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The Allen Lee: Traveler Reviews

2224 F St. NW, Washington DC, DC 20037 (Foggy Bottom - GWU - West End)
Hotel amenities
The Allen Lee
Ranked #117 of 126 hotels in Washington DC
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117 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveler rating
    5
    17
    17
    26
    52
Date Rating
Hong Kong, China
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
10 hotel reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“It is okay...But there are better choices in DC”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed June 13, 2012

I booked a double room with shared bathroom, but eventually the staff gave me a room with private bath, which was a bonus. The bed was big and there was a TV in the room. Rooms and toilets were generally clean. However on the first night we found several cockroaches around our bed and on the floor!!!!! This was a terrible experience!!!! We didn't sleep well that night... On the next day we talked to the staff, and they promised to get some spray during cleaning. So the situation was better afterwards. 10 mins walk to metro station. Walking distance to Lincoln Memorial.

  • Stayed May 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask kkmn about The Allen Lee
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
New York
Top Contributor
65 reviews 65 reviews
27 hotel reviews
Reviews in 34 cities Reviews in 34 cities
39 helpful votes 39 helpful votes
“Depressing and kinda gross.”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed May 25, 2012

Not filthy, but not very clean. Millions of ants. Freezing room because window had a gap in it. Bed was old and broken. I was too scared to look at the bed closely to see how clean it was. Breakfast was fine, and I loved the Costco peanut butter. This place is just kinda gross. I didn't look forward to coming back here at night. Convenient neighborhood and very nice staff.

Room Tip: Try to get an ensuite bathroom if you can.
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  • Stayed May 2012, traveled with family
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 1
See 3 more reviews by KillerRabbit for Washington DC
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

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2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“Overpriced”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 19, 2012 via mobile

The hotel is in a very good zone: 3 blocks from the metro station and walking distance from the white house. However the rooms are really small, ugly and crumbling, nothing to do with the pictures they have on the website. They' also offer a breakfast: only bread and butter.. At least is clean. In my opinion the price is too high for what it offers (don't get me wrong is cheap but not for what it offers).
Btw no service at all.

  • Stayed May 2012
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Lodocavaiso about The Allen Lee
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Cleveland, Ohio
1 review
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“A TOTALLY DERELICT DUMPSTER-Stay AWAY!”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed April 7, 2012

The minute you set eyes on this dilapidated,collapsing shack is the minute you will be welcomed to hell on earth. The exterior says it all : rusting windows,horrendously tacky neon signage and smoky,blackened windows. Oh, Where to even begin with this revolting dump? Cockroach infested rooms,flithy, unwashed, blood laced linen. A lingering, nauseating musty smell pervades every pore of this slum. Floors squeak suspiciously and threaten to crack open as you walk on them. Bathrooms are health hazards, mildew and mold fester in every crevice. EVERYTHING is virtually coated in bacteria. Piles of ancient dust layer every surface. The carpet reeks of a sharp, vinegary smell. The same carpets appear to be decaying, and any type of pathogen could leap out of it and burrow into your feet, so wear thickly layered flip flops. There is a microscopic television from 1771 available.If you can bear to lay your hands on the filthy remote, you can look forward to a wide selection of ghost channels featuring noise and black and white dots. When you have had enough, rude staff holed up at the reception desk(surrounded by copious pots of plastic flowers) will interrogate you and demand proof that you are indeed staying at the Allen Lee.

If you are brave, I dare you to take the elevator. In addition to being as filth smothered as the rest of the building, it also boasts a selection of grimy ,broken mirrors and protruding shards of glass. Caution-Don't touch it lest you slice off a part of your hand.
I had booked the Allen lee for two nights, but could only barely survive one. I moved out immediately the following morning and went to stay with a friend.

They however serve complimentary breakfast, which is the opposite of a compliment. I would not eat anything produced in this cesspool if I were you. Be warned!

  • Stayed March 2012, traveled on business
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 5
Ask Prepare4Hell about The Allen Lee
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Buffalo, New York, United States
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
“Almost Acceptable”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed March 5, 2012

First let me start by stating that originally the my colleagues and I were supposed to stay in the Gallery Inn, which is owned by the same person as the Allen Lee. 48 hours before we departed for our trip we were notified that our accommodations had been switched, and after reading the reviews on trip advisor, were horrified. Going in with an open mind, we were again horrified to find that we had to share our beds which was not the accommodations we had booked. The sheets were dirty, containing pubic hair and stains, as well as the towels. When I requested a cot so that I may have my own sleeping space, I was brought one that had obviously not been changed since its last use. In the drawers and on the box spring was bed bug feces. Another room has it's window patched by using cardboard, which was located on the first floor of the hotel. On another note, a halfway home is a wonderful organization, but having laptops and electronics with doors that barely locked, my colleagues and I were extremely uncomfortable leaving our belongings in the room. To make a long story short, after hours of arguing with the front desk manager, who refused to find a manager, we were finally brought to our original hotel space, The Gallery Inn. (which was fantastic by the way)

If you're looking for a cheap place to rough it in for a few nights, and don't mind bringing your own sheets and towels this is the place for you, if not, check out the Gallery Inn

  • Stayed February 2012, traveled on business
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 3
Ask RaychuLoura about The Allen Lee
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Additional Information about The Allen Lee

Also Known As:
The Allen Lee Hotel
The Allen Lee Hotel Washington Dc
Allen Lee Hotel
Allen Lee Washington Dc
Address: 2224 F St. NW, Washington DC, DC 20037
Region: United States > District of Columbia > Washington DC > Foggy Bottom - GWU - West End , Upper Northwest
Hotel Style:
Ranked #117 of 126 hotels in Washington DC
Price Range: $
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The Allen Lee
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