We stayed here from 7/13/10 thru 7/21/10 in Room 305 and experienced a terrible run in with bed bugs. This was the only hotel we stayed in during our vacation. The day after our return home my daughter and husband broke out in red, itch welts. A trip to the ER confirmed bed bug bites. The hotel will not respond to my attempts to contact them regarding this and I'm hoping that we didn't bring any home with us. The hotel was no frills. The internet didn't work most the time. The only thing it really had going for it was it's location to the Metro and restaurants. Most of the staff was nice, but it seemed the manager wasn't too happy with her job. I would not recommend staying here. 1,289 reviews sorted by: We picked this motel based on this site. I can deal with old and I liked the fact it offered free wi fi and parking you can not find that in DC! But old also means old AC! My husband keeps are house at 68 degrees year around. The old window unit could not keep the room at 75 and it ran all night.
We had 2 hot sleepless night so we found a different cooler hotel for the rest of the stay in DC. The staff was very nice about it maybe in the fall or winter I would go back but not the heat of the summer. This place seems to take pride in kitsch--don't look for anything to be updated--although a pleasant surprise was the HD TV with HD channels. Pluses were the price (located next to properties that were triple the price), bed and AC that works. Minuses were the awful elevator and iffy Internet access. However, it comes with a decent fresh continental breakfast, free parking and like I said, the HD tv. It's not a place to hang out at. But if you are looking for value in a place with ridiculous priced hotels, this is it. Btw, this hotel is featured in the movie State of Play. (Although not favorably, which is probably why there was absolutely no mention of it at the hotel. I happened to watch this movie about a week before my visit.) This is an older basic hotel, our room had a AC unit, fridge, "pink" tiled washroom, pedestal sink (no counter space).
Everything is a bit dated and worn, but clean and we found the beds to be very good and supportive (not sagging). The breakfast consisted of Milk, Juice, oatmeal, donuts, bagels, toast and muffins. It is just a 5 minute walk to the Crystal City Metro stop and there is plenty of free parking. We found the area to be safe. Our room was initially missing toiletries, but that was remedied with a quick call to the front desk. For myself and many other guests, wireless Internet only worked in the lobby even though my laptop detected a strong signal from my room. I suspect that the hotel's wireless transmitter is strong, but receiver is weak. But once connected, it worked fine at decent speed. Given the price, a very strong value, we would stay there again. The room was clean and the price was $65 including tax for the night. But I wouldn't stay here for more than a night or two; for the rooms are tiny, and there was no stopper in the sink in the bathroom. Moreover, there was only one towel given for 2 people.
The Americana does offer a free breakfast which is decent. Furthermore, they have a driver who takes you around in the neighborhood, which is quite convenient. The mattress was fair. We stayed at the Americana for 3 nights, June 30 - July 3 2010. We had a room with 2 queen beds. The motel definitely has an older look to it, my kids were shocked when they saw that the room key was actually a key! But aside from that, it was a perfect place to stay when you are on a budget and plan to spend most of your time in D.C. The metro was very close and they have a shuttle that will take you there or pick you up if you don't feel like walking to or from the Metro. We asked the shuttle driver to take us to the Metro because we were going to Arlington Cemetery and he was nice enough to drive us to Arlington Cemetery. The continental breakfast was great and the rooms were very clean, the bathroom is small but there was a table outside the bathroom that you can use to put your makeup on if you need to.
The front desk staff was very helpful. I would highly recommend the Americana if you are on a budget and need a place to stay while visiting D.C. It doesn't look like it's changed since the 60s, but you can't seem to beat the price in the DC area. Nothing fancy, but it was near the metro. The free Wifi seems to have problems in the evenings, but it was easy to connect to in the morning or afternoon. Unfortunately, the "Crystal City" area of Arlington seems to close up at 9pm every night so if you want to hit a cafe or bar before bed there is nothing open within walking distance of the hotel. Trust Sleepy's, the 'only' mattress professionals. Are you looking for the right mattress at the right price? Quickly find the Sleepy's store nearest you and discover our selection of products: mattresses, bed frames, adjustable beds, daybeds, kids bedding, bedroom furniture and more! At Sleepy's, mattress professionals will guide you to a better night's sleep. Sleepy's also offer blankets, comforters and pillows.
At Value City Furniture, Style Comes Easy Why do we ask for your zip code? By providing your delivery zip code, you’ll allow us to: Value City Furniture respects your privacy and will not share this information with anyone.What are Bed Bugs The bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a wingless, red-brown insect that feeds on blood. It is small (about the size of an apple seed) and you can see them without a magnifying glass. Bed bugs are not considered a public health risk because they are not known to spread diseases. They can, however, cause skin irritations and sleepless nights. Bed bugs usually live from four months to a year. They hide in cracks and crevices in beds, wooden furniture, floors, and walls during the daytime. At night, they emerge from hiding and feed on their preferred host: humans. In 2005, the Health Department began receiving complaint about bed bugs in the city. In response, we have developed several presentations and brochures to assist residents and businesses in the city.
