[mappress]

I had been hearing a lot about the new W launched this Summer in DC so this past weekend I decided to head downtown and check it out with a group of friends.  In general, I’m a big fan of Starwood Hotels so had high expectations walking in, tempered slightly by some of the stories I had heard from friends who had trouble getting in.  Thankfully, we didn’t have any issues at the door and I was more than impressed with the overall experience of the venue.

Cost – $$$

Service – B+
I had heard some negative things about issues getting in the front door and up to the lounge but we didn’t encounter anything significant.  In fact, one of the hostesses went out of her way to walk us from the main foyer through the restaurant and down to the wine bar.  One of my companions found our server to be a little short but nothing worth causing a stir over.  In the upstairs lounge I had a pretty positive impression of the general staff.

Food – B
I didn’t really have a chance to try the food in the restaurant so this is an incomplete rating.  We ordered some snacks in the wine bar and I thought the portions were a bit meager.  We ordered a couple bottles of wine and although I was very satisfied with the Sauvignon Blanc, we ordered a Bourgogne Pinor Noir and it was served chilled.  Very odd.

Decor – A
I thought it was a bit extravagant and gaudy than some of the other W hotels – think “A Clockwork Orange” meets French Victorian.   Don’t take that the wrong way – I really loved the over-the-top sensibility in the place – a stark contrast to the majority of other hotels in DC.  You honestly feel like you’ve been transported into a completely different vector in the time-space continuum when you step in the doors – somewhere a lot cooler than your typical DC venue.

Feel – A
I loved it.  I thought the crowd was fantastic and unlike your typical DC lounge, you can actually carry on a conversation.  Between the deck, lounge and wine bar there is something for everyone and you can easily make an entire night out of a trip to the W.  On top of the consistently well construed diversity in the venue, it is one of the more socially friendly spaces in the DC nightlife scene.  I’m sure I’ll be making frequent trips back throughout the remainder of the Summer.

After submitting several inquiries on VRBO for properties around Los Angeles, I almost instantly received a response from a representative from Globe Homes and Condos named Fox Adams, who claimed that the VRBO-listed property was no longer available and pointed me in the direction of “Santa Monica Ocean Front Suite 4.” I reviewed the listing, which stated that the property was a “spacious” living space in a “fully restored” building with “wireless internet” and “high quality” furnishings for $432/night. The photos seemed to substantiate the claims made in the listing and we decided to book the place.

Big mistake.

The moment we walked in the door, my blood pressure started to rise as I observed the shabby, stained hardwood floors and aging furniture that adorned the small, claustrophobic property. Walking into the bedroom, I sat down on the “high quality” bed, which sagged and squeaked like a bed one would expect in a motel that charges by the hour. The final straw was when we all attempted to access the wireless connection, which blazed along at a speed that reminded me of the 56k modem I had in the early 90s.

It was already late, so we crashed out and left the moment we awoke the next day. I attempted to contact Fox and got his voicemail so I wrote him an e-mail explaining the situation. About an hour later, I received his response: “Unlike a hotel you are responsible for the dates you reserved with us. Please review your agreement with us for terms and conditions on a cancellation.”

I can only hope that others see this story and avoid Globe Home and Condos and any of the other properties they may be advertising. I can only assume that the terrible customer relations and product we experienced at Santa Monica Ocean Front Suite 4 is indicative of the company’s business practices and their other properties.

[mappress]

This past weekend, I ventured out of DC area headed over to the Hyatt Regency Reston at Reston Town Center to check out the establishment I had heard good things about from friends in the area. Let me preface this by saying that I’m pretty picky when it comes to hotels – I’ve stayed at some of the most notable hotels throughout the US and have been disappointed on numerous occasions. Then again, I’m not really interested in name brands – I’m more interested in a professional, well executed product. I wasn’t disappointed by the Hyatt.

Cost – $$

Service – A
The service throughout the venue was very competent. The receptionist working the front desk was extremely friendly and attentive at check-in. I arrived at about 9PM and headed straight to the Market Street Bar & Grill where the manager was accommodating and helped me find a good seat outside. What really impressed me was upon checkout I had a question about one of the charges on the bill. The receptionist not only was sharp but really seemed to care that the situation be resolved amicably. They’ve done a good job hiring and managing good people at the hotel.

