angiechase

Hi,
I am taking my first trip to Washington,DC and trying to choose between two Kimpton Hotels. I am thinking Hotel George or Hotel Rouge. It seems that hotel Rouge might have more restraunts in the surrounding area than Hotel George. Any help deciding between the two would be greatly appreciated!

Oh yeah, we will doing all the usual tourist stuff - Museums, Monuments, shopping, White House etc.
Angie

maitaitom

We stayed at The Hotel Rouge last year. Here is my trip report with photos from my blog. Lots of restaurant ideas (although Jack's no longer exists from what I am told). Have fun.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/

maitaitom

Oh, after clicking on the website, go to Washington DC 2009.

yestravel

My pick would be the Hotel Rouge. I prefer the area around Hotel Rouge to Capitol Hill where the Hotel George is located.

suite7

no no no to the Rouge!!!!!!! i am a huge fan of kimpton so stayed at the rouge late june. air conditioning appalling! and believe me in d.c., you need it. restaurant even worse. service 100% clueless. fitness room a scary little basement cell. so bad all 'round that on second night, packed up and went to a thompson hotel in d.c.(thinks it's called the donovan). a gem. almost cried that i had wasted my time at the rouge.

angiechase

Thank you.

Yestravel, do you have any other suggestions in Washington? I am finding good pricing on the Kimpton Hotels.
Angie

maitaitom

I wouldn't eat at the Rouge either, but I certainly enjoyed our stay there (and the air conditioning was fine). The last time I used a fitness room was in the dorm at college (before electricity was invented, I believe), so can't comment on that.

sf7307

Have you looked at the Palomar in Dupont Circle?

angiechase

Palomar is a little more than I am wanting to spend. Any thoughts on Hotel Helix? I think it might be my pick of the moment since Rouge seems to be "out"

sf7307

Are you wed to the Kimpton brand? Would you consider Hotwire? We recently got an excellent price using Hotwire at the Dupont Hotel on (and I mean "on") Dupont Circle. We really enjoyed our stay there - we payed $129 I think.

MikeT

I think both the Helix and Rouge are just fine, as long as you want the Kimpton experience. They are very near each other and both in one of DC's hottest neighborhoods. Lots of restaurants, theater, Whole Foods, stores. One random person's bad experience shouldn't deter you

MikeT

although Jack's no longer exists from what I am told

It had a horrid reputation and has closed. Replaced with a Middle Eastern restaurant that has good buzz so far, altho it is in a cursed location.

desperado

Have you considered the Latham in Georgetown? Excellent location. Friends who've stayed there say prices quite fair.

sf7307

I like Georgetown to visit, but I wouldn't stay there -- I much prefer to be near the metro (that goes for every big city that has subway system)

obxgirl

I love Kimpton Hotels.

I frequently stay at the Rouge. Love the neighborhood, the huge rooms and the service. The fitness room is not scary but it is in the basement. The building is older and last week in extremely high temps the AC was not the best but a fan made a big difference.

The restaurant at the Rouge is crap. No getting around that one. But the neighborhood offering more than makes up for that.

Overall I'd give the Rouge a solid B+. Not the most brilliant Kimpton but for the price, very good.

Hotel George is a perfectly good place too. You'd be fine there. I'd stay there more frequently but the Rouge is a better locale for me.

The Monaco is in an excellent location for touring and restaurants, spitting distance from the Gallery Place metro. It's a gorgeous property.

The Palomar is lovely but a bit pricier than the others as you mentioned.

Frank

Check out the Sofitel, great hotel located near the White House. There are plenty of restaurants in the area and you can walk to lots of the sights. The restaurant is expensive, but we discovered a good and reasonably priced restaurant for breakfast right around the corner at the Hilton Garden Inn.

bardo1

Not sure what the AC system is at the Rouge (central vs. room by room) but most hotels have individual units for each room. Either way, I'm sure the Rouge has fixed the AC in the room suite7 stayed in by now.

I wold prefer the Rouge or Helix locations for your budget.

I think the Palomar and Monaco are even better locals (not so much the George) but likely to cost quite a bit more as a result.

angiechase

Thank you, thank you!!! I do not have to stay at a Kimpton but the price seems the best for what you get. I am finding $175-200 a night. Hotwire seems great but I am going with friends and am nervous not knowing what hotel it will be etc. I have never used them but would like to try some day. Sofitel looks AMAZING. The prices are more than I can pay- booooo. I am leaning toward Rouge and really appreciate your input.

If yall think of any other Non-Kimpton hotels around Dupont Circle at the $200 price let me know.

obxgirl

I would second the idea for the Dupont Hotel already mentioned here.

When are you traveling? That can make a big difference in hotel prices.

angiechase

October 15-21 is when I am traveling