Use a soft bag that can be put in the washer and dryer. Upon checking in to a hotel room, inspect the mattress, headboard, behind hanging pictures or loose wallpaper, along the baseboards, and on the fabric straps of the luggage rack. You are looking for live bugs or evidence of an infestation, such as fecal or blood spots, eggs, and molted skins. Keep your luggage on the luggage rack (inspect carefully, especially under the fabric straps). Luggage may also be kept on a table away from the bed or in the bathroom. Don't put clothes in the dresser drawers. Vacuum suitcases and put all clothes (clean and dirty) into the dryer immediately upon return. Do not store luggage in the bedroom. Vacuum carpets and along baseboards regularly. Throw vacuum bag away outdoors as soon as you are done vacuuming. Do not pick up used furniture that someone has put out for trash. The better the item looks, the more likely it is infested with bed bugs. Leave it by the curb!
Protect your mattress and box springs with bed bug proof mattress covers. Reduce clutter in your home to reduce places where bed bugs can hide. Be careful when buying used items. Inspect them for bed bugs before bringing them into the house. Encase guest room mattresses and box springs with bed bug proof mattress covers. Remove as much clutter as possible from the room. If possible, discreetly inspect luggage and clothes while unpacking. Keep luggage away from the bed and off the floor. You may consider having the guest store their belongings in a plastic storage bin with the lid on. After the guest leaves, inspect the room and vacuum thoroughly, especially along baseboards, and inspect the mattress, headboard, drawers, and the place where luggage was stored. Hotel Guests and Bed Bugs If you find a bed bug in your hotel, motel, hostel or bed and breakfast room, notify the proprietor immediately. If the facility is in the City of Alexandria, you can also report it to the Alexandria Health Department, Environmental Health Division at 703.746.4910.
www.alexandriva.gov/87518 to read more about making a complaint. Renters and Bed Bugs If you are a renter and you discover bed bugs, immediately report the problem to your landlord or management company; they may have a plan already in place to deal with the problem. Simply discarding beds and bedding is not a good approach to bed bug management. Bed bugs will spread quickly to walls, molding, ceilings, light fixtures, electronics, picture frames and spaces within and along floor boards and the edges of carpets. It is difficult to manage a bed bug problem by yourself, so it is always a good idea to hire a licensed pest control company. Bed bugs are likely being transferred from place to place through infested furniture and discarded objects. DO NOT take furniture from in or around a trash area even though you may not see bugs they may be present. If you are discarding furniture that may have bed bugs be sure to slash mattresses and plush furniture, break box spring frames, and label items with the word “bed bugs” to prevent the spread of bed bugs in your community.
Wrap discarded items in plastic sheeting and tape to avoid dropping bed bugs during transport. Responsibilities of building management and staff: Encourage tenants or guests to report bed bugs (unreported and uncontrolled bed bugs will spread quickly) Keep records of bed bug (or other pest) complaints on site in a log book Respond quickly to complaints with an inspection and intervention Develop an aggressive bed bug control protocol with elimination as the goal Raise tenant or guest awareness about bed bugs Institute a prevention program, centered on awareness Refer tenants and guests to the proper sources of help (medical, health, financial, and social services) Read and follow all guidelines given by building management for reporting signs of bed bugs, and for cleaning and room preparation. Cooperate with staff and management in preventing and controlling bed bugs whether your individual living space is infested or not. Know the signs of bed bugs and check constantly for signs of them in your living space.
Encourage other tenants to follow guidelines and cooperate with management. How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Getting rid of bed bugs is difficult and time consuming, but it can be done. Residents and landlord or property management must work together to succeed. There is no single tool or activity that, used alone, will eliminate bed bugs, including pesticides. Multiple techniques are always required because bed bugs are small, good at hiding, and can live without feeding for many months. Treatment of a living area for bed bugs should focus on containment of the infestation. Do everything possible to avoid spreading bed bugs to new locations. A combination of the following steps will be needed for bed bug control: Clean and organize the bed, bedroom, other living areas, furniture and belongings, including elimination of clutter Physical removal of bed bugs and eggs using a vacuum (dispose of the vacuum bag immediately, bugs can survive and crawl back out of the bag)
Barriers, such as mattress encasements and sticky barriers (sticky traps may be useful for monitoring but will not help control bed bugs) Steam or cold treatments (to kill all life stages) Eliminate bed bug hiding spots o Fix peeling wallpaper and paint o Caulk or seal cracks and crevices around the room and on furniture o Seal floors or the spaces between floor boards or tiles o Make other repairs to the living area to reduce hiding spots o Low risk pesticides o Professional use pesticides Hiring a Pest Management Professional The pest management company should be licensed by the state and insured. The company should be a member of a professional organization, such as the National Pest Management Association. The company should have a staff entomologist or access to one. Technicians should have experience with bed bug management. Choose a company based on their quality of service, not the price. Get several proposals for service if possible and compare them.