Arlington's BEST Capital View Hotel? (Renaissance Review!)
Arlington's "BEST" Capital View Hotel? (Renaissance Review – Buckle Up!) 🤯
Okay, so this review? It's not your typical, sterile, bullet-point-laden hotel assessment. I'm going to tell you about the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, and I’m going to tell you how I felt about it. Get ready, because it's going to be a ride.
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- Keywords: Renaissance Arlington Capital View, Hotel Review, Arlington VA, Wheelchair Accessible, Spa, Fitness Center, Free Wi-Fi, Restaurant, Pool, Business Travel, Family Friendly, COVID-19 Safety, Accessibility, Accommodation, Luxury Hotel, Spa Hotel, Dining Options, Meeting Facilities, Event Venue, Washington DC Proximity.
- Meta Description: Honest and unfiltered review of the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel. Explore accessibility, amenities, dining, and safety. Discover my personal experiences (the good, the bad, and the gloriously messy) to make your travel decisions easier!
Accessibility – The First Hurdle (and a Pretty Good One, Actually):
Alright, let's be real. Accessibility is a huge deal, and the Renaissance gets some serious points here. I'm not in a wheelchair myself (though I'll try to be mindful of that perspective), but I know how vital it is. The hotel's good! It's generally well-designed with elevators (yes, important!), and accessible rooms are available. I saw ramps where needed, and the hallways seemed wide enough. Now, I say seemed because frankly, I didn’t spend an hour measuring the hallways with a tape measure. But it felt right. I heard good things too, which is a win in my book. Not perfect, but generally very good.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: I didn't see any specific, labeled ones, but the general design seemed to allow for accessibility. I’d suggest calling ahead to confirm specific needs.
The Good Stuff (Where Things Got Interesting):
Internet & Wi-Fi – Thank God for Free Wi-Fi!: Look, in this day and age, free Wi-Fi is a necessity, not a perk. And guess what? They deliver! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Praise be! The speed was decent, I streamed some (ahem) educational content without buffering. No complaints here, which is a rarity.
- Internet [LAN]: I can't even remember the last time I plugged into a LAN. So yeah, it's there. Probably for the seriously hardcore business travelers.
- Internet Services: You know, basic stuff. Printing, probably some tech-support if you need it. Nothing earth-shattering.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – Hello, Spa, You Beautiful Beast! Okay, so they boast a spa. I’m a sucker for a good spa. They had a pool with a view (more on that later…), a fitness center, a sauna, and a steam room. Pretty standard, but good! I didn't do everything. I did enjoy the sauna, though. I'm not going to lie. I steamed myself into a blissful oblivion. They had a range of treatments. I had a massage. It was good. The masseuse was quiet and professional, which is a huge plus. Seriously, a chatty masseuse is a travel-horror-story waiting to happen.
- Body Scrub, Body Wrap: I didn't get these. I'm not that fancy.
- Foot bath: Didn’t see it, probably available in the spa
- Gym/fitness: Standard equipment, good for a quick workout.
- Pool with view: THE VIEW. Okay, it's not the best view of the Washington DC skyline. But it's pleasant. You can swim and pretend you're in a movie about powerful lobbyists. Which, let's be honest, is a perfectly acceptable fantasy.
- Spa/sauna: See above.
- Steamroom: Also, see above. The steamroom… I loved the steamroom.
Cleanliness & Safety – The COVID Factor (aka, "Are We Gonna Die?"): The world has changed, and so has hotel life. The Renaissance gets kudos for taking this seriously. All those little anti-viral cleaning products are great, and the visible measures helped put my mind at ease.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check.
- Breakfast in room: I didn't get breakfast in my room. I went to the restaurant.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Yes, they had this. Good for a quick escape.
- Cashless payment service: Always convenient.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Saw them doing it.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Hopefully, you won’t need one.
- First aid kit: Essential.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Good.
- Hygiene certification: Probably.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yes!
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They try. It’s hard in the restaurant.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Good to hear.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Never saw that.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Definitely.
- Safe dining setup: They've tried.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Yes.
- Shared stationery removed: Smart.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed like it.
- Sterilizing equipment: Okay.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Yes.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking – Food Glorious Food (Mostly):
- Restaurants: They had several options. One was particularly… let’s just say, it had a vibe.
- A la carte in restaurant: Yep.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Ask.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant: Nope.
- Bar: Present and accounted for.
