Holiday Inn Washington Capitol - National Mall

What is your Priority Club status?
Spire

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
No.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Standard award room booked, "upgraded" to room on a high floor. Back-of-door map shows there to be significantly larger rooms on the floor.

How are the rooms?
Older, average size with large bathrooms.
During a past redesign (replace tubs with walk-in showers) the job design was not well done, making it impossible to turn on the shower without standing under the shower head.
No good views from any room on the property.

How is the exec. lounge?
None.

What was good and what was bad?
Good:
- location fantastically close to major mall attractions
- breakfast buffet very good and wait staff excellent
- neighborhood seems safe
- close to Metro
- reasonable walk to The Wharf
- bed was very comfortable.

Bad:
- almost no restaurants or night life left in the immediate area
- very loud guest room air conditioner that is incapable of achieving the temperature setting of the thermostat during the entire 5-day stay
- auto-close room entrance doors that slam as loud as you can imagine.
- limited TV offerings and those they had randomly stopped working at times
- Slimy check-in experience. Was told that the property does not belong to IHG One Rewards (this on an award stay). After pointing out the "IHG One Rewards" sign facing me on the other side of the clear lucite divider between us, the story changed to say that the property does not adhere to the IHG One Rewards Spire benefit of a welcome amenity choice of breakfast. After I protested, they offered 500 points for the stay. Upon refusal of the insulting offer and further protest, the duty manager told the front desk agent to give me breakfast coupons. I received two - for a five-night stay for two people. Coupons for a single use, not vouchers that would be valid for 5 days. More protest from me, but that was their "final offer." I stepped away to dial IHG. Just after explaining the problem over the phone, FDC approaches to say an exception would be made and I then received 10 coupons (5 breakfasts for 2 people).

Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
Good points value for location alone, especially during high season, but unlikely to return.