Food – B+
We grabbed a bite at the Market Street Bar & Grill and was not disappointed. The food was well prepared and although the menu was pretty orthodox it did contain some interesting culinary curve balls. Read my full review on the Market Street Bar & Grill.

Decor – A-
The Hyatt is one of the larger structures in Reston town center and like many of the other structures in the area has a slick, modern aesthetic. The main lobby is well construed space configured with subtle, earthy tones. The room itself was comfortably furnished and immaculately clean, with a nice view of Reston Town Center. Admittedly it is odd to look out the window onto Reston Town Center and think that the entire space was developed practically overnight.

Feel – B+
The Hyatt Regency does a great job providing a first-rate space and staffing it accordingly. As a hotel they put out a great product. Their customer base seems to skew a bit on the older side. As far as the hotel is concerned I would select the Hyatt Regency as a venue for professional contacts or relatives visiting the area and similarly, look at the Market Street Bar & Grill as a destination for a family or professional dinner.

The Hyatt Regency Reston is located at 1800 Presidents Street in Reston, VA. They can be reached at (703) 709-1234.

Photos:

I first visited the Mandarin Oriental over a year ago while eating at MoZU and fell in love.  It is easily one of the top hotels in DC as far as the general ambiance is concerned although I haven’t stayed there so can’t vouch for how it ranks as far as a place to stay.  From the moment you step into the place you are transported into a very slick, very modern space that doesn’t feel like downtown DC.

Cost – $$$

Service – A
They did a fantastic job staffing the hotel throughout – from the Empress Lounge, to MoZU and CityZen, to the valet outside, the staff is first-rate.

Decor – A
Very modern and chic although the different areas all have their own appeal and aesthetic tinge.  The Empress Lounge and foyer have a more classical feel while CityZen is definitely more contemporary.  The one gripe I have is probably the view from the back patio.

Feel – A-
The Mandarin is one of my favorite spots in DC.  In fact, it has been on our list of best places to take a date in DC since we started the list.  It is a sexy place that attracts a mature, sophisticated crowd.

The Mandarin Oriental is located at 1330 Maryland Avenue, SW.  They can be reached at (202) 554-8588.

I headed to the Gaylord National Hotel yesterday evening for a wedding.  It was my second visit to the hotel in the past year or so and I was happy to see that the area was starting to grow a pretty good sized crowd because my initial impression was that even though the space was beautifully construed, its location seemed a bit daunting to me (it is a bit far away from the city) and I found myself initially wondering if it was a sustainable venture.  The initial signs seem positive.

Cost – $$$
I was a bit shocked when I dished out $28 for about three hours of valet parking.  In fact, the last time I’ve been that surprised at the cost for a service was two years when I was visiting Monaco and found out that I was about to pay 44 euros for two Heinekens.  The national waterfront is definitely not Monaco.

Service – B-
I am a bit surprised that the investors would have poured so much money into developing this beautiful establishment but not into developing the staff who works here.  I honestly expected a premium level of service through the hotel and felt like they were plucking people off the streets.  The service during dinner was apocryphal.  They brought out half our dishes and it was about thirty minutes or so until the other half came out.  In fact, they were starting to serve dessert by the time all our entrées made their way out.

Food – B
It was decent.  The steak might have been much better but having waited until everyone was served (which took thirty minutes as I mentioned) it was a bit cold by the time I bit into it.

Decor – A
It is a beautiful space.  The massive window facing onto the harbor is really incredible (especially after a few glasses of wine).  It is worth visiting just for the view alone.

Feel – A-
Visually, you feel like you are in a premium establishment but the service detracts from the overall experience at the place.  You want to feel like everyone who works their kisses your ass and instead you find yourself wondering if your going to get jumped by the bellhop and kitchen staff.  It is definitely worth a visit if you haven’t been there and I’d even recommend the venue for work functions or other events (it was a great place to host the wedding).  Let’s stay optimistic that they’ll pick up the level of their service.

The Gaylord National Hotel is located at 344 Waterfront Street in Oxon Hill, Maryland.  They can be reached at (301) 965-4000.