What to expect: A bustling lobby and gleaming nine-story atrium greet hotel guests, who include business and leisure travelers to DC, conventioneers, and groups. Plants and Doric columns punctuate the sitting areas, and fresh flowers decorate the tables at the entrance.

Amenity highlights: An indoor lap pool has glass doors leading to a deck for sunbathing in warm weather. This Hilton hotel also has a complimentary 24-hour fitness center with treadmills, elliptical machines, bicycles, weight machines, and free weights.

Insider tip: Guests can take the hotel's complimentary scheduled shuttles to retail heaven: Tysons Corner malls, with 350 stores and restaurants. The variety of clothing runs the gamut, from Versace's haute couture jeans to L.L. Bean's hunting boots. Saks, Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdale's, and Nordstrom are the nationally known anchors.