Hotel Harrington

This was our second time staying at the Hotel Harrington, and frankly I'm not sure I should be writing this review because I want to keep this treasure all to myself! But, since the lady at the desk asked me to...here it is. If you are looking for a hotel close to all the sites, this is it. Easy walking distance (and I'm not in the best shape) to the National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, White House and Washington Monument. Ford's Theatre is just a block away. The hotel is historic and as such is a bit shabbier than newer ones. I don't consider this a problem. Good pressure in the showers, plenty of hot water; clean towels and linens; prompt housekeeping. We had the family suite which is great if your kids are older and want a bit of space away from mom and dad (yay!). Plenty of restaurants nearby and Harry's in the lobby is surprisingly inexpensive and has a great bar. I've researched the prices in the area and the Hotel Harrington is a gem...a godsend to tourists on a budget. Now, shhhhh....keep it to yourself! more

Wonderful location, clean, helpful staff. My second stay and I look forward to my third next year. more

Basic Hotel...Clean & Comfortable, excellent location We stayed at the Harrington for a short family vacation and were very pleased with the accommodations. We reserved a deluxe family suite which consisted of two adjoining rooms providing our family of four with two bathrooms, two tv's a medium sized fridge and provisions for coffee & tea. Check-in was seamless and the staff was friendly. The rooms were clean, the beds were comfortable and everything worked (heat, hot water, tv's). The location of the Hotel is ideal, a short walk (~10 minutes) to the White House and the National Mall including all of the museums -or- going in the other direction, at the Verizon Center in Chinatown. If walking is not your cup of tea, there is a Metrobus stop in front of the hotel and the Metrorail is just steps away. If you are looking for basic no frills lodging when visiting the DC area, the Hotel Harrington is a great choice more

Just the basics, but Great deal for the location For $113/per night (just for a single person) for a last minute reservation, this place really was a great deal. The room and accommodations were slightly better than, say, an inexpensive Best Western. But it was clean, comfortable and had a plethora of information for tourists. The only con I guess was that the room was a little small but hey, I didn't mind. I can't stress enough that it was downtown near tons of sites and metro stations. Concierge staff were so friendly and helpful. Oh and even though their parking garage was 4 blocks away, it was worth it! You can take your car in and out as many times as you want (just make sure you get the ticket validated at the hotel) for just $15/day! more

Basic Hotel...Clean & Comfortable, excellent location W1e stayed at the Harrington for a short family vacation and were very pleased with the accommodations. We reserved a deluxe family suite which consisted of two adjoining rooms providing our family of four with two bathrooms, two tv's a medium sized fridge and provisions for coffee & tea. Check-in was seamless and the staff was friendly. The rooms were clean, the beds were comfortable and everything worked (heat, hot water, tv's). The location of the Hotel is ideal, a short walk (~10 minutes) to the White House and the National Mall including all of the museums -or- going in the other direction, at the Verizon Center in Chinatown. If walking is not your cup of tea, there is a Metrobus stop in front of the hotel and the Metrorail is just steps away. If you are looking for basic no frills lodging when visiting the DC area, the Hotel Harrington is a great choice. more

We (family of four, two adults two tweens) stayed here for three nights. Staff was friendly and helpful. Room was mostly clean. All the day-to-day cleaning vacuuming, beds, dusting etc. were done spotlessly. Other cleaning like the dust on the curtains and behind TV, well not so much. Like all the other reviews state, this hotel is excellent for location. Several restaurants within 5 minute walk. Hundreds of things to see and do within ten minute walk. However if you are going to be in your room for any length of time, then this is not the hotel for you. The hotel is very, very old. Wiring is old. Cable wiring is outdated. Plumbing leaks. Things to know. No coffee maker (hot water heater for instant coffee instead). Almost no counter space or outlets in the bathroom. Knowing all this, our family would stay here again. The hotel has charm, is safe and clean. The price was excellent, especially the parking rate. Oh, and did I mention location. more

The best location one can get (5 minutes walk from the mall, 2 mins from FBI Edgar Hoover building, 10 minutes from the white house) for this price in Washington. Rooms have old world charm (and some of the bathroom walls and bathtubs show that!). Air con was good, rooms large with tv (no fridge or tea-coffee... ;-( ) They serve a very good and filling buffet continental breakfast at the restaurant below for 11 dollars. There is also a 24 hour Mc Donalds closeby - but why would you want to poison yourselves with that, huh? The wireless internet is not so good - signal is poor in many rooms. Also, some single rooms are really tiny. The reception is very helpful. The rooms are all well decorated - the colours adn tapestries give you a feel of living in a historical place (it IS hundred years old!) more

The staff was very friendly, our room was nothing fancy but it was clean and not creepy at all and the only ""smells"" we detected were from the resteraunts near the lobby. The location cannot be beat! Easy walking distance to many attractions and resteraunts. We felt very safe and welcome there and will definately stay there again. Yes, it is an old hotel with few extras, but we were there to sightsee and explore not live in the room. More than adequate for sleeping, showering and stowing our luggage!!! more

