The Windsor Inn

The accommodations are modest, but utterly charming — especially Jaimie the owner, who was very helpful when me and a co-​worker stayed there. The location is fantastic — it’s one of the few places I’ve stayed in DC with any real sense of character. And the price can’t be beat.

For those like myself on a lower budget, the accommodations are somewhat like Forrest Gump’s Mom’s house. It’s no Hyatt Regency, but is more than sufficient for several nights’ stay. The room I got had a large comfortable bed and a flat screen on the wall with ample channels for entertainment. Each room is apparently different and the place is full of old furniture and a fat house cat. It’s very conveniently located, so I didn’t have to hire a taxi to commute. I just hopped on the frequent public buses traversing 16^th Street ($ 1.75 fare as of this writing). It’s about a 12-​minute walk from Dupont Circle so there is also fairly easy access to the subway. There is coffee and a very basic continental breakfast offered, so you can put something in your stomach before starting the day. By the way, there are lots of bars and restaurants on nearby «U» Street and elsewhere. My room featured a modern bathroom with tub/​shower and well-​stocked with soap, shampoo and other amenities. I would happily return here.

I would also give this place zero stars if possible. I do not give zero stars lightly and I am not a high-​maintenance person.
Summary: We were at the the Windsor Inn for half an hour and even that felt too long. They took our $ 180 for a «queen garden view room» that turned out to be a creepy basement room that did not have a queen bed and had a cot-​quality mattress and did not have a window view of anything except the hallway. When we tried leave 30 minutes after arriving — explaining our specific issues with the room/hall’s cleanliness and how the room blatantly violates important DC Fire/​Safety requirements — they refused saying that they had already charged our card. Thankfully, Expedia felt bad and refunded us anyway.
SO
My husband sweetly decided to surprise me by getting us a hotel room for my birthday as a week-​day night away (we have a young child and grandma was in town to babysit). He tried to book a room at a larger 4-​star chain, but it was more costly than he anticipated and was told by Expedia that this was comparable for a slightly lower price point. Ok, great. My husband calls and talks to the front desk, explains this is a surprise for his wife’s birthday, the guy tells him that he has a nice «garden view» room and that we’re all set.
We show up, looks nice from the outside. Then we are led down the stairs, into a basement. I’m just going to list some of the issues in the hallway — dimly lit, chipping paint, super old and visibly dirty carpet, I noted at least one large cobweb and a spider web, saw a few bugs, and it was cluttered with weird locked wardrobe cabinets. At the end of the hallway was a locked gate that led directly outside, making the entire hallway as cold as it was outside. We get into the room, which has one window… into the hallway. I’m guessing by «garden view» they mean the chipping garden mural in the hallway. The carpet in the room is also visibly dirty, the «queen» mattress my husband had to pay a $ 30 up-​charge for upon arrival is a) a full, not a queen and b) not an actual mattress — it was a very thin cot-​like mattress. There was no comforter of any kind, just an itchy white sheet on the bed. The bathroom was beyond tiny and oddly set up, you’d have to shimmy around the door to do just about anything.
We decided it was stupid to waste our money on a room where we didn’t even feel comfortable sleeping. We brought our complaints to the front desk where we encountered TWO OTHER PEOPLE TRYING TO GET THEIR MONEY BACK AND GET OUT OF THERE. The front desk guy refused, saying we had already checked in and it was too late (though we were there for less than half and hour). We called Expedia, and thankfully they refunded us. When my husband turned the key in, the guy kept arguing that he didn’t see the problem and he even made sure we had nice clean sheets… LIKE THAT WAS NOT A GIVEN. We could not get out of there fast enough.
Is it a great location? Yes. Is it possible that the upstairs bedrooms are nicer? Sure. Did the entire basement feel super murder-​y? YES. Your life, your call.

Feels like I’m staying at my grandmas house. Charmingly old and a bit run down… this is not the Regis or any other hotel on the strip. But it’s clean and what it lacks in amenities it makes up for with the cutest cat Mimi, the most friendliest, helpful staff and the dopest location. You won’t even be in the room long enough to miss the room service! I enjoyed my stay!

