The Westin Alexandria

I’m actually pretty surprised that this hotel only has 3 stars – the customer service has been good, the hotel has been clean, the towel service has been quick, it’s only a 7 minute walk to Whole Foods, the hotel bedding and pillows hug your body into dreamland, and the big screens down in the restaurant downstairs? Awesome. Comped WiFi if you are an SPG member (free to join). I can only say good things, minus the wonderful view of the rocky rooftop. This is the annual hotel for the Capitol Congress, and I look forward to our hotel visit every year.

Not a bad place to lay your head, especially in the vicinity of King Street, DCA airport, and the metro. You can count on the Westin to be clean and have a decent gym. Staff was on par. Gym was nice… pool was meh (very small). I ended up parking my car on the street in the evening which was free between 6pm — 8am… was easier to get in a hurry and avoid the $ 30/​day valet parking.
— disappointed that the coffee maker did not work (would not power on) and neither would the phone (out of battery).
— the creamer stocked with the coffee is actual half and half… that requires to be refrigerated, (but is not)
— Über to to the Torpedo factory/​boardwalk was ~$ 6/1.5 miles. They also have free Westin shuttle service there too, but they will not go all the way to DCA… so take the shuttle there to get breakfast and Über the rest of the way when departing
— The Starbucks was closed by 5 PM on Sunday, so top yourself off my fellow caffein addicts

Extremely unkind customer service. Never staying here again. I was here for a long weekend with a big wedding and if it weren’t for that, I would’ve stayed elsewhere. Not happening again!

I stayed here for a convention and was very disappointed. The staff was ok when they answered the phones. The room was ok. I guess I expected more from a Westin. I would rather have stayed at a Marriott. Everything was overpriced as usual but at least it’s worth it at Marriott. Their lounge area was nice. They didn’t let you use their luggage rack; their guys had to do it. The wi-​fi was expensive but at least if you’re a member, it’s free so that was good. The food was ok; definitely nothing to write about especially the breakfast. It was a buffet; let’s just say I should’ve gone to Hometown Buffet. It would have been cheaper and better. The staff was friendly so that was good. When I left the hotel, I specifically asked the front desk person to not put certain charges on my card as they were being taken care of by the conference. Guess what she did LOL? yeah, I found out on my way to the airport when my account was overdrawn and now I’m getting on a plane!!! Anyway, I called and very sternly explained what happened. She did fix it right away. But you know it takes a day or so now for your account to be cleared up. The hotel paid for the overdraft it caused, thus the 3^rd star. Oh I forgot when we got there, our reservation was messed up and we had to wait almost 2 hours for our room after a 5 hour flight. If Marriott had made that mistake, they would have just given us another room until it was figured out. I guess newbies can’t do that though lol. I’m campaigning for our staff to stay across the street at the Marriott next year until the Westin catches up.

While I have pledged my undying loyalty to all SPG hotels, and they are all so incredible, this location should be shuttered until the staff learn how to deal with guests.
It was funny, when I walked I didn’t seem to get any of the rarified air the staff seemed to think they were breathing. What a bunch of rude people. Started out by going to the desk and waiting to check in. As I get to the woman helping me I realize that my credit card is in the cup holder of my car right in front of the hotel. I ask to go get it and I’m told okay. I am back in less than a minute to find that the woman who started helping me has started helping someone else and I am now back in line again. You are rude and that is unacceptable, period. Then the woman I finally get to help me tells me I can’t have internet, etc. I explained that I’m an SPG member (and while I did book through a third party this usually isn’t an issue due to incredible customer service at every other Westin in the world), but she refused to budge. I’m not sure why she didn’t just say ‘please leave and never come back, we hate our customers,’ because that is the message she was sending out.
I get to my room and it’s beautiful and I love it. It’s comfortable and everything I expect from the Westin and SPG brand.
After I’ve been there a bit and unpacked I am told at the desk to call down and they will have my car waiting if I give them 15 minutes. I call down the first time, don’t have my car. I’m headed to dinner and I’m going to be late. Oh well, they take their time getting my car and I am late. Twice more I call down, twice more my car isn’t brought around and waiting. The last time I even gave them 3 hours notice! Nothing. Not one time did they have my car waiting for me no matter when I called. Like, what other job does valet have?
I call the manager to talk about this, I forgot his name (thank goodness, he was awful), he says he’ll check into it and will call me back in ‘literally one minute.’ An hour later I call back and he’s stepped out. Hahaha haha ha h… WTF?
I can’t tell you how incredibly rude, inattentive and completely lacking in professionalism EVERY SINGLE EXPERIENCE I had here was. I will never, ever in a million years ever stay at this (3 star??) Westin again. I hated this experience more than I hated staying at that horrible La Quinta Inn in Birmingham. THIS was far more awful because this Westin does not care about the brand at all. I’m embarrassed for them and their complete lack of customer service. It will leave you fuming or crying, but my best advice is just to leave (or not stay at all). Ugh. Awful.

