There’s nothing like a teddy bear and a full kitchen to start your hotel stay off right. You might want to sit down for this hotel review. The Residence Inn Alexandria Old Town has so much to offer families staying in Alexandria that it borders on unbelievable.
The smiles begin with the teddy bear. It’s for the kids and it’s for keeps. But adults will do a Snoopy-dance when they step into the Residence Inn two-room suite and spot the full kitchen. That’s right, I said full kitchen. All of the Residence Inn kitchens come with a regular-sized refrigerator, stove, microwave, plates, bowls, utensils — everything parents need to feed the baby birds. And if you’ve always dreamed of cooking a lasagna in Alexandria, Va., just request an oven. Not every Residence Inn suite has one, but make your request and if the suite with oven is available — voila! — you’re layering a lasagna.
The generous suites also come with two queen-sized beds — no skimpy fulls here — and a pullout sofa in the main room. The furnishings could use a bit of an update, but in general most parents are too tired to care. Also did I mention the full kitchen?
You’ll continue smiling when you see the ample complimentary cold and hot breakfast buffet, the Monday through Thursday snacks at dinner, the free Wi-Fi and the decent parking fee (for the area) of $18 a day. On the second floor you’ll also find coin laundry machines. Bring your quarters — it’s a dollar for the wash and another dollar for the dryer.
Since kids can kick up a party in a cardboard box, the small indoor pool with windows — to reduce the claustrophobic feel — shouldn’t prove a problem. Just throw kids and dive toys in and let the good times roll.
And all of this sits in the middle of nowhere, right? I told you. The marvels just keep on coming. The Residence Inn Alexandria Old Town sits in a fantastic location about three blocks from the King Street metro (the amazing train that will take you pretty much anywhere you need to go in the D.C. region). You can walk to the Metro easily, but if the kids are in a full-blown whine, you can catch the Residence Inn’s complimentary shuttle. Also, at the Metro station is a King Street trolley stop. The complimentary trolley (a bus) starts at the Metro station and chugs all the way down King Street to the waterfront. It arrives at stops every fifteen minutes and is uber-reliable.
About a block away from the hotel is Whole Foods — which has a wonderful hot bar and the best General Tso’s vegan chicken on the planet. Plus — and this sounds like a complete fabrication — the Residence Inn staff will shop for you. You heard me right. Before you trek out for the day, just hand the friendly staff your grocery list and return to stocked cupboards and fridge. If you specify a particular grocery store, the staff will honor your request. Is there a fee for this service? Not a penny. (In fact, every Residence Inn across the country provides this complimentary service.)
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