The hotel is quaint and charming. It’s not by any means fancy, but it is more than plenty when you’re a young traveler looking for a clean, cozy place to stay and get rest. The staff is super friendly and they have a cute mascot, Mimi the Cat. They’re also really good about helping you find your way around DC; they gave me a map of the city and helped me navigate the public transit. The area is also extremely safe since its near DuPont Circle, which is a pretty upscale/​trendy neighborhood to live in. An extra bonus is that they help you store your stuff after checkout for free. That gives you some extra time to roam the city before heading to the airport or your next destination.

A complete and utter dump.
The absolute worst hotel I have ever stayed in ever in my entire life. Room with no windows, spotty wifi, awful smell, small, dirty, and rude staff.
A wrecking ball needs to be taken to this place to do it justice.

The positives is the location is close to the Red and Yellow metro. The neighborhood seemed safe walking around. Plenty of restaurants around. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Breakfast was alright.
The drawbacks was the facility seemed old and the spotty Wi-​Fi on the lower level. I didn’t mind that cat walking around.
The first room we received was on the second floor and had no shower curtain. It was two double beds and about the size of my laundry room. The toilet was plugged. I let the front desk gentleman know. Apparently the cleaning lady didn’t put the curtain back on. He moved us downstairs. The room was much larger, walk in closet, nice bathroom, and the spotty Wi-​Fi. It was definitely an upgrade.
This place fit our needs fine. It was no thrills place to crash after being a tourist and conference for a few days. The upgraded room definitely helped.

This hotel was described by the desk clerk as Fawlty Towers. It is a little down at the heels but completely charming and in a great location. Make sure you get a good room since not every room is a winner.

I stayed here a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t need much, just a place to sleep and a hot shower. It’s very close to restaurants and the metro which made it easier to get around. But I had to ding them because the wifi was spotty. The room was small but clean.

A cat roaming the hall and my boyfriend is highly allergic. Either y’all didn’t disclose to Hotwire or they are choosing to hide that info. Also stellar room per the pic below — there is absolutely zero ways this is comparable to a Holiday Inn Express, that’s an insult to Holiday Inn Express.

Really cute hotel for a nice price. Looks as if it was once a boarding house or apartment. The heat is automatic so you really can’t control your temperature so that sucks. Front desk staff is pretty friendly and attentive. Definitely would stay again!

I stayed here on a business trip and being new to the company thought I’d try and save them some money. Bad idea. Not sure where everyone got this $ 80 rate because it was $ 180 for me (and no cat in the lobby either). When I went to check in at close to midnight (flight delays are awesome) some guy was leaving pissed because he couldn’t pay cash so I automatically wondered what the heck part of town I was in or if this place rented by the hour (they don’t). It had the feel of a hostel with a couple young creeperish looking guys hanging out in the lobby. One kept leering at me so I figured just to be on the safe side I’d prop a chair against my door when I got in my room but guess what, no chair. No table either, and spotty Internet access at best.
I was greeted by shag carpet of a sort of deep blood red. Hoping this was not a sign of things to come, I then noticed the yellow wallpaper. Now I’m not sure if it started yellow or had aged to that particular shade. I wouldn’t have even minded that it was mismatched (think wallpaper quilt on the wall, but without the quaintness of a quilt), except that it was peeling in more places than not. It would have been flapping in the wind if there was any (but being that the only window was tiny and looked out into a dirty alley way and other windows I kept it closed).
The bathroom shower was moldy and there was almost an entire sheet of wallpaper hanging off there, no longer actually touching the wall, just begging to be pulled off. There was no hair dryer (didn’t really expect one though).
And did I mention the size? Whoever wrote a dorm room would’ve been the Ritz is spot on. I think the bed (which actually wasn’t too bad) was a full and the only other thing that fit in there was an old school tv. The closet wasn’t big enough for my suitcase so I had to squeeze it between the bed and the wall so I wouldn’t trip over it as the only other space was right in front of the door (although I guess any injury I might have sustained wouldn’t have shown on the carpet).
I can handle no frills, ugly décor and small, but this was over the top for me (and for $ 180 I expect to at least feel moderately comfortable). The room felt like a prison cell and I did not feel safe there. I stayed at the conference I was at until the last possible minute every day just to delay going back to the room. Will definitely be staying at chain hotels in DC in the future.

