We were in town for college hunting for our son and some sight seeing on the side. We got a good- to-great rate ($309 per room for lovely, large connecting rooms) for five nights. I really want to love this hotel and make this my home away from home as my son is probably going to school in D.C. Positives: I love old hotels, the ambiance, the high ceilings, the crown mouldings, the history... this is my favorite kind of place. The beds are super comfy, great linnens. Large, clean bathrooms with nice amenities. Loved the soft robe! The employees were friendly, informative and the housekeeping staff was very efficient... loved the nightly turn down with chocolates and a point of interest flyer. The breakfast waiters who talked soccer with my younger son were a great hit. The downstairs bar is great. It has a phenomenal wine by the glass list and good bar type food. Breakfast in their main dining room is a lovely experience with delicious food (that is priced accordingly) Negatives: Two early a.m. (6:45ish) fire alarms on consecutive days. I think there was some work going on in the hotel and the workers set off the alarms, we don't really know as no explanation or even apology was ever given to guests, at least not to us. It's not a fun way to wake up, grab some clothes, grab the kids and run down 7 flights of stairs... 2x. We were tempted to ignore the second one, but you just can't. I am afraid if there was a real fire after this, many guests would have been in big trouble as they would not have responded a third time! There was something spilled on our room wall across from the bathroom.( looked like coffee or soda?) I did not alert the hotel to it, so I can't say they didn't respond, but it was very noticeable and was there when we checked in, and when we left. I felt I was treated slightly differently when I was dressed nicely (skirt, dress, etc) than when I was in tourist mode (shorts and sports shirt) I'm still the same person spending lots of money at your hotel! It is an old, creaky hotel. You hear the people walking above you, and hear people in the hall. This is nothing to be fixed, and I expect it in this kind of beautiful, historic place. Just a note to light sleepers. So, would I stay here again? Yes, most likely if I could get this rate again. If I had to pay rack rate, I would consider many other hotels in this general price range, including the Ritz, Four Seasons or Willard. I guess I really just wanted some sort of acknowlegement that two mornings out of five, with two fire alarms is an inconvenience, and an explanation and apology would have smoothed everything over. Then they would definitely be my hotel of choice. I really want to love it!

We stayed at the Hay Adams for 2 nights recently on a weekend visit to DC. It was a nice experience, but not quite up to what I expect from a hotel of this reputation and at this price. Our room was nice, but not substantially nicer than many other hotels I have stayed in. The hotel could use some sprucing up. The hallways were dingy and the carpet needs replacing. The bathroom was spacious, immaculately clean, and very nice, though the shower situation was not great. As one reviewer noted, the water pressure isn't very good, and there is an awkward shower mechanism which we could not adjust to keep it from shooting water in such a way that it drenched the bathroom floor. The room itself had scuffed and chipped floor mouldings and standard-issue furniture. There was no proper closet, only a very small wardrobe that scarcely held our clothes for the weekend. However, the bed was lovely and very comfortable with crisp linens and plentiful pillows. One thing I particularly liked was that, in contrast to many hotels that are now providing only a duvet on the bed (which in most cases is WAY too warm for the room), this bed had a sheet and a light blanket, with a duvet folded at the end of the bed. The sheet and blanket were plenty of cover, and I appreciated not having to swelter under a duvet. In the end the bed is what matters most to me in a hotel, as I'm mostly there to sleep, so this was a positive. Another positive is that housekeeping is very attentive--the bed was beautifully turned down in the evening and after we showered in the afternoon the towels were all always replaced when we came back after dinner. My gripe is that there were several special events in the hotel that weekend and these caused some inconveniences which were not acknowledged by the hotel. There was a roof party on Saturday night and the guests was constant, noisy traffic in the hall from the time we got home from dinner until after 11pm (we were on the 8th floor where the stair to the roof is located). A few of the drunk partygoers were also staying in rooms near ours, and we could hear quite a bit through the walls. As other reviewers have noted, you hear EVERYTHING in this hotel--your neighbors, the housekeeping staff in the hall, etc. Additionally, another special event took over the restaurant, which is a lovely space for breakfast, and instead breakfast was pushed to a small, noisy, windowless room where the staff are clearly not accustomed to serving. No compensation is made for being pushed out of the main dining room. I think a true luxury hotel that wants people to come back should make some kind of concession when the expected amenities are not available because of special events. So in the end, If you are going to Washington to see the monuments, the Smithsonian museums, the National Mall, the White House, this is a great location, and the rooms are nice and service is good. But don't expect a really memorable and special experience. As for me, next time I want to stay in a luxury hotel in Washington I will probably try the Willard.

We stayed here about 5 years ago and things are the same. Clean room, comfy beds, small bathroom with weak water pressure, great location for being a tourist, service excellent/attentive. But bring your earplugs if you want to sleep. We heard every door in the hallway slam, conversations in the hall (although we were around the corner and down the hall from the elevator), and thumps from up above all night (we were on the 7th floor out of 8 floors). At one point we heard kids screaming somewhere up above us and a person coughing next door. Not what you expect when you pay these rates. Next time I'll try the Sofitel which is very close by.

We have just returned from a long weekend in Washington, spent at the Hay-Adams, which was an all-round fantastic experience. The staff were all friendly, professional and extremely helpful, and the concierge service was outstanding, with all of their recommendations for restaurants/bars being spot-on for us. We got engaged while we were in Washington and were upgraded to a suite, with great views of the White House. The hotel was within walking distance of all the major attractions. Our room was beautiful, with lots of character, and a very refreshing change from many modern hotels. We will definitely be returning to Washington, and without a doubt to the Hay-Adams.

Thoroughly enjoyed everything about my one night at The Hay-Adams. I stayed on the sixth floor, but alas, across the hall from the rooms with a view of the White House. The room rate (per the sign inside the room) was $750 per night - but I was staying on a corporate account and was upgraded upon arrival. I would echo the comments of others on this site, that if price is of no concern, this is a wonderful hotel to stay. A great location for either the business traveller or tourist. The hotel provides a sense of history without the inconveniences of antique furnishings. The staff were most helpful and unfailingly polite. No matter how much you love the amenities however, you will leave feeling that you missed out on the full Hay-Adams experience if you don't have that room with the view. (I certainly did.) For the tourist for whom price is no object, I would recommend a room with a view at this hotel before any other in the D.C. area. If you can't be guaranteed a view, compare the rates with other similar luxurious hotels. The Hay-Adams is a gem, but the prices definitely reflect every penny of it.