Old Town hospitality at the Hotel Monaco Alexandria

The Hotel Monaco Alexandria offers a unique combination of
Old Town experience combined with a modern vibe.

Located on King Street, the six-story red brick building
embodies the Civil-War-era ambiance that is consistent throughout Old Town
Alexandria. The old world feel and the comfort and modernity of today collide in
the Monaco’s lavish interior.

{mosads}The décor of the Monaco Alexandria offers guests a blend of
the past and present through both sophistication and comfort. The hotel
underwent an extensive renovation in 2007 in order to “pay homage to the past,
but with a playful wink and decidedly 21st century vibe,” said Kimpton press representative
Sarah Horner. Multi-award-winning interior designer Cheryl Rowley of Beverly
Hills, Calif., fashioned the hotel to represent the “lively and unexpected”
look and feel of Alexandria today.

The hospitality of the Monaco staff is instantly felt as
bellmen eagerly greet each guest upon entering the hotel’s heavy glass double
doors. Inside the lobby you will see many guests perched on plush sofas and
chairs using the hotel’s free Wi-Fi.

The 241 guestrooms’ and suites’ eclectic decor juxtapose
color, details and patterns that were subtly inspired by Union soldier’s
uniforms, said Horner. Charcoals, reds and hints of blue find their way into
each room through plush carpeting, comfortable furniture and textured walls.
Each room features portraits of Civil War soldiers as well as pieces of
contemporary art.

The rooms feature large desks, overstuffed chairs and plush
beds complete with high-thread-count Frette Italian bed linens. The classic
rooms feature 21st century amenities, including flat-screen LCD televisions,
complimentary Wi-Fi and Aveda bath products.

For taller guests, the Monaco Alexandria even offers “Tall
Rooms” that feature extra-long 90-inch beds and heightened showers and vanities
that provide “extra comfort and care for taller travelers.”

Guest services representative Brandon Weston said the rooms
“have a unique style and, typically, all stay fully booked.”

The Monaco Alexandria extends its hospitality to its
four-legged friends. Doggie happy hour is held in the courtyard from 5 p.m. to
8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April through October. The happy hour
features complimentary doggy treats and fresh water, as well as drinks for the
owners from Jackson’s 20, the hotel bar.

“From what I’ve witnessed, it’s a great social event,”
Weston said. “A lot of guests and locals come out and mingle. It’s pretty
interesting and a really fun time.”

The Monaco also provides in-room bedding and bowls for its
canine visitors and keeps a supply of eco-friendly pet toys on site. The
concierge has resources about pet-friendly restaurants, parks and stores in the
area as well.

“A lot of our premier guests choose this hotel primarily
because of our location and pet friendliness,” Weston said.

The Monaco Alexandria is as family-oriented as it is a
dog-friendly hotel. The Kimpton Kids program includes fun activities and ideas
to entertain your family while in Alexandria.

A Radio Flyer Wagon pulls into the hotel lobby daily at 4 p.m.
for a kiddie happy hour. Snacks and juice accompany activities and games to
entertain the kids until a wine hour for adults begins at 5 p.m. Radio Flyer
Wagons in the lobby can also be rented from the front desk to take the kids on
a stroll around Old Town.

The Monaco Alexandria also incorporates its spacious indoor
swimming pool with “Dive-in Movie Night,” where movies are featured poolside
every Saturday at 8 p.m. The 40-foot heated indoor pool is open daily to Monaco
guests.

The hotel’s restaurant, Jackson 20, serves traditional
American fare at an affordable price, featuring a wide variety ranging from
chicken and dumplings to crab cakes.

Lunch specials are featured daily, and the restaurant
appears to be a popular haunt for power lunches as well as a break from Old
Town sightseeing and shopping.

The extensive wine list offered at Jackson 20 is featured in
the hotel’s wine hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily, an opportunity for guests to
meet and mingle in the whimsically decorated lobby of the hotel.

The attitude, amenities and décor of the Monaco Alexandria
provides its guests an opportunity to experience Old Town while providing an
entertaining and hospitable experience in itself.