Book this hotel!!
I would rate this hotel four plus stars. This is the perfect destination hotel for DC folks (or others) looking for a get away close to the DC area. The hotel is sparkling, brand new, luxurious and wonderful. The only reason I have given it 4 stars instead of five is that the service is not yet quite up to the furnishings. First, the views from the rooms are spectacular (get a harbor view). The furnishings, artwork, public areas are very well done. The outdoor pools look trendy and fun (but not open in February!). The spa area is clean and restful with nice treatment rooms and a very good "hot relaxation area" with jacuzzis, steam (with those changing colored pinpoint liights in the ceiling), sauna and heated beds. The restaurant is trendy and the food is quite good (esp. the breakfast). The location of the hotel is perfect -- it's near the Inner Harbor but not on top of it and the water taxi stops right out front. The service is a bit quirky. There are lots of friendly people working at this hotel but they haven't gotten it completely right. For example, while at dinner, the heat in our room was turned off. Also, we were having trouble with the sound system/TV in our room and the person who said she would call back to tell us how to use it, never called. However, none of this is a big deal. The hotel is terrific -- book it!