Washington Hilton — Hotel in Washington

I'm here for the second year in a row as a faculty chaperone for the Model United Nations conference, and it's really hitting home this time around what a mediocre hotel this is.

According to the website, this hotel has 1,107 hotel rooms and 47 meeting rooms, making it "a sophisticated choice for your next professional event." So why, when a thousand plus conference attendees arrive, does it take 15-20 minutes per party to check in? Multiply that out and think of the time spent. When I checked my students in, I had to look carefully to see that they shorted us one room. To the management's credit, they corrected this -- after 10 more minutes of standing around. When I spoke with another school team, I found that the same exact thing had happened to them. This is not evidence that the systems in place are "sophisticated."

This morning at 6:45am, I went down to the gym, just like in 2023. There, a manager told me all students and teachers have to pay $10 to use the facility. When I said that isn't right, and wasn't the case last year, I was told by the manager of the gym that it has been the case for 13 years. What offends me in this exchange is that the manager challenges my own memory and experience. I went to the front desk, and they sympathized with my concerns, and placed a call to allow my colleague and I to use the gym without paying extra. I explained that many teens raise funds all year to come to this conference, and it just seemed exploitative to make a few thousand dollars off those who choose to exercise. They explained that the gym is a third party contractor but they will try to get the fee revoked. I had to leave it at that. "Sophisticated" means knowing the culture, right?I always thought that if you pay to stay in a hotel, you can use facilities like the gym as part of your room fee. I guess that culture has changed. After all, there's also no fridge, microwave, or slippers in my room. In this case I suppose I'm the one lacking "sophistication."

Back in New York, I warned the students and families before we left: please don't think that you can get breakfast at this hotel until 10:30am, as conference materials state. That is lies. In 2023, breakfast items ran out very early, like in the 9am hour. And really, these are only simple things like yogurt and cold bagels, and bananas and oranges, and coffee, of course. Has performance improved in 2024? No. In fact, I could not find a banana to save my life down there at 8:30am today, the first day of the conference. The meaning of the word "sophisticated" also involves knowledge based on worldly experience, so once again, I guess it was us folks who've been here before who did not make the "sophisticated choice."

I can easily imagine a better hotel. If big groups of teens are coming in for a 4-day conference, and all arriving on the same day, more front desk staff could be assigned for the day. A special line formation could be done up. A place for kids to wait, and place their luggage, could be assigned. There is more than enough space for such arrangements in this massive hotel. I think the management here is just lazy and unintelligent about the situation. And the breakfast thing, it niggles me, because I would love to see the hotel take pride in hosting youth from around the country and the world. Make sure they have bananas and oranges. Put them out at lots of stations so there aren't lines with hundreds of teens. Maybe also put out enough trash receptacles, too, nearby the food stations? When I encountered the gym thing, I was angry because I felt it was a shakedown to make money off children. But when I observe the breakfast situation, I think: this is not malicious or exploitative, exactly. Bananas and bagels are not expensive. No, it's just very, very poor planning.

Profits are way up at Hilton corporate, with the parent company opening new hotels all the time. Guys, time to take a look at one of your flagship spots. Let's reset. Think:...

Great location, close enough to everything, rooms are on the small side, which I'd expect in this market, and the rooms LOOK nice, hotel overall looks nice, and has the largest market and cafe I've seen at any Hilton property before you even get to the on-site restaurants, plenty of event space and conference rooms, and the first time I've seen "ice and vending" actually have vending. Rooms are a bit on the dated side in terms of wear and tear, but they still look nice and are a style I'd expect to see in D.C., but...

Our room had adjoining room doors. We could clearly hear someone using the bathroom, their bed creaking, and their TV, so all sounds went right through the adjoining doors, plural, despite being closed. Sound is coming through TWO CLOSED DOORS. I will never understand hotels and the choice to use cheap doors and windows. I get that the cost of doors and windows can easily equal or exceed the cost of everything else in the room, but it also negates any other sound treatments that may have been done, and can make an otherwise luxury room feel like a budget motel. It was to the point you can almost have conversations through them at normal voice levels. We could hear our neighbor clearly and everything they said, plus thought their phone alarm was ours because it came through so clearly. The main room doors were also paper thin and we could clearly hear conversations in the hall. We even had to the check the windows were indeed closed because of the amount of sound coming in from the street below, and we're on the sixth floor. Could easily hear some rowdy folks on the street below, plus all of the traffic noise. Door closers are set to slam shut and you can hear them a few rooms down easily. While typing this our neighbor turned on their TV and I can hear the dialogue almost clear as day.

