Le Meridien Washington, D.C., The Madison

After years as a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite member, I had reluctantly decided to move much of my family's travel to Hilton. After spending thousands of dollars annually on Airbnb accommodations, I decided to acquire Hilton Diamond status and intended to rely primarily on Hilton properties for future vacations. My principal frustration with Marriott had become surprisingly simple: unlike Hilton, Marriott's website and mobile app do not allow guests to search for and reserve connecting rooms with any meaningful certainty. For families traveling with children, that limitation is significant. Following our recent stay at Le Méridien Madison Washington, D.C., however, I have reconsidered that decision. The experience was so consistently excellent that it restored my confidence in Marriott and convinced me to continue my Titanium loyalty for the foreseeable future. The first indication that this stay would be different came before we even arrived. GM Matt Sommers personally responded to my email regarding connecting rooms and advised us that he had confirmed connecting rooms for our family. Other upscale Marriott properties had simply advised us to "ask at check-in." His going the extra mile put our minds at ease and inspired confidence in our decision choose the Le Meridien. From arrival onward, the Le Meridien Madison far exceeded our expectations. Check-in was quick, warm, and genuinely welcoming. The gentleman who checked us in greeted us as if he had been anticipating our arrival and treated us as highly valued guests. That tone remained remarkably consistent throughout most of our five-day stay. We had a king bed suite connected to a suite with two queen beds. The décor and quality of the furnishings were very high and luxurious. It was clear that the hotel had hired a very accomplished interior design company to create the perfect decor. The beds were among the most comfortable my family has experienced in any hotel or Airbnb despite taking more than ten trips over the past two years. Even the AC was quiet, efficient, and seemed engineered to provide exceptional comfort without drawing attention to itself. The Madison Club and food proved to be the centerpiece of our stay. Each morning began with an impressive breakfast buffet that rivaled many luxury properties at which we have stayed throughout the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. More important than the food itself was the level of hospitality. The Madison club and Market manager routinely visited our table to ensure we had everything we needed and were pleased with the experience. Her expertise and welcoming demeanor created an atmosphere that felt refined, elegant, and yet relaxed. David, the hotel’s executive chef David deserves particular recognition. His breakfast buffet and happy hour offerings reflected the care and pride of someone who clearly enjoys his craft. Banana pancakes, French toast, steak, General Tso's chicken, are just a few of the remarkably delicious offerings we enjoyed. The food was consistently fresh, beautifully presented, and exceptionally prepared. What impressed me even more was that he regularly walked through the dining area speaking with guests, inspecting the buffet, and ensuring that every detail met his standards. His level of personal engagement, coupled with the exceptional meals, created an outstanding experience for us. I would rank him alongside among the best chef I have met over the years in upscale restaurants in Chicago, Houston and Miami. Jonathan Sommers, the director of rooms, was also very responsive, and ensured our stay was very pleasant. Even the door staff were exceptional. Every time we departed or arrived at the hotel during our 5-day stay, they met us with smiles, warm greetings and held the doors open for us. Their efforts left us feeling as if we were sincerely welcomed at the hotel. Of course, no hotel is perfect, and Le Méridien Madison is no exception. The fitness center is quite small relative to the size of the hotel. Once seven or eight people were present, it became difficult to exercise comfortably. The bar also maintains very limited operating hours, so guests who enjoy an afternoon or late-evening cocktail may wish to plan accordingly. Our only genuinely disappointing experience occurred at checkout. Because I needed certain promised hotel credits applied, I was instructed to check out at the front desk rather than electronically. Unfortunately, only one associate, Charles, was working the front desk, which resulted in us waiting over 20 minutes just to check out. Charles, the gentleman assisting guests, remained professional and courteous throughout, but the low staffing level seemed inconsistent with the otherwise exceptional level of service the hotel had demonstrated during our stay. These shortcomings, however, are relatively minor when viewed in the context of an otherwise outstanding experience. Having stayed in well over 50 hotels during the past several years, I would comfortably rank Le Méridien Madison among the top 3 best hotels in the entire Marriott ecosystem. Indeed, there is something exceptionally special about the hospitality, care, and high quality of rooms and food at the Le Meridien Madison. In short, I highly recommend Le Méridien Madison with great enthusiasm. My children have already begun asking for us to return to the Le Meridien Madison for our next vacation, which is rare.

After an amazing day, my family and I had the best night cap with Sir Abdul. Extremely knowledgeable, fun ,and personable! Cant wait to dine with him and chef David again!

Amazing evening at Lady Madison thanks to Abdul's exceptional service and Chef David's delicious food. 10/10. Thank you for making our night extra special Abdul!!

Our server Abdul was absolutely amazing, attentive, hilarious and so friendly. Abdul is very memorable and made our entire night so much fun. LOVE ABDUL! Chef David gets kudos for flavor.

Abdul is the best! The chef also did an amazing job.