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Doubletree Hotel Crystal City - National Airport - Arlington, VA
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usnnc's Review
Doubletree Hotel Crystal City - National Airport - Arlington, VA Review
300 Army Navy Drive • Arlington, VA 22202-2891 • United States
Convenient hotel way overpriced
budget conscious traveler, daily computer user, leisure traveller
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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MAY
10
2008
Scroll to the end for what I really liked about this hotel.
I met my sister at National Airport, rented a car, and proceeded to the hotel. It was very easy to find - it is right off an exit and the Skydome can be easily identified amongst the tall buildings. If my sister hadn't already been familiar with the Doubletree, because of the many meetings she has attended there, we would never have been able to find the parking area. Parking was $18/day. The front desk personnel gave us a pass which had to be presented to the ticket taker whenever we made a trip out. Don't rent an SUV! Even though there were several parked there, I would never have had the determination to do so. There are two levels and the spaces are just right for compact cars with very little room to spare. As it was, there were several times we wondered how we were going to make it out of the parking space when there were cars on all sides of us. The corners are tight, and I heard a lot of squealing wheels from people not paying attention.
The front desk clerks did take care of us after they handled their phone calls. They were by no means inviting - I thought a smile might make their faces crack. They did get the job done quickly and efficiently.
The parking personnel were nicer. Not only did they stand their positions professionally (we saw them a lot as we had to enter their doorway every time we went out in the car or for neighborhood walks), and when my sister and I needed transportation to a nearby hotel, they were quick to respond. We were in evening clothes for a pre-party meeting and a black-tie affair. Though we walked home barefooted at the end of the evening, we did not wish to arrive with sore feet and perspiring profusely as it was a warm afternoon. A cab would have taken a while, so the parking staff enlisted a bellboy to take us to the meeting place in the hotel shuttle. We arrived fresh and on time.
The room was two queen-sized beds with TV, coffee maker, small bath and old hair blower. I could have found an equivalent sized room with the same amenities in a Motel 6. However, the beds were soft and clean, the bathroom very, very clean and the cleaning crew were more considerate and smiling than the desk crew. The thing that especially bothered me about the room was the mirrors. There was a mirror in the bathroom and on both the closet doors. I needed a place to sit down and fix my hair for the big to-do that we had to attend. Every time I sat down at the desk, I looked up amazed to be staring at the wall. I really needed to have a mirror there. It was very uncomfortable doing my hair and makeup sitting on the floor in front of the closet while my sister was in the post-shower bathroom trying to get herself done. Needless to say, the lighting was not good if I was sitting on the floor.
One more thing about the room - when the people upstairs took their shower, there was a leak in the ceiling over the tub. When the ceiling is dry it is hard to notice the crack, probably because it has been patched before, but when the shower goes off upstairs, the drip-drops started in ours.
There was a training room next to the check-in area that was monitored every hour by the cleaning crew. Machines were in good working condition, weights were available and the only complaint I could find was that on the last morning, when I really needed it, the overhead music was not on. Otherwise I could not ask for a better maintained gym area.
We went up to see the SkyView, but were not allowed in as we were not coming in for drink, only the view, which was amazing. I think it looked out towards the Washington Monument and did not include the new Air Force Monument, but as I don't have pictures, I'm not sure.
There was a Starbucks area where we stopped for our morning soy milk for cereal we had bought at a CVS down the road. Breakfast at the hotel would have broken our budgets.
This hotel seems to be a frequent stop for airline crews and school tours. We were interrupted twice by school children in the middle of the night, but otherwise they were not a problem except they seemed to be everywhere I needed to go. However, I've done the school trip thing myself, so more power to them.
I have left the BEST for last. I would go out-of-my-way to visit this hotel again just to go into the cafe. When my sister and I arrived, I did notice that they had a cafe, but I thought the cost of a late meal would be out the roof. When we got settled, it was so late and we both had been traveling all day. One thing we did NOT want to do was get back in the car and try to find something open so we could eat. We decided to see what was offered in the cafe before we went down to the parking garage. The sandwiches on the menu just outside the door looked appealing, and they were open until 11pm, so we took the chance. My sister ordered tuna, and I wanted the turkey club sandwich ($10). She had a drink, and I had tea ($2 - but I drink a lot of tea). The only thing missing from my tea was a sprig of mint. We also ate here the last evening of our stay because I wanted a repeat of that turkey club. Oh, so very good.
That didn't tell you much, did it? Well, our server was the same each evening. He bent over backwards to please us. I got a taste of my sister's meals, and they were both heavenly, but not nearly on the level as mine. The turkey club was huge. It had to be laid down on the plate the first night. Turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and the most delicately flavored cranberry mayonnaise that lingered on my tongue. I didn't want the french fries, so I substituted a salad with vinaigrette. Such a salad I have never had. There were multicolored tender leaves of kale, lettuce, spinach and, I think, beets. A couple of cut dates hid in the leaves as well as pecans and sunflower seeds, I think. The vinaigrette I have never tasted before, but definitely want to partake of again. After I almost licked the plate clean, I was satisfied, not full, and I had a restful night's sleep after both meals.
Did I enjoy my 4-night stay? Yes. It was a pleasant experience. Was it worth the money? I don't think so, but luckily my sister footed the hotel bill, so I didn't have to deal with that. Would I go there again? Not on my own, but if I am ever in the area again, believe me, I will stop in at the cafe to see if their turkey club sandwich is still so very, very good.
Last edited on Jul 11, 2008
Doubletree Hotel Crystal City - National Airport -... is recommended by usnnc
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