Living Large High-End Hotels Strive to Give Guests Their Moneyís Worth by Christine CubÈ Enter the Hotel Monaco and youíll find yourself planted in the middle of an Alice in Wonderland-like setting. The furniture is bigger than big, bold colors play against their subtle counterparts, whimsical patterns bounce off striped onesóand above all, youíre amazed at how well the ultra-suave property pulls it all together. The only thing missing is the Cheshire cat. At the Monaco, youíll have to settle for a goldfish named Shark. In Washington, thereís no shortage of hotels that cater to your every whim. The competition for your dollar is fierce and that means consumers can find great deals around town that give them the most bang for their buck. Many hotels strive to give budget-conscious guests more than just a bed to sleep in, adding amenities such as luxury toiletries, goose-down versus hypo-allergenic foam bedding, stylish dÈcor, high-speed or wireless Internet access, fitness and business centers, wine receptions, afternoon tea, day spa, excellent service, prime location and whatever else it takes to help guests feel theyíve gotten the most value for their money. The Monaco rooms, f or instance, range in price from $200 to $1,500. The hotel, a national historic landmark, is located near the MCI Center in a revitalized area that boasts a million offerings, from restaurants and shops to athletic games and movie theaters. Inside the hotel is another experience altogether. Take the Robert Mills suites, for example. Short history lesson: Mills was the architect of the Washington Monument, and he constructed the original part of the U.S. General Post Office, which became the U.S. Tariff Building and eventually the Hotel Monaco. If your budget is extra flexible, these suites can go for $949 during the high season. They feature a large, luxurious bathroom with an extra-deep Jacuzzi tub, high-vaulted ceilings throughout, separate sitting room and a massive bedroom. Monaco general manager Jorge Trevino said his hotel is clearly the better deal when you consider what the same type of room would cost in a much more expensive hotel. ìI donít think there are any values that are comparable,î Trevino said. ìDollar for dollar for this hotel and Poste [the hotel restaurant] versus a luxury hotel in town, youíre getting more for your money.î The most expensive room at the Hotel Monaco, the Majestic Suite, priced at $1,500, comes with two bedrooms, a dining room for six and three bathrooms. But my favorite part of the Monaco is the restaurant, Poste - Moderne Brasserie. From the service to the food, dinner there was one of the best meals I have ever had. Between my guest and I, we dined for less than $100, and in Washington, thatís a true bargain. Take another property such as the intimate 86-room Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown. Many travelers looking for affordable lodging might assume that the Ritz-Carlton would be out of reach. Not so. For practically the same price as the Monaco, the Ritz offers a luxuriously modern and sleek executive suite, complete with two bathrooms, a massive sitting room, extra-large bathroom and an insanely comfortable bed. Also situated in a historic building, the hotel has made a home for itself in the old Georgetown Incinerator, a dramatic piece of architecture that harkens back to Georgetownís 1930s waterfront industry. At the Ritz-Carlton, visitors get their moneyís worth when it comes to quality and service. Guests can expect to be pampered the moment they arrive. From the parking attendant to the front desk manager, the professionalism and service are supreme. In addition, the Ritz offers amenities such as a fitness center with state-of-the-art spa, steam room and sauna, executive business services, feather duvets, laundry service, and even bartending classes at the hotelís Degrees Bar. For great deals, check out the hotelís Web site, which offers exclusive Ritz packages, such as the Key to Luxury package, which starts at $699 and includes an executive suite and use of a new Mercedes-Benz during your stay. So how do other Washington hotels add up when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck? Here are a handful of properties that made the list: The 415-room Fairmont Washington D.C. has a strong legacy with the diplomatic community. Its central location near Embassy Row, the Massachusetts Avenue corridor and downtown Washington is very important to its guests, said Fairmont general manager George Terpilowski. Need different cuisines that are not on the menu? Not a problem for the hotelís new restaurant Juniper. Need more privacy? For an added $125 a night (room rates range from $250 to $450), check in to the Fairmont Gold floor, the ninth level of the hotel. This area includes 51 rooms on a floor that features its own private staff and separate check-in-and-out facilities. The Gold floor also comes with complimentary breakfast, tea in the afternoon, chocolate fondue in the evenings and a reading library. ìIt really does feel like a home away from home,î Terpilowski said. ìService is what defines the excellence of the product.