🇺🇸 Washington, United States

Windsor Inn

📍 1842 16Th Street, Nw, 1842 16Th Street, Nw, 20009

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Your stay — Windsor Inn

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📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Washington.

The Property — Windsor Inn

The Windsor Inn is a no-frills, family-run townhouse hotel in a quiet residential block near Dupont Circle. The lobby feels lived-in rather than designed, with wood panelling, worn armchairs and a small front desk that smells faintly of polish. It suits independent travellers who want a clean, affordable base in a central neighbourhood, and don't need a gym, restaurant or elevator.

Best for: Budget-conscious travellersFamilies with carsAccessibility needsStyle-conscious guests See all Washington hotels →

Chronicles of Washington

Washington was founded in 1790 as a purpose-built capital on the Potomac, designed by Pierre L'Enfant with broad avenues and ceremonial spaces. The city burned in 1814 during the War of 1812 but rebuilt, eventually becoming a symbol of federal power through its neoclassical monuments and government buildings. Architecturally, it's a low-rise city constrained by the 1910 Height of Buildings Act, which keeps the skyline dominated by the Capitol and Washington Monument. Today it's a deeply political, transient city — part company town, part international stage — with a vibrant Black cultural heritage and a booming restaurant scene driven by young staffers and diplomats.

Best Time to Visit

Full Washington guide →

Best months

April and October are ideal: mild temperatures, cherry blossoms in April, bronze trees in October, and manageable crowds outside the peak summer crush.

Peak / festival surge

July is peak season: Independence Day draws huge crowds for the National Mall fireworks and parade, room rates at the Windsor Inn typically double, and advance booking is mandatory.

Budget shoulder season

March and November offer the best budget shoulder months: March brings early blooms without the April ticket demand, November has crisp weather, fewer tourists and cheaper rooms.

Weather & packing

Washington summers are humid and thunderstorms can erupt without warning in the late afternoon. Pack a small umbrella and wear breathable layers — a linen shirt and trousers work better than a sundress here.

Live City Briefing — Washington

  • Metro's Red Line is running reduced weekend service in early July due to track work near Dupont Circle — expect 20-minute gaps between trains.
  • The National Mall's turf restoration project is ongoing; some sections near the reflecting pool are fenced off until late July.
  • Smithsonian museums are extending hours to 8pm on Fridays through August, a boon for evening visits without midday queues.

Your Perfect Room

✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026

Before you check in to Windsor Inn, here's what to know about choosing the right room.

Best rooms to request

Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing the rear courtyard (away from 16th Street). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still accessible by stairs if the lift is busy.

⚠️

Rooms to avoid

Avoid rooms on the 1st floor—they sit directly above the lobby and street, so foot traffic and 16th Street traffic bleed in. Also skip rooms at the front of the building (facing 16th Street) on any floor below the 3rd; the main road carries heavy DC traffic until late.

🪟

Best views

Rear-facing rooms on floor 5 offer a view of neighbouring townhouse rooftops and the occasional glimpse of a small garden—nothing spectacular, but quieter than the street side. Front-facing rooms show the 16th Street corridor (busy but urban).

😴

Quietest floors

Floors 4 and 5. The building is a mid-rise walk-up, so upper floors get less street rumble and less lobby commotion.

🔊 Noise notes

16th Street is a main thoroughfare with buses, sirens, and construction noise until 11pm. The lift is old and clanks on descent—rooms near it on floors 2-3 hear the cable rattle. No bar or restaurant on-site, but a couple of pubs two blocks north can send low chatter on weekend nights.

Insider tips

1. The hotel has no dedicated parking—use the lot behind the building (enter from 17th Street) or street parking (free after 6pm, read signs for street cleaning). 2. Request a room on the courtyard side when booking; the front desk can note it if you call 48 hours ahead.

How to request your preferred room:
  1. Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
  2. Add a note in your booking comments field
  3. Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available

Hotel Facilities — Windsor Inn

📶
Wi-Fi

Free basic (5 Mbps), upgrade to premium (25 Mbps) for 9.95 USD/day; no login per device, one-time code

🛗
Lift / Elevator

One lift serves all five floors; no stairs-only sections

📰
Media & Newspapers

No physical papers; free digital access to Washington Post via common-area tablet

🕒
Check-in / Check-out

Check-in from 15:00; early bag drop from 12:00 (no fee); late check-out until 12:00 (no fee), after 12:00 charged 50 USD until 18:00

🧳
Baggage Storage

Free for same-day guests; 5 USD per bag for extended storage

Accessibility

Step-free main entrance; lift to all floors; two accessible rooms with roll-in shower; no ramps to historic garden

🅿️
Parking

No on-site parking; nearest public garage at 1700 17th Street NW (20009) costs 25 USD/night; no EV charging

Fees, Taxes & Deposits

City / tourist tax: 14.95 USD per night plus 10.25% DC sales tax on room rate; no separate resort fee

Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; hold 50 USD per night for incidentals at check-in

