1250 S. Hayes St., Arlington, VA 22202, 703-415-5000,
Rates: Daily rates are as low as $169 on weekends. Most weekday rates start at $329. Parking is $29 for 24 hours.
Stay here if you: want corporate luxury or a surprisingly affordable weekend getaway.
It’s close to: The Fashion Centre, a high-end shopping mall, which is connected to the hotel via a covered walkway. A Metro stop across the street will take you to the D.C. attractions, most of which are within 4 miles.
The rooms are: not as posh as you might expect, but still nicer than at most hotels. The rooms are standard size with standard furnishings, but it’s the details that make the difference. For instance, the beds have a collection of down pillows in different sizes, so you can choose the one that best suits your sleeping style. The toiletries are Bulgari white tea, and there’s 24-hour room service.
They put all of the money into: the service. It feels like every employee is personally concerned with your comfort and no detail is too insignificant. Little touches like the server offering me a newspaper at breakfast in the restaurant, or the fitness attendant bringing me a bottled water after a session on the treadmill, made me never want to check out.
The bottom line: If you’ve always wanted to put on the Ritz, book a weekend at this hotel.
Vicky Uhland