- Bottle of water: Always appreciated.
- Breakfast [buffet]: They had a buffet, which was… fine. Standard hotel-buffet fare. I ate way too many pastries, of course. Regret.
- Breakfast service: Yep.
- Buffet in restaurant: See above.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: Coffee was decent.
- Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour: Okay. Happy hour was decent.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Yes.
- Poolside bar: Yes.
- Room service [24-hour]: Excellent.
- Salad in restaurant: Available.
- Snack bar, Soup in restaurant: Fine.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Unsure.
- Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: Yes.
Services & Conveniences – The Little Things (and Some Big Ones):
- Air conditioning in public area: Necessary
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Yes, if you're into that.
- Business facilities: Yes.
- Cash withdrawal, Concierge: Standard.
- Contactless check-in/out: Nice!
- Convenience store: Helpful.
- Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman: Yes.
- Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests: As mentioned.
- Food delivery: Always.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Yes!
- Indoor venue for special events: Yes.
- Invoice provided: Yep.
- Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage: All there.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery: Yup, if you're having a meeting.
- On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events: Yes.
- Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine: Yes to most things.
- Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: Yes.
For the Kids:
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: I didn’t bring kids on this trip. But they seemed like they had some stuff for them.
Access & Security (The Important Stuff):
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private]: There's security.
- Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour]: Standard.
- Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailable, Pets allowed, Proposal spot:
- **Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into my totally planned, kinda-sorta-maybe-mostly-winging-it adventure at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel. Forget the perfectly curated Instagram feed, we're going for raw, unfiltered, and probably a little bit chaotic. Here we go…
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and Attempted Sophistication (Spoiler: Failed)
1:00 PM - Arrival & Hotel Check-in: Ugh, traffic. Seriously, I swear the Beltway knows when I'm trying to get somewhere. I was already late, slightly sweaty (thanks, DC humidity!), and convinced I'd left my phone charger at home. (Turns out? Nope. Success!) The hotel lobby is all gleaming chrome and soaring ceilings. Instantly intimidated. The check-in lady, bless her heart, gives me a room on the… checks slip… "12th floor, with a view." A view of what, exactly? I'm picturing a parking lot. Prepare for disappointment.
1:30 PM - Room Reconnaissance & Mild Panic: Okay, the room. It's… nice. Real nice. More importantly, the air conditioning is fantastic. I’m going to live here. The view… surprisingly not a parking lot! Score! Some generic buildings and the tiny glimmer of the Potomac. Success pt. 2! Now the real test- the bathroom. Is it equipped with a decent hairdryer? YES! My hair will not betray me!
2:00 PM - The "I'm a sophisticated traveler" fiasco: I decide to be a cultured person. There's supposed to be a "Museum Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley" nearby. I get the pretense of classiness and buy a ticket, thinking I'll effortlessly glide through museums. This is where my sophisticated facade begins to crack. First blunder: I don't understand the trolley map. Second: I get on the wrong trolley (which goes to the other side of D.C., and I realize it too late. Third: I'm starving, and the trolley driver is talking non-stop about the history of the Lincoln Memorial at a speed that is way too fast, my brain shuts down. My carefully curated "I appreciate art and history" persona is crumbling faster than a cheap cookie. I am just a hungry tourist in a fancy hotel.
5:00 PM - Re-Group & Regret the Trolley: Back at the hotel, defeated. Found a decent deli nearby and grabbed a sandwich and a giant soda. Comfort food is my friend. Spent an hour looking at my phone in silence.
7:00 PM - Dinner & Drinks (Solo Edition): The hotel has a restaurant. I'm too lazy to go anywhere else. Plus, the thought of interacting with other people after my trolley adventure gives me a knot in my stomach. I order a burger, which is actually quite good and some overpriced wine. I'm currently debating if it's acceptable to order room service for dessert. Decision: yes
9:00 PM - Bedtime (Maybe): I'm tired. But also, that feeling of being in a new place, all by myself! It's a weird mix of freedom and loneliness. I might watch some mindless TV for a bit. And maybe, just maybe, order that late-night dessert. The "I'm a sophisticated traveler" act is officially retired for the night.
Day 2: Monuments, Meltdowns, & Mastering the Art of Procrastination
8:00 AM - Coffee & Contemplation: Woke up with the sunrise (or at least the light peeking through the blinds). My coffee addiction is kicking in, so I sprint downstairs for a black coffee. I end up getting a cappuccino, because why not! Contemplate what to do with the day. The itinerary? Non-existent. The plan? To avoid the trolley at all costs.
