When traveling we all have the choice to stay at many different types of accommodations. Large hotels, small boutique hotels, bed and breakfast, Airbnbs… The choices can be mind-numbing.
When we’re visiting larger cities we may opt for hotels we know well as consistently delivering great comfort and customer service. One of those hotels is the Fairmont. We recently had the chance to visit our nation’s capital and stay at the Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown.
We’ve had the good fortune to stay at Fairmont hotels around the world and have never been disappointed.
We Love The Gold Lounge
When we arrived at the Fairmont we learned that it was in the lovely West End part of town, right next to historic Georgetown. We were whisked to the 8th-floor Gold Lounge level for easy, hassle-free check-in. In addition, we were offered refreshments while we relaxed and waited for the paperwork to be finished.
Our room was ready upon our arrival. We discovered it was part of a major $27 million renovation. The stylish new rooms are wonderfully appointed. Instead of a typical desk area, there is now a comfortable couch, round table, and separate rolling chair to make it easy to relax or work in your room.
While staying at the Fairmont we often choose to stay on the Fairmont Gold level. Along with the convenient private reception area and personalized attention, you also have access to the fantastic Fairmont Gold Lounge, a benefit we truly enjoy. The lounge is a perfect spot to relax, read newspapers from around the world, and plan your day. The helpful and friendly Gold Lounge team is available to assist with reservations, useful information about Washington D.C., and local recommendations.
Let’s Eat
Food is a central part of the Fairmont Gold Lounge. An enormous complimentary continental breakfast is served every morning (weekdays 6:30 am-10:00 am and weekends 7:00 am-11:00 am). Abundant warm and cold dishes have enough variety to please every traveler.
Fresh fruit, yogurts, cereals, and smoothies are some of the healthiest choices.
If you like a good morning pastry or toast they’ve got a wonderful selection. We loved their English tasty muffins, thick and fluffy just like Wolferman’s!
If you’d like a hot breakfast to fill your belly for a long day of touring the capital you will find more than enough choices to make you happy. Meats, eggs, potatoes, oatmeal, and more will keep you going for hours and hours.
Places To Go, Things To Do and See
After a good breakfast, you can head out to see the iconic memorials, monuments, and museums. Washington, D.C. is full of history, breathtaking art, and architecture. You won’t want to miss a thing. Be sure to pack comfortable shoes and your patience. Washington is an attraction for people all over the world. Plan out your day and leave enough time for lines and congestion.
Pro Tip: Visit the popular Washington monuments in the evening. There will be fewer people and, although they are never empty, you’ll get some dramatic photos as well. We especially liked visiting the Franklin D. Roosevelt and Martin Luther King memorials at night.
Come Back and Relax
When you’ve had your fill of the city sights return to the Fairmont Gold Lounge for complimentary cocktail canapés from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm daily. There is also a full honor bar with beer and wine choices as well as various spirits to create the cocktails of your choice.
Whatever your beverage of choice is they have options to make everyone happy. You can also choose from complimentary bottled water, sodas, coffee, and hot or iced teas.
The complimentary “snacks” during cocktail hour are quite hearty and could be a meal unto themselves. Hot and cold choices are available. You could easily fill up on these tasty bites and forget to leave room for dinner! Go easy and enjoy a few tastes. You’ll want to have room to sample the great offerings of local dining establishments.
When we say hearty food we’re not kidding. Whether you’re eating paleo or carb loading they’ve got a dish for you.
The smoked trout salad was one of my favorites.
Coffee, Tea and Much, Much More
Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and bottled water are also available throughout the day. Being a tea lover I was especially tickled by Fairmont’s large selection of teas. They had some reliable favorites like Green Tea, Chamomile, English Breakfast, and others. But what really excited me were the “Wellness Teas” that included energy, tranquility, digestive and high antioxidants.
If you’re looking to de-stress further check out their huge indoor heated swimming pool and large fitness facility. They also offer classes and a full array of fitness equipment to keep you in shape during your visit.
Another spot to enjoy alone or with others is the outdoor terrace. The bubbling fountain creates the perfect environment for a quick meeting, a time to decompress, a relaxing meal or a cocktail with a friend.