We stayed at the Hotel Harrington several years ago. As everyone else said, it is OLD. I don't remember any runny smells thought. It was clean and quite suitable for what we were there for and that was for 'price and convenience'. You can't TOUCH anything in the heart of the city for that price and it was convenient to everything. RBQueene, Wayne said ""AWFUL run away!!"" and I think that isn't a fair assessment. Also said there were no restaurants. Don't know where THAT came from. Hard Rock is just across the street and Planet Hollywood is on the same block on the opposite corner. There's a restaurant on the bottom floor of the hotel and several deli-type eateries around the area. Trust me, I'm particular about where I stay, but I would stay at the Harrington again for the convenience, friend staff and cleanliness of the hotel even though it is old. I was not there to admire the room. All we did was sleep there. We plan to make another visit soon with our grandchildren and will definitely stay there. Don't even need a car!! There's a sub station right across the street that one can ride to and from the airport! What more could one ask for? more

We stayed with our teenage son for five nights. We had a room with two queen beds located on the 6th floor which was also a corner room, so the space was very generous. The Hotel as stated is in a great location, just a couple of blocks from all the sights including the White House. So nice to be able to walk most places. Having said that, the subway is just over a block away if you do need it, most useful for when you have spent a whole day sightseeing and are very tired! The staff are very friendly and helpful. There are two laundry rooms available with tumble dryers in the hotel, a gift shop open till very late and a choice of two restaurants, one with a bar. We only tried Harry's for an evening meal which was perfectly adequate, with the usual choices of burgers, steak sandwiches. Good value and I also liked that they specifically stated on the menus that adults also qualify for a child's meal - a good thing when adult portions are so generous. Our waitress also was extremely good. The amenities we had in our room were very good, iron with ironing board, hairdryer, coffee/tea making facilities, so no complaints there. I would agree the decor has seen better days, but it is a very good value hotel in a great location, nothing more, nothing less - and ... free Wi Fi throughout the Hotel! more

This hotel is an older hotel and our ac wasn't working but the hotel staff was great about getting on top of it and taking care of the situation. Don't expect perfection as it in an older hotel but great for what we needed. We used it as our base for exploring the city and not having to drive our car, a huge plus in DC. It was close to restraunts, all the museums and most of the must sees in DC. We loved this hotel and when I go back to the area, will definitely stay there again! more

I really enjoyed this hotel. But you need to know what to expect going in. If you're reading this, then you're already doing some research, so kudos!! It's a FANTASTIC location, within walking distance to the National Mall, Capitol & White House. And it's 1/2 the price of many other hotels in the area. Now, with that being said, a few things to note. Their parking garage is a few blocks away. We drove in, found the hotel, pulled up to the loading/unloading area. We got there about 3 pm. I think check-in was at 4 pm, but our room was ready. No problems there. Got unloaded. The clerk gave us a map & good, verbal directions to the garage. I never felt uncomfortable in the garage or walking the few blocks back & forth, but I was always w/ someone. The hotel is old. Old, but clean. Each floor had a different color carpet. Who cares?! Not fancy, but perfectly adequate for the price you pay and again, so wonderful for the location!!!! The carpet was a little worn & some of the bathroom tiles were cracked. Big deal! I wasn't moving in, just staying for a few days. The room/s (I'll get to that) were always tended to and clean, fresh towels, etc. I booked online w/ no problems, but they were almost sold out. The only available room was 2 queen beds. WAY more than 2 people need, but the price was still great, so I booked it. When we got up to the room, on the 11th floor, instead of it being 1 room w/ 2 beds, it was actually 2 rooms that had an open doorway between. It seemed like 1 room had a king & the other a full. No complaints from me as this was better for us! Each room was fully appointed w/ the usual hotel furniture, TV ( older CRT, not flat screen. Only turned it on once, but from what I remember the picture quality was ok, not great.) & a full bath. We slept in the king & used the other room as a dressing room, mainly. It was great to have so much room! I think this room ( almost suite, really,) would be great for a family of 4, which is my reason for all the detail on it. We only ate in at Harriet's once for breakfast, but it was good. Didn't visit any of the other restaurants/bars in the hotel. I absolutely recommended this hotel to anyone looking for clean, decent, reasonably riced hotel in the D.C area! more

Some of our group members were not happy with a room of 6 and only one BR Great location and staff works well with problems. Been here 3 times and would stay again with my tour group. more

