This historic hotel in Washington DC is the best place I have ever stayed and I can’t wait to go back

When I was a boy, eight or nine years old, my family and I traveled from Cincinnati to St. Louis during that wonderful week between Christmas and New Year’s. We did not travel alone; my grandparents also piled into the van, and in St. Louis, we met up with my uncle, aunt, and three cousins, who drove from Tulsa.

Find me in St. Louis, we did…several years in a row, actually.

The 12 of us visited the Gateway Arch (of course), and the many tourist attractions in the city, but for me the highlight was the hotel we stayed in: the Embassy Suites. I had never been anywhere like this: the mezzanine had fountains and koi ponds; there were dazzling glass elevators that gave us endless entertainment for the kids; the hotel had a porter, concierge and in-house pianist; room service was on silverware, and the hotel bar offered bottomless Shirley Temples with extra cherries (which were charged to my grandparents’ room, of course).

For me, this hotel was the gold standard by which all the following hotels would be measured: and never towards the height.

Until 30 years later, when I checked into the Mayflower Hotel with my 13-year-old son. We had booked a standard suite for a fun-filled weekend in Washington DC; I knew the Mayflower was historic and the pictures were certainly attractive, but what sold me was the hotel’s proximity to the White House and the National Mall.

I’ve stayed in “historic” hotels before, and often, it’s a euphemism for, well, the kind of place that’s a little rough around the edges, with unreliable heating and skeleton keys and paper-thin walls. You sacrifice certain comforts for the location; I was not prepared for the impact the Mayflower would have on me, how the Mayflower Hotel would become an inextricable part of my Washington DC experience. How, in giving With the ambiance of the Embassy Suites, but with the remarkable history and undeniable glamor of its own presence, the Mayflower Hotel would go down as the best place I’ve ever stayed.

My son and I arrived on the Mayflower bright and early on a beautiful fall morning. We had successfully navigated the subway from Ronald Reagan International Airport; the Blue Line took us from the terminal to a stop just a couple of blocks from the hotel.

It was early, and I knew our room wouldn’t be ready, but I wanted to check in so I could store our bags at the front desk (a travel tip I learned from my favorite travel guru).

When Julian and I approached the Mayflower, we were both blown away by its amazing appearance. The gold detailing and well-dressed doorman made a great first impression, and as we entered the lobby, we were struck by the beauty of this historic hotel.

Having been up since 3am, we were both a little worse for wear, and I was a little worried about the first impression. we they were doing However, my worries were quickly put to rest as a front desk clerk gave us a warm smile and took us to check-in. We were given complimentary water as she checked us in and to my surprise she said our room was ready and started going over the perks available as hotel guests.

The advantages? We got a $25 room service/restaurant voucher, a $10 Uber credit, and a complimentary DC trolley pass per day I did not expect these advantages and I was delighted with these amenities. Keys in hand, we made our way to the elevator and up to our suite on the third floor.

Our room was luxurious, but not gaudy, with the kind of impeccable touches you’d expect from an Autograph Collection hotel (the Mayflower is managed by Autograph Collection Hotels, a division of Marriott International, handy if you’re a Marriott Rewards member!) : crisp white sheets, incredibly fluffy towels, tasteful decor, etc. Small touches and adornments in the rooms and hallways: sparkling chandeliers, beautiful artwork, rich color palates, make the Mayflower feel both accessible and impressive. The custom wallpaper with the signatures of the hotel’s famous guests was a fun talking point in our room!

The Mayflower opened in 1925 and in its nearly 100-year tenure has welcomed many American icons, celebrities and politicians: Charles Lindbergh, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Ronald Reagan, to name a few. The hotel’s Edgar Bar & Kitchen is named after the former FBI director who reportedly dined there every day for 20 years.

Today, Edgar Bar continues to draw DC politicians and powerful figures, as well as casual diners and hotel guests. It is elegant but not fussy; Julian and I felt right at home in the restaurant, although we made an effort to dress up when we went; it seemed wrong to us. not to!)

In addition to the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant, the Mayflower has 27 event rooms that have been used for a number of high-profile events over the years. Outside one of the ballrooms, a plaque describes an infamous story involving Winston Churchill, a state dinner, unpredictable acoustics, and a whispered joke that… carried.

These guests and their stories are part of the bones of the Mayflower; something in the air that just makes you feel it important.

Of course, in a city like Washington DC, practically every construction is important. On the approximately half-mile (2,625-foot) walk from the Mayflower to the White House, you’ll pass such notable sites as Farragut Square, the Renwick Gallery, the American Red Cross headquarters, and the national headquarters of the Daughters of the Revolution american each stood along cobblestone sidewalks separated by impeccably landscaped lawns and mature trees. The history and importance of direct current is palpable, an electric current through the air.

As the longest-running hotel in Washington DC, the Mayflower is an inextricable part of this extraordinary city. When you stay here, you’re not only treated to easy, elegant luxury and extraordinary hospitality, you’re also a part of Mayflower history.