DC: Wardman Park Marriott or Mayflower?
 

Any thoughts, I am getting an identical weekend rate at both. What's the catch about the Mayflower that purports to be a luxury hotel with a rate that low? Thanks!

It's been along time since I've been in DC, but the Mayflower is closer to downtown than the Wardman which used to have a park like setting. Both are old but have been renovated. Marriott is newer.

I guess it will depend on what you plan on doing in DC. The Mayflower is 4 blocks from the white house, 6 to 7 from all the museums, etc. The marriot is much further away, maybe 1/2 a mile away and is close to the national zoo. The Mayflower is truly a luxury hotel, with outstanding service (more hotel employees than the number of rooms, somewhere around 550), and luxurious amenities. It also has one of the best hotel lobbies i have ever seen. Plus, it is actually a Renaissance hotel (owned by marriot) and I find the hotels under that chain to be some of the best values for luxury hotels. Try to get the breakfast and break free rate. An incredible deal for such a nice hotel. Oh and by the way, the renaissance is older but has been renovated, but i think its on the national registry for historic buildings.

Take the Mayflower -- better location (though MUCH more than 6-7 blocks to all the major museums, as the big Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art are spread out over a mile along the Mall) and a cozier feel than that at the Wardman, which consists of the old, historic Wardman Towers connected to a huge and sprawling convention hotel formerly known as the Sheraton Park. <BR>Wardman is about a mile north of Dupont Circle and convenient to the Zoo and Adams Morgan. The Mayflower is about midway between the White House and Dupont Circle (4-5 blocks each way), and closer to all the downtown sites.<BR>Both are at red line Metro stations.

Both are nice hotels but stay at the Mayflower. Nicer, grander, much better location if visiting thr Mall, better (at least larger) selection of restaurants.