Marriott Mayflower Hotel, Washington,DC

[pedro47]

Looking at this hotel for my birthday. Is the valet parking $47.50 per day for everyone?

 

[taterhed]

$19 all day parking around the corner....

 

[pedro47]

$19 all day parking around the corner....

Thanks
okm

 

[taterhed]

I'm hoping someone else will reply too; we're dying to stay sometime. We usually bike in from Virginia though. Not sure where you're at or where you're coming from, but the easiest way to do anything in DC is just park at a Metro lot (some free, some pay) and take the metro in. A car is just something to collect dents and pigeon poo in the city.

cheers/

 

[taterhed]

Looking at this hotel for my birthday. Is the valet parking $47.50 per day for everyone?

Marriot reply to parking query...not cheap!
Quote:



"...Thank you for contacting Marriott Vacation Club.
We understand that you would like to know what the parking will be like at The Mayflower Renaissance.

Valet Parking will be available to guest's at $47.50 per night. Unfortunately, there isn't any self parking available.
..."

Found this in another thread.... Official Marriott reply. So, the answer is: park somewhere else ($19 around corner) or park and ride metro/bus.
cheers.

 

[Rene McDaniel]

We are Marriott owners and we traded our studio lockoff for the Marriott Mayflower for a week in October. The location is fantastic and the metro stop is literally a few steps from the front door. Super convenient for getting everywhere you need to go in Washington DC.

We had a rental car for the prior timeshare week and returned it to DC Union Station after checking in at the Mayflower. The doormen let us leave the car out front until we got checked-in and left our bags upstairs. Our room was small, but had a king bed with plush linens and a fancy marble bathroom. The fantastic lobby and facilities are so posh, it is a real treat to stay there. Highly recommend!

--- Rene McDaniel

 

[pedro47]

We are Marriott owners and we traded our studio lockoff for the Marriott Mayflower for a week in October. The location is fantastic and the metro stop is literally a few steps from the front door. Super convenient for getting everywhere you need to go in Washington DC.

We had a rental car for the prior timeshare week and returned it to DC Union Station after checking in at the Mayflower. The doormen let us leave the car out front until we got checked-in and left our bags upstairs. Our room was small, but had a king bed with plush linens and a fancy marble bathroom. The fantastic lobby and facilities are so posh, it is a real treat to stay there. Highly recommend!

--- Rene McDaniel

Is parking around the corner (for $19.00 per day) safe ? We are going from the Coastal Virginia area.
We are not planning on moving our vehicle until we checked out (seven nights stay).

 

[Beaglemom3]

We are Marriott owners and we traded our studio lockoff for the Marriott Mayflower for a week in October. The location is fantastic and the metro stop is literally a few steps from the front door. Super convenient for getting everywhere you need to go in Washington DC.

We had a rental car for the prior timeshare week and returned it to DC Union Station after checking in at the Mayflower. The doormen let us leave the car out front until we got checked-in and left our bags upstairs. Our room was small, but had a king bed with plush linens and a fancy marble bathroom. The fantastic lobby and facilities are so posh, it is a real treat to stay there. Highly recommend!

--- Rene McDaniel

I stayed there last October, too ! Oct 9-13th to be exact.

Agree with Rene's post.

If you've stayed in any of Marriott's non Courtyard type hotel, you'll find that the Mayflower is decorated in the contemporary style of the Autograph type hotels; sleek-ish, contemporary with greys, mauves, black, chrome. See the photos on Tripadvisor.

The extended lobby (function rooms line the rear lobby area) is upscale and they have tried to blend the old with the new. I'm not sure if they succeeded, but it's not a sticking point, just a lobby.

The location is ideal. Two Metro stops are within a half block - 3 blocks, depending on the direction you're headed. You can walk to the White House as it's just about 5-6-7 blocks away depending on which side of the White House you're headed for.

There are restaurants and shops very close by. We ate here: http://panacherestaurant.com/ and that is right out the side door of the Mayflower. We ate at the hotel's restaurant and the food was okay-good, but the service was very uneven.

One thing, lots of siren noise from police and fire vehicles in D.C. After an interrupted night's sleep we finally figured out that we should run the AC at night as "white noise" and that worked. Did not see triple glazed windows in our room.

Still, a nicely refurbished hotel in a good area. It's very large, but the front desk folks were very nice - even to lowly Silver Elites !