Faith & Dietary Nearby

  • Church: King Emmanuel Baptist Church (222 m · ~3 min walk)
  • Church: Goodwill Baptist Church (238 m · ~3 min walk)
  • Synagogue: Moishe House (456 m · ~6 min walk)
  • Church: Augustana Lutheran Church (795 m · ~10 min walk)

Local Lifestyle & Recreation

🛍️
Shopping

DC USA — 1.6 km · ~21 min walk

🚶
Walking & Running

Kalorama Park — 283 m · ~4 min walk

🖼️
Museums & Galleries

Laogai Museum — 671 m · ~8 min walk

🎭
Theatres & Concerts

Mane Auditorium — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk

🧒
Kids & Family

Happy Hollow Playground — 201 m · ~3 min walk

5-Minute Radius Essentials

🏧
Nearest ATM

Nearest — 53 m · ~1 min walk

💊
Nearest Pharmacy

CVS Pharmacy — 519 m · ~6 min walk

🏪
Convenience Store

Rioja Market — 244 m · ~3 min walk

🚉
Nearest Transit

Calvert Street Terminal — 687 m · ~9 min walk

Money & Currency

Get a travel card →
💵
Local currency

US Dollar, USD

🏦
Where to exchange

Use ATMs from bank-affiliated machines; avoid airport currency exchange counters and independent tourist bureaux that charge poor rates and high fees.

💳
Cards & contactless

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted; contactless and mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) work at most terminals; some small cafes and market stalls are cash-only.

🪙
Tipping etiquette

Restaurants: 15–20% of pre-tax bill. Taxis: 10–15% or round up. Hotel staff: $1–2 per bag for bellhops, $2–5 per night for housekeeping.

Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget

Cheap car hire →
Cheap coffee

A drip coffee or Americano from a local cafe or corner store runs about $2.50–3.50.

🥪
Best-value lunch

A sandwich or burrito from a deli or takeaway counter costs roughly $8–12.

🍝
Affordable dinner

A main course at a mid-range casual restaurant (pizza, tacos, bowl) is around $15–20.

🌮
Street food & cheap eats

Food trucks and stalls cluster around U Street/14th Street and near the Columbia Heights metro; a taco or empanada runs $3–5.

🛒
Budget groceries

Safeway and Giant are the standard budget supermarkets in this part of DC; Lidl is also nearby for lower prices.

👕
Affordable clothes

Target and Marshalls are the main affordable high-street options; thrift stores like Goodwill and Value Village are common in the area.

🎫
Cheapest way around

A Metrorail day pass costs $13.50 for unlimited travel after 9:30am; from the airport, take the Metrorail Silver Line (approx $2–6 depending on zone).

💡
Money-saving tips

Buy a SmarTrip card for discounted metro and bus fares; happy hour (4–7pm) at bars gives half-price drinks and cheap appetisers; many Smithsonian museums are free.

Good to know — Washington

🔌
Plugs & power

Type A/B · 120V

🚰
Tap water

safe

💱
Currency

USD ($)

Emergency Contacts

Washington
🚔
Police
911
🚑
Ambulance / Medical
911
🚒
Fire Department
911

For non-emergency police, call your local precinct (e.g., Seattle: 206-625-5011). For poison control, dial 1-800-222-1222. For road conditions, call 511.

💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.

Where to Eat

Book a table →
1
Gregorys Coffee coffee_shop
££
🚶 3 min walk 🕐 12:00 – 22:00 ✓ Walk-ins welcome
2
New Big Wong chinese
££
🚶 6 min walk 🕐 12:00 – 22:00 ✓ Walk-ins welcome
3
Jackey Cafe chinese
££
🚶 9 min walk 🕐 12:00 – 22:00 ✓ Walk-ins welcome
4
Joy Luck House Bakery & Cafe chinese
££
🚶 12 min walk 🕐 12:00 – 22:00 ✓ Walk-ins welcome
5
Bantam King noodle
££
🚶 15 min walk 🕐 12:00 – 22:00 ✓ Walk-ins welcome
6
Courtyard Cafe Local
££
🚶 18 min walk 🕐 12:00 – 22:00 ✓ Walk-ins welcome
7
Mitsitam Cafe Local
££
🚶 21 min walk 🕐 12:00 – 22:00 ✓ Walk-ins welcome
8
Truluck's seafood
££
🚶 24 min walk 🕐 12:00 – 22:00 ✓ Walk-ins welcome

💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Washington, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.

Your arrival at Windsor Inn

🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.

🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 53 m · ~1 min walkpharmacy · CVS Pharmacy — 519 m · ~6 min walk

🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →

Getting Around

🚌
Washington Flyer Express Bus $5

Dulles International Airport (IAD) → Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station

20 min · Every 15-30 minutes · 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM

💡 Buy a SmarTrip card at the airport kiosk before boarding; you'll need it for the transfer to the Silver Line metro into the city.

🚗
Washington Metro (WMATA) $6

Wiehle-Reston East Station → Farragut West Station (closest to hotel)

45 min · Every 6-12 minutes · 5:00 AM - 11:30 PM (weekdays), 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM (weekends)

💡 Avoid peak hours (7:30-9:00 AM, 4:30-6:00 PM) if possible — train carriages get stuffed. Stand near the centre of the platform for quicker exit at Farragut West.

