Originally Posted by MileKing
I've stayed here a number of times and would never characterize it as a dump. In fact, of all the Sheraton (not Westin or St. Regis) properties in the metro-DC area, this one is probably the nicest. Sorry to hear you got a bad room. Service, however, is another story. I would agree that the service here is second rate at best and Platinum recognition is poor. When I was a Platinum member, the best one could hope for was a club level room. Never received a suite and had to ask on more than one occasion for the Platinum amenity.
YMMV. I once got the Presidential Suite there for about $149 per night on an upgrade. I suspect they were full and it was late and I was only there for one night, but still. Maybe it was because I've stayed there dozens if not a hundred times over the last 10 years or so when visiting AOL who used to be just down the block.
Yes, I have gotten inconsistent results on different stays, and sometimes it takes try or two to get a good room, but this hotel is above average for Sheraton anywhere in the US, IMHO.
I've found it helps to make sure my Platinum number is in the reservation as well as the comments field saying something like "SPG Platinum NNNNNNNNNN; Please upgrade if possible; Prefer King NS; Thanks!" or "SPG Platinum NNNNNNNNNN; Please upgrade if possibile; Need 2 doubles close to elevator NS this trip; Thanks!"