We spent three nights at the Bethesda Court Hotel during our trip to DC. I must admit to some real trepidation after reading some of the reviews here on Trip Advisor. Happily, my fears were pretty much unfounded. Our room (331) faced the courtyard side of the hotel. We loved the view. Although our room was several spaces past the courtyard so that we could not look down into that lovely space, we still enjoyed our view. Not sure what the view is like on the other side of the hotel, though.

We were greeted warmly upon our arrival and have no complaints at all with the staff save for the fact that, on the third morning, they were remiss in getting things cleaned up and re-stocked in the breakfast area.

Speaking of the breakfast area, as other reviewers have noted, it is a very, very small space. You might consider taking your breakfast out to the tables in the beautiful courtyard area or even up to your room unless you want to rub elbows (quite literally) with your neighbours. The breakfast offerings are nothing special but were quite adequate. No hot foods, but there are pastries, juices, coffee, cereal, bagels, etc. A perfectly acceptable spread, in my opinion.

Our room was very comfortable and clean, though the carpet has seen better days and is definitely ready to be changed. The bathroom, as noted by others, is very small and does not offer much space to set one's toiletries, though this was not really a problem for us.

Nice flat screen TV, Movies On Demand and free wi-fi.

Great location with a plethora of culinary choices within easy walking and/or driving distance. If you are looking for something quick and don't care about fancy, try the Tastee Diner which is about a one minute walk from the hotel. The food was very good, the prices were excellent, and Frank, who seemed to be one of the owners, was amusing and extraordinarily friendly and attentive. The Tastee Diner has many repeat customers as evidenced by the fact that staff and patrons knew each other by name.

A caveat or two: If staying at the Bethesda Court Hotel, I would not recommend a first floor room facing the courtyard. Could be noisy, plus, you can't really leave the curtains open to enjoy the view unless you like feeling your are in a fish tank as other guests walk past your window or make use of the courtyard.

Parking costs about $15.00 a day, so, be prepared for that extra cost unless you want to park in the garage across the street...which comes with its own fees unless you park after 10:00 p.m. and move your vehicle before 6:00 a.m. We were told parking there is free between those hours.

This is an older hotel, so don't expect it to be an Embassy Suites! If you like something a little different, though, this could be the place for you.

All in all, we really enjoyed the Bethesda Court Hotel. We would definitely stay there again if in the DC area!