If you’re planning a trip to the nation’s capital this holiday season, a stay at the newly renovated Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown is a must. Not only do they offer chic accommodations in Washington’s fashionable West End, they’re also hosting a very important guest this season: Santa himself is staying in a festive suite on the premises! Many thanks to the Fairmont for hosting us during our stay.
Book the Winter Wonderland Weekend Package for a magical holiday experience. The overnight package includes luxurious accommodations and a visit with Santa in his special suite. Children of all ages will get treats and holiday keepsakes. But before I get into the details, I have to tell you about my time at the Fairmont.
Our family visited the hotel just before this fun experience kicked off, but we still had a fabulous time. The recent $27 million renovation of the hotel was obvious from the beautiful lobby, to the sophisticated bar, to the spacious rooms.
(The new 2,990-square-foot Kennedy Ballroom is bound to become the area’s most sought-after wedding and conference venues.)
We stayed in the spacious Ambassador Suite, which had a king bed plus an adjoining double room (upon request). The décor was soothing and elegant, and we really appreciated the separate dining, living and work spaces within the suite. The bathroom had both a soaking tub and a shower. Our view overlooked the beautiful, new courtyard.
While there, we had breakfast and dinner at the elegant Juniper restaurant located onsite. The restaurant uses locally grown and sustainable ingredients in its offerings.
The girls enjoyed the breakfast buffet, while Serge and I ordered a la carte. We particularly enjoyed the Juniper Steak & Eggs, the Crab Benedict and The Capital, which includes two eggs, potatoes, sausage and buttermilk pancakes.
One thing to keep in mind is that Juniper has very much a beltway power breakfast vibe on weekdays. So if you have high-energy children, you may want to wait until the weekend to enjoy breakfast at the restaurant. The atmosphere at our breakfast on Saturday was significantly more relaxed than our breakfast on Friday.
One highlight of our dinner at Juniper was the restaurant’s incredible signature honey walnut bread, served with black salt honey butter. It’s actually prepared using honey from the hotel’s own rooftop hives!
Serge and I enjoyed tasty Negronis and started with the signature crab cakes and grilled octopus, followed by short rib pappardelle pasta and a delicious grilled scallop special.
The girls ordered from the children’s menu and absolutely loved their mac and cheese and chicken fingers.
The chef finds ways to present classic recipes in innovative ways. Be sure to make a reservation if you plan to go.
If you’ll be there in December, don’t miss your chance to book the Winter Wonderland Weekend. EDGE Floral Event Designers transformed St. Nick’s suite into a whimsical space, paying serious attention to detail. Visitors will find twinkling trees; an elegant, mirrored dining table, set for Santa and his special guests; and even a letter-writing station for leaving wish lists!
(The children that leave letters will actually receive a response in the mail!) Kids can stop by Santa’s suite, accompanied by their parents, on Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
If that weren’t fun enough, visitors can end the day with a spin on the hotel’s new ice skating rink, in the courtyard! (Skates are available on a first come basis, but guests are welcome to bring their own.)
Post or tweet a photo of your child’s visit with Santa, using the hashtag #fairmontdcwonder, and you’ll automatically be entered to win prizes, including another stay at the hotel.
Know someone that will be popping the question? Santa’s Winter Wonderland Suite is also available for wedding proposals! Email Robert.mikolitch@fairmont.com for details.
The magic ends on Saturday, December 23rd, so don’t miss your chance to book the Winter Wonderland Weekend Package.
About Carmen Sognonvi
Carmen Sognonvi is a luxury family travel content creator at Top Flight Family, named a top 10 family travel Instagram account by Time Out New York and Brit + Co. Her insights on travel have been featured in The Washington Post, INSIDER, Huffington Post, Wanderlust Travel Magazine, TravelPulse, HOTELS Magazine, and more. Carmen firmly believes that you can (and should) travel with your kids from a young age. She offers families practical solutions for travel, as well as tips on how to travel in luxury for less. She lives in New York City with her multiracial and multicultural family of four. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
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The author received complimentary accommodations and meals from Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown for purposes of this review. All opinions are her own.