City Hotel Tirana, Albania

I stayed in this hotel for 3 days and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.

The location is superb; every attraction in the city like Skandenberg square, Taiwan and other entertainment areas are just a few minutes walk away.

The hotel is new; so are the rooms of course. Rooms were very comfortable, spotlessly clean and quite. The room provided all the amnesties that you would expect from at least a 4 star hotel. The only downside about my room was that its huge bathroom didn't have a heating which could be problematic during cold winter days. I was there during December times; it was still manageable though. Still, this matter should be discussed with the staff especially if you are traveling with a baby during colder times.

The breakfast was quite sufficient with good espresso at your will. There is a free wi-fi broadband connection in the lobby area.

What makes this hotel really special is the staff and the owner. They all are very friendly, positive and helpful people. What is more valuable is that the owner has a very honest (repeat very honest), and honorable attitude which was exemplified by his approach to a problem we encountered - something that wasn't related to the hotel itself.

In a nutshell, I would recommend this hotel to anyone who is planning a stay in Tirana. Even business travelers who look for cheaper but still manageable alternatives in town should consider this hotel seriously.

This TripAdvisor Member:
Liked — Location and staff
Disliked — nothing

The Donovan House, DC, USA

Most cabbies still know it as the Holiday Inn, but the 193-room Donovan House in Washington, D.C., underwent a total overhaul and reopened last January as part of the trendy Thompson Group (which owns 60 Thompson in New York City and the Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles). The lobby is modern and small, with Jetsons-esque chairs and leather benches aligned so perfectly that they look more decorative than functional. Also in the lobby, playing silently, is a loop of Washington-themed movies — “Citizen Kane” (at check-in), “The Candidate” (that evening), and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (at checkout). The Donovan House, after all, is almost as dark as a theater. The brightest nooks are the elevators, thumping out a steady stream of hip-hop. You get the feeling this is about as much hipness as the political crowd can handle.

THE LOCATION

It’s smack in the center of Thomas Circle, which is a heavily trafficked, but very conservative pocket of the city. But the location is central and it’s a 20-minute walk to the Mall. For a romantic dinner or cool bar, you’ll need to drive — the address must have been chosen with lobbyists, not tourists, in mind.

THE ROOMS

The modern décor was spare but inviting, like the crash pad of a young tech lobbyist who’s rarely home. There is a large flat-screen television, floor-to-ceiling windows, a plush bed wrapped in 400-thread-count Sferra sheets and, somewhat curiously, a brown leather ceiling that, together with the eggplant-colored rug, gave the room a dark, cozy feeling. Considering this is Washington, the room could have been a little bigger. The minibar — stocked with snacks from Dean & Deluca and bottles of Veuve Clicquot — was so thrilling we almost didn’t mind the $8 Swedish Fish. Almost.

THE BATHROOM

Crisp, sterile-looking, modern and white all over, you won’t know if you should brush your teeth or perform a surgical procedure. The most exciting fixture is the shower — a door-less, paisley-shaped pod with a rain showerhead. There was a healthy supply of Kiehl’s products and towels of all shapes and sizes.

AMENITIES

It says a lot about a hotel when it finishes its business center before its bar, and here it serves as a reminder of the city you’re in. So for now, the most enticing amenities are the Wi-Fi at no extra cost, a 24-hour fitness center that doesn’t seem to get a lot of traffic, and a 24-hour business center, which does.

ROOM SERVICE

A much-hyped Todd English restaurant has been delayed until at least the inauguration. So for now, room service comes from Il Mulino, an Italian restaurant across the street. Meanwhile, the hotel staff is trying to make do. During our stay in October, the continental breakfast that arrived was disappointing: cold bagels and muffins. So the front desk suggested we order from the Washington Plaza Hotel across the street. Thirty minutes and $45 later, a plate of sad, brown fruit and cold, greasy eggs arrived. The front desk felt so bad that they forgot about the Swedish Fish.

BOTTOM LINE

If you’re in town on business, you’ll be the coolest kid at the convention by staying at the Donovan House. But expect a few kinks. Rates for a standard double room start at $295 a night.

Donovan House, 1155 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C.; (202) 737-1200; www.thompsonhotels.com.