=

 

[taterhed]

Is parking around the corner (for $19.00 per day) safe ? We are going from the Coastal Virginia area.
We are not planning on moving our vehicle until we checked out (seven nights stay).

The parking in downtown DC is routine and safe. It's all in standard parking garages (Colonial etc...). Unless your car is 'special' or filled with theft-worthy stuff, you should be safe.

I would probably still recommend using an outlying park-n-ride location (Franconia-Springfield is one--with long-term spots $5) and then take the metro in. If you're carrying more luggage and need to drive to the hotel (saving $5 per person Metro ticket) then I suggest driving to the hotel, offload the luggage and passengers (so they can check-in) and take the quick drive down to the DCA airport area. The Westin and Marriott are located in Crystal city (15 mins drive w/o traffic) and only charge about $10 a day indoor parking. The Crystal metro stop is right there. Short metro ride back to Mayflower.

Either way, it's cheaper. If you do decide to use local parking, here is a link to the closest spots. You can call/reserve ahead.

cheers.

https://www.parkme.com/search?q=The...enue+Northwest,+Washington,+DC,+United+States

 

[pedro47]

The parking in downtown DC is routine and safe. It's all in standard parking garages (Colonial etc...). Unless your car is 'special' or filled with theft-worthy stuff, you should be safe.

I would probably still recommend using an outlying park-n-ride location (Franconia-Springfield is one--with long-term spots $5) and then take the metro in. If you're carrying more luggage and need to drive to the hotel (saving $5 per person Metro ticket) then I suggest driving to the hotel, offload the luggage and passengers (so they can check-in) and take the quick drive down to the DCA airport area. The Westin and Marriott are located in Crystal city (15 mins drive w/o traffic) and only charge about $10 a day indoor parking. The Crystal metro stop is right there. Short metro ride back to Mayflower.

Either way, it's cheaper. If you do decide to use local parking, here is a link to the closest spots. You can call/reserve ahead.

cheers.

https://www.parkme.com/search?q=The...enue+Northwest,+Washington,+DC,+United+States

Thanks, now that is the information I needed.

 

[Old Hickory]

We are Marriott owners and we traded our studio lockoff for the Marriott Mayflower for a week in October. The location is fantastic and the metro stop is literally a few steps from the front door. Super convenient for getting everywhere you need to go in Washington DC.

We had a rental car for the prior timeshare week and returned it to DC Union Station after checking in at the Mayflower. The doormen let us leave the car out front until we got checked-in and left our bags upstairs. Our room was small, but had a king bed with plush linens and a fancy marble bathroom. The fantastic lobby and facilities are so posh, it is a real treat to stay there. Highly recommend!

--- Rene McDaniel

What week in October and how was the weather/temps?

 

[taterhed]

What week in October and how was the weather/temps?

I live here...

If you're asking about October in DC, avg temps are 65/41 with about 3.5 inches of precip for the month. (same as any other month). Usually, the rain (and bad weather) is associated with a tropical storm that moves up the gulfstream. This Oct (2015) the high for the month was 81 and the low was in the mid 40's. 80% of the rain (2.5" out of 3.2") came during the first week of Oct (associated with Trop weather system).

Generally, very nice weather. After Thanksgiving....all bets are off.

 

[VacationForever]

Is there a need for a rental car? I am also planning a trip there in the next 24 months.

 

[taterhed]

Is there a need for a rental car? I am also planning a trip there in the next 24 months.

Depends....

If you are staying at the Mayflower, staying in DC (proper) and not going "outside the beltway" then no. You do not need a rental car.
If you are planning to leave the city....or stay at National Harbor etc... then maybe.

What's your itinerary?

 

[VacationForever]

Depends....

If you are staying at the Mayflower, staying in DC (proper) and not going "outside the beltway" then no. You do not need a rental car.
If you are planning to leave the city....or stay at National Harbor etc... then maybe.

What's your itinerary?

I don't know yet, but definitely to visit lots of museums. I went there once before for a conference, stayed at a Hilton or Hyatt, I think, and walked like 3 miles to Lincoln Memorial.

 

[curbysplace]

I don't know yet, but definitely to visit lots of museums. I went there once before for a conference, stayed at a Hilton or Hyatt, I think, and walked like 3 miles to Lincoln Memorial.

