I just noticed that from January 10 through March 31, 2005 the hotel will be undergoing renovations. Any experiences so far that anybody would like to report?
When I was there last month the main lobby entrance was closed and the front desk was in a temporary location in front of the newly renovated restaurant. Service at check in was unaffected - still very quick and courteous. Since the main entrance was being worked on there was no lobby seating area. The business center is located in that area but I didn't notice if you still had access to it. If you don't there is a Kinko's in the Crystal City Mall that can help at comparable prices.
Last month, I think due to the construction the parking was free - not sure if that will last throughout construction.
Didn't notice any construction on the club floors. I think they renovated the club lounge last year?
Hope this helps. I'll be there later this week, if you have specific questions post them and I'll look for specifics.
Programs: Used to be elite in UA, SPG and Hertz...now I'm just a regular guy
Posts: 380
DivMiler,
Let us know how your stay went. I just booked a parlor room at the Crystal City, myself, for an early March stay and would be interested to know how it is. I'm hoping to get upgraded, but you can never count on that. If it's simply awful, I can re-book.
Last edited by raisin; Feb 4, 05 at 2:17 pm..
Reason: typo
DivMiler,
Let us know how your stay went. I just booked a parlor room at the Crystal City, myself, for an early March stay and would be interested to know how it is. I'm hoping to get upgraded, but you can never count on that. If it's simply awful, I can re-book.
Well, keep in mind that it only had a sofabed. It was pretty okay, except for two concerns mentioned below. It was room 1503, which was connected to 1505, if I remember correctly. I assume 1505 was a regular room, with maybe those four-poster beds that Happy 51 and PremEx mentioned.
1503, the room that I had the run of, was HUGE. A dining room table (seating 8, I think), two sofas, two easy chairs, coffee table, plus one more sofa which was the sofabed. Two large windows as well.
The TV was large -- maybe a 27 inch? I don't remember.
Two downsides: (1) The online description indicated a desk; there was none, so I couldn't do any work on my laptop easily (I don't have wireless, and the Wayport connection was no where near the dining room table , and (2) the sofabed was uncomfortable. That I knew was going to be a crapshoot, but it was a cheap rate ($134) and I got to see how the other half lives (or at least parties -- they don't sleep in sofabeds .
I sent an email to the manager asking about the incorrect description -- also, when I called the hotel last week the clerk I talked to assured me there was a desk. Unfortunately, he never got back to me . I think that should be changed online, and agents informed about the room. The former is probably Starwood's concern, but the latter is the hotel's.
I'm back in the hotel tonight, with a $65 AAA rate, but with a King bed
DivMiler...yeah, sofa beds can be pretty gnarly especially if they are the older thin kind. Did you consider having them bring up a roll-away bed? They are more comfortable at least, if a bit unsightly.
I used to stay in huge Parlor rooms quite often at the Marriott Marquee Times Square New York. They had way overbuilt Suites at this hotel because the economy was booming when it was designed and built. After the economy changed downward, they sold the bedroom portions as regular rooms and the locked-off Parlor rooms remained largely unused. But when the hotel was booked solid, they would offer these Parlor rooms really cheap as sort of a "we got something for you, but you may not like it, though it's a good price" deal.
I loved 'em. They were HUGE. Maybe 4 or 5 times the size of a regular room. Full bathroom with shower/tub. Large closet. Crystal chandelier, grand piano, wonderful furnishings, dining area, desk, full bar and pantry and incredible sweeping views! Normally I wouldn't like a sofabed arrangement, but these puppies had Murphy Beds that were designed right into the wall and when your guests had gone, you just pulled it down and out and it was just great! Sometimes I got 'em as low as $85!
Once I was turned on to them (by a friend in the hotel business in New York) I always requested them at check-in. It was funny because the clerks really considered they were downgrading me. "Are you sure you really want that room?" I was sure. Heck, it was almost too big.
But I can see how some folks wouldn't like the Murphy Bed arrangement, or having a roll-away brought in. Or worse...having to sleep on a sofa bed.
