OverviewLocated just off Interstate 95 and a 3-minute drive from Franconia's city centre, the Comfort Inn & Suites Alexandria is geared towards road travellers who require a centrally located hotel with a free breakfast, easy highway access and an outdoor pool.
Each of the hotel's air-conditioned guest rooms comes equipped with free Wi-Fi, cable TV, an in-room safe, a desk and a coffeemaker. Rooms with a mini-fridge, a jetted tub, a hair dryer and an iron and ironing board are also available, as are smoking, non-smoking and wheelchair-accessible rooms.
The hotel also offers a seasonal outdoor pool, a fitness room, meeting space, a business centre, free coffee in the lobby, a gift shop, guest laundry, free parking, a free breakfast and on-site dining at Capital Express, which serves breakfast and dinner daily. A free shuttle to Van Dorn Street Metrorail station, from 7 am to 10 pm, is also available.
Two pets (30 lbs or less) are permitted for an additional $25 per pet, per day.
Old Town Alexandria is about a 10-minute drive from the hotel, while Landmark Mall can be found 6 minutes away by car. Great Waves Water Park is roughly a 4-minute drive away and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is a 20-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, 2 pets 30 lbs or less $25/pet/day, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: December 10, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with praise going to the hotel's staff, location and rooms.
Many travellers praised the hotel's staff, characterizing them as friendly, helpful and accommodating. One patron noted, "I was greeted by two friendly staff members who were extremely helpful. Not only did they help us by getting us a room quickly, they provided us with information about the local area, gas stations, restaurants, etc. I was impressed with their customer service".
The hotel's location was enjoyed by numerous reviewers. They found it close to public transit, shopping, Walmart, highway access, the beach, casinos, golfing and Great Waves Water Park. Some patrons did mention there were no restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, however.
Several guests were pleased with the hotel's accommodations. They described their rooms as clean, spacious, well equipped and quiet, with comfortable beds. A few lodgers complained about their rooms, however (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few complaints about the rooms.
Although several lodgers were pleased with their clean and well-equipped rooms, a few reviewers criticized their accommodations. They reported worn decor, uncomfortable beds, some plumbing issues, noisy in-room air conditioning and highway noise.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 3.8 out of 5 with an 82% recommendation rate from 380 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #18 of 50 Alexandria hotels with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 from 211 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8.3 out of 10 from 21 reviews.
The author called the hotel on December 10, 2013 to verify some information.