A assessment of the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. and its renovated rooms

It is not on daily basis that one can say they’re staying at a lodge so famed for internet hosting presidents, international dignitaries and different vital figures that it is lovingly known as the “Residence of Presidents,” even in a metropolis as stuffed with historic resorts as our nation’s capital.

But from the second you pull as much as the beaux arts-style Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. — which, in its present state, has stood inside a brief stroll of the White Home and the Washington Monument, amongst different iconic native landmarks, for over a century — it is clear you are in for a stately keep in contrast to most.

Whereas the Pennsylvania Avenue fixture has lengthy been a standout amongst Washington resorts (significantly ones bookable with factors), after finishing a refresh of its 335 visitor rooms and suites in July, it has grow to be an much more interesting choice for vacationers, particularly IHG One Rewards elite members.

This is what my keep on the iconic Willard was like and what you possibly can anticipate must you resolve to go to.

What it is like on the Willard InterContinental

You may discover loads of historic resorts all through Washington, D.C., however few provide as a lot historic significance because the Willard.

Regardless of preliminary struggles to attract company when it first opened in 1818, by 1853, the property welcomed its first presidential patron, Franklin Pierce, beginning a convention of presidents selecting the Willard for vital events. Former President John Tyler chaired the Peace Convention (an in the end unsuccessful try to keep away from the Civil Conflict) on the property. Former President Ulysses S. Grant frequented the lodge’s foyer to unwind with a glass of brandy and a cigar, coining the time period “lobbyist” throughout one such go to. Even former President Abraham Lincoln briefly used the Willard as his main residence forward of his inauguration.

Given its storied previous, it is unsurprising that the property stays a preferred choice for historical past lovers and company in search of a traditional lodge expertise near Washington’s well-known websites. Previous-school hospitality by means of suited-up employees helping company with any request — generally even earlier than requests are made — is obvious the second you arrive, and stylish, eye-catching decor awaits round each nook. Actually, the lodge options so many considerate touches that many are straightforward to overlook, significantly within the grandiose foyer (extra on that under).

How a lot the Willard InterContinental prices — and the best way to e book it

Quite a lot of lodging choices, together with entry-level Basic Rooms (providing 300 to 550 sq. toes), Premium Rooms with or and not using a Washington Monument view (measuring 325 to 450 sq. toes) and a choice of up-to-2,300-square-foot suites — some named after well-known former company, akin to opera singer Jenny Lind and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. — can be found on the Willard.

Room costs differ relying on the lodging chosen and the time of yr — typically, they’re at their highest when Washington’s well-known cherry blossoms are in bloom, in the summertime and round Christmas. A fast peek at IHG’s web site exhibits charges for Basic Rooms begin at $364 an evening (together with taxes and costs), whereas charges for a one-bedroom suite with a Washington Monument view, the class I chosen for my two-night reserving, begin at $892 per night time (together with taxes and costs).

For my specific dates in late August on the pricier “Pet Getaway” fee I selected for my stick with my canine, Bailey, the money worth was $1,286 per night time (together with taxes and costs). This ended up being a terrific fee for the suite I used to be assigned for my keep, as my top-tier Diamond Elite standing and extra-charge Ambassador membership resulted in an improve to a spacious Oval Suite, which might’ve value me $2,119 per night time (together with taxes and costs) out of pocket.

No award charges have been obtainable for my keep dates. Nonetheless, you possibly can sometimes anticipate to redeem 49,000 to 120,000 IHG One Rewards factors per night time for an award keep in a Basic- or Premium-designated room.

If, like me, you are eager on racking up as many IHG factors as potential to earn (or keep) elite standing within the IHG One Rewards program, make sure to use one of many bank cards that earn essentially the most factors for IHG stays, in addition to one which presumably gives computerized IHG elite standing for value-added advantages. These embrace:

Rooms on the Willard InterContinental

A lot to my delight, three weeks earlier than beginning my keep on the Willard, I found within the IHG app that my reservation confirmed my room reserving had modified … for the higher. As an alternative of noting the “1 Bed room Suite Washington Monument View” class I had chosen, my reserving now confirmed a “1 Bed room Suite 1 King Washington Monument View” with images of an Oval Suite, suggesting I might obtain an improve upon arrival. Traditionally, seeing my improve upfront within the app has been frequent for prior Willard stays, although I used to be in for an actual deal with with this improve — one of the best I’ve obtained up to now.

