Hotel Helix, a Kimpton Hotel

I still waiting for a refund of $ 100 they supposed to send on October 9^th, 2015. I’ve been trying to reach out with staff members but when I called to Orbitz, they never answered. Then I reach them out by email and I’ve been told within 3 – 5 working days I would receive it. Nothing happened and I still waiting for them. Ironically, without those $ 100 they wouldn’t let me stay in the room I booked.

Love Kimpton hotels and this is he Kimpton I generally stay at when in town. They usually always have a good rate on the weekends here. Usually I always get upgraded to the suite when I stay here which is amazing. Kimpton also had he best loyalty program out of any of the hotel chains. The last couple of times I have noticed that they have not kept up the building as well as it used to be. I have noticed dirty carpets, doors that need to be painted and wallpaper peeling off the walls. I hope that hey can work on these things because it truly is a nice hotel.

Go to another hotel! It’s not that clean and doesn’t smell right… I asked for a coffee maker to be sent up to my room and the maintenance person knocked on my door and then walked right in. Asked for the front desk to email me my receipt when checking out, handed them my business card and never got the folio.
Additional training for staff should be considered for all their employees… Too many other hotel choices in the area with more professional staff.

Wow this place is horrible. First off, it costs over $ 400 a night, which would be fine if it was a nice hotel. I came to D.C. on business so after booking on orbitz business, I submitted my receipts only to be told during checkout that an additional $ 100 in taxes will be added to my bill that wasn’t present in the orbitz booking and that the entire room hadn’t even been billed to my company because the hotel doesn’t bill anything until after you checkout. I’ve never seen this practice before.
The room was disgusting. You would think for the price they charged, the room would be well kept. The bathroom sink counter was cracked and bloated with water damage, the shower didn’t work. The TV got a total of 10 channels that came in clearly (They would also drop out randomly because it was Direct TV satellite) and the AC was broken.
So as for the bar, there isn’t one. The Lounge seems to be closed (except for breakfast). I see that there are beer taps and such so my only conclusion is that they lost their liquor license and can no longer serve drinks. This was a bummer because all I wanted to do when I got back after a long training session was to have a drink and a bite to eat but I couldn’t do that. The upside to the Helix Lounge being closed completely was that I ventured out into the area and found ChurchKey Bar which was an awesome beer spot, a little pricey for my tastes but it made that up in food and beverage.
Lastly, if you’ve made it this far in my review, I shall reward you for your efforts. The Helix, and I imagine Kimpton hotels as a whole, charge $ 15 a day for internet access unless you sign up for there loyalty program. Pro tip, when you join the wifi network (Kimpton) it will bring you to a splash page telling you about the change or giving you the option to sign up for their loyalty program, if you click the sign up button for the loyalty program and then exit the browser, you will be able to access the internet no strings attached. They assume if you click the loyalty link that you will actually finish the sign up process so they automatically add your MAC address to the white list. They didn’t count on my little patience and crippling laziness.
Don’t stay here, its an absolute joke.

BEWARE… Worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. I had purchased a room online, only to show up and have the «manager» tell me that there’s no availability and that there’s nothing he can do. My fiancé and I were stuck in a new city without anywhere to go at 1 am. This «manager» stated that he did not have a business card on him when we asked and that «we should make sure we are not charged». I would never recommend this hotel to anyone.

We had a ball at Hotel Helix! Yes it does need renovating, however, you can figure that out from the reviews. The customer service was great and the night went smooth :) Can’t complain about one thing. Also, Ken is AMAZING and works with guests to get it right the first time! Can’t wait to see the new hotel design… We will be back:)

Just checked in. For the price I expected more.
Pros
Good location
Nice lobby décor
Helpful staff. Quick check in.
Yoga mat in the room (a first)
Interesting options in the mini bar
Cons
Room smells smoky
Horrible view of an alley way
Loud air conditioner
Very Small fitness center
Will update accordingly!

I just checked out of the Helix with my Aunt… Thank god! The area around the hotel is eclectic and cool however, that’s where it stops. I guess we’ll start with check in. Checked in at 12am tired from a long flight that was delayed and the first thing we see is a bug that looks like a cockroach on the ceiling. Too tired to do much about it so we checked in and went up to the room to be surprised by the smell of sewage. The carpet was stained and filthy as well. When we woke up the next morning and went down to the lobby much to our surprise there was a new manager and clean lobby! The managers name was Ken and he was the highlight of the experience at the Helix Kimpton. He seemed to be the only person that had a clue about customer service at this place. So, the story goes on and we changed rooms only to find out later that the TV didn’t have the ability to play movies. Aside from the room, the workout room is a mess. Not only is it dirty, it’s extremely small and has many non functioning machines.
***Be prepared to be charged $ 100/​night as a security deposit for the mini bar in which I didn’t even receive a key to access! Ridiculous!
Overall, bad experience which was surprising to me given that Kimpton hotels have a great reputation. This one missed the mark. There are plenty of other hotels to go and I highly suggest doing so after staying here.

