Arlo Washington DC

Beware of hidden fees I stayed at Arlo (Washington DC) recently, and while the hotel has its merits, my overall experience was disappointing. On the positive side, the room was in good condition, and the location is excellent—convenient for exploring the city. However, I had a distressing incident during my stay. Around 6 PM one evening, while I was in the bathroom, someone unexpectedly opened my room door. I heard the door and immediately shouted, “Who’s there?” The intruder retreated, and the door closed. I reported this to the front desk, and they later informed me that it was a cleaner who had mistakenly opened the wrong door. This explanation felt odd, as it isn’t a typical time for cleaning, leaving me uneasy for the remainder of my stay. Adding to the frustration, when checking out, I discovered an additional hidden fee labeled as an “urban fee” of $35 per night, plus a $5.58 “urban fee tax.” The math behind this tax didn’t make sense, as Washington DC’s sales tax rate is 6%. Worse, there was no mention of this fee during check-in. Understandably, our group was frustrated by this practice. After complaining, the hotel eventually agreed to refund the urban fee, but this felt like an unnecessary hassle and poor transparency on their part. Given these issues—particularly the unsettling room incident and the unexpected fees—I cannot recommend Arlo (Washington DC). There are plenty of other options in the area that offer better service and peace of mind.