Programs: BA and Singapore, UA, AA from time to time
Posts: 243
Although I am just a Gold Ambassador, I received a great upgrade from the Willard recently. We booked the Willard Room and were given a one-bedroom suite, which was two large rooms, two bathrooms, and a foyer (big enough for an extra bed for my son to sleep in). This was all confirmed in advance in a very nice phone call from the hotel, and delivered as promised. I have had very mixed results with the promised "upgrades" in that some simply aren't available, and others aren't even noticeable. This however certainly made my fee for the year worthwhile. Thanks very much to the Willard.
Just checked in to this hotel for the first time. I am an ordinary Ambassador and am here on a breakfast-included package for 3 nights, using the free night certificate for one of those nights.
I paid for a "Willard King" room, and they upgraded me to a large and nice, but strangely laid out, suite. Obviously two rooms have been combined to make this suite and the original two doors are still there. There is also a bare kitchenette off to one side that does include a nice empty fridge (in addition to the two minibars in the room).
As I was walking up to the hotel with my bags (you have to go up some steps to enter from Pennsylvania Avenue), a bellman just inside the door took a look at me and then went back to what he was doing. Not a fabulous first impression of the service levels. Indeed, overall, service has been acceptable but certainly not at luxury hotel levels. For example, there are no doormen at all, and security clearly is not totally on their toes or when I got to my room I would not have found a calling card from an outcall massage service slid under the door!
My package includes breakfast, but when they saw the stay certificate, they made it very clear that the breakfast offer did not extend to the stay certificate night.
I also found it a bit strange that there was no coffee maker of any sort in the room, although there is an iron. There is both wired and wireless internet at $10.95/24 hours. In room amenities are decent but unremarkable. A Bose radio is provided, although the TV is a rather old tubed TV and there is a VCR -- not a DVD -- player in the living room.
Overall, I would categorize this as a quite good upscale, not luxury, hotel. However, as an ordinary Ambassador, I am impressed with the room upgrade (they said it was 3 classes) and probably would stay here again barring any unforseen crises on the rest of my stay.
Programs: AMC MovieWatcher, Giant BonusCard, Petco PALS Card, Silver Diner Blue Plate Club
Posts: 19,757
I wrote about the hotel telling RAs only one class upgrade but then delivering the suite RichardInSF describes when booking a basic room over in the RA Experiences Thread.
I booked a couple nights here last month, ~ 4 days in advance. Emailed the hotel asking what to expect -- was told 1 class upgrade (better view) and early checkin meant noon.
I forwarded the email to Ambassador CS, who replied that (1) I had been confirmed into a Willard Room (executive room) and (2) early checkin was 8am.
The room description in the res changed to a Willard room. Then the night before checkin the reservation changed to a King Executive Suite -- the one RichardInSF described.
I didn't need the 8am checkin, but turned up at the hotel ~ 8:15am just out of spite
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I will be staying there for 3 nights this weekend on the 25k promo points deal... Looks like the washington flyer bus and then the metro is the best way to get from IAD to the hotel - can anyone confirm this?
Programs: WN A-List, IC Plat AMB. generic cheapskate
Posts: 637
Quote:
Originally Posted by gleff
I wrote about the hotel telling RAs only one class upgrade but then delivering the suite RichardInSF describes when booking a basic room over in the RA Experiences Thread.
I booked a couple nights here last month, ~ 4 days in advance. Emailed the hotel asking what to expect -- was told 1 class upgrade (better view) and early checkin meant noon.
I forwarded the email to Ambassador CS, who replied that (1) I had been confirmed into a Willard Room (executive room) and (2) early checkin was 8am.
The room description in the res changed to a Willard room. Then the night before checkin the reservation changed to a King Executive Suite -- the one RichardInSF described.
I didn't need the 8am checkin, but turned up at the hotel ~ 8:15am just out of spite
I'm resuscitating this thread because of an upcoming stay at the Willard (BOGO over New Year's!).
Booked deluxe room (lowest room category w/ 2 double beds) and e-mailed the Willard. Received reply within 24 hours, along with a note that I'll be guaranteed an upgrade to a Willard Room (2 level), and that if space is available, they'll try to provide a Junior Suite (+1 level).
Upon looking at my reservation, it shows a Junior Suite (with 2 doubles). Of course, I'm really hoping for an Exec or Oval Suite, after previous experiences... (I think two minibars should be sufficient for 3-4 revelers )
(Edit: upon asking in the e-mail, they mentioned that while drinks in the minibar are complimentary, snacks are not.)
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Last edited by gmax58; Nov 30, 06 at 7:23 am.
Reason: minibar comment
Programs: AA EXP/1.3 MM, UA 1K, DL PM, BD Gold, CO Silver, IC RA, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz Prez Circle
Posts: 1,065
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmax58
I'm resuscitating this thread because of an upcoming stay at the Willard (BOGO over New Year's!).
Upon looking at my reservation, it shows a Junior Suite (with 2 doubles). Of course, I'm really hoping for an Exec or Oval Suite, after previous experiences... (I think two minibars should be sufficient for 3-4 revelers )
We'll be there the same weekend! Don't take OUR upgrade! Well, actually maybe your upgrade will result in our even better upgrade.
We'll be there the same weekend! Don't take OUR upgrade! Well, actually maybe your upgrade will result in our even better upgrade.
hey folks!
Guess I will be there in a (what currently is) Executive Suite (non view )from 11/30 to 1/1.
Looks like quite an FT gathering.
You folks might want to call them up and ask about the New Years Eve package.
For $30 more I have got
1. 50$ voucher for breakfast for two
2. parking overnight
3. Champagne toast over new years - I might not end up using the this last one though.
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Last edited by pranu; Dec 19, 06 at 1:33 pm.
Reason: Upgraded Room
Programs: WN A-List, IC Plat AMB. generic cheapskate
Posts: 637
Checked on my upcoming stay. Upgraded to Exec Suite w/ 2 doubles. Hopefully there will be a view! (I am very pleased with this upgrade, too, as I've heard pleasant info about the Exec suites.)
Any updates on the remaining upgrades for people staying?
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I wouldnt expect a view - from what I have ascertained from the hotel - those are all blocked for last minute cash paying customers. They get a LOT of those on special occasions such as this.
Sorry
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)
)from 11/30 to 1/1.
