The DC Traveler

What can I say? The Ritz Carlton hotel chain is one of my favorite hotel chains. And there’s a good reason. They provide service as it should be.

I had the opportunity to tour and spend the night at the Pentagon City Ritz Carlton Hotel in suburban Arlington in mid-February.

Attached to the Pentagon City Mall, the hotel is ideal for up-scale vacationers, business travelers and couples looking for a romantic get-away. Or anyone looking for a near-by hotel while hoping to avoid downtown DC hotels.

Rooms - The 366 recently renovated guest rooms are very warm, comfortable and inviting. The king sized beds provide goose down featherbeds and comforters along with extra fluffy pillows. The addition of high-count Egyptian cotton linens can make it rather tough to get out of bed.

My standard room included a nice high-def television, both wired and wireless high-speed Internet access ($9.95 per day), terrycloth bathrobes, plush towels, nice bathroom amenities, a well stocked mini-bar, an in-room safe and complementary coffee and tea. Making yourself feel pampered is easy at the Ritz Carlton.

One special amenity that I actually fell in love with, one that I haven’t seen in a hotel before, was the television. Not actually the television, but a Ritz Carlton promotional video that was playing quietly in the background on the television when I first opened the door.

It showed a series of rotating still images of some of the worlds most beautiful places, (beaches, sunsets, mountains, etc.), played along with some very relaxing Zen-like background music.

Mesmerized by it, I kept the loop playing in the background the entire time I was in my room. It made the room even more soothing and peaceful. (I actually regret not checking the hotel’s gift shop for a DVD copy, as it would make a great sleep aid.)

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Fitness Center & Spa - The Ritz’s Fitness Center is another of the hotel’s highlights, and frankly the best I’ve seen in a hotel.

Marble walled locker rooms, with adjoining sauna and steam rooms, keyed wood-faced lockers and an attentive staff, gets a workout off on the right foot. The multiple treadmills, stationary and recumbent bicycles, weight training and elliptical trainers, racks of free weights, and other machines easily compete with the type of equipment normally reserved for high-end health clubs and more exclusive country clubs.

The heated multi-lane lap pool was perfect for a quick swim, followed by a long soak in the large Jacuzzi. I visited the Fitness Center twice during my stay and there was never more than one or two people using it at any time, making it feel like it was my very own private health club.

The Fitness Center also offers several types of professional massages by appointment.

Dining - Sadly, the hotel’s main restaurant, The Grill Restaurant, was under renovations during my stay, but should be open now. During my stay, a temporary restaurant and bar was located in the Diplomat Room. Even a “temporary” dining room was still very elegant, hosting afternoon tea when I visited.

The dinner menu includes items such as Chilean sea bass, venison, beef tenderloin, duck and roasted lobster.

On Sundays, the Ritz’s brunch ($58.00) was voted the best brunch in Washington, DC three years in a row (2003-05).

Finding other great dining alternatives in the area is easy. A host of area dining options, from casual to fine, include some great ethnic foods such as Lebanese, Asian, and Tapas, as well as several steak houses, all within easy walking distance.

Special Events - If you are planning a special event such as a wedding, the Ritz’s china room lets guests select from their many styles of china and linens offered for banquets. The hotel also boasts an in-house floral boutique.

Location - The hotel’s location is ideal for travelers - just 5 minutes from Reagan National Airport, and less than 10 minutes by car to the Mall and Arlington Cemetery. There’s even a Metro subway station you can walk to without ever leaving the complex.

Plus, if you want to do a bit of shopping, the Ritz is attached to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City shopping mall, with Macy’s and Nordstrom department stores as its main anchors. Yet while in the hotel, you would never know the building was attached to a busy mall.

Overall Impression - I was probably biased walking in, as I hosted a couple large business events at the Ritz in Laguna Beach, California years ago, and still have fond memories of the food, service and experience. The Pentagon City Ritz Carlton Hotel was not an exception. The hotel lives for its guests pleasure and comfort, by maintaining the Ritz’s philosophy — providing exceptional service.

Pentagon City Ritz Carlton Hotel
1250 South Hayes Street
Arlington, VA 22202 (map it)

Rates - $219 to over $3,000 for the Presidential Suite.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Pentagon City, Blue, Orange and Red lines.

Parking - Valet at $29 per day.

Images - All photos from personal collection -© 2008 - Jon Rochetti

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