OverviewLocated about a 6-minute drive from Gallery Place Chinatown Metro Station, and a 5-minute drive from Highway 1, the Renaissance Hotel Downtown Washington D.C. is geared towards business and vacation travellers who prefer a hotel with easy access to public transit and the highway, on-site dining and meeting/conference space.
This hotel has 807 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, each offering cable TV, a coffeemaker, a desk, a bathrobe for each guest, an in-room safe, a hair dryer and an iron and ironing board. Standard rooms offer one king bed or two double beds, while rooms with a separate bedroom, a living area with a sofabed, a dining area and an additional bathroom are available, as are wheelchair-accessible rooms.
Wi-Fi in rooms is an additional $12.95 per day and is free in the lobby.
Hotel amenities include a spa and wellness centre, fitness facilities, a sauna, a bar, 64,000 square feet of meeting/conference space, a business centre, a gift shop, laundry facilities and vending machines. A Starbucks is also located on the premises.
On-site dining is offered at Fifteen Squares Restaurant (serving breakfast and lunch daily), miXX (serving dinner and drinks), Presidents Sports Bar (serving lunch, dinner and drinks daily) and Liberty Market, which features takeout lunch and dinner daily.
Self-parking (reservation required) is an additional $35 per day. Pets are not permitted.
Walter E. Washington Convention Center is a 4-minute walk northeast of the hotel, while Gallery Place offers shopping roughly 7 minutes away on foot. The Smithsonian is about a 15-minute trip south via public transit, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is a 25-minute subway ride away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Wi-Fi $12.95, self-parking $35/day, pets not permitted, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: July 27, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's location, staff and rooms.
The hotel's location was praised by many guests, who found it to be close to the metro, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the National Mall, the Smithsonian, Washington DC's business district, Chinatown, restaurants and the Verizon Center. One reviewer remarked, ""All the major sights were within walking distance and there were many places to eat in the surrounding area".
Numerous reviewers complimented the hotel's staff, characterizing them as knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and accommodating. One guest noted, "Despite the hotel being full with the convention, the service was excellent. Front desk staff was courteous and the housekeeping staff were very responsive".
Several lodgers enjoyed their accommodations at the hotel. They described their rooms as clean, modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, with comfortable beds and pillows.
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few complaints about noise transfer and the costs.
Some lodgers complained of noise disturbances during their stay. They reported noise from guests in the hallway and adjoining rooms, as well as street and traffic noise.
The hotel's prices were a disappointment to a few reviewers. They felt the costs for in-room Wi-Fi, parking, the restaurants and the rooms were all expensive.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #58 of 126 Washington DC hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 726 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.4 out of 5 with a 94% recommendation rate from 504 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8.5 out of 10 from 89 reviews.
The author called the hotel on July 27, 2013 to verify some information.
