The Hilton Old Town Alexandria is dripping in location with a very easy walk across the street to the King Street Metro, the King Street Trolley and Amtrak. To access the dining, shopping and browsing on Old Town’s King Street just cross the street and hop the Trolley which is really a bus — and wonderfully free.
When I hear the word “Hilton” I think of a pricey stay (actually I think of Paris, the goofy great-granddaughter of the hotel magnet who created the Hilton brand, but I digress). You’ll be pleased to find that the Hilton Old Town Alexandria rooms can be had at a reasonable price. (Sadly, the same can’t be said for their parking and Internet fees.)
But, parents, let’s get down to what the kids are typically yammering about: Yes, Virginia, there is an indoor pool. It’s what you’d expect to find in a hotel city pool meaning it’s small, but able to provide good times. There’s also a nice-sized window looking from the pool area to the comings and goings of the trains, which my boys never tire of watching. The pool also sits adjacent to the fairly large fitness center, making it easy to work out and take a dip after. You’ll find headphones, rolled towels, a sauna, a nice changing room — the works. One note about the pool: Alexandria hotel pools tend to be open in the mornings and late afternoon into evenings and not open during the day when travelers are typically sightseeing.
The spacious and quite handsome lobby sports a full Starbucks and a full restaurant. This Hilton does triple-duty as a retreat for exhausted travelers, exhausted business people and exhausted brides.
The rooms — sporting full-sized beds — are a bit dated for the fussy among us. But if you’re casual like myself, you’ll barely notice a tear here or a yesteryear color there. My guess is that this Hilton has an update in its near future, so stay tuned. But what isn’t likely to change is how close the Hilton sits to the trains. If you’re concerned that the trains will awaken you or the kids at a painful hour in the morning, request a room on an upper floor so that you can enjoy the view minus the volume.
Even though they’ve become rather commonplace in hotels, I still get all tingly at spotting a compact refrigerator in the room. My husband, who apparently isn’t as concerned with feeding the kids, seemed giddy about the fact that one can take an elevator from the parking garage directly to one’s room without traipsing through the lobby. He must have mentioned it three times. (I guess you can figure out who handles what in our relationship.)
You’ll love that the Hilton is a simple three-minute drive from Whole Foods (you could walk, but who wants to deal with busy streets and kids?) and an easy King Street Trolley ride to Redrocks Pizza and Subway.