DC has a great bike share system that is a wonderful way to move around from monument to museum to hotel to . . . well . . . nearly everyplace of interest.

 

[taterhed]

[FONT=&quot]

DC has a great bike share system that is a wonderful way to move around from monument to museum to hotel to . . . well . . . nearly everyplace of interest.

So, I'm a biker and I do bike DC. That said:
The bike share program is great. But... the fee's are steep unless you're in a hurry every time. Riding the bikes in traffic is definitely NOT something I'd recommend for kids or seniors--the cabbies, commuters and pedestrians are not nice... The roads are (variably) full of holes and grates. There [FONT=&quot]are grades (hills) in DC. [/FONT]I love biking DC...but not for somebody who isn't ready to ride defensively. A quick ride in the park? Yes. A quick ride to Georgetown? No.
https://secure.capitalbikeshare.com/map/
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Membership and Usage Fee

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Membership Fee[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]
24-hour [/FONT][FONT=&quot]$8[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3-day [/FONT][FONT=&quot]$17[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Day key [/FONT][FONT=&quot]$10 initial fee + $7/day[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]etc....[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Usage Fee
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Ride Time[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Total Hourly Fee[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]
0 - 29:59 min [/FONT][FONT=&quot]FREE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]30:00 - 59:59 min [/FONT][FONT=&quot]$2.00[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]60:00 - 89:59 min [/FONT][FONT=&quot]$6.00[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]90:00 - 119:59 min [/FONT][FONT=&quot]$14.00[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]6:30:59 - 23:59:59 hours [/FONT][FONT=&quot]$94.00


[FONT=&quot]The [FONT=&quot]majority of the locations are OFF the [FONT=&quot]Mall (museum row), so you will have to 'cross the street' to pickup/drop-off your bike[FONT=&quot]...and then walk back across the street (traffic, time). It's [FONT=&quot]fun for a quick ride or two, but for the cost of 1 ride you can purchase a[FONT=&quot]n all-day pass on metro and ride [FONT=&quot]all day. Bus transfers are cheap with Metro p[FONT=&quot]ass. Get a card before you[FONT=&quot] go if you're staying a week ([FONT=&quot]smartrip[FONT=&quot]) to save money[FONT=&quot]/time. Also, consider the [FONT=&quot]Trolly [FONT=&quot]tour (or sim)[/FONT][/FONT] for riding around the [FONT=&quot]city and moving from museum to museum. Fun, easy, not too expensive. Coupons somewhere.
[FONT=&quot]IM[FONT=&quot]HO [/FONT][/FONT]
[/FONT]

[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT] [/FONT]

 

[taterhed]

I don't know yet, but definitely to visit lots of museums. I went there once before for a conference, stayed at a Hilton or Hyatt, I think, and walked like 3 miles to Lincoln Memorial.

Car definitely not needed. If you want to visit the Udvar-Hazy (at Dulles) or somewhere out of the city, then just rent a car for a day or so. If you fly into DCA, there really is no need. I recommend using the Trolley tour or similar: easy to ride (except during very high tourist times) goes everywhere (including Mayflower) near museums and offers Arlington NC tour too. (Discounts available). Metro works with Bus transfers (Smartrip card makes this easier). Don't miss the FDR monument (my fav), Arlington NC (takes your breath away...bring tissues), Viet Nam, Korea...many great monuments 1 mile down the Mall from the Smithsonian. If you want to go to Old Town Alexandria for dinner (or Georgetown etc...) Google maps will route you on the Metro/Bus or Use WMATA trip planner.

Have fun.

 

[Rene McDaniel]

Is there a need for a rental car? I am also planning a trip there in the next 24 months.

No need for a rental car in DC. We returned our rental car (which we had driven from Vermont) within an hour of arriving, which we had timed for a Sunday night when traffic was at it lowest. We purchased a weeklong Metro pass, so we were able to live like locals. Just swipe it upon entering the turnstile, and off you go. Very easy & convenient once it is purchased.

Getting from the Marriott to the museums & the National Mall is very easy because the Metro is right outside the Mayflower entrance. We did not do a monuments tour this trip because we had just seen them all when we were there in 2010 with our kids. There are lots monument tour choices - daytime, night time, hop-on/hop-off -- pretty much any scenario you are interested in. I would definitely recommend using one of the tours, because I can't imagine trying to find parking near the monuments. It would be exhausting, difficult, and require a huge amount of walking.

