Where to Stay in Arlington:  The Residence Inn Capital View for Long-Term Business and Family Fun

The Residence Inn Capital View:. The hotel:  With its suites fully equipped with a refrigerator and kitchenette,   I recommend this hotel for those traveling long-term or with a family.  The rooms are extremely spacious, with a full living room and desks in both rooms.  The property has a full gym with a great selection of cardio machines, free weights, and a heated indoor pool. My only gripe is that the pool has limited hours (open in the morning, closed afternoons, and back open in the evenings).  Some people may work on irregular schedules or may want to entertain their kids on a rainy day, my suggestion would be for the pool to be open all day.  The hotel also has a generous breakfast buffet with hot and cold selections. I also liked that it had many items you can take to go if you’re in a rush to get to the office.

The Vibe:  One of interesting things that the Residence Inn brand has done is The Mix concept.  Each property brings local elements to the hotels as they know many of their guests are away from home for extended periods of time and the brand wanted to do something special for their guests.  On Wednesdays, the hotel offers a complimentary dessert bar with two complimentary drinks (wine, beer, and soft drinks).  My favorite part of the Mix night was the food truck.  Every week, different local food trucks are invited to park at the Residence Inn Capital View.  As a seasoned business traveler, I know what it’s like to travel for work.   Sometimes at the end of the day you’re simply exhausted but you still want to experience something local.  It’s great to experience something local without having to leave the property!  We had yummy tacos and spring rolls from the Healthy Fool Food truck.  Both my Dutchman and I ate for less than $15, great deal!

Overall Impressions:  If looking for where to stay in Arlington that is family friendly and long term stay viable, the Residence Inn Capital View is a great selection.  Average rate: $200. Arlington rates fluctuate depending on the events in the area.  Summer is high season in the region.

Where to Stay in Arlington:  Renaissance Arlington Capital View:  For Pleasure and Short-Term Business

Renaissance Arlington:  The hotel:  Upon entering the hotel, you’re immediately drawn to the beautifully decorated lobby.  Modern décor with pops of color get your stay started on the right path.  The cozy rooms continue the creative design of the lobby with a comfy bed and small yet beautiful pops of color throughout the room.  My favorite part of the room was the little touches, from the sleeping tips by Arianna Huffington by the bed to the Aveda toiletries.  The property shares its gym and pool space with the Residence Inn Capital View.   Additionally, you can also rent bicycles from the lobby if you want to take your workout outdoors.

The Food:  Sometimes hotel food can be hit or miss. Not the case at SOCCi, the Italian restaurant at the Renaissance Arlington.  That evening I met a few friends for dinner and we shared fried calamari and roasted veggies to start. I was craving a simple spaghetti Bolognese which was deliciously rich.  I also appreciated that the pasta dishes came in two sizes, to cater to different appetites.  We returned to SOCCi for breakfast where we pondered whether we wanted to dig into the generous buffet with omelet bar or order a la carte. We decided that after our feast the evening prior, perhaps it was a good idea to order a la carte.  My fluffy pancakes with apple compote paired with an Illy cappuccino started my day in the right tune.

The Vibe:  If looking for where to stay in Arlington with a modern and fun vibe, the Renaissance fits the bill.  Several evenings a week, the property offers a complimentary signature punch cocktail at 5:30pm, perfect way to start happy hour with live music by Brooke Annibale, a local musician.  We were there on a Thursday and the lobby was packed with guests enjoying the bar and lobby area, perfect place to mingle if you’re starting to feel lonely on the road.

Overall Impressions:  If looking for where to stay in Arlington for a Capital Area getaway or a short-business trip, the Renaissance Arlington Capital View is the place for you.  Average rate: $200. Arlington rates fluctuate depending on the events in the area.  Summer is high season in the region.

The Verdict:  These neighboring properties bring the best of what the Marriott brand has to offer in terms of comfort, convenience, and amenities.  Their location is very convenient to public transportation, Ronald Reagan Airport, and Crystal City which has a great selection of restaurants and shops.  When looking for where to stay in Arlington, these properties offer plenty of conveniences at a great value.

Disclaimer: I was hosted by the Marriott brand to share my experiences for this “Where to Stay in Arlington” post, however, opinions are my own.

The post Business & Leisure Stay in Arlington appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

The Hotel: The Hotel Monaco Denver is located in the city center, which is great if you are doing business in the city or just want to walk to shops and restaurants. It also makes a good base if going on day trips as it has an easy access to the highway. The downside of having a car: the hotel only offers valet parking at $38, however, we found a self-park lot on the same block for $16 a day. If you want to explore the city, the hotel has bikes you can borrow for the day. The bikes are available first come, first serve. We took one for the day and explored museums, craft breweries, and rode along the Cherry Creek.

The Room: When we first arrived to our deluxe room, we noticed a strong smell of cigarettes. The hotel is a non-smoking hotel and we were surprised about the smell. We called the front desk and were immediately moved to another room, this one being a suite. Aside from the cigarette smell, the deluxe room was a comfortable size and beautifully decorated. It even came with a goldfish! Our suite was just as beautiful, it was quite roomy with a separate living room area and large bathroom. What impressed me the most was the service. It was already late (around 10:30pm) and the front desk had us in a new room in less than 10 minutes.

The Service: The service was friendly and professional. From the bellhop going out of his way to help size and air our bikes to the quick room change, the service was on point.  The lobby area was always stocked with infused water and coffee flowed freely in the morning.

The Food:  We had dinner at Panzano, the Italian restaurant at the hotel.  Panzano is quite popular with locals, constantly voted one of the top restaurants in Denver.  We had dinner there our last evening and enjoyed the lively atmosphere, the knowledgeable waiter, and the open kitchen of executive chef Elise Wiggins.  The cuisine is inspired by Northern Italy and you can see that in the hearty pastas such as the lamb ragu with homemade malfadine pasta and pastiche, a decadent dish with layers of cheese tortellini and spicy meatballs.  The waiter insisted we order the ceasar salad. When we bit into the grilled hearts of romaine with a rich ceasar dressing topped with salty anchovies, I almost shed a tear of happiness.  A simple salad was turned into an experience.  I also loved the iPad wine list.  You can tap on each wine to get detailed information about the wine and suggested pairings.

The Verdict:  Great hotel in a moderate price range (avg nightly rate $160), superb amenities (free wine and bicycles),  and comfortable rooms.  Although the Hotel Monaco Denver is part of the larger Kimpton brand, you can see the local touches throughout the property.  Another stay to reaffirm why Kimpton is one of my favorite hotel brands.

* Disclaimer: Part of my stay was sponsored by Hotel Monaco Denver. As always, opinions are my own.

The post About Hotel Monaco Denver appeared first on The Dining Traveler.