Last year, my family visited Washington, DC for the first time together. We had a blast and knew we wanted to return one day. When it was time to research options for a spring break trip that wasn’t too far from our home in Raleigh, NC, we decided it was the perfect time for another visit to the nation’s capitol! We made our home at the One Washington Circle Hotel and had another wonderful trip full of memories.
One Washington Circle Hotel really made us feel like locals. Our suite was spacious and comfortable and we felt right at home on the 8th floor! In fact, I think if the boys didn’t have to return to school, we could have moved right in!
Location – One Washington Circle Hotel
One Washington Circle Hotel is part of the Modus Hotels group and located in the West End neighborhood about half-way between the White House and Georgetown; a great central location.
On our first night, we trekked just over a mile past the White House and Lafayette Square to a delicious dinner at The Hamilton, and you can bet I was humming the Hamilton soundtrack the whole night!
We also loved walking to the nearby National Geographic Museum to check out their current exhibits and let the boys see photos from all over the world. The streets are lined with businesses and beautiful historic homes. Truly a lovely place to walk.
Safety – One Washington Circle Hotel
We never felt unsafe at One Washington Circle Hotel. Yes, it’s a neighborhood in the middle of town, but there was always a lot of activity happening all around us. Right across the circle is GWU Hospital and the university is a stone’s throw away.
There was a doorman and several staff members in the lobby at all times and the entrance area and hallways were well-lit at night. I believe it’s always a good idea to practice common sense when in a different city, but the hotel staff definitely kept up their end of the bargain when it came to making us feel comfortable and I really appreciated that. Even though I was there with my family, I would not have an issue staying here on my own.
Character – One Washington Circle Hotel
I keep coming back to the idea of living like a local at this hotel. Our executive king suite was really an apartment with a full kitchen, 1.5 bathrooms and a dining cove. Not to mention a huge balcony with an incredible view of the circle. We could have lived there comfortably for quite some time.
We planned full days of sight-seeing to enjoy the city’s living history and architecture. Coming back to a clean and spacious hotel was welcome after hours of walking.
And let me just say that I took part in the complimentary evening cocktail hour more than once! Always a nice touch.
Vanity – One Washington Circle Hotel
Since we were there as a family of four, I really appreciated having a half-bath in addition to the full bathroom. It was so nice to be able to spread out. Getting ready in the mornings and for bed was so easy. No one felt stressed or rushed and that is such a nice way to start the day on vacation.
The bathrooms didn’t have any natural light, but there were plenty of mirrors, including a full-length mirror on the bathroom door. I also love it when hotels have a magnifying mirror because while I don’t like to admit, my eyes are getting older and it’s nice when they don’t have to work so hard.
Toiletries – One Washington Circle Hotel
I am a sucker for hotel goodies, so one of the first places I looked was in the bathroom where they had all the essentials ready to go! The makeup remover towelettes were a great touch and I used them each day. The soap smelled wonderful and I loved having full-sized bottles in the shower. Enough for everyone!
We didn’t need them, but an iron and hair dryer were also available, along with plenty of extra towels.
Comfort – One Washington Circle Hotel
I knew in advance that we would have a suite with a functioning kitchen, but I don’t think I realized it would be a full kitchen, complete with a dishwasher! Our boys are up and at em’ way earlier than we prefer on vacation, so having a place for them to grab some food before we left for the day was so helpful. And with a real coffee maker, the grown-ups got nice and caffeinated before heading out.
And while we’re on the topic of extras, I was amazed when we returned to the room to see our dishes had been washed and put away! That was above and beyond if you ask me.
If you don’t want to make coffee, feel free to take advantage of the complimentary Keurig in the lobby with plenty of brews to choose from on your way out. You also have the option to order groceries and have them delivered right to your fridge.
Finally, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the hotel restaurant, Circle Bistro. They had a great selection of dishes and everything we tried was delicious.
I went with the spinach omelette and my youngest son was delighted to see chicken & waffles on the menu. And really, who isn’t?
Overall, our visit to One Washington Circle was wonderful and we would definitely stay there again. I’d love to return in the summer to take advantage of the outdoor pool, but I’ll have to save that for another trip!
What does She’s On The Go say? This is a comfortable home base for business travel or sightseeing. Getting around was easy and enjoyable.
Disclosure: I received complimentary nights and a media rate for my stay at One Washington Circle courtesy of Modus Hotels. All opinions are my own.
Andrea Updyke was born and raised in Clearwater, FL where she inherited a love of travel from her parents. Before she was eighteen, Andrea had traveled to Mexico, Israel and Egypt as well as every state on the East Coast.
Andrea’s website, Just is a Four Letter Word, is an online destination for working moms to get ideas, tips and encouragement for everyday living.
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