For our late-August go to, Bailey and I have been assigned the Julia Ward Howe Suite within the southeast nook of the third flooring. Measuring 1,100 sq. toes, the suite — named for the Civil Conflict-era abolitionist and author greatest recognized for writing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” — options two entrances: one subsequent to the elevators and one other across the nook on the finish of a discreet corridor.

Upon getting into the lobby from the principle door, I used to be instantly drawn to the marble corridor resulting in a portrait of the suite’s namesake earlier than discovering a powder room and a butler’s pantry with a minifridge, a Nespresso machine and a microwave instantly to the left. Strolling towards the portrait, I used to be then confronted with a alternative: Flip left to go to the bed room, or flip proper to see the dwelling space.

Heading left introduced me previous a closet with ample hanging area and a baggage rack earlier than getting into the bed room. That includes two home windows for an honest quantity of pure mild, the bed room was organized into numerous zones, together with a piece space with a desk, a sleeping area with a cushty king-size mattress topped with loads of plush pillows, and a leisure nook with a comfortable chair and ottoman excellent for studying or watching TV.

I appreciated the bed room’s considerate format. Even the standard decor — which I usually would not gravitate towards — provided a refined atmosphere that felt acceptable given the property’s age (with out showing dated).

Simply previous the bed room was one other corridor with a second closet resulting in the second entrance and the principle rest room, which felt surprisingly small given the in any other case spacious really feel of the suite, maybe because of its lack of a second self-importance. The toilet was in any other case nicely appointed, although, providing a marble walk-in bathe, a separate tub (additionally surrounded by marble), Byredo Bal d’Afrique bathtub facilities, a sink with a light-up mirror and — an sudden discover — a wise bathroom.

Turning again towards the lobby, simply past the portrait of Howe, I found the spotlight of the suite: a spectacular lounge related in form to the famed Oval Workplace on the White Home. I liked the customized curved couch topped with pillows in numerous inexperienced hues and the attractive mural impressed by Howe’s “Ardour-Flowers” e book of poetry, in addition to the cloudlike shadows depicted on the ceiling when the beautiful chandelier illuminated the room. All collectively, they created a calming, inviting area excellent for lounging — or taking part in, as Bailey most well-liked.

The small eating nook simply off the lounge was an added bonus, because it got here with a terrific peekaboo view of the Washington Monument I loved whereas eating within the suite.

What I ate on the Willard InterContinental

There’s just one sit-down restaurant, Cafe du Parc, obtainable on the Willard, and it gives a variety of French brasserie-inspired dishes on daily basis for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Precise menu choices change seasonally, however anticipate dishes like beef bourguignon ($45), steak frites ($47) and Muscovy duck breast topped with a bitter orange sauce ($43).

As a result of Bailey was with me, I skipped eating within the restaurant in favor of ordering room service.

The room service menu principally mirrored the dine-in menu, simply with a smaller choice of dishes.

I made a decision to maintain issues easy and follow a few classics, ordering a Caesar salad ($18) and the Willard Burger ($26). Every dish was plentiful portion-wise and fairly priced, particularly given the day by day $20 food-and-beverage credit score that is a part of the nightly $35 resort price and the extra $20 food-and-beverage credit score I obtain as an Ambassador member (each of which have been utilized to the room service cost at checkout). They have been additionally spot-on by way of taste, requiring no extra salt or pepper — this pepper-loving editor not often finds a dish she does not add additional pepper to. I used to be significantly keen on the seasoned potato wedges that got here with my burger, in addition to the burger’s toppings — fried onions, raclette cheese and truffle aioli — although the meat itself was inconsistently cooked.

As for breakfast, because of my Diamond Elite standing, I chosen complimentary breakfast (within the type of a $45 credit score) as my welcome amenity, which I ordered every morning as takeout from Cafe du Parc’s espresso store, Le Cafe.

