Score8

Arrived and received two club floor rooms on pre-pay rates. For those who haven't been here, the suites are essentially regular sized rooms divided up into two rooms to make the suite. For the roughly $100 rate, this is a very good deal.

The club lounge is nice, but there is NOTHING in it. I have been here from Thurs to Sat and I haven't seen a person in it yet (employee or guest). They put out a small breakfast spread consisting of a few pastries and coffee. No water to be found anywhere at any point. There is a soda machine, but the availability of cups is random. I would much rather have had a breakfast voucher.

Explore

Does anyone have an update on the lounge? Is it open on weekends, or (better) do they offer Plat breakfast vouchers for the restaurant?

CaseyN2

Any news on the lounge on weekends ?

LA Platinum

I stayed there two nights this past weekend. My main reason (besides a decent rate/location) for staying there was to give a lounge a go. What a cluster! There's absolutely no service on the weekends. They try to make up for the breakfast by providing vouchers, but the breakfast is barely passable. My girlfriend literally had to gnaw on the French Toast. Disgusting. They give you nothing during the evenings. You do have access to the lounge, which gets you stale trail mix and musty soda. Yum! Go to the Westin down the road... or better yet... try the new W in DC. They know how to treat Platinums.

yanksgal

Stayed there for 3 nights (6/18-6/21) and it was extremely pleasant. Was on the 10th floor (the SPG floor) in room 1014 with a balcony although no furniture on balcony. The view was great and all service was absolutely fine. I much preferred it to the Westin which is in what seems like an office park. The parking fee was $22 a day. The best part was if you refuse maid service in an effort to be green you get the choice of a $5 voucher for the restaurant or 500 Starpoints. They left the voucher under the door but I went to the desk and requested the points instead and they made the change immediately. Very easy and relaxed stay. Check-in a complete breeze and staff friendly and unobtrusive. Will stay again definitely.

High Technology

Having stayed here before last year, we stopped in for a night on our way driving home from SC to NY (this is a little past our mid-way point).

Room was clean and well appointed, but we ran into a problem with the A/C. The thermostat didn't turn off the A/C properly, so our choices were either freezing cold or stuffy. Unfortunately, we arrived late and put the kids to bed. A hour later when we went to bed it was a little cold in the room, so I turned the setting up to 75.

By midnight I'd guess it was about 62 degrees in the room, so I turned it off completely. By 2AM it was incredibly stuffy, so I turned it back on, only to freeze out again.

I understand minor technical glitches, and it was too late to move rooms or have someone up to have a look. When I reported this in the morning, I received a blank stare from the clerk, who subsequently asked if I had tried adjusting the thermostat. I reiterated what happened, and he said he wasn't sure why it would not be working and gave me the blank stare again.

I wasn't looking for anything, other than perhaps an apology (which was nowhere to be had). So I suggested that they have someone take a look at the room so the next guest wouldn't have a similar experience. Then I saw the lightbulb go on, and the clerk seemed almost defensive saying I should have called down at 2AM for someone from engineering to come upstairs to have a look. I didn't want to get into a "that wasn't going to happen with my family all in bed", so I just replied nicely "the important part is getting it fixed for the next guest" -- that got him to write down the complaint on a post-it note (another a-ha moment).

Not the best front desk experience in my 10+ year Starwood experience...

NJUPINTHEAIR

The above appears to be the last post on this property in this thread.

Am considering this hotel for the convenience of traveling to National Harbor via ferry. How long a walk is it?

In addition, will be there on a Thursday night, so information on what kind of eats are in the lounge on weekday evenings and mornings would be appreciated.

Am considering Westin Alexandria where I have stayed before and their lounge was great and should be open on a Thursday night.

Thanks,

NJ


PS -- What really rubs me the wrong way about this property and gives me pause to book here, is my having read reviews on other sites wherein those reviews make clear that the room comes with a "cooler" and not a refrigerator, and there have been numerous complaints from guests that if you want the latter, that it will cost a $25 surcharge. This nickel and diming and blatant false advertising makes me think that the offerings in the lounge -- even on weekdays -- are more advertising sizzle rather than substance.