DivMiler...yeah, sofa beds can be pretty gnarly especially if they are the older thin kind. Did you consider having them bring up a roll-away bed? They are more comfortable at least, if a bit unsightly.
Huh. Never thought of it. I could have, I suppose. It wasn't as if I was hurting for space. I guess when I went to bed it was about midnight and didn't appreciate exactly how thin the bed was -- until about 2 in the morning . Anyway, I only stayed the night.
Alexandria Mattress Run Report (Crystal City, Old Town Suites & National)
Crystal City
Front of hotel is now open (one door) side door is now closed (side door will open in about a week). Lobby still under construction and will be in that state for the next five weeks - until mid-March. They are building a two story fountain for the lobby. Check in is still in its temporary location and no lobby seating is available.
Business center is still closed.
Club Floor was renovated last year, no new construction planned after lobby. Club lounge is on 15 and is open Mon – Fri for breakfast and Mon – Thur for afternoon honor bar.
Took a 15th floor club room this trip. 14th floor club rooms have refrigerators and regular (non raised, non poster beds), if you want a refrigerator on the 15th floor you can to ask for one.
Had to pay for parking this trip - $15.00. Street parking limited due to construction – at least five meters blocked for construction parking.
One block walk to the Metro and the Crystal City Mall with multiple eating establishments still makes this location my number one DC choice.
Old Town Alexandria
Twelfth stay in the same number of months and finally got a club floor room (9th floor) after asking. No real difference from the 10th floor, which I usually get put in, except there was a printer/fax and office supplies on the desk.
All rooms are two room suites (actually 1 ˝) separated by french doors. All rooms have a refrigerator and microwave. If having an extended stay there is a “Giant” grocery store a block away, along with the microwave and fridge it makes for great savings.
Old Town Alexandria is a comfortable walk (about a mile) lots of shopping and eating.
Club lounge on 9th floor is open Mon – Fri for breakfast and Mon – Thur for afternoon honor bar.
Street parking is available but limited – hotel parking is $16.00
Sheraton National Hotel
Club floor was renovated last year. Open Mon – Fri for breakfast and afternoon honor bar.
Club floors are 12, 14 + 15 (I think – 15 was not labeled as a club floor but the layout was the same as 12+14. Club lounge is on 14.
Rooms here are a bit bigger than Crystal City with the desk positioned so that you can work and still watch TV – set up not conducive to this at Crystal City or Alexandria Suites.
The Potomac Restaurant is the best of the three with great food and great décor.
As stated before, location is the biggest detractor in this hotel. However, shuttle service to DCA and the Pentagon City mall make it semi-convenient. As a rental car user, this hotel isn't so bad. Parking is $16.00 per night.
But even with a car the lack of any establishment within walking distance really makes this place difficult to recommend over the other two.
Crystal City’s walk to the metro and numerous restaurants including Morton’s puts it at #1 for me.
DivMiler - Never got a parlor room in the last 15 months as a plat but always stay at gov't rates or lower. Once had a Crystal City 15th floor room with the desk on the other side of the room from the high speed connection - just called the front desk and within 15 minutes an engineer was in the room helping me move the desk to the other side of the room so that I could hook up. This last stay on 15 had the high speed hook up at the desk but noticed that the cable didn't go into the wall up under the carpet to the wall outlet on the other side of the room - guess they had some furniture switches and have recified the access issues.
Last edited by Happy 51; Feb 6, 05 at 4:52 am..
Reason: Updated info
Just to add to Happy 51's report -- I stayed one more night Friday Feb 4, this time on the 12th floor (and enjoyed the Sweet Sleeper this time). There was a refrigerator in my room, and nominally had access to the Club, though as Happy 51 said, there was no Club service on Friday nights, but I was given a coupon for up to $15 for breakfast Saturday morning ($11.95 buffet).
