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My first business trip of the year took me to Washington DC. It coincided with Jimmy Carter lying in state, which I covered here. The office I needed to work from was just a few blocks from the Le Méridien Washington, DC, The Madison. I had never stayed at this hotel, but will be returning in the future. Aside from a location that was perfect for where I needed to be, the staff was friendly, it offers a lounge, and my room was comfortable.
Anthony’s Take: I spent two nights at the Le Méridien Washington, DC, The Madison and will be staying there again next month. It’s a nice, modern hotel and I enjoyed my stay, overall. The M Club Lounge is not the most glamorous space, but I liked having it for a quick breakfast and an evening snack.
Booking
I booked a Newly Remodeled Classic, Guest Room, 1 King on a “Member Rate Flexible.” It was $333 per night including fees. This total had a $30 Daily Destination Fee in it. Marriott did away with award charts a few years ago, but redemptions can be had for between 40,000 and 67,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points.
Transportation to/from the Hotel
I took an Uber Comfort from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to the hotel and to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) two days later to head home. The ride there took around 36 minutes (it’s around 28.5 miles) and cost $69. Departing, the ride was shorter and cost $38.
Location
The Le Méridien Washington, DC, The Madison is located downtown and within walking distance of The White House and other tourist attractions. There are lots of restaurants and stores all around the hotel.
The lobby was still decorated for Christmas during my stay.
I liked the modern design of the lobby with lots of seating areas, a market, and the lounge.
I like that the seating areas were separated into several areas. But, the lobby never seemed busy while I was there.
Tables are closer to the bar at the far end of the lobby.
The reception desks are straight ahead when entering the lobby. I was delayed and arrived at the hotel around 11:00 PM. My room was ready. I inquired about an upgrade and was told that I was upgraded to a Newly Remodeled Club Room. There were several suites showing for sale and I asked the agent about those. She said the system was displaying inventory that was not available and that those suites were not actually vacant. She offered a 4:00 PM late checkout, which I accepted. She did not tell me about the lounge or the inclusions with the $30 Daily Destination Fee.
The Daily Destination Fee includes the following:
- Daily $30 food and beverage credit
- Educational Tours – Tickets to Old Town Trolley for 2 guests per stay
- Daily 1 hour bike rental for 2 guests
- Daily Enhanced Hi-Speed Internet Access (Wi-Fi)
- Bonvoy® Elite Amenity (Gold members and above) – Daily Beverage at Lady Madison Bar
Since I was unaware of these inclusions, I did not take advantage of any of them. My keys were printed and I was on the way to my room a moment later.
The elevators are to the left when facing reception. They are old and a little buggy at times (i.e. some buttons did not always work).
A lovely staircase near the elevators leads to the second floor conference spaces.
The elevator lobby and hallways on my floor were clean and felt modern.
Newly Remodeled Club Room (1407)
There are 356 rooms and suites at the hotel.
The room opened with a closet on the right side. It held an iron, ironing board, and safe.
The bathroom was located across from the closet. It contained a sink, toilet, and glassed-in shower.
The vanity was large with lots of counter space.
A bar of Malin + Goetz bar soap and a tube of lotion were on the counter.
The toilet was positioned far enough from the vanity, but too close to the shower.
The shower was fine with adequate water pressure and temperature.
Bottles of Malin + Goetz Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash were mounted to the shower wall.
The bedroom was spacious. Some mirrors and a luggage rack were closest to the bathroom.
The king-sized bed was flanked by a nightstand and a table.
While the room is newly renovated, the phone was vintage.
A chaise lounge filled the space by the window.
A TV was mounted on the wall across from the bed.
A desk and cabinet were below the TV. The cabinet held a minibar that was filled with drinks for sale.
An ice bucket was also found here.
Snacks for sale were on the counter above.
The view was nothing special, but better than some of the parking lots I’ve faced elsewhere.
M Club Lounge
As mentioned, the M Club Lounge is located on the lobby level. It was fairly empty when I visited for breakfast and in the evening. Both times offer decent selections with hot dishes. Wine was being poured for free in the evening along with soft drinks. Other alcoholic beverages need to be purchased at the bar outside the lounge. Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador members as well as those staying in rooms with lounge access are granted entry here.
These Mongolian Meatballs were pretty tasty.
A charcuterie board was also offered.
Olives, hummus, pita, and berries rounded out the spread.
Breakfast included both hot and cold dishes.
Scrambled eggs
Sausage
Cereal
Bread and pastries along with a toaster.
Meats, cheese, fruit, and hard boiled eggs.
Drip coffee was on a separate table. I did not see a coffee machine.
A refrigerated case held beverages throughout the day.
The lounge had a computer for guest use.
There was lots of empty seating here each time I visited and a TV playing the news.
Some of the art was rather funky.
Public Areas & Amenities
The hotel has a fitness center, a market (pictured above), a bar, the M Club Lounge, a business center (it was closed during my visit), an ATM, and multiple conference spaces. I did not use the amenities during this stay, but checked them out for this review.
The ATM was near the staircase.
The fitness center is open 24/7.
Towels and water were provided.
The fitness center was on the smaller side.
The business center was located on the second floor, but closed.
All of the conference space is on the second floor.
Overall Impression:
The Le Méridien Washington, DC, The Madison served my needs and I’ll be back again in the near future. If you are looking for an affordable option in DC, this is one to check out.
Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: When I’m staying at a Marriott hotel, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. With it, I earn six Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. It also includes up to $300 statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month ) for dining in restaurants worldwide. Plus, a free night award every year after my card renewal month that I can redeem at any Marriott hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points. Learn more. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit here. Terms apply.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
(Featured and Reception Image Credits: Marriott.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
