The Hay Adams

Very beautiful and historic (but dated) hotel directly across from the White House. I stayed here over a long weekend and, while I was pleased with the architecture and decor, I realized the actual condition of the rooms and in-room amenities are not worthy of 5-stars. Doors do not close properly, paint is chipping, furniture is noticeably damaged, some decorative wall and fireplace elements have been painted over way too many times, the water pressure was mediocre, the bathroom itself was extremely outdated, the gym is inexcusably and awkwardly tiny (you won't want to work out here), and the business center looked straight out of a business consultant's worst nightmare from the 1990's. Furthermore, my room did not have electrical outlets on either side of the bed, which is absolutely inexcusable for any hotel after 1980. I had to charge my devices at the work desk every night, which was very inconvenient. If this was labeled as a 4 star hotel, none of these would be major issues (well, maybe the lack of electrical outlets), but at the 5 star level, this is not okay. On the other hand, the service was phenomenal, as is the restaurant. Front desk and concierge staff were top-notch as you would expect. Everything was spotless, perfectly clean, and organized. This hotel needs a renovation, but it is a wonder to see how much love and care the staff puts into it.

This hotel isn’t fancy, but it’s got everything you need — and then some. I was road-tripping and needed a place for just one night, but ended up staying two because I liked it so much. The staff were down-to-earth and actually cared — you can feel the difference. The room was super clean, the AC worked great, and there was free parking right out front. There’s a diner next door that serves amazing pancakes too, so breakfast was covered. For the price I paid, it was a steal.

I am writing to formally express my deep dissatisfaction with the experience I had upon checking in to your hotel, which ultimately led me to leave the premises shortly afterward without staying the night. Upon arrival, on June 7, 2025, I was assigned a room with a highly unpleasant view overlooking a garbage and waste disposal area. In addition, the bathroom lock was broken—something I found particularly surprising and unacceptable at a property that presents itself as a five-star establishment focused on guest satisfaction. When I asked about the possibility of changing rooms, I was told the only option available was to upgrade for an additional fee. No alternative or courtesy solution was offered. This was disappointing, as I expected a more guest-oriented response. To make matters worse, it took 2.5 hours for the front desk staff and the manager on duty to get back to me with this final offer—causing me to spend an unreasonable amount of my valuable weekend time waiting in a room I found unacceptable. During this period, I was met with dismissive and unhelpful attitudes from both the front desk and the manager on duty—an experience I have never encountered before at any hotel, especially one that claims to offer high-standard hospitality. Given these circumstances, I made the immediate decision to check out without staying overnight. I requested a full refund at that time and am reiterating that request now. As of today, I have not received the refund. Do not recommend