Parking was free for me leaving Saturday morning -- the gate was up, and I seem to remember that weekends were free parking. I paid for parking on my stay earlier in the week.
The front desk staff and the housekeeping staff I met were uniformly friendly and helpful. That, and the proximity to the Metro and eateries makes this also my favorite DC area hotel.
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, PC Plat
Posts: 1,308
Stayed at Sheraton Crystal City last night compliments of United because of a mechanical cancellation.United offfered my choice of Best Western or this Sheraton. At checkin the nice lady said she was sorry that the club floor was booked but I would have lounge access. This was pretty cool since as far as I know my SPG Gold expired around 2003. The EADS Bistro resturant was pretty empty but had very good service and they said they would accept my $15 of United meal vouchers by having me sign the check and present the vouchers to the front desk who would then take it off my bill.
Room was in pretty good shape, staff was nice, good deal.
Location: A menace to everything in the sky. Yes. Even birds.
Programs: Eh+ Rapid Rolleyes
Posts: 14,332
Quote:
Originally Posted by u600213
Stayed at Sheraton Crystal City last night compliments of United because of a mechanical cancellation.United offfered my choice of Best Western or this Sheraton. At checkin the nice lady said she was sorry that the club floor was booked but I would have lounge access. This was pretty cool since as far as I know my SPG Gold expired around 2003.
Eh? I've always been told by *Wood properties when I'm distressed (usually Sheraton PHX and Sheraton National - can anyone tell which idiotic carrier I patronize ) that I'm not entitled to earn SPG points or am eligible for benefits because I'm not paying for it.
I've always just blindly accepted it. Hmm...
By the way, the only difference I've noticed between regular and SPG floor rooms at the National is the orientation of the toilets. I actually preferred the lower room (both in the tower). But overall, not a bad hotel.
By the way, the only difference I've noticed between regular and SPG floor rooms at the National is the orientation of the toilets. I actually preferred the lower room (both in the tower). But overall, not a bad hotel.
Programs: SPG E Level; AA Pa Kettle; CO/UA Pa Kettle; PWP Plenipotentiary Ombudsman of :rolleyes:
Posts: 27,627
Quote:
Originally Posted by belynch
Eh? I've always been told by *Wood properties when I'm distressed (usually Sheraton PHX and Sheraton National - can anyone tell which idiotic carrier I patronize ) that I'm not entitled to earn SPG points or am eligible for benefits because I'm not paying for it.
I've always just blindly accepted it. Hmm...
And, you were told correctly. Distressed passenger rates are basically Master Bill's to the airline, which aren't eligible for stay credit or benefits. But, sometimes a hotel may want to go above and beyond. It doesn't mean that they all will, but we don't want to discourage those that do.
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
Eh? I've always been told by *Wood properties when I'm distressed [snip] that I'm not entitled to earn SPG points or am eligible for benefits because I'm not paying for it.
Just chiming in to agree with what Starwood Lurker wrote. You are not entitled to any SPG room points or elite property benefits while on distressed passenger vouchers. But as he says, some properties will often go above and beyond and give you at least some property benefits.
I've done dozens of Starwood stays under these types of vouchers, and while I rarely get points or stay credits...I almost always get an upgrade (often to a Suite) and some other goodies for having Platinum status. When I check in I usually say something like, "I know I'm not entitled to any of my usual Platinum benefits on this thing...but if you've got an upgrade of some sort you could throw my way...I'd really appreciate it."
I think the Front Desk appreciates a savvy program member that knows "their place" with these vouchers, and because of that and the fact that I'm not demanding an upgrade...they almost always go ahead and give me something nice as a special "above and beyond" token of goodwill.
, and (2) the sofabed was uncomfortable. That I knew was going to be a crapshoot, but it was a cheap rate ($134) and I got to see how the other half lives (or at least parties -- they don't sleep in sofabeds 
.
. Anyway, I only stayed the night.
Alexandria Mattress Run Report
) that I'm not entitled to earn SPG points or am eligible for benefits because I'm not paying for it. 
