I know I’ve mentioned my preference for Marriott Hotels, and my stay at the Renaissance on 9th Street in D.C. this week was just one more reason to continue to patronize a Marriott family hotel whenever I can.
Lady Astrojets was invited to a black-tie event downtown at the National Building Museum (a beautiful venue by the way) this week, and I thought I would tag along just for grins. Not wanting to deal with driving home after the party, we thought getting a hotel downtown would be a neat idea. Having a few Marriott points to burn, I booked the Washington Renaissance for Tuesday evening.
I was able to leave work early, and cabbed over to the hotel with our bag. A member of the management staff was by the door greeting customers as they entered. The hotel appears to be near the end of a fairly extensive renovation with the main restaurant yet to be completed. There is a lobby lounge available for cocktails, and the Presidents Sports Bar is available for food and booze needs.
Check-in was swift. The desk clerk advised me that I’d been upgraded to a Club Suite, but it was not quite ready. He offered another room, but I was happy to wait for the Suite. He took my cell number and offered to call as soon as it was ready. No sooner than I’d made it half-way through a tall coffee at the Starbucks adjacent to the lobby, my phone was ringing and the room was ready. I went back to the front desk and entered the queue. All the clerks were helping other customers, but a gentleman in a suit standing to the side saw me, went behind the counter and checked me in. Pretty snazzy service!
Our room was on the 12th floor of the Club Tower and was a fantastic two-room suite complete with kitchenette, sitting area and sleeping area with the new Marriott “Revive” bed. Lady Astrojets joked that we should just blow-off the black-tie event and just chill at the hotel, but we didn’t.
Time didn’t allow for a visit to the concierge lounge, so I can’t report on that. We did stop by the Presidents Bar after our event for a nightcap. Service was polite and reasonably efficient. Arriving in the room for the evening, we found the bed had been turned down, and our stock of bath towels replenished.
A quick but wonderful stay at a great hotel. We will be back. I highly recommend this hotel for your next trip to D.C.