î The 40-room Tabard Inn is a quiet, unassuming hotel that has a lot of the personality of a large hotel property, minus the elevators and televisions, which can be requested. Prospective Tabard guests can view many of the hotelís rooms online (www.tabardinn.com) before their stay. Each room features its own unique design, many with antique furnishings. Jeremiah Cohen, general manager of the Tabard Inn, said the rooms come with a free continental breakfast, WiFi access throughout the hotel, and complimentary passes to the YMCA, just a stoneís throw from the inn. Rooms range in price from $135 to $200 with a private bath. Travelers who donít mind sharing a bathroom with other guests can pay between $86 to $125 a night. The 151-all-suite One Washington Circle Hotel boasts richly elegant and newly redesigned suites. The hotel, which is an affiliate of the George Washington University, offers city views from balconies in every suite, as well as in-suite kitchens, high-speed Internet access and complimentary shoeshine service. The property also features a newly renovated restaurant, Circle Bistro, private meeting and banquet space to accommodate up to 150 guests, and an outdoor pool. Depending on the day or the season, rooms range in price roughly from $150 to more than $500 a night. The 144-room Churchill Hotel on Connecticut Avenue is just a short walk to Dupont Circle and Embassy Row. The beaux arts-style hotel has an incredible number of restaurant offerings just minutes awayófrom French and Italian fare to Asian and American cooking. The hotel features all-day meeting packages and working lunch buffets, as well as plated dinner services. Guest amenities include oversize rooms, wireless cable Internet, kitchenettes, European-style bedding, voicemail in five languages, fitness center, health club privileges, same-day laundry and dry-cleaning service, and the Chartwell Grill and lounge. Guest rooms and suites range in price from about $129 to $359. The 240-room Melrose Hotel, Washington D.C., is one of the best price deals in town, said Thom Puccio, Melrose director of sales and marketing. The upscale hotel offers rooms that range in price from $190 to $399. For that price, hotel guests can relax in the newly renovatedóto the tune of $10 millionóproperty, which features more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space, 24-hour in-room dining, business and fitness centers, and outdoor seating at the Landmark Restaurant and Library Bar. Each guest room comes with a European marble bath, wireless high-speed Internet access, work desk and refreshment center. The 416-room Washington Marriott, located at 1221 22nd St., NW, was the first Marriott hotel in Washington. The hotel, built in 1981, features meeting space that was renovated last year and guest rooms that were renovated in 2003. The hotel often works with international travelers, most recently hosting delegations from Greece, Indonesia and the Philippines. Brian Chisolm, director of marketing at the Washington Marriott, said the property features ìrooms that workî with a desk area, two phone lines and high-speed Internet. Rooms range in price from $149 for the weekends to $309, which includes a free continental breakfast, honor bar and terrycloth robes. The hotel also has a fitness center with an indoor swimming pool, hot tub and sauna, as well as the Atrium Restaurant and Court Lounge. The 199-room Beacon Hotel & Corporate Quarters is a newly renovated property that was the former Governorís House Hotel. The hotel is situated on Embassy Row at 17th and Rhode Island Avenue, and features a 24-hour fitness center, 139 deluxe rooms and 60 ìcorporate quarters,î or suites inspired by New York-style studio living. Rooms come with a dual-line telephone and data port, refrigerator, sofa bed a nd dining area. The Beacon Bar & Grill offers American and internationally inspired cuisine, as well as room service and catering for hotel functions. Hector Torres, vice president of sales and marketing for Capital Hotels & Suites, which operates the Beacon Hotel, said that what makes the property truly special is its hip, urban, cosmopolitan suites. Rooms range in price from $199 to $389. The 154-room St. Gregory Luxury Hotel & Suites, located at 2033 M Street NW, is Capital Hotelsís other D.C. property. The St. Gregory offers many of the same amenities as the Beacon Hotel, including its own club level accommodations. Personal concierge service, private-access floors and terrycloth robes are some of the other amenities. The club level also offers complimentary breakfast and evening cocktails and hors díoeuvres. Rooms range in price from $199 to $389. Christine CubÈ is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.