The St. Regis Washington, D.C. — Hotel in Washington

We travel extensively seeking new experiences that blend luxury with unique settings and a true taste of the local flavor of an area. As such we seek out hotels, restaurants, and activities which enrich the visit rather than simply offering the same old thing in just another town.

When possible we stay at hotels that are under the umbrella of Starwood as we have found them to offer consistent service, and great locations. Most are selected with with views, and accessibility to the local market in mind.

The St Regis Washington DC brings these and much more to their market offering guests a fantastic experience.

The hotel is far more than just another cookie cutter property, set just two blocks from the White House tucked into the vibrant city core of our nations Capital.

The hotel itself has its beginnings set in 1926 as the Carlton Hotel designed as a Beaux-Arts and Neo-Renaissance style luxury hotel.

Immediately upon entering their circle drive we were greeted by quick acting classically uniformed doorman and bellmen who efficiently dealt with our arrival. The hotel exterior is beautiful rising gracefully from the street offering a historical ornament to this community.

The lobby transitions seamlessly from entry, to reception, with intimate yet large sitting areas and a cocktail lounge with their restaurant hovering behind this area.

Combined these bring back a time when lobbies were for entertaining, conducting business and socializing, rather than the modern plan where they have been reduced to just a way to enter and leave the property. From the time you enter the hotel you feel welcomed and in a world a bit nicer than the outside, no small feat in a city as vibrant as DC.

Check in was efficient located with chairs in its own alcove and personal as one would expect. We were greeted by Nicolo and Eugenia who handled the business side of our visit beautifully. As we had arrived mid morning knowing it would be several hours before our room was available they arranged storage of our luggage, giving us room keys while taking our number to ring us when the room was prepared.

This freed us up to explore the city, enjoy lunch with friends and gain another day of experiences. As expected we received a call inviting us to our room where upon arrival we were greeted by the Butler who was both prompt and professional. They arranged for the large number of extra hangers we needed, extra robes, towels, and kept our champagne on ice.

Room:

We were upgraded to a beautiful 1 bedroom suite that fit our needs perfectly, giving us the space to live during our week long stay. The bathroom was well laid out and tastefully complemented the room. Our shower was spacious with great water pressure while the tub was plenty large enough for two to soak.

Located on the 7th floor we had large windows looking out onto two different views one Pennsylvania Avenue and the other a small courtyard area.

The bed as expected was very comfortable, the linens crisp and we had plenty of space in the living room for guests while the dining table was perfect for a little birthday cake reception. The living room was well appointed with two comfortable chairs and a couch.

The HVAC was very well balanced keeping our room at the requested temperature day and night overcoming an issue many historical hotels struggle with. Another exemplary feature was the complete absence of street noise which is much appreciated by travelers such as ourselves who wish to be immersed by location in the city experience while still having our refuge in private.

Housekeeping. This trip was for several days giving us a great opportunity to experience housekeeping. Upon arrival the room was perfectly clean, missing nothing and each item was placed with obvious care as to how it would be received by the guest. Our daily service was excellent with the requested four extra bath towels each day. Turn down service was seamless as well. Overall not a single issue was missed during our stay by the butlers or housekeeping.

We were especially pleased the staff observed our do not disturb signs allowing us to sleep in late each day. This easy to coordinate touch, much appreciated by travelers, is often overlooked but not here. Great job.

Location: The hotel is located in the core of downtown DC. Convenient for shopping, dining, and of course recreational activities. While we did not use them the hotel offers on site conference facilities for meetings.

Service: From the moment we entered the property we felt welcomed. The Valet and doormen were efficient and quickly learned our names making us feel as if we lived there. Always handy with a fresh bottle of water upon departure and arrival, friendly directions, and a umbrella when required.

The front desk as mentioned was efficient and courteous both to be expected. However they exceeded this greeting us with familiarity, expediting us through this business side of the stay. The efforts of the entire desk staff made us feel as if we were family or at least repeat guests even though this was in fact our first visit, but hopefully not our last.

Conierge: as with most great hotels the Conierge as a group had rich insight into the city and was instrumental in arranging diner reservations and tickets for the best locations at the times we requested. Their dining recommendations were all top notch allowing us to relax and enjoy.

Internet: Internet worked well and as always was free for us as SPG Platinum members. For travelers that are not Platinum the charges would be on a per day basis.

Food and Beverage: The Bar and restaurant are both run by the hotel and served our needs well.

Summary. Kudos are in order for this fine property. I expected top notch service, rooms, and an escape from the hustle and bustle of Life.

The St Regis Washington DC delivered this and much more with the excellent staff adding so much to this trip. Thanks from us to the management for their efforts to recruit and train staff that is genuinely interested in customer service. As mentioned earlier but worth repeating the entire staff made us feel as if we were long term or at least repeat guests, their personal attention was exemplary.

It's our hope that we will be able to return to D.C. in the future. With so many stops worldwide each offering unique experiences to sample its not always easy for us to return but this property has made it...

