We live just across the river in Virginia and have stayed at Wyndham National Harbor three times. The first, about two weeks after it...
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We live just across the river in Virginia and have stayed at Wyndham National Harbor three times. The first, about two weeks after it opened in February 2010, was disastrous. The unit was dirty (food in the sofa, something smeared on the front of the refrigerator, dust and dirt on the floors, skid marks in the hot tub, and on and on). Staff was simply not ready for business and reacted with surliness. Staff seemed to have the attitude that they were owed a job and that work was optional. Construction quality is shabby and there was construction debris in quite a few locations.
We went back six months later. The physical appearance of the resort and the unit was much better but still not up to the standards of the five star resort National Harbor purports to be. Much of the staff had turned over since our first visit but there was still evidence that you were there to accommodate the staff, not the other way around.
Our third visit, around 4th of July 2011, was much more pleasant with only one encounter with one staff member.
Avoid at all costs the "update" or "survey" or whatever they are calling it now. You'll only feel dirty if you go.
National Harbor itself has much to offer, but nothing is cheap. Families with children will find it difficult to stay keep to any kind of budget unless many meals are eaten in. Bring groceries or be prepared to leave National Harbor. There are no family restaurants in National Harbor, either in style or price. There is some specialty/boutique shopping -- again very expensive. The CVS in the Wyndham building is finally open. The star of the show is Gaylord's Hotel and Convention Center. Disney is supposed to be building up the hill from Wyndham. If it is a family resort, they'd better open some family-priced restaurants.
There's a DC Metro bus stop just up the street. It takes you to the Branch Ave. Metro station, giving you access to most of the attractions in the District. Better yet, plan way ahead and get a reservation at Wyndham Old Town Alexandria. Greater variety of shopping, better choice of restaurants, Metro rail access across the street.
Bottom line: we owned 1.3 million Presidential Reserve points at Wyndham National Harbor. After a year, we paid a fair amount for a few more points and swapped to Bonnet Creek. Bonnet Creek is a far more endearing and enduring resort.