I selected the avocado toast with two over-easy eggs (usually $21) and an iced latte (usually $6) the primary morning, which was a tasty, mild (however nonetheless satisfying) meal to get pleasure from on a sizzling late-summer day. On my remaining morning, I went with a stack of conventional buttermilk pancakes (usually $19) to accompany one other iced latte and liked how the previous was vanilla-forward in taste.

To make use of up the resort price’s day by day $20 food-and-beverage credit score on the second day of my keep, I additionally visited Le Cafe for a noon snack, selecting a flaky almond croissant (usually $5.75) and an iced mocha (usually $6.50). Every glad my yearning for one thing candy earlier than dinner.

Facilities and issues to do on the Willard InterContinental

Likelihood is you will spend most of your keep away from the property testing a few of Washington’s well-known websites and museums, however while you select to linger on-site, you will have a couple of noteworthy facilities to make use of.

• The Willard Spa is the place to go for an additional dose of pampering. Tucked away on the second flooring, the area gives a variety of remedies, together with traditional massages, facials and physique wraps, plus a choice of Hydrafacial providers.
• Inside the spa lies a well-appointed health middle that includes numerous Peloton, Life Health and Technogym machines. It is accessible 24 hours a day together with your room key.
• For a night nightcap, there’s the Willard’s well-known Spherical Robin Bar, a wood-heavy, see-and-be-seen area with an eye catching round bar. You’ll want to order the mint julep; it has been a staple right here since 1830.
• On the lodge’s Peacock Alley (or its tea room, on choose days), you possibly can get pleasure from afternoon tea (advance reservations required). There’s even a vacation model of the expertise obtainable round Christmas.
• Along with providing households loaner cribs and strollers, the lodge has a youngsters’s library that little ones can go to to borrow books. Children may earn “Duck Bucks” to redeem for treats on the cafe.

Insider ideas for staying on the Willard InterContinental

• The winter holidays are additional magical on the Willard, because the property shows a formidable gingerbread scene, gives nightly caroling within the foyer and has gorgeously adorned bushes each inside and outside. It is also a few blocks from the Nationwide Christmas Tree arrange yearly in President’s Park.
• It is easy to stroll to lots of Washington’s hottest websites from the lodge. Inside a day, you possibly can try the White Home, the World Conflict I Memorial, the Washington Monument and a Smithsonian museum or two — relying on how action-packed you need your day to be — all and not using a automobile.
• If you happen to’re touring with a four-legged pal, contemplate selecting the “Pet Getaway” fee. Though the lodge was unable to supply the pet amenity equipment the speed covers for this keep, throughout prior visits, the equipment has include every kind of pet necessities, akin to potty baggage, a collapsible water bowl, treats and a toy. The $200 nonrefundable pet cleansing price can also be included within the pet fee.
• Whereas within the foyer, make sure to pay shut consideration to the coffered ceiling. Every mild fixture hanging from it’s surrounded by 4 state seals, every representing one of many Decrease 48 states. The seals for the opposite two U.S. states, Alaska and Hawaii, could be discovered on the again pillars of the lodge’s Peacock Alley.

Accessibility

On the Williard, accessibility options embrace visible alarms in halls and braille on signage. All public areas, together with the restaurant and the cafe, even have accessible entrances. There is a wheelchair-accessible parking area exterior the principle entrance as nicely.

Contained in the People with Disabilities Act-compliant rooms, company will discover seize bars, handrails and security bars within the loos, in addition to decrease door locks. Service animals are additionally permitted.

Backside line

Whether or not you are a historical past buff, a lover of luxe digs or just search proximity to Washington’s well-known websites, likelihood is you will get pleasure from staying on the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. Its refurbished suites are recent whereas nonetheless honoring the property’s centuries-old legacy as a prime lodge for politicians, celebrities and everybody in between. To not point out, the service supplied to these with and with out elite standing is top-notch, making it a super alternative for locals (like me) and guests alike — even when it prices a little bit greater than common upfront.

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