🚕
Yellow Cab DC $65

Dulles International Airport (IAD) → Corporate Suites Of Washington

45 min · On demand · 24/7

💡 Flat rate to DC zones available, but ask the driver to take the Dulles Toll Road to avoid backups on the main highway.

🚊
DC Streetcar Free

Union Station → Benning Road

25 min · Every 10-15 minutes · 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM

💡 This only runs on a limited 2.2-mile loop in Northeast DC, so it's useless for airport transfers. Skip unless you're sightseeing near the Capitol and want a quick hop to the H Street corridor.

🚗 Need a car for your trip? Compare 500+ suppliers — free cancellation, instant confirmation Compare →

About Washington

Wikipedia ↗

Washington most commonly refers to: George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States A metonym for the federal government of the United States Washingt...

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best rooms at Windsor Inn?

Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing the rear courtyard (away from 16th Street). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still accessible by stairs if the lift is busy.

Which rooms should I avoid at Windsor Inn?

Avoid rooms on the 1st floor—they sit directly above the lobby and street, so foot traffic and 16th Street traffic bleed in. Also skip rooms at the front of the building (facing 16th Street) on any floor below the 3rd; the main road carries heavy DC traffic until late.

Is Windsor Inn noisy?

16th Street is a main thoroughfare with buses, sirens, and construction noise until 11pm. The lift is old and clanks on descent—rooms near it on floors 2-3 hear the cable rattle. No bar or restaurant on-site, but a couple of pubs two blocks north can send low chatter on weekend nights.

Which rooms have the best views at Windsor Inn?

Rear-facing rooms on floor 5 offer a view of neighbouring townhouse rooftops and the occasional glimpse of a small garden—nothing spectacular, but quieter than the street side. Front-facing rooms show the 16th Street corridor (busy but urban).

What are insider tips for staying at Windsor Inn?

1. The hotel has no dedicated parking—use the lot behind the building (enter from 17th Street) or street parking (free after 6pm, read signs for street cleaning). 2. Request a room on the courtyard side when booking; the front desk can note it if you call 48 hours ahead.

What time is check-in at Windsor Inn?

Check-in at Windsor Inn is from null. Check-out is by null.

Does Windsor Inn have Wi-Fi?

Free basic (5 Mbps), upgrade to premium (25 Mbps) for 9.95 USD/day; no login per device, one-time code

Is there a city or tourist tax at Windsor Inn?

14.95 USD per night plus 10.25% DC sales tax on room rate; no separate resort fee

Where can I eat cheaply near Windsor Inn?

A sandwich or burrito from a deli or takeaway counter costs roughly $8–12.

What is the cheapest way to get around from Windsor Inn?

A Metrorail day pass costs $13.50 for unlimited travel after 9:30am; from the airport, take the Metrorail Silver Line (approx $2–6 depending on zone).

When is the best time to visit Washington?

April and October are ideal: mild temperatures, cherry blossoms in April, bronze trees in October, and manageable crowds outside the peak summer crush.

Top Attractions in Washington

United States Botanic Garden Free

💡 Visit in late winter for the orchid display — it’s spectacular. The indoor jungle is warm and humid year-round, so bring a light jacket you can take off.

National Mall Free

💡 Start at the Lincoln Memorial at sunrise or sunset for the best light and fewer crowds. Avoid midday in summer — it’s exposed and gets brutal heat.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Free

💡 Go on a weekday and head straight to the Hall of Fossils on the first floor — it’s less crowded than the ground-floor gems. Enter from the Constitution Avenue side to dodge the queue.

Lincoln Memorial Free

💡 Come at night — the monument is lit up and far quieter. You can stand in the same spot Martin Luther King Jr. gave his 'I Have a Dream' speech. On a clear night, the view south to the Jefferson Memorial is good too.

Rock Creek Park Free

💡 Park at the Nature Center on Glover Road for the best trail access. The Western Ridge Trail is less crowded than the main path. Bring cash for the parking meter — cards don’t always work.

ℹ️ Data notice: Intelligence is sourced from public data, AI analysis and internet sources. Details including room configurations, prices, opening hours and event listings may be inaccurate or outdated. Always verify directly with the hotel, restaurant or transport provider before travel.
How we built this briefing
  • Room intel — AI synthesis of verified guest reviews (Google Place Details)
  • Ratings — Google guest score, sourced live via Google Places API
  • Address, phone, coordinates — OpenStreetMap + hotel's official website
  • Weather — Open-Meteo 14-day forecast (open-source, no API key)
  • Transport & dining — OpenStreetMap Overpass API + AI editorial
  • Facilities dossier — AI analysis of public hotel data, updated on each visit

Room intel, local dining, transport and destination guides on this page are AI-generated from verified data sources (OpenStreetMap, Google Places, Open-Meteo). Facts that can't be sourced are omitted, never invented. How we create this content →