Love this hotel. We try to stay here for a weekend getaway at least every couple of months or so. Valet and Bell Services are quick and the Front Desk staff is so friendly and accommodating. My husband uses both a walker and a mobility scooter; valet staff has almost always been right there to help us unload and put it together when we check in.
Rooms have just been refurbished! There is a workout room as well as a pool and spa. The front desk will also provide you with a running/​walking map of the area. Pretty place to take a walk and very quiet.
Also, Trademark Drink and Eat is a fantastic restaurant and within the hotel itself.

After a bad experience the general manager and the director of operations turned everything around. The general manager replied to my email at 4 in the morning, that means a lot to me, they were really concerned aboutnmy visit and asked for my number to make things right, the matter was handled so promptly and they are even makong my birthday stay extra special! Thank you so much, as a starwood preferred guest, I will only be using this location for my local stays

Held a 2 day meeting here. Meeting space was great. Staff were wonderful. Food was delicious. Very pleased with entire experience.

Very clean hotel, very nice and helpful staff, rooms are good size and great views. Wish it had more amenities than just a gym but very nice hotel!!!

Follow-​up review: third time staying at this hotel. Second time the hotel had brown water coming out of the faucets and I could not shower. The beds are still uncomfortable, and the rooms don’t even have snacks or a minibar. When you ring the front desk, they often do not answer during the day — you have to walk downstairs and stand in line.

These showers SUCK. No control over the water temp at all. Either gotta take a scorching hot or ice cold shower.

Terrible experience! STOLEN CLARISONIC
Upon checkin you find out it’s an additional $ 26 per day for valet! Don’t want to pay that? Park on the street and move your car every two hours at the meter.
We were checking in and unloading the car so we told valet guy we would be about 15 minutes. No sooner did we arrive in our hotel room and the phone was ringing! «Valet is too busy, come get your car.» Hello, you have the keys and we told you we were dumping our things and getting out of there.
Every single interaction with the valet was a hassle or purely ridiculous. We called to have our car ready and they blocked us in with 11 other cars so we got to sit and wait. They need a system to allow several cars to be queuing at the same time without inconveniencing everyone else.
Finally, my Clarisonic was stolen out of our room and we received no call from management despite calling three times. Security returned our phone call twice stating that it didn’t happen. Okay?!
Will never stay here again.
+1 point for lobby smelling good.

My husband and I (and our pup) have stayed here twice, and will likely return.
The valet service has been lacking, both times. It shouldn’t be, considering how much you pay, per night, for that service. Otherwise, not a single other complaint! The staff is courteous and brought a dog bed to our room. The restaurant is good for breakfast, but we haven’t tried any other meal.
They have a pool on the third floor, which looked decent, but we didn’t swim.
They have graciously allowed a late check-​out during both stays, and the prices are very reasonable.
The rooms were clean and spacious.
Recommend, if you’re staying in the area.

