We have been staying at the "Wa-Duke" for years for Duke reunions. And in '09 we had my son's wedding reception there and all the out of town guests stayed there. Everyone loved it.
My husband thinks it is the best hotel he has ever stayed at, lol, and I do agree that it is extremely nice. One year by some fluke, we arrived and the person at the check-in desk said that somehow our reservation was messed up and they were going to have to put us in the Presidential Suite!! We were thrilled, needless to say. Unfortunately they have never had to put us there since, but we like the hotel rooms perfectly fine.

The furnishings throughout the hotel are like a grand home with antiques/reproductions and beautiful art. I love looking at all the old Duke family pictures throughout the hotel. The surrounding grounds are beautiful. I believe the reason my husband likes it so much is because you just feel "pampered" when you stay there. I feel as though i am staying in someone's home with a beautiful den, dining room, bar, leather chairs, etc.

If you have to go to Durham, this is the place to stay. If you have a Duke University connection, all the more reason to stay there!! It is convenient to everything at Duke, including the beautiful Duke Gardens, which should not be missed.

They are hardly welcoming, and give the appearance that they are doing you a favor. Now, this is an absolutely beautiful hotel, impeccable ambience, but despite the beautiful accommodations, they put a buzz kill on this wonderful experience. If you don't care if service management is rude to you, you should do fine.
Of course, this is a generalization, and there were some nice people. But sadly, there were too many people with the attitude, including and especially the evening manager, and clearly if you look at other reviews, there is a pattern. I love the setting, but want to enjoy it, and I'm hoping others will post their experience so that it will force a change in the culture at this potentially outstanding hotel. I am canceling my reservation for two weeks from now--and will stay at the Marriott downtown, a wonderful hotel with very nice staff.

Stayed recently at the WaDuke, as it is known by the locals. Hotel and grounds are very nice, especially by Raleigh-Durham standards. Location is perfect if you are visiting the Duke campus.

The staff is another matter. I am not the demanding type when it comes to staff, but this is clearly the weak link in the chain. The staff here was not terrible or rude, but certainly not worthy of this hotel. I definitely would recommend the hotel, but cannot give it a 5* rating because of this one issue.

Full disclosure - I am a Cameron Crazy/Duke alum. It was great coming back after many years away, and the Washington Duke made our stay even better. We watched the sunset on the back porch overlooking the golf course. The interior restaurant and bar is warm and cozy, and the service is impeccable. The beds were fantastic - you can't find a more comfortable room anywhere east of the Bellagio. Although the price per night is probably the highest in North Carolina, I can honestly say that it was totally worthwhile. This was the highlight of our long college trip without a doubt. Now we're hoping our son is accepted, and we'll be staying here for visits!