History Comes Alive At The D.C Hotel Synonymous With America’s Most Notorious Political Scandal
By Megan Shute|Published December 14, 2023
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
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There is no denying that Washington D.C. is full of history. While I love exploring the capital’s monuments and museums, I personally love being immersed in history by visiting the destinations where historic events actually occurred — like The Watergate Hotel, the luxury space synonymous with America’s most notorious political scandal. While you can visit the Watergate Complex for yourself anytime, history truly comes alive when you book a stay at this luxury hotel.
On a whim — and thanks to an unused credit card perk (we’re looking at you, American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts) — we booked a room at The Watergate Hotel for a chilly December Saturday to experience the history and luxury of this D.C. icon for ourselves.
The Watergate Scandal forced Richard M. Nixon to become the first — and for now, the only — United States president to resign from office.
On June 17, 1972, five men were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters in D.C.’s Watergate Complex. The investigation eventually led to the Committee for the Re-election of the President (CRP) and the president himself. Two years and 69 indictments later, on August 9, 1974, Nixon stepped down.
Watergate became one of the most notorious scandals in American history, and decades later, in 2016, the Watergate Hotel opened its doors again, beckoning visitors to explore.
Nestled along the banks of the Potomac River, The Watergate Hotel is unlike any other you’ll find in the city. With avant-garde architecture that was considered scandalous when it opened in the 1960s, this one-of-a-kind hotel pays tribute to its storied past in every detail.
From creative room keys stamped with the phrase "No Need To Break In" to Watergate Rules in the elevators that nod to the scandal (No. 5: Make sure the recorder is off), the unique history of this destination comes alive around every turn.
The hotel is also as luxurious as they come. As soon as we walked into the lobby, we were greeted with luxe decor everywhere we looked, from glittering accent walls and polished floors to beautifully decorated Christmas trees.
You'll also find stunning views from the Top Of The Gate rooftop bar, but if you're looking to stay warm, you'll want to opt for The Next Whisky Bar and its outside igloos or the Firebird restaurant.
While it's not as convenient as other D.C. hotels in terms of museums and monuments, this waterfront hotel is in an excellent location.
The Watergate Hotel is within walking distance of Georgetown Waterfront Park (pictured here) and all of the shopping and restaurants found along Main Street, as well as a ten-minute walk from the Foggy Bottom Metro stop. It's also next door to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts if you're planning to see a show.
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After exploring Georgetown for a few hours as the sun went down, we hung out in our hotel room for a bit before ordering room service — a cookie skillet, bottle of wine, and pizza for our toddler. Absolutely delicious!
In the morning, we enjoyed our complimentary breakfast in the on-site Kingbird Restaurant and made our way back home since it was dreary and wet. It was the perfect low-key, but luxurious, overnight escape.
This was my first experience booking through American Express' Fine Hotels & Resorts program, and I was incredibly impressed. Not only were we upgraded upon arrival, but we also received welcome goodies in the form of sparkling water and snacks, as well as a $100 Experience Credit and free breakfast for two. This made a luxury escape relatively affordable.
