The sparkling outdoor pool gets all the attention but the Washington Plaza Hotel looks fabulous inside and out. The swinging-sixties decor is hip the rooms are comfortable and the price tag is surprisingly low. With a gleaming white façade that echoes the gentle curve of neighboring Thomas Circle this nine-story hotel looks like it belongs on the beach. The 340 rooms many overlooking the city skyline are sleek and stylish mostly in subdued shades with splashes of tangerine and pomegranate. Up-to-date amenities include flat-panel TVs and Wi-Fi (for a fee). The lobby revels in its retro feel — think undulating walls marble columns and Mies van der Rohe chairs. The theme carries through to the restaurant and bar. The beautifully landscaped terrace is the perfect place to relax after a day of sightseeing. On the northern edge of downtown the Washington Plaza is near the city's business district and five blocks west of the Washington Convention Center. Hop aboard a subway train at McPherson Square station about three blocks south and you can be at the National Mall in minutes. The hotel is a one-minute stroll to 14th Street and its array of bars and restaurants. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is five miles away a quick taxi or subway ride.