CAPITAL HILTON

The modern Capital Hilton stands in the heart of D.C., only five miles from Reagan National Airport and close to the White House, monuments, museums, shopping, National Mall, restaurants and subways. This 1940s era hotel squeezes between buildings housing downtown Washington's prestigious law firms and lobbying offices, and puts guests close to Embassy Row and Smithsonian Castle. Trolley buses collect passengers in front of the Hilton for tours of major sights, the Mall, Georgetown and Arlington National Cemetery. The downtown Washington hotel's pretty bland exterior contrasts with its interior of mahogany pillars and richly patterned carpets in crimson, green and brown that invite guests to linger and relax. Travelers can pamper themselves silly in the downtown hotel's Capital City Club and Spa, which features 11,000 square feet of fitness equipment, exercise facilities, and treatment rooms for facials, manicures, scrubs, nail treatments and 13 kinds of massages. After recovering from the club's delicious decadence, guests can dine on American cuisine at the hotel's casually stylish Twigs, where the décor combines gold and white glows with a partial glass atrium and small ceiling lamps whose wavy shades suggest falling sheets of paper. For a relaxed, slightly old fashioned sports bar and steakhouse, guests can check out the hotel's Fran O'Brien's, which was founded by a former Washington Redskins player. With Biedermeier accents of ornate mirror frames, wall sconces and cherry wood tones, the downtown hotel's 544 rooms feature Internet access, multi line phones, minibars, pay movies and coffeemakers. At the Capital Hilton in downtown Washington, working guests appreciate the business center's services, and families take advantage of child care service and a Vacation Station program that greets children with welcome gifts, toys and games.