The Ell Hotel — Hotel in Washington

I do not recommend The Ell Hotel, and my husband and I did not have a pleasant experience, especially when communicating with the owner, Ellen Brabo. We booked The Yellow Room for a one-night getaway from Raleigh. We were looking forward to exploring Washington, and staying in a B&B-style hotel. When we arrived around 1pm (we paid extra to check-in early), the keypad at the front door to the house was not unlocking the door. After a few attempts, someone (who we think was the housekeeper, who also had two small children with her) opened the door for us and said, "The keypad is not working. You just have to push the door open." We headed to our room, and found the door wide open which was unsettling and confusing. A half-drunk water bottle was sitting on the bookshelf (gross), the shower was possibly dirty or just extremely run-down, and there is virtually no insulation as we could hear everything in other rooms - footsteps, voices, etc. I texted the number provided to ask about the front door lock as we were concerned about our safety and security. Two hours passed and we didn't receive any response, so we decided it was in our best interest to leave. And we packed up our things and vacated the property. I texted the number once again to explain that due to the lack of cleanliness in our room, lack of safety and security, and lack of responsiveness, we are no longer staying the night and I requested a refund. FINALLY, we hear from who I assume is Ellen Brabo, who basically questions our account that the front door is faulty, questions our communication with the housekeeper, assures us that when she returns from New York that evening, she will personally "check on it," and also refuses to issue a refund or even make an offer to rectify the situation. The Ell Hotel and its owner (who is also running for mayor, lol) might as well be one of the biggest scams in the state....

Missed the Mark on a Peaceful Couple’s Getaway

We stayed in the Blue Room on April 26 and, unfortunately, didn’t find the charming and relaxing couple’s escape we were hoping for. When we arrived, the house seemed to have around 10–20 wedding guests, including several gathered at the front door popping a balloon garland. Everyone was dressed in wedding attire, and it immediately felt like we were intruding on a private event. While I knew the property hosts weddings, I hadn’t realized that outside guests might be booked alongside a full wedding party—I had assumed a wedding would have exclusive use of the house. The dynamic felt awkward and uncomfortable.

As we made our way through the house, we passed several guests and found our room with the door wide open, which only added to our discomfort. In hindsight, we should have left then, as this set the tone for the rest of the night.

When we returned around 8:30 PM, the house was quiet—except for a dog that I heard whimpering as soon as I started up the stairs. Unfortunately, the dog was in the room adjacent to ours, and the two rooms were connected by a shared door, which made the constant noise even more disruptive. I had to use a sound machine to fall asleep. I was then woken up around 12:45 AM when the wedding guests returned.

The bed was extremely comfortable, but unfortunately the noise and general atmosphere led to a restless night. We left immediately after in the morning. Outside our room, we found pizza boxes and a beer can and someone’s shoes.

While I can see how this venue might be great for wedding parties, it wasn’t the peaceful or charming experience we were looking for, and I wouldn’t choose to...

The Ell hotel was a great Airbnb find . We wanted something right in the downtown/ historic district of Washington, NC . This is close to everything. Museums, restaurants, ice cream shop, shopping, and the waterfront. These are all within a 5 minute walk.

The area is also close to the courthouse, the post office and Walmart and other grocery stores. If you need to get something done in Washington, NC this is a great central location to choose.

The apartment itself is small and neat. Has everything you need to cook basic meals and has a full size fridge. No dishwasher here but there is a washer/ dryer which was really nice to have. It’s got a smart TV so you can use any subscription streaming that you’ve got. This place is pet friendly too.

We contacted the host on 2 occasions and she got back to us quickly while accommodating our needs.

Bed was comfortable And there are heat pumps to keep you at your perfect temperature. Good shower with towels, soap and there are even bathrobes if you’ve forgotten yours.

We recommend the Ell Hotel if you’re looking for a small...