The St. Regis apparently wants Marriott Bonvoy customers but doesn't want to provide them with the benefits required||||I have Ambassador status. I booked 4 nights over a weekend when Washington was relatively quiet with many hotels empty. ||||I attempted to use a Marriott Nightly Upgrade Award certificate to confirm a suite in advance. I selected multiple categories of entry-level and mid-level suites. The suites were not sold out. The NUA certificate was rejected 24 hours before arrival, even though the suites were still available for booking. ||||My Ambassador Services agent also attempted to confirm me into a suite on the morning of my arrival day and the hotel would not provide a suite upgrade. All they did was block me into a larger, non-suite room. ||||I arrived around 6 pm and still hadn't been upgraded to a suite. Upon arrival, multiple categories of suites were still available for booking for the entirety of my stay. So, during check-in, I asked for a suite upgrade and was told the suites hadn't been cleaned. Mind you, it was at least 2 hours past the official check-in time. That seemed like a convenient way of not having to provide an upgrade. I'm sure if I had booked a suite, the suite would have been clean.||||After about 45 minutes at the bar/restaurant, I was given keys to the suite. I stayed in the suite for about 5 minutes. The walls were thin, and there was also a connecting door. I could hear everything in the neighboring room. It was like I was in their room. The noise was that loud. And the noise was the kind you don't want to hear, especially at the price point of the St. Regis.||||I was offered another suite on a lower floor but was told it needed to be cleaned or inspected. I forget which. I initially accepted but then decided not to risk it. I checked out and went to another hotel.||||Besides the significant issue with the upgrade and the problem with the noise, I found the overall service below what you expect of a 5-star luxury hotel. Specifically:||||1) No pre-arrival email from guest relations or the concierge. ||2) No personalized welcome letter. Instead, they gave me a generic form letter that a manager doesn't even sign.||3) I requested a copy of the Washington Post newspaper each day of my stay. I did not receive one.||4) Received an in-room F&B amenity containing an item I don't eat and disclosure as something I don't eat on my Bonvoy ambassador profile and preferences. If you're going to do an amenity, at least make an effort by taking 1 minute to consult a guest's profile and preferences. That's why Marriott requests that information from ambassadors. It just tells me the hotel doesn't care.||||I will compliment the hotel on the bar/restaurant. The staff were excellent. Polite, professional, and hospitable. The kind of staff I would hire if I owned or managed a bar and restaurant. The wine selection was excellent, including options by the glass. The shrimp cocktail that I had was also excellent. So, I have no complaints about the F&B side of the hotel, although I can't comment on breakfast or whether Bonvoy platinum, titanium, and ambassador get their full breakfast benefit.||||I left and went to a competing 5-star hotel, where I had a wonderful stay. That hotel doesn't cheat their chain's equivalent of Bonvoy ambassadors out of benefits. ||||All things considered, there is no shortage of hotels in Washington. The St. Regis has a great location and a very storied name. Unfortunately, the hotel doesn't seem to treat Bonvoy elites well. Judging from other recent reviews, it appears to be a reoccurring issue. So, if Bonvoy benefits are important, I would look at a different hotel. The Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, and Waldorf Astoria are...

Where to start? For background I am a Bonvoy loyalist and have actually stayed at this property a few times before so had some context. It's always had some shortcomings due to its historic nature but it made up for them due to its location and charm...until now. ||On arrival there was a 10-12 minute wait for a front desk agent as there was only one on duty and several people waiting to check in. That being said the staff as a whole were literally the best part of this stay and it's only redeeming aspect. Check in was cordial and they upgraded me to a "renovated" room. I selected the free breakfast as my Bonvoy benefit. ||Getting off the elevator onto the renovated floor I was a bit taken back by the starkness of the hallway. It was all done in fake marble tiling that looked like it came from an Ikea. Panels in the wall as well as on the elevator had chipped paint that looked like it was badly applied. ||On getting to the room I was prepared that it was going to be very small for a luxury property-- I've stayed here before. But what I wasn't prepared for was how cheaply done the renovation seemed to be. Most major things were haphazardly painted over a brighter beige than before. The desk and chair were repurposed from before the renovation. ||The biggest issue was the bathroom. The same cheap fake marble from the hallway was all over the bathroom. The fixtures were wobbling when you turned water on or off. The shower had an awkward step up to get into it that I would imagine is dangerous for someone not sure footed when wet and the fixtures there also were of poor quality. Water pressure was poor. Paint was chipping. Nothing about this bathroom would make you think you were in a 5 star hotel room. ||I think the real kicker was the next morning. We requested a late check out which I am entitled to through Bonvoy and it was honored. The complimentary breakfast they provide is from an abbreviated menu and limited. Most other St Regis' will just offer you a per person credit and let you order whatever you want. Seems like a dumb thing to get people miffed about. ||Then the door slamming began around 7am. The tiled hallway turns out has ZERO noise insulation. Every 5-10 minutes doors would open and slam shut. People would be talking loudly in the hallway-- someone was whistling for a bit. It honestly sounded like a train station outside of our door. What was especially maddening was the door making the most noise was the one the staff use that was a few doors down from us-- like put a soft close mechanism on it or something! We decided it wasn't relaxing and left well before our checkout time. ||Honestly I think the hotel really just doesn't meet the standards of a St Regis-- certainly not even close to the original one in New York (which I actually think is older so that's not an excuse). For us Bonvoy loyalists I think the best you can do in DC is still the Ritz Georgetown with the Ritz DC being a second. ||The best parts of this hotel, namely the lobby and adjacent bar, can be enjoyed without having to pay to spend the night. The staff are wonderful, warm, and kind and the food is pretty good-- will give them marks where they earned them. Special kudos to the bar staff and front desk. ||The St Regis DC needs to be rebranded or adequately upgraded. The renovation they did in the rooms hasn't held up for a few months-- I can't even imagine what it will look like after a few years. There is no excuse for cheap feeling rooms and extremely noisy hallways at this price point. ||Oh and the cherry on top is they charged me for breakfast (even though it was included as a benefit) and after 2 calls, where they insist it's being fixed, it still...