Ok… yes, it’s old. Yes, it’s quaint. So… if you are a tourist just looking for a place to sleep and SHOWER… this may be it. However, if you are a business traveler… this just doesn’t cut it.
First, the lack of bath-​tub. After a 17 hour work day opening a new branch of my company in DC, I wanted to soak in a hot tub. Not possible. The shower is so small that shaving your legs becomes an Olympic gymnastic event. There are no shelves in the teeny, tiny shower so you butt sticks out the door when you bend over to get your shampoo. The vanity only extends 1 inch past the sink… had to use the window area as a vanity. The towels are thin… the hot water takes forever to show up and the water pressure is weak.
The room is small/​crowded. You have to get an iron and ironing board from the front desk and set up up over the wingback chair to use. No desk/​chair to use laptop instead pull the little table to the foot of the bed and use it as a desk. The TV is smaller than the computer monitor I use in my home office… good luck seeing it from bed.
The housekeeping staff is LOUD… and hang out in the hallways… it’s odd. I think they may live on site??? but, walls a paper thin and you can here them talking in the hall when you should be sleeping… Also, my room windows looked out on an ally way at the back where the housekeeping staff hangs out and TALKS LOUDLY with no thought about guests. Seriously, why are they here ²⁴⁄₇??? Why are they so loud??? Why are they always in the hallways??? WHY DO THEY NEVER SHUT UP??? arrrggghhh!!!
The breakfast is PATHETIC. I booked through Hotwire and was promised free breakfast… everyone else pays $ 5. NOT WORTH IT… assorted muffins and coffee. Sad. This place could be so much better… but there is no «WOW» factor in any of it… no «hook» to make you think anything is beyond disappointing. The ONLY good thing is the location for the price.

I’d give this place 0 stars if I could and I don’t say that lightly.
Only July 19, I called this place to book a room for the night and two subsequent nights after finding out one of my best friend’s mother passed away about 2 hours earlier. They booked the room. I was told I could cancel until midnight and would not be charged. LIAR!
I called less than 15 minutes after hanging up with them because my friend said she would be able to put me up for the time I would be there. I called this business back and I was told they would charge me for one night. After arguing with the guy on the phone I resigned to the fact that I might have to pay for one night. Even the lousiest cheapest Days Inn and Hampton Inn have a cancellation policy and it doesn’t expire 15 minutes after you make a reservation for the same night.
When I told my friend 2 days alter, it was after I had already been charged for one night. She e-​mailed them trying to plead with them not to charge me. She received no response. I sent them an e-​mail and just like my friend I received no response.
I contacted my bank who contacted them and even the bank received no response. Since I had nothing in writing, my bank would not credit my account unless I get something from this lousy establishment. I didn’t bother to contact Windsor Inn again because they had three chances to respond to this issue and refused to do so.

No complaints at all for this hotel! The room was clean and comfortable. Staff was helpful. Breakfast was fine with the 5 $ cost. Carb-​fest but good.
Nearby the hotel is a city bike rental station. I got around the city so well using the bikes. Its only 7 $ for a day and you can get anywhere in DC in less than 30 minutes. If you are arriving back to the hotel any time after 7pm, be sure to find alternate bike stations and prepare to walk further, because the station was full when I arrived.
The cat is so cool!

This is an Inn from what I am understanding, not a hotel, despite the name. I give four stars based on my needs and experience. I am not someone who likes to rest on vacations, I do a crapload of walking, I literally just wanted a safe, cheap places with a bed, and a shower. I got it
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Their prices are reasonable considering they are in a safe (seeming) area, with easy access to mass transit* as well as the following…
They have no view, at all, my window opened up into an indoor courtyard, the only view was daylight and other people’s windows.
Parking on the street.
They have fast WiFi, they claim it can go out because they are in an old building, but I had no issues.
They have a breakfast, but it is uninteresting (as they admit) and is not free. BUT they have free coffee, and ice water.
The Hotel is very old school. They have 80s décor, keys not cards to access rooms. Regular cable TV, no opportunity to buy a video on the TV (flat screen by the way), and no mini-​bar.
Room got steamy, during the day, but kept the AC gunned at 61, and it was absolutely fine.
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But, I got to DC by train, and there are tons of good restaurants nearby, and I stayed out from morning to night, so views, movies, minibars, all useless to me. So I wasn’t paying for stuff I wasn’t using.
The guys at the front desk were all wonderful, and very nice. They knew the city, had maps, and knew several good places to eat. Also, they gave me a free upgrade to a Queen bed from a twin, even though I was traveling alone. Finally, they have amenities like razors, shaving cream, shampoo, toothbrush, etc. If you ask.
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*There is a frequently serviced bus station 2 minutes away, or a subway station roughly six blocks away, about a ten minute walk.