NO free breakfast and the Awkward pool guy!
My wife and I recently stayed here after a little hotel research in the area for a good hotel around the King Street Metro as our so-​call base camp for visiting DC during our two night stay in Alexandria. For this stay I was looking for a hotel with a pool and hot tub to relax and wind down after a full day of walking in DC.
After arriving I learned that ALL of the parking is Valet at $ 26 for a 24hr period. I was like «HOLY SMOKES!» thats expensive. Granted they do let you take it in and out an unlimited amount of times within that period. It wasn’t long after we were all checked in that we headed down to relax in the Hot tub when we ran into the «SUPER CREEPY» pool/​lifeguard guy. Personally I still have no clue as to why this hotel even hires these guys when they are all playing games on their cellphone in there. Sounds like an easy paying job playing on your phone all shift. Sign me up for that Job!!! After about a 20 minute soak in the hot tub I decided to go cool off in the pool with the wife, meanwhile the lifeguard/​pool guy is pouring a gallon of liquid chlorine and several other chemical into the hot-​tub. And 5 minutes later I ask If it’s ok to get back in and he replied, yes. After hopping back in real quick to warm up before drying off both mine and the wife’s eye’s started burning really super bad i was like are you serious.
I still don’t know why the hotel would implement such a policy where you put chemicals into a pool or spa when people are swimming in it, just dumb. After retiring for the night the following morning i was flabbergasted that they don’t offer their guests a breakfast of any sort. your already paying top dollar for both parking and the hotel so why not go spend more money and eat in the hotel restaurant? Your better off paying $ 10 more a night for the free FULL breakfast that the Embassy Suites around the corner offers or the Hilton down the street. Before heading back into DC for out last day I decided to head down to the business center of the hotel to attempt to print off some tickets from an email for the Washington Monument in DC no such luck there as it was $ 7.95 just to connect to the internet in the freaking business center… After a full day of walking in DC we then again returned to the hotel and headed back to the to the pool area and it was yet again a different pool guy and he was also playing games on his phone as well. After a quick dip we decided to skip the hotel restaurant that evening and go down the street for some grub at a fraction of the cost of food at the hotel restaurant. You should’ve see the look on the valet guys face when I returned the car that evening as if he was looking for a tip for parking my car, no way buddy, not at $ 26 a day for parking talk to your boss they Courtyard down the street btw has free parking if you stay there.
Overall, Yes the Westin was a very nice hotel and the beds were comfy, but between the higher prices and the weird pool guys. I think I’ll stay somewhere that offers a free breakfast in the morning especially in a place that I’m sure has guests that are riding into DC for vacations and leisure. Oh! And don’t count on your cellular data to work in this hotel as it basically a dead-​zone, hence why they charge you to use the internet.
Cheers!

A beautiful property in a convenient location. The bedrooms rooms are large and nicely furnished but the bathrooms are a bit on the small side.
Check-​in was courteous, fast and efficient. I was pleased to get a room upgrade.
However, I was a bit miffed at the lack of assistance when my taxi pulled up. My right arm is in a cast and I was struggling to pull my bag out of the taxi. Through the glass, I could see the bellman or doorman five feet away inside the lobby looking at me but he didn’t bother to see if he could lend me a hand. I guess he didn’t want to come outside where it was snowing. Even when the weather is bad (or especially when weather is bad – so staff can bring over a large umbrella), it should be standard to greet arriving guests curbside. To me that is one of the differences to expect from a Westin versus, say, a Four Points property.
The meeting rooms are very nice, carpeting, tables and chairs in like-​new condition, and the hotel did a great job of catering an event I attended. The hallways are very clean and everything looks fresh.
The hotel restaurant/​bar, Trademark, looks nice and is excellent for breakfast, and very good for afternoon cocktails, but mediocre for drinks at night.
The shuttle bus driver texted on his cell phone while driving me to the Metro station!

