JW Marriott Reston Station
We’re drowning. So many people and entities of various importance flood the zone with so much stuff in their own interests while portraying it being for ours. But since I value your time and mine, I’ll shrink this down to a specific realm. In my view, the world isn’t an incrementally better place with every additional hotel brand. Therefore, it should be no surprise I generally gravitate toward more established ones, with an occasional dalliance elsewhere. And so it is with JW Marriott. I appreciate this brand with others on Marriott’s higher end, perhaps not as much as I should. I can’t remember my last stay at the brand. But I’ll remember the one I visited earlier this week, the several-months-old JW Marriott Reston Station outside Washington, DC. A few areas particularly stood out.
Check-In
I arrived a bit prior to 3 pm, hoping to obtain a room before the hotel’s official 4 pm check-in time. The front desk agent promptly addressed this, confirming rooms were available. I then asked about a possible upgrade as a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum. After some searching, the rep advised none were currently available due the hotel’s occupancy and ongoing housekeeping. I clarified I was more interested in an immediately-available room, anyway, even if that meant giving up a later upgrade. He assigned my booked room, a deluxe king, and offered a 4 pm late checkout due to my Platinum elite status. I happily accepted both.
He also extended $35 in property credits and Executive Lounge access. More on those perks are below.
Room
I was oddly happy to obtain a basic room for my first visit to this new property – that’s what I told myself, at least. Indeed, I’d been upgraded pretty routinely in recent months, and experiencing the property from the entry level (to an extent) was for the best. And there’s plenty to value in the base rooms.
Upon entry to my sixth-floor room, I passed a long dressing bench, mirror and wardrobe on the left, with a healthy-sized bathroom to the right. I tolerated the bathroom’s sliding doors while appreciating the wide single vanity and large shower with Le Labo amenities. The powder room was off to the right with yet another sliding door. Towels felt refreshingly new, like most everything in this few-months-old property. Lighting was simple and functional throughout the room.
Entering the bedroom, I noticed the king bed prominently, which looked and turned out feeling more like a gigantic pillow. Two swiveling chairs sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. They were fine, but I wished I had somewhere to kick up my feet. I avoided doing so on the small cafe table (as should any decent traveler).
The gigantic TV sat above dresser drawers, fridge, and Nespresso machine. I consider that second one an unexpected, nice touch in this level of property. This worked out great for the free canned water available throughout the hotel. Room design was a bit drab, with whites and light browns looking even more bare due to the relative lack of decor. A trio of framed prints were mounted next to the tube. But the prominent lighting made up for this a bit, providing a striking, streamlined relaxation experience.
JW Marriott Reston Station Executive Lounge
In my view, the Executive Lounge available to all Bonvoy Platinum and above members is the standout feature of the JW Marriott Reston Station. This is the most striking club space I’ve seen in a domestic hotel in recent memory. The sprawling, L-shaped club is much larger than I expected. Beyond the lounge’s front desk and adjacent sitting area, a conference room is to the right and a large beverage space to the left.
Sweet and salty snacks are available at the following island and buffet, after which the lounge opens to a large space with various seating options: dining tables, couches, lounge chairs, and higher tables with stools. The club also offers extensive outdoor seating, though not exactly popular during this frigid, early February stay. The east- and south-facing borders of the lounge are entirely floor-to-ceiling windows, providing a beautiful twilight experience during happy hour. The shades were a must with the morning sun at breakfast.
I was equally pleased with the lounge’s extensive food and beverage options during meal times and the off hours. Evening hors d’oeuvres included charcuterie, two salads, hummus, naan, and about a half-dozen hot items – the mini beef wellington was my favorite. The lounge offers complimentary self-serve beer and wine during this timeframe, a relatively-endangered species by domestic hotel lounge standards. Breakfast covered the standards with plenty to pick from – bagels and other breads, mixed berries and assorted fresh fruit, yogurt, scrambled eggs, pork sausage, potatoes, etc. My breakfast favorites were the actually-fresh fruit and plump, juicy sausage.
But the spread during the in-between hours is just as noteworthy. Travelers can opt for a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, such as sodas, coffees, tea, and water. The available snacks are full of guilty pleasures – fresh cookies (including chocolate chip and white chocolate macadamia), brownies, and candy (plain and peanut M&M’s, Skittles, Swedish Fish, jelly beans, chocolate raisins). Salty options include a variety of Route 11 potato chips, assorted nuts, seeds, and dried banana chips. I went with dill pickle potato chips and a macadamia cookie, rationalizing that my hotel workout would make up for it.
Fitness Center
The fitness center’s the other primary amenity at the JW Marriott Reston Station, located on the fifth floor adjacent to the elevator and across from the Executive Club. Equipment gleamed and the tech worked properly. I read the ESPN headlines while listening to music on the treadmill. (This is the closest I get to multitasking.) The Life Fitness equipment – both cardio and weights – are in excellent condition. Canned water is freely available. Minor quibble – while the ellipticals face floor-to-ceiling windows, all treadmills are relegated to a white wall view.
Service
JW Marriott Reston Station service is attentive and refined. Check-in was rather seamless, with the agent promptly addressing a current property issue. The front desk agent advised that the Simon restaurant and Schar Bar were currently experiencing issues (unspecified) and would be closed during my stay. I joked I’d be in the lounge, anyway, but the agent offered a $25 property credit due to the restaurant closure “inconvenience.” I shrugged and thanked him for it. On top of lounge access, he offered another $10 property credit for being a Platinum. I only ended up using about a third of this $35 credit, but I appreciated the generous gesture. Again, I applaud the property for early check-in and late checkout, especially the haggle-free 4 pm time of the latter.
I noticed a well-staffed lounge, with thoughtful hosts and workers throughout my stay. They were quick to clear dishes and offer to assist with any requests. I didn’t have any but found their efforts comforting.
Housekeeping was impeccable. They provided turndown service without me needing to request it, my favorite way of receiving this perk.
JW Marriott Reston Station – Conclusion
The JW Marriott Reston Station certainly isn’t perfect. While it didn’t affect my stay, the inexplicable restaurant and bar closure was peculiar. The property’s close to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro stop, but the location isn’t for everyone. Plus, the surrounding Reston Station development is very much a work in progress. That said, I knew this going into my stay. Bonvoy Platinum and above members with travel plans in the area should particularly consider visiting this property, while most others can do just fine elsewhere. I don’t have any future plans in the area, but I’d happily return when the need arises and the points price is right.
Have you stayed at the JW Marriott Reston Station? What’s your take on the property?
