Mini Hotel Review: Le Méridien Washington, DC, The Madison

I had stayed at the the Le Méridien Washington, DC, The Madison last month and was back again for more offsite meetings earlier this week (my first review can be found here). The hotel opened in October 2022 and it feels brand new. The hotel has the perfect location for the office I needed to be in, but it’s a solid choice for both business and leisure travelers. I shared a lot more about the hotel in my last review including the amenities and lounge. Those have not changed, so this review will focus solely on the suite upgrade I received.

Anthony’s Take: I had another good stay at the Le Méridien Washington, DC, The Madison this week. The staff is friendly and the suite upgrade was spacious. The hotel treats elite members well with access to the lounge and upgrades. Just remember to use your $30 food and beverage credit that is part of the $30 Daily Destination Fee. I found the market in the lobby an easy place to spend it on soft drinks and snacks.

Booking

I booked a Newly Remodeled Classic, Guest Room, 1 King on a “Member Rate Flexible.” It was $264 per night including fees. This total had a $30 Daily Destination Fee in it. I’m never a fan of these, but made use of the $30 food and beverage credit it included. 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 back the next day to go home. The ride there took around 36 minutes (it’s around 28.5 miles) and cost $69. Departing, the ride was a bit longer, but cost $66.

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.

Check-in

I arrived around 5:30 PM and my suite was ready. When I completed a mobile check-in earlier in the day, I had noticed that I was upgraded to a Newly Remodeled, Junior Suite, 1 King, City View. The agent checking me in was friendly and proactively offered a 4:00 PM late checkout (which I took). He told me about the benefits I’d receive as a Titanium Elite member and the Daily Destination Fee. This was not explained on my last visit, so it was appreciated. I was off to the suite a moment later.

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

I used the $30 to purchase bottled water, ginger ale, and some snacks.

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).

The elevator lobby and hallway on my floor were clean and in good repair. It’s an interesting juxtaposition to see such modern (and loud) carpeting in an older building.

My suite was tucked into an alcove in the corner of the floor.

Newly Remodeled, Junior Suite, 1 King, City View (817)

There are 356 rooms and suites at the hotel.

The suite opened with a hallway. There were two closets on the right.

The first closet held the safe, an iron, and an ironing board.

The second was empty.

A bench/luggage space was nearby.

Around the corner was a desk and chair.

A small living area was on the other side of the desk. It included a sofa, chair, and tables.

A cabinet was next to the couch with a TV above it that could be swiveled to face the bed or the living area.

Wine, water, and snacks were on top and for sale. I did not look at these since I used the Daily Destination Fee credit in the lobby market.

A refrigerator stocked with drinks was found below.

An ice bucket and glass were also under here. There was no coffeemaker in the suite.

The king-sized bed was across from this cabinet. It was comfortable. My only complaint is that there were no outlets on one side.

A full-length mirror was next to the bed.

The bathroom held a vanity with a single sink, a toilet, and a shower/tub combo (which I’m not a fan of generally).

The vanity offered plenty of counter space.

A bar of Malin + Goetz bar soap and a tube of lotion were on the counter.

The tub/shower combo offered fine water pressure, but the temperature was a bit erratic.

Bottles of Malin + Goetz Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash were mounted to the shower wall.

The toilet was wedged pretty close to the tub.

Overall Impression:

The Le Méridien Washington, DC, The Madison served my needs again and I’ll be back again in the near future. The staff are friendly and the hotel treats elite members right. If you are looking for an affordable option in DC, this is one to check out. For more on the amenities and lounge, check out my first review here.

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.)