I had a very good experience during my two night stay (June 13 – 15). The staff was friendly, the cat is adorable, and I loved the quaint vibe of the place. The room I had was small and the furniture seemed to be a bit oddly placed, but I was there to sleep, and I slept like a baby both nights. My only two qualms– the light in my bathroom was constantly flickering and going out, and I was advised with my booking confirmation that breakfast was included in the cost of the room, but it is actually a $ 5 per day fee. Other than that, the Windsor Inn is reasonably priced and located close to so many different things, and I will definitely stay there again in the future!

First of all this is an Inn, not a hotel. There is a different vibe to an Inn. It is not perfect and uniform, which was something I liked. The room was clean and a fair size. The price was excellent, especially for the location. They also had internet, but I had some trouble using it as it was very slow. I thought it was charming and I like that they have a cat (not a good place for allergies). The only issue I had, and this lowered my rating, was that my room was next to the lobby and as a result I could hear the noise in the lobby. This was enough to wake me up earlier than I would prefer during a vacation.
I would recommend it, and stay here again, as long as I made sure I had a different room.

After reading previous reviews, I feel the need to remind everyone that this is one of the cheapest hotels in the area, so I’m unsure why they are expecting 5-​star rooms and service.
With the Windsor Inn, you get what you pay for. We spent $ 80 for a Saturday night and it was just fine. The check-​in staff is friendly and we had no problems. Yes, I agree that the rooms are outdated in style but what do you expect for the price? Our room was clean, the bed was comfortable and warm. The shower was a bit small, but we are staying in the city, in an old building. Overall, I’m sure we would stay here again.
I wouldn’t suggest staying for the breakfast: only coffee, milk, and orange juice and then some pastries, but if you need something quick, no problem.

NONE OF THESE REVIEWS MENTION THE KITTY THAT LIVES IN THE LOBBY!!!
Although I live in DC, I had some friends coming to visit me so I opted to get a hotel room instead of having them all stay at my tiny, inconveniently located apartment. I was on
and found the cheapest room I have ever heard of in DC — $ 99/​night for a room with two double beds. The location? Perfect! I immediately booked it.
Then two days later, I read the fine print on my confirmation email — that rate is for 2 people. I called the hotel and found out that the rate goes up $ 20/​night for each person. Although, in general I think this practice is quite silly since all an extra person would need is a towel, I accepted it since it still put the room rate at a decent price.
Upon arrival, we find, as others have described, a lobby and hallways that looked like Great Aunt Edna’s house. Sure, it looked old but it was all clean and in good condition.
Our room was pretty cramped but had all the essentials. Added bonus– Comcast cable. This was great since we wanted to listen to music while getting dressed but didn’t bring ipod speakers, so we just listened to the Comcast music channels.
The bed was super comfy — no tossing and turning here!
Although the room was kinda cramped, the bathroom was very spacious and looked like it had recently been redone. I had some problems regulating the water temperature in the showerhead, but no big deal. Note: the lightbulb in the ceiling actually adds heat to the bathroom so if you leave it on for the amount of time it takes four girls to get ready, it’s going to be really warm in that BR!
The continental breakfast goes from 7 – 11 am. We showed up at 10.15 and found slim pickings. This being DC though, there is a s’bucks within a block so it was no big deal. But if you want to enjoy the b’fast, make sure you get there early.
The staff was all really helpful and super polite.
Check-​in is at 2, check-​out is at noon. They have a nice tag system though if you want to leave your bags there after check-​out.