Washington in Juni 2015.
Der Check-​In ist freundlich und schnell. WLAN ist kostenlos. Fürs Parken wird ordendlich verlangt (Overnight 45 $). Wir hatten –ohne Frühstück gebucht. Im Hotel wird jedoch Frühstück optional angeboten. Meiner Meinung nach aber recht teuer.
Die Ausstattung (KingSize-​Bett) und die Größe des Zimmers ist gut. Lediglich am Bad wurde m.E. nach gespart. Das Waschbecken erinnert an ein Rasthaus — der Belag ist auch schon weggesplittert — und die Duschwanne mit Vorhang ist auch nicht so mein Ding. Das Wichtigste — es ist sauber. In der Lobby wird kostenloses Wasser angeboten. Ein netter Service, den man besonders an heißen Tagen zu schätzen weis.
DasTV-​Programm ist ausbaufähig. Hier versucht das Hotel wohl die Gäste auf die Hotel-​Pay-​TV zu locken. Rings um das Hotel findet man ein ausreichendes gastronimisches Angebot.

Pretty disappointed. I checked out the charges for the hotel which weren’t charged to my business card per my 1^st and 2^nd request. Mind you, I also triple checked. This sways it over to the negative for me unfortunately.

This was definitely not one of my better hotel experiences. The rooms are all style and no substance – the platform bed looked cool, for example, until we bumped our shins on the edges repeatedly. Late at night, I needed – NEEDED – an ibuprofen or a reasonable facsimile for a raging headache and I was happy to see that yes, an OTC painkiller was in the minibar. Oh, but not so fast – it’s locked! I called down to the desk to see about getting a key and was told that they apologized, but they were out of keys. Beg pardon?
Then at checkout, I asked for directions to [somewhere in] Virginia and they gave me directions to Maryland. By the time I realized the error, I was lost and spent a while circling DC, the dionaea city, before I was able to navigate my way out.

This place is what would happen if Andy Warhol teamed up with IKEA to design a youth hostel. Garish, self-​consciously trendy décor but shabby bones and minimal amenities. You pay for the location, not the accommodations.

Funky place to stay. Nice bar open until 11 in the lobby. Every staff member was very courteous and helpful!
The only down side was the bed. Not a 5 star bed.

This is my favorite hotel. I love the quirkiness. The design is super fun though seems a little aged. The customer service was splendid, some of the best I have ever experienced. From my initial call to make my reservation (that was cheaper over the phone then over the website fyi) to my interactions with room service and the front desk, everyone seemed to really like their job. I was even upgraded to a suite since it was my birthday! They have a free wine hour, which i didn’t make it to but which is such a nice feature for a hotel.
I would skip the food there. Pretty blah. We had dinner there and did room service breakfast. Dinner service was really slow — it seemed like they were short on waitstaff. Our breakfast order was wrong, but they quickly corrected it and threw in some free fruit. (Again, great customer service!)
Too many restrictions on the free $ 10 card we got as Kimpton members that we didn’t end up getting to use it even though we tried.
Oh, I almost forgot the robes! Animal print robes. Hilarious! That seals the deal for me. My experience here has made me forever biased toward Kimpton Hotels. They aren’t afraid to take it outside the box and wow with those little special touches.

Estuve 5 dias en este hotel y tengo que decir que me llamó mucho la atención por su estilo tan peculiar, algo que nunca había conocido en ningún hotel ni de USA ni de Europa. Lo elegí por su cercanía al Convention Centre y luego me di cuenta que está muy bien localizado para visitar la ciudad caminando ya que está cerca de la zona turística y comercial de la ciudad.
Lo encontré limpio y silencioso con una habitación amplia y bien equipada. El desayuno es muy sencillo. El personal muy atento y amable.
Si uno busca un hotel centrico, estilo moderno, no lujoso y de buen precio, este es el hotel.

I’ve traveled and stayed at a lot of hotels and I must say for a 23 year old male, hotel helix is my FAVORITE! I love this hotel. It’s high class, fun, vibrant! And just amazing. I only stay here when I visit DC.
Also, the amenities are very nice and special for the occasion. Definitely come to hotel helix. All kimpton hotels are the best choice.

I booked this hotel by reading reviews. Several people talked about cheerful colors and that part is true. It is a cool looking place. The location is terrific, in the middle of a happening neighborhood.
As for comforts… the beds are ok. The sheets are not fitted & don’t reach the foot of the bed, exposing a very worn out mattress pad with holes in it.
The hotel runs out of hot water completely every day by 8 am. I was surprised not to find a coffee maker in the room, after being used to having one, even at cheap hotels in the past. One of the 2 elevators worked only 50% of the time.
The staff is very friendly.