9:00 AM - The National Mall… Or At Least, My Attempt: "Must-see" monuments are on the list. So, I walk over to the metro and attempt to navigate my way to the Mall. I am bad at this. Metro is crowded, hot, and confusing! After about 3 wrong turns and a near-miss with a guy carrying a giant suitcase (my face), I find myself outside the Washington Monument. Wow. It's… tall. I feel a twinge of awe, quickly replaced by an overwhelming feeling of, "Okay, now what?"
10:00 AM - Monument Fatigue & Hidden Gems: The Lincoln Memorial - the one the trolley driver was blabbing about. It’s impressive, I guess. I’m more interested in the squirrels. I can see the reflecting pool. I see a bunch of people and then decide to walk away. I've reached peak monument fatigue. I spend the next hour wandering aimlessly, but I stumble upon a quiet little park with a statue of a… well, I'm not sure who, but it was peaceful. The best part? Nobody else was there. Finally, solitude!
12:00 PM - Lunch & Accidental Shopping: I was starving…Again. Found a food truck near the National Museum of American History. The food was great! And then I stumbled upon a bookstore/gift shop. The impulse buy gene is strong. I buy a DC t-shirt and a slightly overpriced book about the history of… something. Regret in the cards
2:00 PM - The Museum of Air and Space… Sort Of: Remember how I wanted to be cultured? Well maybe a museum. I walk into the Museum of Air and Space. The crowds! The sounds! The sheer amount of stuff! I make it about 30 minutes before a full-blown sensory overload hits. I retreat. I will not feel bad about it.
4:00 PM - Back in the room, aka Procrastination Station: I'm back in the hotel. I open my laptop. Time to do those things I needed to do. But first, I'll just check my email… and then social media… and maybe watch a funny video. The important stuff can wait, right? I realize the day is almost over, and I've accomplished… well, not much.
7:00 PM - Dinner & Reflection (Maybe): I’m torn between trying a new restaurant and ordering room service again. Room service wins. I debate the meaning of life over a plate of fries. I have a lot to think about and decide that the fries are the right choice.
9:00 PM - Nighttime Rambling The darkness and the quiet of the hotel room makes me more reflective. Maybe I should have done more today. Maybe I should have planned better. Nah. I am okay. I might check out for a late night snack.
Day 3: The Unexpected Delight and the Departure (Maybe a Little Sad)
8:00 AM - Breakfast & a Surprise: I order breakfast in the room (because, why not?). And then, I look out the window. The sun is shining. The traffic is moving. And I feel… good. Not fantastic, mind you, but good.
9:00 AM - A Second Chance at Perfection: Okay, I'm feeling adventurous. I grab a coffee and wander, sans agenda. I find myself… at the Netherlands Carillon. I didn't know this existed! It has bells and beautiful views. I listen to the Carillon. I feel really touched. I sit and listen for an hour. I have some fun! Maybe I am a sophisticated traveler after all!
11:00 AM - Packing and The inevitable Breakdown: Packing. I decide to pack slowly. Look at the time. I have to check out at noon. I start to panic. I shove things in the suitcase and then realize I lost one of my shoes. A total meltdown. I am so bad at this! I find the shoe on the bathroom floor and decide that the best thing to do is laugh.
12:00 PM - Check-out and Departure: The check-out process is smooth. The hotel staff is friendly. I would have loved to have stayed longer. As I'm heading to the airport, I realize that my trip wasn't perfect. But that’s okay. It was real. And that's all that matters. (Even if I did spend most of it avoiding the trolley).
1:00 PM - Travel home and future planning I am now at the airport. I had a great trip. I am so happy. When will I visit again? I cannot wait!
Arlington's BEST Capital View Hotel (aka the Renaissance) - The Unfiltered FAQ!
Okay, spill the beans. Is this place REALLY called the "BEST" Capital View? And... is it?
Alright, alright, let's get this straight. Yes, the full name is the Arlington "BEST" Capital View Hotel. Emphasis on the quotes. I'm pretty sure "BEST" is in the smallest font possible on their sign. And honestly? The "BEST" is... well, let's just say the view *is* good, if you get the right room. But the *best* hotel? That's a stretch. My expectations were sky-high, maybe even aiming for the moon, but the landing? A little rough. Think a moderately comfortable trampoline. Still, a decent place to crash if you *need* to be near the attractions. Don't expect the Ritz.
