Washington DC is a busy urban center that attracts businessman, politicians and tourists alike. If you’re staying at The Mandarin Oriental in Washington DC, the heart of the city is at your doorstep. The luxurious rooms and amenities make the stay relaxing and enjoyable whether you’re on vacation or traveling for business.
General Info
The Mandarin Oriental in Washington DC is a 5-star hotel located in the center of the city overlooking the Tidal Basin. The hotel is 12 minutes from the Ronald Reagan International Airport and has an impressive list of luxury amenities.
Washington DC’s top attractions like the National Mall, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Smithsonian are all nearby. The National Mall is 10-15 minutes away by foot, but many guests prefer to drive or take taxis. You can eat within the hotel or go to numerous eateries within the central DC area.
Features
The 11-story Mandarin Oriental hotel has hundreds of guest rooms and numerous features. The hotel contains all the conveniences and necessities for a relaxing and luxurious spa vacation, but is located in the Nation’s Capital among many unique tourist attractions and important legal and business centers.
Rooms
The Mandarin Oriental offers single rooms, rooms with balconies, adjoining rooms for families, luxury suites and a three-bedroom Presidential Suite. The hotel has newly refurbished rooms including some with a view of the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Memorial on the higher floors. The rooms are spacious, clean and modern with large bathrooms.
Cuisine
The Muze, a restaurant within the hotel, serves American cuisine all day long, and the Empress Lounge serves cocktails and afternoon tea. Breakfast and dining are available as part of some packages.
The National Mall area has many excellent restaurants such as The Capital Grill which is rated #3 on Trip Advisor for DC restaurants. Central DC hosts several gourmet restaurants as well as less expensive eateries and street vendors.
Amenities
The Mandarin Oriental has everything you need for food, entertainment and business within the building. The amenities include:
- WiFi
- Room Service
- Lounge
- Club
- Spa
- Indoor Pool
- Airport Transportation
- Pet Friendly
- Kid Friendly
- Restaurant
- Business Center
- Fitness Center
- Suites
- Wheelchair Access
- Meeting Rooms
- Ballrooms
The indoor pool is 50ft long, and the spa features 8 treatment rooms, 2 beauty suites, a sauna and a Zen relaxation area. The 2 ballrooms and meeting rooms are fully modernized for all events and conferences.
The fitness center is fully equipped and you can take private yoga and exercise classes. The business center has workstations and printers. The club serves all day snacks and has a private meeting space and private check-in and check-out. The amenities list is extensive, but not all packages come with all the amenities, so make sure to check before you book.
Nearby Attractions
The Mandarin Oriental has such impressive offerings of cuisine, comfort, and entertainment, you might not want to venture outside. However, it would be a waste to not see the impressive museums, monuments and structures of Washington DC.
We’ve compiled a short list of some of the most popular attractions close to the hotel:
- The National Mall
- The Jefferson Memorial
- The Lincoln Memorial
- The Capitol Building
- The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- The White House
- The Washington Memorial
- The Smithsonian Museums
- The Korean War Veterans Memorial
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
This list certainly does not include everything worth seeing and doing in DC.
The Smithsonian Museums themselves are housed in multiple buildings and encompass several branches of history, art and science. The White House offers tours, but you must reserve your place ahead of time.
Walking tours of the national monuments are sold by multiple tour companies, but most people self-guide their way through all the points of interest along the National Mall. The Mandarin Oriental is near the Tidal Basin if you want to check out the Maine Avenue Fish Market or rent a paddle boat as well.
Shopping in DC
Like all major urban centers, DC has many small specialty shops and many large modern shopping centers. The high-end CityCenterDC is a massive shopping complex with many luxury goods. The shops at 2000 Penn have a more historic look with smaller shops mixed together.
Across the Potomac is the famous Crystal City Shopping area. If you plan to do serious shopping in DC, you may want to drive or call a taxi. Use Google and you get a long list of shopping possibilities for central DC.
Pros and Cons
As a high-end hotel, the Mandarin Oriental is going to cost more than a family-orientated chain hotel. As a tradeoff, the hotel offers incredible rooms and great extra features.
Below is a list of pros and cons for you to consider before staying at the Mandarin Oriental:
Pros
- A relaxing luxury hotel in the heart of DC
- Near the National Mall
- Friendly and courteous staff
- Clean, stylish and comfortable rooms
- Spa, pool and fitness room
- Balcony views of the DC monuments
- Delicious food from the restaurant and room service
- WiFi
- Business center and meeting rooms
- Club and Lounge
- Near the airport
- Multiple packages and promotions available
- Parking onsite
- Handicap accessible
Cons
- Pricy
- Located in a densely-populated area with heavy traffic
- Not all amenities are available with all packages
- Walking distance to National Mall unpleasant
- Lower rooms do not have a view of the city
- Surrounded by businesses, railroad tracks and freeways
- Parking costs extra
- Odd mix of families on vacation, government officials and wealthy businessmen
- Need to drive for best shopping in DC
Rates
Staying at The Mandarin Oriental in Washington, DC costs approximately $300 to $600 a night. Some amenities may be extra depending on the package that you choose. Parking is readily available, but costs around $50 extra.
The rates for staying at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington DC vary with seasonal and group promotions. Currently, the hotel is running six different seasonal promotions.
One of these promotions gives away a third night for free with the purchase of a two night stay. Call, look online and check for sales and discounts before you book your stay.
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