Willard InterContinental
Top-drawer luxury two blocks from the White House
Since the 1850s, this top-drawer luxury hotel two blocks from the White House has hosted every U.S. President from Franklin Pierce to George W. Bush, either as an overnight guest or at a social function. President-elect Abraham Lincoln slept at the Willard the night before his inauguration, Martin Luther King, Jr. finished his moving "I Have a Dream" speech here, and it's also said to be the place where Ulysses S. Grant coined the term "lobbyist."
Historical significance aside, extensive renovations completed in November 2000 brought the 12-story landmark structure up to thoroughly modern standards, making it one of the finest places to stay in D.C.. The Willard offers 341 rooms and suites equipped with all the accoutrements of a high-end business hotel, plus a famously elegant lobby, 18,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a fitness center, two restaurants, a lovely bar and a new history gallery documenting the hotel's illustrious past.
Weekday rates typically exceed $450 a night even for the most affordable room classes, but it's possible to find bargains at the Willard if your dates are flexible. The best deals are on weekend nights, when rates sometimes dip below $350 for standard rooms.
Willard InterContinental Washington
1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C.
202-628-9100
www.washington.intercontinental.com
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