For our first family trip, we stayed in Washington, combining a relaxing weekend with an appointment at the Hungarian Consulate to sort out some administrative formalities for my son.

Booking

I booked the hotel a few weeks before our trip, at the same time as I booked our plane tickets.

I hesitated for a long time between the Ritz-Carlton and the St. Regis, as many photos of the St. Regis show rooms with historic decor , which is neither to my nor my wife’s taste.

But the perfect location and my Ambassador’s confirmation that all the rooms had been renovated by the end of 2023 convinced me to keep my reservation at the St. Regis.

I also hesitated for a long time about the type of room. Initially booked in a standard room with the application of a Night Upgrade Award (the new name for the Suite Night Awards at Marriott Bonvoy), I preferred to change my reservation to a bacon-wrapped scallops Regis Suite, the highest level of suites before the Presidential.

I would contact my Ambassador beforehand to coordinate the presence of a crib for our newborn and a refrigerator to store breast milk.

Arrival

We arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon, after a short rental car ride from Washington Reagan airport, just outside the city center.

After a short wait, a valet met us to take charge of our car and luggage.

Since I have an electric car, the valet proactively offers to charge my car overnight, which I decline.

Once inside, we proceed with the check-in formalities, which take place seated. The receptionist is adorable and quickly completes the formalities, then escorts us to the elevator.

A valet will accompany us to deliver our luggage.

Suite

Our bacon-wrapped scallops Regis Suite was located on the 3rd floor of the hotel, in a corner of the historic building.

The corridors have obviously been renovated too.

The entrance to this suite opens onto a corridor giving access to the suite’s various rooms. It has a large closet for storing coats and shoes, and also gives access to a beautiful shower room equipped with a Japanese toilet.

Opposite the entrance is the suite’s living room, with a large dining table, followed by a good-sized desk and, on a shelf, a Lavazza espresso machine (the coffee will be excellent).

Finally, the lounge area proper, with a comfortable sofa and two armchairs around a very contemporary coffee table, all facing the minibar and a large TV. To the left of the minibar is a sideboard containing a few glasses for use in the minibar.

The requested cradle and refrigerator have also been positioned in this space.

A lack of attention to detail is to be regretted. The condition of the fridge is really poor, there is no cup or mug for coffee and there are not enough capsules.

What’s more, the absence of a welcome service in a hotel of this standing and for an Ambassador member who has booked a suite directly is rather disappointing.

Finally, returning to the entrance, the sleeping area is available, separated by a door.

A large king-size bed will be comfortable for our night, and faces the TV as well as numerous cleverly hidden storage units.

A large en-suite bathroom is adjacent, equipped with both a shower and a bathtub, as well as a Japanese toilet separated by a door.

The range of toiletries is a little baroque, giving the impression of a transition to new brands.

Overall, a pleasant suite, but a real lack of preparation prior to our arrival.

To finish, a video tour:

Hotel facilities

The hotel is equipped with a 24-hour fitness room.

This is located in the basement of the hotel.

I won’t be using it this time, but the equipment is of good quality. The fact that it is blind is regrettable, however.

Catering

The hotel has two dining outlets: the St. Regis Bar and the Alhambra.

Alhambra – Dinner service

Every evening of our stay when the latter was open (so not Sundays), we dined at the Alhambra, the hotel’s Mediterranean-themed restaurant.

Every evening, the service was perfect, with the ban and back ban coming to greet us, and a very high level of attention.

The amuse-bouche and bread will be absolutely succulent, and in abundance.

The mezze we order on different evenings are excellent, with a special mention for the hummus and the patatas bravas-style potato mille-feuille.

On some evenings, we also order main courses: the cod tagine is very fine, and the rack of lamb is perfectly cooked and goes very well with the pistachio powder.

Room Service – Breakfast

Twice, we order our breakfast from room service, since the breakfast credit offered to Platinum and Plus customers also applies to room service.

And what a pleasure it is to be able to hang out in your pyjamas with an offer as good as the one in the restaurant… The first time, we’ll be ordering two full breakfasts, the eggs will be copious and well cooked, and the second time I’ve decided on the French toast, which will also be excellent.

Alhambra – Breakfast Service

For our second morning in the hotel, we choose to have breakfast at the Alhambra, the hotel’s main restaurant.

We’re promptly seated at a table, and the waiter brings us the menu.

As the breakfast is really copious, I’ll be focusing on the basket of viennoiseries, which will be very good, with a cappuccino. My wife will order the pancakes, which will be divine.

The service will be attentive.

bacon-wrapped scallops Regis Bar – Lunch

During our day exploring the city, we’ll stop off at the hotel for a late lunch. At lunch, only the bar is open and we’ll settle in at the bar (easier with the stroller) for a drink and a quick lunch.

I’ll order an excellent cocktail made with peated whisky, and shrimps with cocktail sauce, which will be delicious.

My wife will order the burger, which she says will be excellent.

For dessert, we’ll share the toffee pudding, which although very good, is no match for Gordon Ramsay’s masterpiece.

Service will be attentive, despite the fact that the bartender is responsible for all bar and room service.

bacon-wrapped scallops Regis Bar – Dinner

With the restaurant closed on Sunday evening, we dined at the bar. This time, we’ll be sitting at a table, which is rather uncomfortable to dine at because the tables are so low.

I’ll order a club sandwich, which will probably be one of the best I’ve ever had, and my wife will order a steak, which will be excellent, as will my cocktail.

Service

First of all, on the positive side: the staff are all lovely, our interactions were just perfect, especially the reception, the floor staff, the valet and the waiters.

Nevertheless, there is a real managerial problem in this hotel, and an overall lack of attention to detail, both on the hard and the soft product :

• The renovation of the rooms, while well-intentioned from a decorative point of view, is far from perfect. While the new furnishings are in line with an up-to-date decor, the reuse of old furniture in the new decor is very strange, with imposing pieces (tables, desks, sideboards) sometimes repainted,
• The comfort of the bed is probably one of the worst tried in a hotel of the chain – very firm and clearly not up to standard (And we can compare because we have St. Regis bedding at home),
• Like the bed, the towels were worn and not up to chain standards (And again, we have St. Regis bath linens at home to compare),
• The refrigerator in the room was very worn, and not very clean inside,
• The brand’s classic butler service was simply non-existent, and was not mentioned at any point,
• The absence of a welcome service for a full-paying guest in a suite (not upgraded) and with the highest possible status is unusual for the brand, even in the USA (where they are traditionally lower).

Again, nothing problematic, but points of detail that betray the approximate management of the establishment.

Departure

Departure formalities were simple but sketchy, as the final invoice was not even emailed to me after our departure. Our car had been prepared by the valet in anticipation of our departure.

Bottom line

A well-balanced stay, but the attention to detail could really be improved, leaving a bitter aftertaste considering the price we paid. A real shame.

Itinerary

As a reminder, here is the itinerary followed:

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