This property is in the ever-booming section of Ballston, just miles from downtown Washington, D.C. There are a number of restaurants, a service mall, and a new multi-screen movie theatre all within walking distance. The property is also a few quick blocks from the Ballston Metro stop.

Approaching the hotel, one immediately notices the modern, clean, new lines and look. Although there's an underground garage alongside the entrance, the door is down and a sign out front indicates valet parking. Although I arrived at 4pm on a summer Saturday afternoon, there was no staff to be found and so I waited in my car 3-5 minutes. At this point someone came out and asked if they could help me; I indicated I was checking-in and needed my car parked. I was instead directed to a self-park garage just down the same block. I parked (signs everywhere in the garage alert you to the hours--it closes at midnight) and then walked back up the block with my luggage.

I walked into a near-empty but modern, airy, and light hotel. It was open up to higher floors, and a mix of Westin and W, with some typical W signage and style. There were two concierges and one front desk agent. The agent was checking in the only other person I saw. As I approached the desk, an agent jumped out from behind the concierge's desk and kindly came over and checked me in. Check-in was quick and friendly, with a visual tour of where to find the restaurant and Starbucks, a notation about 24-hour room service, and recognition of my gold status. I was asked how many keys I wanted and if I wanted the mini-bar key. I was asked if I had my car parked and explained what I experienced. The agent was a bit confused, almost doubting me, until the other guest next to me indicated that she, too, was sent to self-park. Since the agent had no idea what was going on, there was no explanation or apology. Check-in took less than two minutes.

I headed to my room, still seeing nobody else in the lobby, nobody in the elevator and nobody on the 11th floor. That evening, I left the hotel and came back twice while I was there and only saw one other person in the lobby at one point on his laptop (which reminds me I meant to ask about free wireless in public areas). No other guests in the lobby, the elevators, or on the floor. I saw nobody when I checked-out. It was a ghost town of a hotel and completely explained why I could get a ridiculously low rate. When I got to my room, I experienced my greatest disappointment during my visit (the parking situation being a close second). Not only was I not upgraded, I was in a room across from the elevator lobby and the noisy ice machine. I checked out a couple of the higher floors (for purposes of making my notes here) and there was an executive floor but no SPG-branded floors. In my spying on other floors, I again saw nobody on the floors or in the elevator. I was disappointed and a bit surprised that as a first-time guest, an SPG Gold member, and one of the few guests in residence that there was no better room than a standard one next to the noise of elevators and ice.

The room itself was perfectly acceptable and modern, and of a decent size. It was comfortable with heavenly bed and bath. There was a flat-screen tv that swiveled for your convenience. The desk and closet were big with a high-speed cable connection available for $10/24 hours. The temp was set at 74, which seemed a bit high for DC in the summer but the a/c worked hard and it was a comfy 62 by the morning (and I appreciate that, unlike some hotels, I could set the temp to cooler than 64). If I was staying more than one night, I would have better appreciated the HVAC. The bathroom was big with lots of counter space although there was no ventilation in this brand new hotel bathroom and only one small towel rack for those who would stay multiple nights and want to participate in the conservation effort by hanging up their towel. Given that this was not a traditional SPG room (since they didn't seem to have any), there was no complimentary bottle of water.

As noted above, not a soul to be seen when I checked out in the morning, except the lone front desk agent; not even anyone at the front door. I "checked out" by shouting out my room number as I passed through the lobby, which resulted in a "thank you" thrown back my way. Couldn't be easier.

Positive: room layout, function and comfort. Location: surrounding area and proximity to D.C. Price. New-ness.

Neutral: the only service I used was in checking in/out during this short stay and with nobody in the hotel, the excellent service I received was hardly a test of their abilities.

Negative: Parking. I ended up paying $21 with in/out parking and the overnight fee; would have paid less if the hotel had parked the car. Upgrade: none for a gold member in an empty hotel.

If in the area, I'd return again without hesitation, especially if I got a similar rate, although I'd force the parking issue this time and would be more aggressive about pursuing an upgrade.

Review by Drew.

Posted at August 22, 2006 9:19 PM