Although the hotel may have amended its website to make no mention of refrigerators in its written description of its rooms and their amenities (and that is to their credit), they have not completely erased all mention of refrigerators:

http://www.sheratonsuitesalexandria.com/gallery

The photo -- although nice -- clearly states refrigerators are inthe suites, and that is what one should get, not a $25 surcharge. The hotel sells this as their "green" alternative, but in one of the other posts I have read, the manager clearly identified the real reason they do this, the considerable energy savings it entails for the hotel. It is all well and good to save energy, but not when you falsely advertise something to the general public and it requires a $25 surcharge.

singtx

Walkable from the Sheraton...In the cold it will somewhat suck. 10 or less blocks (less than a mile). I am smack in the middle, a few blocks from where the boats depart). THe hotel is by breakfast, lunch and dinner (diners, Thai, Italian). Also right near a same day dry cleaners, and bus stop right by hotel, that can take you to the metro.

Also by King street, which has everything...local and touristy.

Hands down the Westin is a better property (love the lounge and dogs are free). but you will be at the back end of King street (although very close to the metro).

NJUPINTHEAIR

Thanks, Singtx, am gravitating towards the Westin as I have stayed there before.

singtx

Remember - walk to the King Street metro and take the free trolley to the end of King street (places you right in front of the ferry. The Trolley runs every 15 minutes. Allow time as it makes stops.

Have fun - ton of great local food...so dont eat at Subway!

paytonc

To answer the location questions: it is just over 1/2 mile (10+ minute walk) from the Sheraton Suites to either the Braddock Road Metro or to King Street (Old Town's main street). From there, the King Street pier is a few blocks east and King Street Station (for Metro, Amtrak, VRE) is almost a mile west.

There are two groceries within two blocks: a Giant just north of the hotel and a Trader Joe's just south. (Just saw that Teaism, a local chain of tea-focused eateries, is opening soon next to TJ's.) Later this year, Alexandria will install a Capital Bikeshare station at the TJ's, at both Metro stations, and a few along King Street.

jb3t

Here's an update...

I'm a plat and stayed 2 nights in early July 2012. I have stayed at this property, as well as the Westin many times. Notes.

- Got a cheap rate of like $102.

- Rooms are all suites. I've had the huge executive suite a few times (which has a full dining room table in it) but mostly get a standard two room suite on the club floors (9 or 10).

- rooms are perfectly fine. Two flat screen TVs, fridge, decent shower. Not lavish but nice.

- Club Lounge is average. You're typical finger foods at night and fruits, yogurts, cereal, and one hot item in the morning. Minimally staffed but fine.

- Pool... For the first time, I tried the pool area and was pleasantly surprised. It was on the 2nd floor with a 2nd floor rooftop deck where you can sun (if the sun angle is good).

- Location... This is what I like about this hotel over the more lavish Westin. It's located in a residential neighborhood with tons of historical houses close by. There awesome trails and recreation areas along the Patomac a few blocks away. You are a 5-10 min walk to the heart of old town, which has nice shops and restaurants.

There's a Trader Joes two blocks down, a nice Italian deli two blocks behind the hotel (towards the river), and a neighborhood sports bar around the corner.

Overall, I like this place. The Westin is a nicer hotel with a better club lounge but it's in a new business district and double the walk to the heart of old town. Because of the location, I stay at the Sheraton more than the Westin.

DudeE

Update as of February, 2013:

1) Club lounge is open weekends - both Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast usually includes coffee, fresh fruit and berries, cereals, pastries, yogurt and a hot item like french toast or pancakes. Evening includes a hot item, some kind of salad, desserts like brownies or cookies. Bottled water, fountain sodas and cappucino maker. Exceeded my expectations for a hotel in this price range.

2) Even though the note on the "refrigerator" says it's a cooler, it actually does make your stuff cool and has a temp dial. I've been stashing yogurt, soft drinks, beer and lunch meat in there for several days and it's all been perfectly fine. Haven't seen any need to call them to bring in whatever it is they call a refrigerator.

3) As mentioned, Giant grocery and ABC (liquor store) is on the next block over and Trader Joe's a few more blocks in the other direction. There is a 24 hour CVS on King Street which is about 10 blocks. Public lighted tennis courts a few blocks away as well.

4) Only possible gripe is the usual that I have with the add-ons of $22/day parking and $10.95/day internet. It's not that hard to find on-street parking nearby, but I have a pet peeve about still paying fees for in-room internet.

Starwood Lurker

Why would you pay for in-room internet if you are Platinum member in SPG?

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

DudeE

I don't, but felt it worth stating for those who aren't Platinum. I'm essentially paying discounted parking since I opted for the long-term stay rate which includes internet and parking at less than the incremental cost of just the parking.

Not just a Starwood thing but I've come to see internet as one of those things that comes with a room - no different than cable TV.