I am no student - in fact spent 2 days at the Harrington for my 50th Birthday. The room we had was great - spotlessly clean, light and airy at the front of the hotel. Great breakfast - all freshly cooked and high quality. Staff could not have been friendlier or more helpful. My partner and I travel for business and stay in hotels regularly so the gloss has long worn off! However we would stay there again. One problem was the bins being emptied under the window at 5.50 a.m. but we lived with that for the superb location - minutes away from the centre of Bath. Nice little unpretentious pub (Raven) opposite with decent beer, and a great restaurant (L'Arche) just yards down the street. Get a map if you are driving as the Bath one way system takes a while to crack and sat nav couldn't cope. Room cost us A#128 - Bath is expensive - but check out prices of other hotels - they will leave you gasping! more

I had stayed at the Hotel Harrington once before and was glad to return in 2010. This is the best hotel for location/value in DC. Metro is nearby, you are surrounded by restaurants, shopping and there's a post office not to far away for you to post all your excess shopping home (I have done it both times I visited DC). It is probably one of the oldest of the big hotels, so don't expect anything ritzy in the rooms, but they recently upgraded most (if not all) the televisions in the rooms - I saw them doing my floor on my second last day, so they are keeping up the standards for sure where possible. The staff were friendly, there's maps and plenty of brochures in the entrance and there's free internet at the restaurant next door. The bed was comfy and I slept well, though the furnishings were a bit old and the room was a bit small - but who travells so they can spend time in a hotel room? more

We had a great trip and the beds were okay and the hotel is very safe. We met interesting people in their breakfast bar and had a good time. They gave us help in arranging tours and site seeing options. The room had no style but served our purpose and had us close to the Ford Theatre and easy access to the mall. This is actually a great budget hotel that I would not hesitate to use again. more

Great location so close to the Mall area and smithsonian museums. We walked to the lincoln memorial past the white house one night which only took about 15mins. Bar downstairs gets busy with the after-work crowd but clear out a bit as it gets later, also does room service for hotel. Hotel is old and feels it, although isnt unclean or anything. In our king room the heater on the wall in the bathroom meant you had to sit sideways on the toilet?! For closeness to DC attractions id stay here again unless i had a lot more $$$ to spend on a hotel. more

This hotel is great if you are on a budget and need a place to leave your bags while you do the tourist thing. I normally stay at a different hotel in DC but it was overpriced at the time and we decided to stay here. It is a hotel with a 10 minute walk of the white house, many smithsonians, American history and natural history museums. Good resturants and watering holes hear by. I don't drink but my buddies found a lot of places to go at night. Tip, monuments at night are great. more

My husband, 11 yr old son and I stayed here May 3-7 2011. We had the Deluxe Suite that slept up to five. It was three individual rooms connected by accordian doors. All rooms had their own bathrooms (hot water was touchy, beware, but there was no lack of it!), small closets with irons/ironing board, dresser, tvs, clocks, windows. Room one had a single twin bed, hot pot with tea/coffee, mini-fridge. Room two had a double bed, table/chairs, vanity w/ chair. Room three had two twin beds. The hotel is old and dated but pretty clean, bathrooms spotless. Price was awesome, can't beat $800 for four nights this close to everything. Why spend big bucks on a hotel you are never in? We got up early each day, walked around, came back, took a nap then went out at night to see it all again. D.C. downtown/around the mall/whitehouse/capitol is super safe at night, we saw only maybe 5 homelss/bums the whole time. Cops everywhere in this district/area. We walked everywhere day/night. (You have to go to the memorials at night, totally different experience and a lot fewer tourists!) White house within 4 blocks, the mall within 6. Two Metro stations within three blocks (awesome metro system, once you learn how to read the pillars you can go anywhere fast - we rode from Metro Station to Ronald Reagan Airport on the Blue line for 1.65 each, sure beats a $30 - 30 minute minimum taxi ride!! - by a farecard and add as you need) We didn't waste money on the tour busses, you can see everything by foot and catch Metro if you're wore out. Bathrooms are everywhere on the mall. For eats, Ollies Trolley is AWESOME!! Looking for Chinese? Head to Chinatown's Szechuan House on corner of 6th and H- best Chinese I've ever had, and I've had alot! Ben's Chili Bowl just out side U-Street metro station on the Yellow line is a trip, worth checking out for lunch. Don't bother eating at the Old Post Office Pavilion, food sucks and is over priced! Union Station wasn't all that everyone makes it out to be, overpriced shops, quite a few fast food places, but we saved our $ and ate at local fares like Ollies & Bens would rather use that time to see the monuments anyway. We had a ton of maps, but found that the free one the hotel gives you is the easiest to use. Once you find your bearings, you can go anywhere. (It is tough sometimes when you come out of a metro station, you don't know which way is which, the locals were all nice and willing to help you find your bearings when needed.) The Smith-museums were sort of a bust, tons of screaming kids- I've seen most of it on History Channel or Discovery anyway. Deffinately go to the Holocaust Museum. Get there early, lines are really long, but it is something everyone should experience. I would totally stay at the Hotel Harrington again!!! You wont regret saving that money for other things - like Ollies or the Szechuan House! more