Stayed here for a business trip where we also utilized many of the meeting rooms, so this review is based on business vs. personal uses.
I should say first I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in the lobby. It’s clean, sleek and polished.
The rooms itself were decent. View was pretty crappy (mine was a parking lot) and I think it tops out on the 15^th floor or something, so not much to look at.
I ate at the adjoining restaurant which was literally empty except me during lunchtime and got the fish and chips which was really great. And they let you charge to the room which was nice.
Our company used their meeting spaces which were all very nice, and the food/​snacks put out were actually really delicious.
Location is about 25 minutes from airport and maybe 30 – 45 into main DC depending on traffic.
Decent hotel, but not much to look at or walk to, but for a quick business trip it probably saved our company money and was pretty decent.
Room service was CRAZY expensive though. $ 25 or so for a mediocre burger. Not cool

The rooms are nice and relevent to their price. Housekeeping is amazing and havr courteous people as well as friendly front desk staff. I dont really care for the valet. Not only is ot $ 20 per day and we are here a week but when u call to have someone bring your car they dont speak english very well and cant hear your number. We were told 5 minute wait time on the phone and went down in about 5 and had to wait about 10 minutes outside when someone told us they forgot to get our car and ran down the street with our keys. Then someone else asked what our number was and chased after the first guy woth a different set of keys… wow. three days in so far and each day has been a challenge with vallet.

I do travel a bit and when I do, I enjoy great amenities such as a GREAT BED! The great thing about the Westin is that all items used — can be purchased — Love That! Ok — Sorry for the rant, but trust me if you need a good night’s sleep — this is the place! The location is great if you are visiting Old Town Alexandria. I love the modern and contemporary look of the lobby and room. I stayed in the fitness room and it is equipped with a stationary bike, yoga mats & dumbbells — they will also provide you with workout gear for $ 5 — how cool is that! The staff were attentive and I enjoyed the quick check-​in and the prompt service when I contacted them.
I would say that the only issue is «thin walls». I don’t like hearing others and I don’t like the idea that I may be overheard. I would totally stay at this hotel again.

Definitely a winner in my book, the location is phenomenal, and the service was 5 star. We stayed for the weekend and there were some really great things about the hotel, but a couple of things lacking for my 5 star rating.
The location is awesome, its a FREE shuttle ride to the metro, or an easy walk, and a FREE shuttle ride into Old Town. They will also take you anywhere you want to go in a close distance. (WHole Foods, CVS, act) It’s also right next to a Starbucks, as well as a number of places, deli, little gourmet deli, Einstein’s, and sandwich shop.
The service was super friendly and super helpful.
The room was a nice size, everything was new, and the bath products were a plus. Of course, like all Westin’s the bed was heavenly.
The downside was the walls were really thin, I had to hear a couple of girls giggling all night, eventually inviting a couple of guys back to their room on a Saturday night. Yeah, thank you for that.
Also, unfortunately my husband came down with a cold over the weekend, we went to eh gift shop to get some medicine, which was high way robbery. $ 15-​$ 20 for cold medicine. Not cool. Also, the cost of a movie to rent was $ 16.99. RE-​DIC. Also, $ 28 for 3 days of internet is also stupid now a days. It should be free, at least for SPG members.
The rate was decent through price line. and through SPG, I did receive late check out 4 – 6 (which I didn’t care, my flight left earlier, but a nice perk) and free water.
They also have a pool, which is nice, although I didn’t bring my swimsuit.
Also, their restaurant next door was really really good. Great wine list, cocktail list, and very tasty food. They also have a M-​F Happy hour (rare in DC/​VA) that was $ 5 cocktails, $ 5 wines, $ 5 beer, and $ 5 appetizers (try the wings and buffalo chicken flatbread)
I would recommend it in the future for location alone, all in all we were happy.

I love the bed and pillows… very comfortable nights sleep. Would go back just for that. The room was spacious and clean with a small table and chairs, sofa and updated flatscreen TV.
I Didn’t like the greenish tint the lights had in the bathroom but it had a rainfall shower that was relaxing. The room had a safe, coffee maker and mini fridge.
Make sure to request a room with a view of the George Washington Masonic Temple otherwise you may be looking at rooftops covered in pebbles.
The lobby was nice and updated with pleasing décor.