We booked this hotel for the great location. But when we got there the hotel wouldn't allow us to park in their garage! They told us that there was an event in town and they basically allowed too many non-guests to park so there wasn't any room for guests who were staying at the hotel!
We called the hotel to see about where to park and they ran us in circles! It was literally a 45 minute ordeal just for parking. I asked to speak to the hotel manager but he rudely told us that "parking wasn't guaranteed" and there was nothing he could do about it.
When we got to the hotel to check in they did not give us the right room. Not to mention the rooms were horrible. Old, smelly and very small. I've travelled a bit and even stayed in some hostels in Europe. Hotel Washington was by far the worst place I've ever stayed in.
I forgot my toothbrush and asked the hotel if they could send one up to the room. For the first time ever - I was told that if I wanted a toothbrush I would have to come downstairs and buy one from the gift shop. I've never stayed somewhere where they would not provide you a toothbrush.
To top it off the "acting " hotel manager was EXTREMELY RUDE!! He could have cared less about his customers. We couldn't believe that the hotel actually allowed him to interact with customers. We asked him for the name of the hotel manager and he told us they didn't have one. After debating with him for a few minutes he finally gave us a card for the assistant manager. Not surprising - he told us that the hotel is closing soon.

PLEASE save yourself the time and headache and stay at the Willard right next door.

I guess I got a good pre-Thanksgiving deal....$90...but the hotel was fantastic at that price. The best location and nice sized rooms made it a great stay. Staff were helpful and polite and room was clean and everything working. Definitely stay there again.

The lobby of the hotel is beautiful - no complaints there. However, once we got to our room we were disappointed with the condition the room was in. The towel rack in the bathroom was completely broken off (leaving behind a tear in the 1980s wallpaper) and propped up against the wall. We called the front desk to see if someone could re-attach it. A day later a maintenence guy came by, did some "work" in the bathroom and then told us he needed to get a special part to fix it. We never saw him again for the remainder of our four night stay. Since we were sharing the room with friends, I called housekeeping to ask for some extra towels. The woman on the other end of the line seemed completely annoyed and exhasperated that I'd called and bothered her. She asked me, "How many towels do you need, again?" When I told her two extra she answered, "And that's it, right?" suggesting it was completely unreasonable that I was asking her to come upstairs and bring me two extra towels. Also, if you're going to stay here make sure you bring earplugs. The walls in the rooms are paper thin. We could hear the television set going in the room next to us, and the next morning the noise from our next-door neighbors getting up to start their day woke us up. The sheets on the beds were probably about 100 count and made it feel like we were sleeping on paper towels. The location of the hotel is its only redeeming quality. It's a very short walk to the White House, National Mall (i.e. Smithsonian museums) and National monument. But this place was incredibly overpriced. Service and quality did not meet the $180 (before taxes) mark, in my book.

Just returned from my first trip to DC. I'll keep the review simple.
PROS
Location. Everyon has said it. It's located right next to the White House. The metro is one block over, behind the hotel. Its an Easy walk down Pennsylvania Ave to the National Mall.

Inexpensive. Paid less than I would have for a motel 6 on a rural interstate!

I have no complaints about check in service or room service.
CONS
It is dingy in the rooms. I imagine there are some pristine suites, but the basic room was a little dirty. Not hostel in Mumbai dirty. But I don't think they have vacumed Room 628 since Clinton was President.

Overall, we had a wonderful trip.
There is a Borders and a Corner Bakery behind (beside) the hotel. Great for breakfast and coffee. There are wonderful dining options ALL around.

A tour guide said that Elvis would ONLY stay at the Hotel Washington. That's interesting.

OH! and on the last day there, they were filming a scene from 24 right otside our window!! Washington is an exciting city! All things considered, I think you'll do okay at the Hotel Washintong.