Review: Residence Inn Washington Downtown/Convention Center

So as I mentioned in my previous post, I had some recent conferences to attend at the DC Convention Center and stayed at various hotels around the convention center. One of those happened to be the AC Hotel and the other was the Residence Inn. This was another short stay so take from this review what you will. Both are very decent hotels to stay in and are situated fairly conveniently to explore the National Mall and DC’s great museum scene.

Check In

I arrived at the hotel around 11 AM and was pleasantly surprised to learn that my room was already ready. Even better, they had upgraded me at no extra cost to a one-bedroom suite with a full kitchen, instead of the studio I had originally booked because of my Platinum status. I used my Marriott 35k free night certificate for this stay, which was valued at approximately $369 during the time of the conference. I earned this certificate through the renewal of my Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. As a small business owner who covers my own hotel expenses, any savings like this is a welcome boost to my budget. The building itself is shared between the Courtyard and the Residence Inn, but I forget which levels are for which hotel.

1 Bedroom Suite:

Residence Inns nowadays are quite modern and offer great rooms on par with some of their full service counterparts. This room was no different. I will go as far as to say getting a suite at a full service Marriott is almost the same as staying at a Residence Inn, which offers a kitchen on top of the usual amenities of a suite.

Upon entering there was a a full kitchen to the left, a counter with two high chairs, and a large sectional couch facing a television. Through a doorway was a bedroom with a single King bed.

I did appreciate that the hotel sanitized its remotes or so they made it appear that they do.

The bathroom was massive with a large walk-in shower and some unremarkable toiletries.

The view out the window was looking straight out at the Marriott Marquis next door which I stayed at previously.

Breakfast:

As with all Residence Inns, this location offered a complimentary breakfast each morning from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM. While it’s a nice perk, the selection was fairly standard—mostly packaged baked goods, cereals, and a few hot items like eggs and potatoes served in buffet trays. Nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done. The space is nice for getting some work done however because it is pretty quiet between breakfasts.

The U.S. really needs to take a serious look at food regulations, especially when it comes to buffets and similar offerings at hotels and other public spaces. While these meals are often convenient, they tend to be subpar, both in terms of taste and nutritional value. The additives not only compromise the flavor but also contribute to poor health outcomes when consumed regularly. The same hotel brands in Europe offer a higher standard. And just to be clear, this doesn’t mean I believe RFK will solve America’s health issues 🙂

Other Amenities:

The hotel does have a rooftop bar with some ok-ish views and there is a decently sized fitness center. If you would like to pay for your breakfast, there is a full service restaurant in the lobby called “The Delegate”.

Bottom Line:

Don’t get me wrong with my rant about healthy food—this Residence Inn is a great hotel, especially given its prime location in DC. I’d gladly return without hesitation because of the value it offers. The rooms were spacious, the bed was comfortable, and the free, fast Wi-Fi was a definite plus. And let’s be honest, US hotels that offer paid breakfasts don’t offer buffets all that much better than this one. All in all, it’s a solid choice for anyone staying in the city.