Guest reviews Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington DC

by TravelDC1030

Worst Hotel Experience Ever

I was refused service because my credit card did not have a chip in it. I made my reservation on their website where I had to enter in my credit card and used the EXACT same credit card when checking in. They said that was their policy that all Credit cards must have chips even though this was never communicated at check out. I called the customer service number and they were surprised by this as they have never heard of this policy. If there is a policy as to what types of credit cards can be used it should be clearly noted on your website especially at check out. There was no such thing. This was going to be my first time staying at this hotel and as a result of their refusal of service I will never stay here and will tell everyone else to not stay here. I usually stay at Marriott where I am a Platihum Elite member so went over to the W where they happily checked my in with my credit card with no chip.

by MikeLee038 Williamsburg, Virginia

A Fantastic Stay

My wife and I were recently moving from Pennsylvania to Virginia. During the long move, we decided to stay overnight at the Kimpton Hotel. I was blown away. The room's very nice and spacious. Clean and tidy. The staff is kind and very knowledgeable. Best of all, all wearing masks and going above and beyond for everything we asked. I especially want to thank the Gentleman at the front desk, Douglas. My wife and I must have bothered you 10+ times on our stay. But each time, you were super helpful and HONEST. Not some customer service bs most people spew. We appreciate that! Give that man a raise! ;D We will be back! Douglas; hope we meet again, my friend!

by mde4mjs USA

Nice Stay

We had a fun time as a family of 4. Mom, Dad, 15 and 13 yo boy and girl. After driving up from Central Virginia and spending a day on the National Mall stayed one night in the middle of the week. Plenty of great food to enjoy in Dupont Circle area. Went to Kramerbooks (classic American joint) for dinner on the street at night (blocked off during COVID-19). Other great ethnic places nearby also. Morning walk to Georgetown for quick coffee while kids slept in. Used loaner bikes to quickly hop on Rock Creek trail to get to Zoo and beyond - a fun must do! Downsides: $49 valet parking - off-street parking options better on weekend I'm told. Pool closed d/t COVID-19. Upsides: The two ladies who worked the evening of August 19th 2020 and the frontdesk gentleman the next morning and the guy who pumped our tires up were awesome. Highly recommended!!

by DBelletravel New York City, New York

DC Hotel

It is a very decent hotel at a good location. This hotel is near bars and restaurants and parking is not difficult during the weekend. The white house is about 7 minute drive from the hotel. I feel like it was over price for the service we received and the pool was closed and all the restaurants in the hotel due to covid. Rooms were decent, but they only put one toilet paper for a group of four and only one small hand soap which we had to call front desk to bring us more toilet paper and hand soap.

by jcfox1978 Columbus, Ohio

Very good hotel. Ideal location, fantastic rooms, tasty restaurant.

Date- August 2020 (2 nights) Overall: Very good. 4/5. The hotel itself is relatively good and select staff members are great; the accommodations and restaurant were very good. Accommodations- Very good. 4/5. We were assigned a “Spa 1 King Bed” room, and it was spacious and clean. The color scheme is warm and pleasant. There was a walk-in closet, a sofa bed, and of course, the usuals: a king bed, nightstands, a television, a minifridge, and a bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. Unfortunately, the shower door did not close effectively, and although towels and the floor mat were put down, the bathroom floor was covered in water after even a brief shower. Maintenance should repair or replace the burned carpet segments and those covered in melted wax, and the shower door should be sealable such that those outside aren’t also taking a bath. Even after having the shower head face as far away from the door as possible, water was all over. What a mess! IHG Rewards Club Recognition- 2/5. Below Average. The representative Bruce who checked us into the hotel offered us Welcome Amenity points but was uneducated about Spire Elite members’ benefits. Our room was upgraded before we arrived by Juleen, who knew we were celebrating our 13-year anniversary. Bruce didn’t even bother to mention this. Considering that he stated he was a manager, I am appalled that he didn’t even know what IHG rewards club tier offerings were. Staff- Good. 3/5. Juleen, who we spoke to on the phone late at night, the previous night, and Samar in the morning and afternoon were very pleasant and engaging. Samar had a coffee machine & supplies sent up to our room as requested without delay; her customer service-oriented attitude shined. They deserve kudos for their great service. Bruce, however, was NOT a fit for a Kimpton property. Not only did he begin the stay by arguing with my spouse about what benefits Spire Elite members receive (see Raid-the-Bar on the IHG website), but the next day he also inserted himself in conversations between customers and Samar, while she was still at the front desk, when she attempted to explain how the pandemic had affected services offered by the hotel. Each encounter with Bruce was unpleasant; he averted his eyes instead of greeting us when we would return to the hotel from outside. If I return to this property and find Bruce at the front desk, I will leave immediately; you might consider it too. I brought the behaviors and attitude to the attention of Samar, who in fact, is his manager, and I sincerely hope that others do not have the same experience. If he was brought back from furlough, perhaps another candidate should be considered. As our first point of contact with the hotel staff, he a very sour taste was left in our mouths. Housekeeping- Average. 3/5. The room was clean but the carpet was vacuumed. The bed was clean but the extra pillows we requested were not provided. The bathroom was clean and what would have been an adequate supply of towels and toiletries was only insufficient because of the leaky shower door seal. Decorative pillows that are not disinfected or thoroughly cleaned should be removed from the rooms during the pandemic. The jacuzzi tub, especially around the jets, was dingy and dirty looking; if this is a maintenance item, my apologies to the housekeeping, but if this is how they all look, I can’t even imagine sitting in it naked, especially during a pandemic. A nice offer, but we passed. Pool/Gym- Not evaluated. Breakfast/Meal Options- 4/5. Wine was offered in the restaurant for wine hour, and we found ourselves dining on a tasty shrimp appetizer; Ezra and Laura, who worked in the restaurant were welcoming and made the experience enjoyable. Laundry- Not evaluated. No laundry bag or form for send away laundry was available. Computer/Printer/WiFi- WiFi was strong throughout the hotel and streaming was smooth. Property Appearance & Maintenance- Very good. 4/5. Exterior- Very good. The exterior is maintained well, and the lobby is appealing to the eye. Interior- Good. The hallway carpets were somewhat worn in spots and it needed to be vacuumed. Debris could be seen all along the baseboards. Other- Valet parking is $49 per day and ‘self parking’ was basically only an opportunity to have the valet guide you and tell you exactly where to put the car. This is not acceptable for guests who do not wish to have strangers drive their car, especially during a pandemic. I feel I have to disinfect my entire car after the experience; we were told to leave our keys with the front desk and trust that someone would put our car in an appropriate place. You can’t get your car unless someone is with you; you can’t find your car unless guided. Is this a trick to get tips? I think I’d rather park on the street and take my chances.