I completed a two night stay here the week after Thanksgiving. The staff was incredibly friendly and nice. I've never seen so many fresh-faced youngsters carrying bags, parking cars, etc. The location is nice by the Courthouse in Alexandria, so lots of commuters are around and there are a fair number of restaurants and such around. It seems as though more are on the way. However, the locals don't know where it is, as I got a bit lost on my way there. I asked several passersby who said they didn't know where the hotel was and one who assured me it wasn't open yet.

The lobby is pretty swank, but the rooms themselves are standard Westin variety. I did not check out the club lounge. I'll try during my next stay in a few weeks and report back. I'll probably make this my preferred DC Starwood from now on, but only because it's more convenient to my office than the Arlington Westin. The two hotels are almost exactly alike otherwise, in my opinion. And, I'll have to try the St. Regis when it re-opens, though it may be out of my price range.