To the point
Here is my review of the Capital Hilton DC, a hotel located in the heart of Washington DC, the US capital.
Location
The hotel Capital Hilton DC is located in downtown Washington DC. The White House can be seen from the building and all of the city’s tourist attractions are within walking distance.
Everything is located in a small radius so I didn’t have to take public transportation once I got to the Capital Hilton DC. This is the main reason why I chose this hotel. The Lincoln Monument was about a 20-minute walk away along with all the Smithsonian museums. There were also several very affordable restaurants not too far away.
The nearest airport is the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) less than 7 km away. I chose to stay at the Capital Hilton DC since I could also easily get there by public transportation when I landed. The blue line connects DCA airport and Farragut West station in 18 minutes, then another 5 minutes to the hotel. The trip cost a mere $2.40 US one way (payable by credit card).
However, it should be noted that the metro station is located in DCA terminal 2; I had to walk a good 20 minutes to get there after landing in terminal 1 following a flight on Air Canada.
Booking
To make the reservation, I proceeded directly to the Hilton website to take advantage of the 3X points promotion that was on when I went to Capital Hilton DC.
The reservation was made the same day of my arrival in Washington DC since it was a last-minute trip; the rates were pretty much all similar in the tourist area I wanted to be in and the Capital Hilton DC won because it was the cheapest on the list by about ten dollars.
I had looked at the points level, but the room cost 58,000 Hilton Honors points compared to $215 USD. So, I preferred to use my MastercardMD HSBC World EliteMD Mastercard® to accumulate 6X points on this expense, save on conversion fees, enjoy bonus Hilton Honors points in addition to being able to use my HSBC Travel Rewards points to reimburse my stay.
Earn Hilton Honors points
In some cases, such as during busy periods, prices go up so it is sometimes better to choose to use points when staying at the Capital Hilton DC.
Hilton Honors points can be earned with many American Express credit cards with Membership Rewards points; there is a point transfer process and sometimes there are bonuses for doing so! Hilton Honors points cannot be earned directly in Canada.
With U.S. credit cards, Hilton Honors points are easier to earn with welcome bonuses.
Hotel details
| Parking | Paying with valet $59 US per day | Breakfast included | No |
| Swimming pool | No | Room with balcony | No |
| Spa | No | Room with kitchenette | No |
| Fitness room | Yes | Lounge | Yes |
| Restaurant | Yes | USB sockets in the room | No |
| Accepts animals | Yes | Smart TV | Yes |
| Mobile card | Yes | Shower/Bath | Shower and Bath |
Hotel reception
I arrived around noon and liked the ambiance of the lobby. It was the end of the cherry blossom season and the spring decor was still set up at the bar lounge, which is the first thing you notice when you open the doors to the Capital Hilton DC.
I only had one carry-on bag for this weekend in Washington DC, but a porter came to me anyway to say hello.
Then, at the reception, there was no one in line, and the welcome was done quickly. She gave me the free wifi code as well as the card for my room which was already ready to go. I was pleasantly surprised to get an early check-in since I don’t have status with Hilton Honors.
The reception floor and mezzanine of the Capital Hilton DC gave a sense of grandeur with the high ceiling and open area.
However, the hallways in the hotel’s floors Capital Hilton DC were not very inviting shades of yellow and need to be updated.
Bedroom
The room I booked at the Capital Hilton DC was the lowest rate standard room. It was very clean although the decor was a bit dated with the carpet and the old telephone. Honestly, it wasn’t anything too impressive, but my main reason for choosing this hotel was its location.
The room had everything I needed:
- double bed
- chair
- lamp
- dial
- office
- television
- a coffee machine
Although the fact that the mattress wasn’t centered on the bed frame really bothered me…
Then there was a very large wardrobe with a safety deposit box and an ironing board. On the other side of the room, there was a door for those who wish to have connecting rooms which can be convenient when traveling with children or in a group!
The bathroom was a bit more up-to-date with its marble countertop and large mirror. There were plenty of toiletries for my stay at the Capital Hilton DC.
Hotel services
Personally, I thought the Statler Bar & Lounge at the hotel Capital Hilton DC was great because of its decor and atmosphere as opposed to the hallways. It was a great place to relax and chat.
Then, just across from the reception, there was a small souvenir shop and the items were on theme with cherry blossoms!
On the second floor of the Capital Hilton, there are many conference rooms. There was a convention going on at this hotel so I didn’t get to go in and see the different rooms, but I liked the decor. The first two floors of the hotel were very nice.
Next to the reception, there is a gym with stationary bikes, treadmills, weights, and various other machines that I have no idea what they are for.
The fitness room is long and has a lot of light with its large windows.
I didn’t set foot in the North Gate Grill restaurant where lunch is served; I didn’t have status with Hilton Honors, so I went to eat nearby.
Platinum CardMD holders from American Express have Gold status, which gives access to lunches.
My general impression of the hotel
The hotel Capital Hilton DC definitely lived up to my expectations because of its location and cost. The tourism industry suffered greatly during the pandemic and we’re now seeing a rise in prices due to Revenge Travel.
So, I was very happy to find a suitable hotel, in a central location and at an affordable rate, although the carpet and the decorations on the floors weren’t top-notch. I spent my days exploring Washington DC and the hotel was close enough that I could make rest stops during the day. Then, a nice comfortable bed was waiting for me so I couldn’t really ask for more!
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
