Review of Hilton Washington Dulles Airport 4*

Not at all happy with our experience which lasted less than 12 hours. It started at the front desk during check-in when the manager (? ) (or other front desk clerk) interrupted our check-in to tell the clerk waiting on us that she shouldn't be using new pieces of paper for taking notes, that she should use paper from the garbage. She continued with more berating nonsense right in front of us. All during our check-in! She flustered the clerk while simultaneously making us uncomfortable. It was a conversation she should have had with the other clerk when there weren't customers around. At the absurd price of $10 for Wi-Fi (even the cheapest of hotels offer free Wi-Fi) we opted instead to watch television, which was a bust because most of the channels were grainy and/or completely cut out while watching. We decided instead to go outside which is actually the highlight of the hotel with its comfy sitting area and ambiance. The hotel is pretty soundproof so going to bed early was not a problem. However, we wake up after 5am to a bill with a $52.00 charge on it for the "Cardinal Lounge"! I had never even stepped foot in that place! I promptly went to the front desk which was absent of any employees for about 20 minutes. When someone was finally available, I explained that there was a mistake and that we were never in the lounge. The receptionist proceeds to tell me that there wasn't a ticket showing but if there was, then she could figure it out and take it off. That was too suspicious; a charge for that much but no receipt to show what it was and who signed for it? I was adamant about the fact that we were never there and told her it needed to come off of my bill. She was reluctant and I was already thinking of all the ways they could prove we weren't there — check the computers in the lounge to find the ticket, check the security cameras, ask staff — anything except shrugging your shoulders and saying there's no ticket! Finally, after getting even more adamant, she did print me a new receipt sans the charge. However, when I checked my bank account 2 days later, there was a pending charge for my bill with that amount still on it. It did somehow work itself out a few days later without me having to call, though. Needless to say, it was a stressful experience. The entire situation was very shady, especially since there was no ticket in their system for this phantom charge! We've stayed 2 years in a row on our vacation travels because it's so close to the airport but I highly, highly doubt it will happen next year.