What rooms should I aim for? Give me the REAL view lowdown!
Okay, this is CRUCIAL. **Demand a room on a high floor, facing east or south.** East gets you the sunrise over the city, which is pretty darn spectacular. The south? Well, let's just say you'll see some *major* monuments. The Capitol, the Washington Monument... it's pretty awesome when the weather cooperates. I've been told that during the Fourth of July celebrations, the fireworks are phenomenal. (I wasn't there, sadly!) Now, here's the messy part: I got a room on the 7th floor, what was supposedly a "Capital view," and all I saw was the back of another building and some sad, scraggly trees. I mean, the view was... beige. Pure beige. Definitely complain if you get a beige view. Politely, but firmly. Trust me on this.
Let's talk about the lobby experience. Smooth sailing or a bit...awkward?
The lobby? It's... functional. Picture this: A slightly dated, but clean, space. The staff is usually friendly enough, though I did once encounter a front desk clerk who seemed like he’d rather be anywhere else on planet Earth. Understandable. Sometimes there's a little bit of a wait, especially during check-in/check-out times, but that's pretty standard. They have seating, but it's not the "sink into a plush armchair and forget your troubles" kind of seating. More like, “sit here while you're waiting and try not to fidget” seating. Don't go expecting a glamorous entrance. Just keep your expectations grounded.
The food? Don't hold back! What's the deal with the hotel restaurant?
The restaurant? Oh boy... okay, here's the deal. I've eaten there. Once. It's... convenient. Is it a culinary masterpiece? Absolutely not. Is it the worst meal I've ever had? No, not *quite*. The breakfast buffet is the key. It's your classic American offering. Scrambled eggs that may or may not be real, bacon, pastries. It'll fill you up before you head out for a day of sightseeing. My *experience*: I ordered room service one night. A burger. Let’s just say it arrived looking a bit...deflated. The fries were soggy. It was edible, but not memorable. I'd suggest exploring the area for better dining options unless you're *really* lazy (which, let's be honest, most people are at hotels). But the coffee in the morning? Surprisingly decent.
How's the location in relation to all the DC sights? Walkable? Uber-able?
Location, location, location! This is where the Capital View *kind of* redeems itself. It’s pretty well-placed for hitting the major attractions. Within walking distance, you have the Arlington National Cemetery. (It’s HUGE, so prepare your feet!) The Metro station is also within walking distance, which is FANTASTIC for getting into the heart of D.C. Uber/Lyft is readily available if walking isn't your thing, or if the weather's playing tricks on you. I highly recommend using public transport or ride-sharing. Parking at the hotel isn't cheap, and navigating D.C. traffic is a nightmare. Plan accordingly! One time, I tried walking to the Smithsonian. Big mistake. It took FOREVER. Definitely take the Metro. Seriously.
Amenities! Let's talk pools, gyms, and the like.
Okay, the amenities... They have a pool. I didn't use it, but I peeked. It seemed... fine. A standard outdoor pool, nothing fancy. If you're looking for a resort-style experience, this isn't it. The gym? Again, I didn't use it (shocking, I know!), but from what I saw, it's pretty basic. Treadmills, some weights. Don't expect a state-of-the-art fitness center. It's there if you need it, but probably not worth writing home about. Free Wi-Fi is standard, which is a must. And, thankfully, it worked! That's always a plus.
The beds. The most crucial part of any hotel stay. Comfy? Uncomfortable? Nightmare fuel?
Alright, the beds! The make-or-break factor! I'd say...they're decent. Not the *best* I've ever slept on, but not the worst. The mattress wasn't lumpy, and the pillows were, well, pillows. Not mind-blowing, cloud-like pillows, but they did the job. I slept. I didn't wake up with a crick in my neck. Which is always a win. Overall, I would say the bed is fine. A solid 'meh'.
What are the noise levels like? Did you get any sleep?!
Noise levels... This really depends on your room location. If you're facing the street, you might get some traffic noise. I'd recommend requesting a room away from the street, if possible. I got lucky on one stay and had a pretty quiet room. On another stay, I could hear... everything. People in the hallway, the air conditioning unit, the faint sound of a television. Honestly, it wasn't a dealbreaker for me, but if you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs! They're your best friend.
Is there anything *truly* memorable, good or bad, about this hotel?
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