxing in the room and watching a movie. The TV wasn't working. We called the front desk and they told us to move the 300+ pound dresser so we could unplug the TV to get it to work again. We asked if the hotel had someone who could come help. After waiting over an hour, we gave up and went to bed.

Next morning, my daughter was showering and the shower head pulled away from the wall exposing the inside of the wall.

After a day of touring the campus and city, we came back to the hotel. Maid service had not been done despite our request. We were told that they didn't have any staff. I asked if we could at least get some cups for the coffee maker in the room. We were told that no foam / paper cups were available. WHAT!!??!

I wanted to get a rental car to drive around the following day and was told I'd have to go back to the airport to get a rental car. WRONG!!! There's a rental car place just a few blocks away.

So, between the broken, unkept room, the lack of help at the front desk, and the lack of basics, that was enough. We cut our stay short and found a real Marriott experience up the street at the Watergate Hotel. In the meantime, we were still charged for a second night that we didn't wait around to experience.

The email leading up to the stay said, "we live by the Golden Rule. Treating others like we’d like to be treated." Nothing could be further from the truth.

Once we returned home, we called the "customer service" number for Marriott and shared our lousy experience. After taking note, the agent said, "what do you want us to do about it?" Hmmm... Fix your hotel? Learn customer service? Stop at Costco for some coffee cups? Don't charge me for this ordeal?... I asked for someone to call. Nope, no call. A week later, I got a boilerplate email saying "we aim to provide memorable experiences and I am sorry that this was not the case for you" and "allow me to assure you that your feedback has been shared with the highest management in the hotel to prevent incidents like this from happening again in the future." OK, and at what point is someone in the highest management going to pick up a phone and call? So not only is the hotel not a Marriott experience, neither is the customer service. Sorry JW Sr., we...

Free breakfast was really a great deal also the fact that it's walking distance to the metro station. They kept the breakfast open slightly after the end times which was appreciated by the vacationing families.

The Master bedroom suite was nice, plenty of space to feel comfortable. Someone could chose to work remotely from here too.

Staff was very welcoming and friendly, made us feel home.

The room itself, was ok for the price, I realize it's not a 5 star hotel.

Onsite concession was expensive as expected, there is a whole foods and gas station nearby which is cheaper.

We were pleasantly surprised with the Christmas gift they gave us on Dec/25.

R Review writer Custom Gem Residence Inn at Foggy Bottom: A Comfortable Stay in the Heart of DC Overall Impression:

The Residence Inn at Foggy Bottom provides a comfortable and convenient base for exploring Washington DC. While it may not be a luxury hotel, its spacious suites, complimentary breakfast, and friendly staff make it a great choice for families and business travelers alike.

Pros:

Free Breakfast: The complimentary breakfast was a highlight, offering a decent variety of options to start the day. The extended breakfast hours were especially appreciated, allowing guests to enjoy a leisurely morning without feeling rushed. Convenient Location: The hotel's proximity to the metro station is a major plus, providing easy access to all the major attractions in DC. Spacious Suites: The Master bedroom suite was a comfortable haven, with plenty of space for both relaxation and work. The option to work remotely from the suite is a valuable perk for business travelers. Friendly Staff: The welcoming and friendly staff created a home-away-from-home atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. Festive Touch: The unexpected Christmas gift was a delightful surprise and a testament to the hotel's commitment to guest satisfaction. Cons:

Room for Improvement: While the room was decent for the price, it could benefit from some updates or refurbishment to enhance its appeal. Pricey Onsite Concession: The onsite concession stand was expensive, but thankfully there are more affordable options nearby, including a Whole Foods and a...