The Phoenix Park hotel is the best hotel experience I had in my life. I stayed there in 2003 and I always wanted to say 'Thanks!' to the people who work there. Since I learned about Tripadvisor I finally can.
In 2003 my husband and I were travelling through Amerika by train. Young as we were, we were on a very tight budget for four weeks. We mostly stayed in hostels and inn's. Washington was sort of our last stop. When we arrived there early in the morning, at the Amtrak station, we toke our Lonely Planet, as we did so many times before, only to learn that all budget options in Washington were full. There was simply no place for us to go!

Haven't slept for more than two nights (the train stops in Charleston and Savannah in the middle of the night) we were broken, exhausted and therefore we panicked. What to do?
The Phoenix Park Hotel advertised with an Amtrakrate. So we called (though the hotel seemed far to expensive for us) and we spoke a lovely lady who offered a room for 80 dollars a night.
We were shocked to hear the rate of the room. I know you must laugh when I say this, but 80 dollars was way, way above our budget. After thinking about it like an hour or so, we decided to go for it and check in.

So we arrived there, all sweat and dust, with backpacks on our backs, tired, to get another little shock: the 20 dollar tax on our room, which made it a 100 dollars a night (in Europe all taxes are always included in everything, so without being naive sometimes you have to remind yourselve that in Amerika it's not). I'm afraid I reacted just a litlle grumpy over that, for which a want to apologise: I can only say we were worn out and could't think straight anymore. But the lady was lovely and patient with us. And then the friendly doorman toke us immediately to our room (at 9 or so in the morning).

It toke us a good mornings sleep, to finally realise how lucky we were! To get to stay in this incredible hotel. (much later we learned about the actual price for a room). To be able to check in way before check-in time. To sleep in such a comfortable bed, which was opened every night we came back to our room. The fine bathroom with the luxurious amount of toiletries (rosemary, as I remember). The excellent location of the hotel (right across the Amtrakstation and very close to the Mall) and the cheerfull Irish pub downstairs.

I know now what Irish hospitality means: The Phoenix Park Hotel made us feel welkom and our stay in Washington unforgettable and I will recommend this hotel to anyone who ever goes there.
In a few weeks we go back to the USA. Unfortunately Washington is not on our list this time. But we'll come back. We've always wanted to return someday to the Phoenix Park. Next time we'll save up for it ;-)