We just returned from our second stay at the State Plaza and I find it to be a great value. The rooms are huge with two queen-size beds, a full kitchen equipped with dishes, pots & pans, toaster, etc., a dressing room, and a closet with iron, ironing board, room safe. Both times, our room was in the north building of the hotel so I don't know if the rooms are the same in the south building. Our room was immaculate and the staff was very helpful. There is a small restaurant on the ground floor. The food was very good and not too expensive. The location is very convenient and about a five block walk from the GWU/Foggy Bottom metro stop. This is a find for families on a budget because of the room size and the kitchen facilities. The room easily accomodates 2 adults, 2 children and a crib for a baby. Many attractions are within walking distance and there are convenience stores nearby to purchase groceries.

My husband and I drove from New York state to stay the weekend for a show.
The hotel has 2 'entrances' and you have to get to the right one before you can do anything. We had to walk all the way through an alley and through both hotels to get checked in. (We had to go back and forth the entire time to get to the 'front desk'.)
When we finally got to our room, the bathroom floor was filthy. Our room was located on an ALLEY , and next to the squeeky door to the stairs.
There are NO vending machines. Unless you accidentally take the elevator to the 'servants quarters' and then you'll find one ON YOUR WAY HOME.
If you are expecting a continental breakfast, good, fine, BUT be prepared to pay $35 for 2 people, have cold eggs, hard muffins, and a foreign woman (in our country's capitol no less) who greets you on entry to ask you if you 'KNOW PRICE?'
I'd advise you to look for a different hotel, unless all you want are sights, and a pillow.

Ok first the bad.....
Started with booking the room. Staff didn't know about the online rate, wouldn't honor. Called back the next day, "oh yes the online rate....."
When we arrived the air condioning wasn't on in the main room (we had a Jr suite which was a BR,Bath, LR with pullout sofa and kitchen.) they had to come and fix that. BOth ACs were on the entire time set at the lowest setting, and temp never got below 75*. Also one TV was fuzzy, bad connection with cable which never was fixxed.
The maids would come in several times while we were there and EVEN when the do not disturb sign was on the door. And they NEVER left enough towels for 4 people.
And they wouldn't honor the"get a $25 gas card each day of your stay" because we didn't park our car there (we flew). That little fact was not on the website.

The good...
You will not find, I don't think, a better location to the monuments. The Metro is a short 5 blocks or so. The Vietnam, etc are about 2 blocks away.
The hotel is dated, pay to use a small business center, but nice to have a kitchen with refrig and microwave. maids did the dishes each day too.
Easy location to hail a cab. Also a samll CVS drustore next door which we were in all the time....food, meds, drink,etc
Just remember you are not staying at a relative new place so you may have some problems.

We got to the Hotel at 10pm and were very hungry. We asked staff to see if they were any places around to get food, and can you believe were told that all the places were closed. How can places be closed at 10pm in Washington DC when l can still buy food in Omaha at 2am. The staff was unfriendly. The credit l give them is about the rooms, very clean and the kitchen was also great. However the alarm clock did not work and the phone did not work either. Do these people check if everything is working before they book the rooms. Our room was never cleaned and when we came back at 3pm housekeeping knocked on the door to check if they could clean the room. By tthe way we thought we paid everything when we booked our flight, but guess what, when we checked out we got slammed with a $67.00 bill for parking the car for 2 nights.They have the China Bistro garden at the hotel, and their staff sucked as well, we had to leave and get food somewhere after we got there and waited for over 10 minutes and the staff kept on sorting their wine bottles and never acknowledged we were there. If l knew places that were hiring l would have given all of them the information because the staff at State Plaza, and Bistro garden need to change careers. Evidently they do not like their jobs, anything you asked the staff at State Plaza they did not know or they would give you a stupid answer.