Hilton Alexandria Old Town

I was going to be traveling into DC every day so chose the Hilton due to its proximity to the metro.

Walk to shops and food

The parking, the clean comfortable rooms.

I loved the rooms and the location. The check-in staff was friendly and very helpful when we reported an issue with our room. The check-in process, parking deck was a little confusing at first, but overall fine.

Unacceptable experience at Hilton Alexandria–Old Town. The first room was dusty with a peeling toilet seat, visible mold in the bathroom, and a loose shower fixture. I was moved, only to encounter more problems including no heat, a broken in-room phone, and a visibly dirty HVAC filter. These issues disrupted my schedule and raised serious cleanliness concerns.

Management failed to take responsibility or resolve the situation. Even though I checked out the same day due to these conditions, I was still charged for two nights and denied a refund. This is far below Hilton standards and completely unacceptable.

Please think twice before you book!! Even if something is wrong with your room, they will not give you a refund.

This hotel is very conveniently located across the street from the Metro and Amtrak stations. Rooms are spacious and comfortable. They have a nice breakfast buffet, improved since my stay here last year.

I have two complaints. I was not recognized as a Hilton Honors silver member and had to ask for my two bottles of water. I requested a replacement Smartrip card be sent to me in care of the hotel. It was mailed by Metro five days before my arrival, yet I never received it.

When we got to our room, the hallway and the room had a strong urine smell. I asked to be moved to a different room and the staff moved us without question. The next room was clean and didn't have a smell. Our first room was on the unsecured second floor. The other floors you need a room key to access the floor. The second room was on the fourth floor and was in much better shape. The staff came through for us and took care of us.

Since we were staying seven nights, we upgraded (at a cost) to a corner room (Room 544). It was spacious, quiet, and had a nice view. But not once did we have a hot shower. We reported it three times and were told "engineering would have a look at it." It never got better nor did anyone report back to us. The desk said changing to a similar room would be difficult as "we are very busy this week." So we sucked it up. I took very quick showers in a mix of tepid and cold water, and my wife just splashed tepid water on herself. (By the way, we talked to another guest on the 5th floor who had the same issue.) Also, housekeeping missed servicing our room twice and the room clock was never changed to the correct time (which, for whatever reason, can only be done by the hotel). It's sad, because it's a good location, the food was good, and the lobby Starbucks is convenient, but the hotel clearly has infrastructure issues. Though we'll be returning to Alexandria this year, I doubt we will consider this property or the other Hilton properties nearby. As a longtime Honors member, I expected more: an apology, a discount, some points, something. But I've heard nothing and do not expect to.

I stayed here one night before departing from National airport. Though there are closer hotels in Crystal City, I think this place makes more sense in certain circumstances. It is literally a block from the Alexandria Amtrak station and the adjacent Metro station. It is a quick 10-ish min Metro ride to Regan National. So if you are coming in on Amtrak this makes more sense since it saves you a longer walk from Crystal City and/or a second metro ride from there. The front staff were excellent on both check in and check out. And they were able to handle my paying with multiple Amex cards to use up my Hilton credits. There are a few dining places near by and all in all for the price was a great stay. As a Diamond I was upgrade to a high level floor. I didn't take breakfast so no comment on that.

Location

I like the location and its cleanliness.

During my stay, the Hilton property did not fulfill several fundamental front desk and guest service responsibilities. Guest services were inadequate, as check-in and issue resolution were not handled with professionalism or tact. Reservation and administrative processes were mishandled, resulting in billing and payment concerns. Staff failed to provide accurate information regarding hotel services and did not offer appropriate assistance or guidance. There was a noticeable lack of system proficiency and adherence to Hilton brand standards, including poor communication, cleanliness oversight, and failure to follow proper procedures. Additionally, coordination between front desk staff, management, and other departments was ineffective, contributing to an overall negative guest experience.

The convenience and proximity to the metro.

This was my fourth stay at this hotel. The location remains excellent, and the on-site Starbucks continues to be a highlight. Unfortunately, the hotel I once knew and enjoyed has clearly lost its way.
Check-in: The front desk staff appears to be significantly understaffed. One person was responsible for both in-person check-ins and phone calls, resulting in long waits whether you are calling the front desk or checking in at the desk. Even with mobile check-in and a digital key, guests are still required to visit the front desk, which defeats the purpose and adds to the congestion.
Room conditions: While the room layout was familiar, the condition was noticeably deteriorated and cleanliness was unacceptable. Our initial room had a broken toilet, which we only discovered when attempting to use it, and it would not flush. We were reassigned to the neighboring room, which presented additional issues: linens with holes, visible blood stains on the tissue box, burn marks on the walls and lamps, stains throughout the couch, dusty furniture, and a moldy bathroom.
Common areas: The public spaces are also in poor condition, with ripped carpeting, damaged wallpaper, and elevators in need of a thorough cleaning. Furniture throughout the hotel feels dated, and there is a noticeable lack of USB charging outlets.
Overall, this property is in need of a full overhaul. In the meantime, improved training for housekeeping and immediate replacement of broken or damaged items—such as the missing dresser door—are essential. This is a Hilton property, not a budget motel, and it should meet the standards associated with the brand.

Location on King Street, Hotel lobby has a Starbucks that opens at 6am, and rooms were clean.
You can park on the street in the evenings Saturday and all day Sunday

Clean and people friendly

My experience with the staff, both over the phone and in person, was disappointing. I encountered a rude parking attendant, unhelpful front desk staff, and a manager whose dismissive attitude made resolving issues difficult. On top of that, my card was charged three times, totaling more than double the room rate, and I had to speak with three different people to get an explanation.

While the location is excellent, the service issues were significant enough that I will not be returning. Many other options will hopefully offer a better overall experience.