Washington DC: Phoenix hotel

[MrsPete]

Does anyone have any experience with this hotel?

Specifically, I'd like to know about the rooms -- I know it's an historical hotel, so the rooms will be small, and that's fine. I do hate that they don't have a pool.

I'd like to know about the safety of the neighborhood. It is walking distance to Union Station, right?

Any family evening activities in the nearby vicinity?

I know that Union Station has a food court in the basement -- if memory serves, it's a pretty decent food court with lots of choices. What's there, and how are the prices?

What other food is available near the Phoenix?

Thanks!

 

[EvanMaddieMouse]

I don't know about the Phoenix hotel at all, but I do want to share a story with you that just happened to us. We booked a "historic" hotel in Seattle, named, aptly enough, the Hotel Seattle. Great prices, since we all know how budget boarders LOVE a deal! No pool there, either, btw, which was okay. But it was in the center of downtown, near everything, and it looked really nice online, and had some good reviews.

We got there, and paint was peeling off the lobby ceiling, and the lobby bathrooms (of course the kids had to go right away!) were tiny and filthy! But I thought, it got good reviews, let's give it a try.

We got to the room, which was too small to even be called tiny, and the floors were just horrid. The bathroom was indescribable. The tv was a 20" with 5 channels, but the worst was that we were placed on the 4th floor, with a low-placed window that had no screen in it. It was during that heat wave Seattle just had, and the hotel has no a/c, so we kind of had to keep the window open. We have a 4 year old who jumps on beds.

You can see the problem here.

We ended up cancelling our next 3 nights on the res (thankfully they didn't charge us a penalty) and booked the luxury hotel around the corner for $80 more a night. We decided it was worth it to not skimp on accomodations after not sleeping all night for fear MaddieMouse was going to wake up and somehow fall out the window!

So my point is, make sure you know exactly what you're booking. And if you can't get any definites, go with a chain or pay a little more. That's what I learned on my last vacation!

 

[bdcp]

I live in the DC area and have never ever heard of the Phoenix Hotel. Have you done a search for reviews, not the ones on their site, but other ones on travel sites (trip advisor for example) or yahoo? From what I see on it's site, it used to be called the "Commodore". Also, one I've never heard of. Also, expect the rooms to be very small. We have stayed downtown before even though we live nearby. There's a Courtyard by Marriott a couple of blocks off the mall, near museums (Spy museum is across the street) and Chinatown and across the street from the Verizon center and very close to subway (Metro). I have stayed there and it is a nice hotel and there are several restaurants nearby (McCormick and Schmick, Ruth's Chris, a couple of Starbucks and a few others). The Courtyard also has their own restaurant. I and two girlfriends were perfectly comfortable walking in the area at night.

Union Station does have restaurants and shopping, but they also have a homeless problem and the area around it, while fairly safe, isn't a busy area at night.

 

[Downrivermama]

I went there several years ago. The ceilings are a bit low. It is in the square across the street from Union Station. The food court in Union Station is OK, we were there in 2005 and they had a Johnny Rockets. Can't remember the other places, but I seem to remember that there was a Chinese place and buger places.

 

[pmickus]

The hotel is a small hotel across the street from Union Station. There used to be an Irish Pub in the hotel (not sure if it is still there). It is located in a great location to walk to the Capital and the Smithsonian Museums. You can also catch the Metro at Union Station and get just about anywhere, except Georgetown, in the city. This is a business hotel so I doubt there will be many evening activities for the kids. I've only had business lunches there and that was several years ago. The section of town is fine to walk during the daytime and most of the evening. Capital Hill can be dicey but I know that area is changing. Not sure if the hotel has parking but you will have a hard time finding street parking at that location. I guess you could put your car in long term parking at the train station nearby. It might be a good location for a few days for easy access to some of the sights but I would not stay more than a weekend with a family b/c my kids would get bored with the location.

 

[MrsPete]

I don't know about the Phoenix hotel at all, but I do want to share a story with you that just happened to us. We booked a "historic" hotel in Seattle, named, aptly enough, the Hotel Seattle . . . So my point is, make sure you know exactly what you're booking. And if you can't get any definites, go with a chain or pay a little more. That's what I learned on my last vacation!

Well, that's what I'm trying to do. I stayed in an "historic" hotel during my travels last summer, and it was wonderful -- the rooms were small, but the ambiance was wonderful, and the price was low. I've been screwed over by chain hotels a couple times too! I'm looking for specifics on this particular hotel.

There's a Courtyard by Marriott a couple of blocks off the mall

We looked at that -- it's our second choice.

I went there several years ago. The ceilings are a bit low. It is in the square across the street from Union Station. The food court in Union Station is OK, we were there in 2005 and they had a Johnny Rockets. Can't remember the other places, but I seem to remember that there was a Chinese place and buger places.

The proximity to Union Station is a big deal for us. I've been there, and for a kids' group, being close to the Metro and the food court is going to be a good deal for us. Just how close is it to Union Station?

Capital Hill can be dicey but I know that area is changing.

Changing for the better or for the worse?

Not sure if the hotel has parking but you will have a hard time finding street parking at that location..

We won't have a car, so that's not a concern.

Thanks -- more opinions are certainly welcome!