The Melrose has dropped in quality
May 19, 2025 Rogers222 United States
The Melrose Georgetown used to be a very good hotel. Not anymore. It has gone to seed in the past few years -- although the prices continue to go up.
The Good: It is well located in an upscale Foggy Bottom neighborhood so it's an easy walk to the Foggy Bottom Metro stop and to the shops in Georgetown. The staff is well-trained and…
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The Melrose Georgetown used to be a very good hotel. Not anymore. It has gone to seed in the past few years -- although the prices continue to go up.
The Good: It is well located in an upscale Foggy Bottom neighborhood so it's an easy walk to the Foggy Bottom Metro stop and to the shops in Georgetown. The staff is well-trained and professional, although at times they seem to struggle against the system -- understaffed and overworked and not provided the resources they need to take care of guests properly.
The Not-So Good: The property is showing signs of decay and lack of maintenance: stained carpets, broken furniture, and a general feeling of things falling apart and no overall maintenance plan. The wife is spotty and weak - it works on some devices in some rooms, but not everywhere. There is an old mini-fridge in the room, but no microwave. The wall art throughout the hotel is terrible and depressing, it feels like a 1970s Red Roof Inn with no soul. At check-in you are told that for "eco-friendly reasons", there is maid service only twice a week. It's not clear how this saves the planet, although it's clear how it saves the hotel money at the guest's expense -- it also contributes to the overall seediness of the property, a sense that things don't get the maintenance they need.
The Ugly: The overall feeling of being gouged for another dollar at every turn. I arrived from the airport at 1:00pm and was told my room was ready, but I couldn't check in until 3:00pm unless I wanted to pay a "$50 early check-in fee". Awful. The room was ready and sitting empty, the tired guest was there, only to be told they had to cool their heels in the lobby for two finger-tapping hours before they could check in. I realize inconveniently late check-ins have become an industry standard, but what's the point, when the room is ready and there is only occasional maid service anyway? There is bottled water in the room (complimentary in most hotels) for $10 per quart. The food and beverage prices are eye-watering: two beers and a snack plate in the lobby bar come to $78; two standard bacon-and-egg breakfasts in the restaurant come to $100 (not making this up). Under no circumstances should you eat breakfast in the hotel unless you have a breakfast voucher as part of your reservation package.
Overall, I found the Melrose Georgetown disappointing. It has gotten seedy in such a short period of time. To this traveler it appears that neglect by management and a failure to invest in modernization and maintenance have turned a once-fine hotel into a looming disaster. I won't stay there again.
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