The monuments tours take you right up to the monuments and make it a very enjoyable experience. We enjoyed our daytime trolley trip so much, we ended up booking a 2nd nighttime monuments tour with Old Town Trolley. The monuments are really beautiful when lit up at night, especially the Lincoln Memorial.

We also used the metro to visit Old Town Alexandria and meet up with old friends. There is a free trolley that takes you up & down charming King Street. We really enjoyed the converted multi-story artist building at the very end of King Street, right on the Potomac where you can see various artists at work in their individual galleries/work areas. Another highlight of our trip, but I don't remember the name of the artist building.

We had great weather the week we were there (3rd week of October). It was probably 60's, 70's most days. Much warmer than Vermont, where we had done a timeshare week to enjoy the Fall foliage. I think it only rained once and didn't last long.

Sirens - we did get some siren noise at the Mayflower, although they have great dual paned windows, so no big problems. It seems like the presidential motorcades go past the Mayflower Hotel on their way to the White house. We'd hear sirens, then we'd look out the window to see the rows of motorcycle police, regular police cars, then black cars with the blacked-out windows, then more police cars & motorcycles. It was kinda cool. That sort of thing NEVER happens at our house.

-- Rene McDaniel

 

[Beaglemom3]

The concierge at the Mayflower can help with the Old Town Trolley tickets.

We took the Old Town Trolley (HOHO) for a full day and it was very convenient as the stops at/near attractions. There are 3 trolley "loops"; red, orange & green as I recall. One stops at the Mayflower. There are other tours as well.


Some of the tour guides gave an informative narration, others yammered on & on about their personal lives. Annoying.

http://www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc/

http://www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc/rates-and-reservations.asp

There are discounted coupons/offers on line.

We got our tickets online and picked them up at their office right near Ford's Theatre. We did this as I wanted to have breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien one block away.

We did the Metro on the other days.

I would not advise taking a car for the reasons posted by previous posters.

-

 

[Big Matt]

It isn't that you don't need a car in DC. It is that you don't WANT a car in DC. Parking is confusing. You may think you can park on the street, but the signs are confusing whether it is free or not and for how long. They aggressively ticked and tow.

There is only one thing that you really would like to have a car for and that is to visit Mount Vernon which is a must see IMO. Everything else you can do by foot or cab/Uber.

Beware of pricing on hotels. Many are expensive during the week and then drop to almost nothing on weekends. There are much nicer places to stay than the Mayflower depending on what you want. If you are willing to stay in Arlington (Clarendon, Rosslyn, or in Crystal City) or Old Town Alexandria you can get more space for less money, free breakfast and be right next to the metro. If you look at the metro map you can see the dynamic of how everything goes in and out of DC.

 

[VacationForever]

Thank you for the responses. Holes and grates on the road in DC I do remember! I cannot ride a bicycle anyway. We will stick with cabs and metro.

 

[pedro47]

It isn't that you don't need a car in DC. It is that you don't WANT a car in DC. Parking is confusing. You may think you can park on the street, but the signs are confusing whether it is free or not and for how long. They aggressively ticked and tow.

There is only one thing that you really would like to have a car for and that is to visit Mount Vernon which is a must see IMO. Everything else you can do by foot or cab/Uber.

Beware of pricing on hotels. Many are expensive during the week and then drop to almost nothing on weekends. There are much nicer places to stay than the Mayflower depending on what you want. If you are willing to stay in Arlington (Clarendon, Rosslyn, or in Crystal City) or Old Town Alexandria you can get more space for less money, free breakfast and be right next to the metro. If you look at the metro map you can see the dynamic of how everything goes in and out of DC.

Big Matt there is one circle I hate in DC and that's Thomas Circle. Drivers in DC will not give you break as a tourist, when you are in this circle.

 

[Quilter]

Does this website help: http://washingtondc.bestparking.com

 

[SkyBlueWaters]

Flying in to BWI, can anyone comment on the public transportation from there to the Mayflower? How about DCA, can one fly in there and just take the Metro to the Mayflower? Does the Metro pass work at the stations at BWI (if it goes out there).

Also, does anyone know if there's daily housekeeping and if use of laundry machine is free?

Thanks.