Speaking of cocktails, you must try the signature Beetini at the Fairmont. Created with the honey that’s produced right on the hotel’s rooftop it’s a refreshing drink with just a little sting!
One place to enjoy that cocktail is the lobby bar is airy and bright with lots of interesting sculptures and comfortable seating.
So Long, Farewell!
As we made our way back to the Fairmont Gold Lounge to check out, our sad faces were met with smiles and promises of seeing us again. One of the great things about the Fairmont is that often employees move from property to property so it’s not unlikely to see a familiar face when you’re visiting. Our new friend Suki, the Gold Lounge Manager, sent us off with a bag of cookies for our road trip home. Talk about feeling special!
With all there is to do and see in Washington, D.C. it was wonderful to have the Fairmont as our command post. The familiar luxury accommodations, wonderful Gold Lounge services, and food, and all-around splendid customer service and personal attention make this a great choice for your stay in the capital city.
Fairmont Washington, D. C. Georgetown
2401 M Street, NW
Washington, DC USA 20037
1-202-429-2400
Visit www.fairmont.com/washington for rates and availability.
Updated April 2023
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23 Comments
Sounds like an awesome place to stay. Is it part of Hilton or Marriott?
OMG I WOULD NEVER LEAVE THE HOTEL! Ha! Especially with all those DELICIOUS EATS – omg!!!!!
Great tip on the free internet Suzanne. Thanks for sharing it.
This hotel is wonderful! I’ll keep it in my diary. I’ll stay here when we go on our next trip.
The only Fairmount Hotel we’ve stayed at was in Singapore and we weren’t at the gold level. Still I was enchanted by being able to control everything in the room, from lights to the window coverings from a control panel next to the bed. Another tip: We enrolled in the free Fairmount rewards program to be eligible for free high speed internet at the hotel.
I’ve stayed at Fairmont hotels before. Our stay at Fairmont San Fransisco was good but the Fairmont property in Newport Beach was awful. This place looks amazing.
What a beautiful place to stay. The luxurious hotel looks so stunning and the complimentary breakfast is so awesome. Overall review are so great. So classy.
Love how you got a bag of cookies when you were leaving! I love the Fairmont hotel chain and forgot how much you get when you get the Gold level. The afternoon canapés could be a meal! I love Washington as there is so much to see. Hopefully my next trip (whenever that is) I’ll be able to snag a deal at the Fairmont. Thanks for sharing your pics of the food!
Our pleasure Diana! We certainly hope to visit again soon.
The complimentary breakfast alone would be worth it! Everything about the Gold Lounge is so amazing! We stayed at an hotel recently and they had toast and coffee for breakfast lol
This looks like the perfect place to stay when in the D.C. area. I haven’t been there for years, but remember how much fun I had. I will keep this place in mind when we plan out next trip.
Thank you so much for staying with us, and creating such a wonderful post. Come back and visit soon. Diana
Okay, I made the mistake of reading this before breakfast, and I’m salivating just looking at all the food pics! I’ve got to agree with you about the Fairmont Gold experience, too – absolutely the best.
Ahhh I could just go dive in that pool right now. That’s a very classy looking place to stay. And that food looks absolutely scrumptious.
You absolutely cannot go wrong with Fairmont. I have stayed at many around the world and have loved them all. And to have access to the Fairmont gold floor really enhances the experience. Thx for the recommendation. I’ve not yet been to DC!
What a gorgeous hotel! It’s not too often that you find a hot breakfast at a hotel that looks that yummy too – would love to stay here!
I have stayed in a few Fairmont hotels. They are always so beautiful. This one looks amazing!
Wow that hotel has a lot of amenities. I love the food. We visited DC and should have stayed here!
I didn’t realize the Fairmont had a Gold Lounge. All of that food looks wonderful and you can’t beat great service.
Now THAT is an awesome complimentary breakfast!!! Usually it’s stale bagels and old cereal..That looked fabulous.
What a beautiful place to stay and eat! For luxurious! I would not want to leave!
Wonderful place to relax and get away. Great food. Luxury at its best
The breakfast looks fabulous. It’s exactly what I look for in a hotel. It’s a great way to start the day especially when you are travelling.