Over Thanksgiving break I had a chance to visit the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center. The hotel in located in National Harbor Maryland right outside of Washington DC. The Gaylord National is an absolute gorgeous hotel with all the glitz and glamour of the DC's best hotels. As soon as you pull up to the hotel you are treated as if you are royalty. All the employees smile and make conversation with you and they are always willing to help with whatever you need.
I loved that the lobby was decorated for the holidays and it instantly got me in the Christmas spirit. The check-in process was easy and the staff at the front desk was super friendly. After check in we went to check out our room which was stunning and the balcony had the perfect view of the atrium. If you can afford to pay a little extra for an atrium view I suggest doing it. The atrium view rooms are perfect for watching the nightly holiday shows from the comfort of your own room. One of the nice touches I appreciated was the nightly turn down service. The room was very comfortable and so was the bed.
My kids loved the glass elevators which make the ride down to the lobby or atrium a fun one. The views of the Potomac from different areas of the hotel are spectacular. You can walk out of the hotel to the river walk.
If the weather is frightful during you stay at the Gaylord National no worries. You can stay in the hotel, the atrium has a few shops in it and there are also 3 restaurants. There is even a bakery to get coffee or an afternoon treat. The very large indoor pool is one of the best in the area to swim in, no matter how cold it is outside.
Here is a video of an atrium view suite.
For more information: www.gaylordhotels.com