As far as Kimpton properties go, this doesn’t seem quite up to par, but I can see where they’ve done a good job.
Specifically, I think this is a great hotel for families (especially with kids) and really easy on the bank account – especially considering its rather prime location. So, if you’re looking for a lower cost option in the middle of DC, Helix should be on your list.
For the business traveler – not so much.
The wacky, colorful design of the rooms is unique, but everything (at least in my room) is super worn down and feels pretty dirty, particularly in the bathroom where moisture has taken its toll and where there was quite a lot of visible rust. The restaurant is also lacking, in choice and quality.
Lots to explore in this area of town and Helix is in an area where – if you want – you could easily blend in with the locals.

Where’s the lotion in the room? None to be found. And now, onto my review:
Hotel Helix, while part of a Kimpton Hotel, is a pretty decent hotel that offers central location with your basic amenities (but no lotion in the room, as was mentioned in previous Unilocalers’ reviews) that makes up for what it lacks in its swanky décor and friendly staff. I had the pleasure of staying here on a cold evening in February. I didn’t know where to stay, so I decided to balance location with price, and I landed in Hotel Helix. I snagged a pretty cheap nightly rate (~$ 100) and as a Kimpton InnerCircle member, I was upgraded to a suite room. So you can imagine… I felt like a king having this very large room all to myself!
My skin chaps very easily, so I always bring lotion with me. Now, if I didn’t… I’m sure the front desk would have had some stashed away somewhere… but I would suggest bringing your own JUST in case. If you come here during the summer, you probably won’t have a problem since it’ll be pretty humid at that time that you might not even need lotion! Similarly, in the bathroom were typical Kimpton amenities (soap, conditioner, and shampoo in the pump), which were nice as well. I believe it’s the same stuff they use at Hotel Solamar in SD also…
I’d like to note that the staff are really friendly here. As an InnerCircle member, I listed my favorite drink being an alcoholic one… well, the staff knew that, so they gave me a bunch of drink ticket vouchers. Super awesome and unexpected!
While the amenities at the Helix were pretty standard and were not much to write home about (except that there was no lotion!), the hotel did leave a lasting impression with its excellent customer service and fun, uplifting atmosphere. Overall, Helix gets a solid 3.5 star rating, rounded up to 4 stars.

So please read over my last review, there is not much that has changed.
Parking is still $ 50 a night, and yes there is lube in the mini bar. Valets are still overworked and checkout took an hour. AN HOUR! Ridiculous.
The furs are gone. The robes are still made for runway models.
Walter still rocks the lounge, and veggies are back with the steak. Thank you!
Miss the little care kits in the room, I forgot q-​tips this time and usually I use the ones from there care kit, no such luck.
So close to 5 stars. Maybe next time!

Swanky with a capital S. I felt like I was living inside an Andy Warhol museum. Very cool place.
I had the opportunity to stay at the Hotel Helix for training with my regional team last month. We did all our meetings there, as well as catered breakfast and lunches. The food was just okay. The conference room we used was pretty nice. The workers did a great job clearing out and bringing in stuff from the kitchen. Didn’t even realize they were there most of the time because they were so quiet.
Room: It was huge… except for the bathroom. I had to step out to blow dry my hair because I didn’t have enough room. Apparently I am violent with a hair dryer and brush. Loved the funky, modern décor. I had a couple really cool framed pics of Barbie-​type dolls on the wall. My bed and the pillows were super comfy.
Perks: Free wi-​fi is available if you sign up for the Kimpton InTouch guest rewards program. It was simple and painless. You also score a $ 10 credit for the minibar or hotel bar with this during each stay. And my favorite perk– the complimentary wine hour each night. Free wine and bubbly. Yes please! There is no better way to end the day and kick off the evening.
Staff: They go above and beyond to make your stay great. Everyone I encountered was so unbelievably nice. During my final elevator ride down, one worker asked me if I enjoyed my stay and asked is there anything they could’ve done to make it better. Sold. I will definitely stay here anytime I am in DC.
Hotel Helix– thank you for making my first week working with Unilocal and meeting my awesome coworkers even more amazing.

I am so conflicted!
On one side, this place is perfect with all of the Kimpton service and amenities that I would expect (see my previous review, this place rocks)!
But…
I have to question the reason why they would place a guest in a room with construction that starts at 7 am with no warning at all.
Even more important, the room I am in, is an Internet dead zone. I had tried to connect with Customer Support the first night I was here and they mentioned they would call me as soon as it was fixed. Well, I’m on my third day here and I have not received a call at all. My phone, laptop and iPad are useless.
Considering I’m here on a business meeting for the internet company I work for this affects me in a big way. Luckily I am able to connect in the lobby but… all I want to do is sleep in their super comfy awesome bed, wear a leopard print room and check my email. Is that too much to ask?

Nachdem wir auf unserer Reise vom Hotel in Philadelphia sooo enttäuscht waren, kam uns dieses wie das Paradies vor! Coole 70-​er-​Jahre-​Einrichtung, grosses Zimmer mit 2 Queensizebetten, gutes Frühstück (sogar frischer Obstsalat und Sojamilch), kostenloser Wein zwischen 17 und 18 Uhr, freundlicher Service. Nur die Parkgebühren haben etwas die Schnappatmung hervorgerufen… 96 $ für 2 Tage und Nächte…