Bathtub drain was broken and it looked like housekeeping just set it back in, it was clearly broken at a glance and confirmed when I tried to use it.

Front desk staff is a hit or miss for service, but mostly good. Got polite and courteous help one night with one staffer, but then the next day I requested a late checkout (I'm a Diamond member) and was curtly told, "we're not doing late checkouts". No polite, "Unfortunately..." or "Sorry, but..." just, "We're not doing late checkouts" like I offended him for even asking. Late checkouts aren't guaranteed, hence the request part, and denial isn't unusual, but the "f* you for asking" attitude was unexpected and unneeded. I was able to visit the front desk and talk with someone else who was much more polite and granted a late checkout. Except for the one rude staff member, everyone else was friendly.

Dinner at McClellan's was WAY overpriced for the quality. Salmon was dry and overcooked on the edges, nachos had cheese that was one step up from gas station quality. All for the low price of $60... Zero sound treatments in the restaurants so even a modest crowd was deafening loud. A few acoustic wall and ceiling panels would go a very long ways.

Breakfast at Four Oaks was pretty good, and pricing was on par with what I'd expect. Service was prompt and friendly, and I've never had Eggs Benedict come out so fast. One table over had a different order that came out equally fast. Just a few minutes for food to arrive.

Executive Lounge is still listed as a benefit for Diamond members, but I've very informed that they were closed across all Hilton's and replaced by the food and beverage credits. This was disappointing to find out.

Overall, will not be staying here the next time we're in town, largely due to the sound issue in the rooms which is one of the most important things I like for in a room, and will be taking my business elsewhere. I'd complain to the manager, but I get the distinct feeling it would not matter at all as unless they have a planned remodel coming up there isn't much they can do about it at this point. Glad it was a short trip and not...

"Disappointing and Outdated – Washington DC Hilton Fails to Deliver on Every Front!"

My recent stay at the Washington DC Hilton was, to put it mildly, a nightmare. As a Hilton Honors Gold member, I expected a level of service and quality that just wasn’t there. The staff was incredibly rude, offering no assistance whatsoever when I arrived, despite clearly struggling with my 150-pound luggage. I had to drag it myself through the lobby, with not a single staff member even acknowledging my presence. I’ve come to expect a certain standard of service from Hilton, but this hotel fell shockingly short.

Upon check-in, things only got worse. Despite my status, none of the benefits associated with being a Gold member were applied. I had specifically requested an upgrade to a room with a city view, but instead, I was given a room facing a noisy construction site. When I inquired about this, the front desk informed me that because I’d opted for early check-in (which cost me an additional $50), inventory was limited from the previous night. If inventory was so limited, then why offer the early check-in option at all? The lack of transparency and unwillingness to accommodate a loyal customer left me frustrated and disappointed.

Facilities and Cleanliness – Straight Out of the '80s (And Not in a Good Way!) The entire hotel felt like it was stuck in a time warp. The decor is reminiscent of the early 1980s and hasn’t been updated since. In fact, it feels like time has stood still since Reagan was shot here. The carpets in my room were absolutely filthy, with visible stains and an unpleasant odor that permeated the entire space. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was staying in an unkempt, outdated relic rather than a prestigious Hilton property. I’d rate cleanliness as abysmal, and facilities weren’t much better – everything from the furniture to the fixtures seemed worn and poorly maintained.

Comfort and Value – A Complete Letdown I struggled to find anything redeeming about the room. The bed was uncomfortable, and the linens looked as though they hadn’t been replaced in ages. For the price I paid, the lack of basic comfort was unacceptable. Every aspect of the experience, from the uncomfortable furniture to the general lack of cleanliness, left me feeling cheated. I didn’t feel like I got my money’s worth, and given the supposed prestige of the Hilton brand, I expected far more.

Bonus Question – Bathroom Experience The bathroom was equally disappointing. It was clear that maintenance here was minimal at best. The shower had poor water pressure, and the tiles looked grimy. There was no indication that this bathroom was cleaned to a standard I’d expect from a reputable hotel chain. It felt like a cheap motel rather than a premium accommodation.

Transportation To add insult to injury, getting around was a hassle, and the location did nothing to compensate for the hotel’s many shortcomings. While I arrived by car, I can’t imagine public transport making this experience any more pleasant, as the location didn’t feel particularly accessible or inviting.

Overall Experience – Avoid at All Costs This was one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve had in years. Hilton needs to seriously reconsider how they’re managing this location. The Washington DC Hilton is outdated, poorly maintained, and lacks any semblance of customer service. If you’re expecting the luxury and comfort that Hilton promises, you won’t find it here. Save your money, time, and sanity – this hotel is a disappointment on...