I Said “Yes” to a Free Stay in Maryland
When a longtime friend invited me to spend a free seven-night vacation in Maryland, along with another friend, I immediately said yes. She had booked a 3-bedroom suite so I would be getting my own bedroom. When I looked online at the Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort, it looked like a beautiful place to visit. Based on the resort’s amenities, activities, and location, I knew it would be a fun week with good friends and that’s exactly how it turned out to be.
National Harbor, Maryland Location
National Harbor is set alongside the Potomac in Maryland, a thriving waterfront district. This location offers dining, shopping, and lots of popular attractions. Although Washington D.C. is near, the gals were not interested in visiting the downtown area, which I was happy about since I recently visited DC and explored many main attractions in DC. The National Harbor area and the Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort offered enough activities and amenities to keep us happy.
Special Amenities at Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort
Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort offers many amenities that we appreciated very much throughout our visit.
Amenities include:
:: Organized activities and socials
:: Indoor swimming pool
:: Outdoor swimming pool
:: Hot tubs
:: Kids pool
:: Sunbathing area
:: Lego room
:: Video games
:: Billiards
:: Foosball table
:: Concierge services
:: Activities desk
:: Fitness center
:: Sauna
:: Laundry facilities
:: Movie rentals
:: Basic Wi-Fi Internet access, free for up to 4 devices
:: Self-parking (fee)
:: Electric vehicle charger
:: Business center
:: 24-Hour security access
:: Elevators
The outdoor pool is very spacious and offers comfortable lounge chairs. The pool was sparkling clean, and we especially enjoyed the hot tub. Near the pool, there were lots of tables and chairs to sit, relax, enjoy conversations with my friends, and read a book.
The Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort has an awesome activities team offering fun activities like a scavenger hunt, wine tasting, Bingo, karaoke, and more. It was fun to participate in the events but equally as fun to watch the other guests (especially the families with small children) scurry around the area to complete the scavenger hunt.
Beautiful Suites at the Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort
Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort offers guests 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom suites. We stayed in a 3-Bedroom Deluxe Suite with Balcony that was decorated so nice, even better than I expected. This newly renovated suite offered nearly 1,300 square feet and can accommodate up to ten guests. We were only 3 people so we each had our own private and spacious bedroom.
The bedroom was modern, well-decorated, and clean. The suite offered us everything we needed for a comfortable stay. For a big, crowded resort, I was surprised at how quiet the room was. Having a full kitchen was amazing, and being close to grocery stores made it easy for us to pick up food, snacks, and beverages.
Our 3-Bedroom Deluxe Suite featured:
:: Full kitchen
:: Beautiful bathroom
:: Huge, jetted tub
:: 2 King beds
:: 1 Double bed
:: Queen sleeper sofa
:: Balcony
:: Ceiling fan
:: Hairdryer
:: In-room safe
:: Television
:: DVD player
:: Stereo
The balcony was small but a nice way to get some fresh air. However, the view was mediocre in comparison to the views from a cruise ship balcony.
Some Cons to Consider But NOT Dealbreakers
Here are some cons about the Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort that are more like observations and “good to know” comments.
There is no restaurant at this resort so we either had to shop, prepare, and cook meals in the suite’s kitchen or go outside the resort to one the many nearby restaurants. I still spent more money than I typically do on vacation on dining and activities in the National Harbor area.
The resort did not offer daily cleaning service, so we tidied up our suite, making our beds and discarding trash when necessary.
There was no washer or dryer in our suite but there are laundry rooms on every floor.
Parking is not included. Self-parking is available off-site for $25 per day, not affiliated with the resort. However, the bellhop service will assist you with unloading your vehicle. You must park your vehicle prior to check-in. If you stay at the resort for the week, the parking fee adds up.
Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort is a cashless resort. You must use a credit or debit card for any on-site purchases.
Some service animals are welcome at the resort, but emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companionship animals are not permitted.
There is a lot of walking to do around the resort, so wear comfortable shoes.
If you’re planning to visit the Washington, DC area by train from the resort, there is no metro station nearby, so you’ll have to find alternative transportation.
Despite any of these “good to know” comments, I still highly recommend the Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort because we had a great vacation.
Walking Distance to National Harbor’s Dining, Attractions, and Activities
Club Wyndham is conveniently located right near the popular National Harbor area. Within walking distance, you’ll find lots of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. As guests of Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort, you’re entitled to discounts at several local establishments. We took advantage of every discount!
The waterfront area was clean, quiet, and a great place to take a stroll, day or night. Sitting by the water, watching airplanes take off and land at a nearby airport along with boats on the water, made for incredible harbor views. Impressive is an understatement to describe The Capital Wheel. It’s a massive and colorful (at night) Ferris wheel and just fun to look at. No, we didn’t ride it.
There was tons of shopping around National Harbor, a nice mix of unique specialty stores with brand name stores as well! We loved Savannah Candy Kitchen for delicious caramel apples and pralines. We also enjoyed ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s. Of course, as book nerds, we got lost for a few hours in the Mahogany Books Coffee Bar.
Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar was some of the best piano entertainment that I’ve ever heard! The Irish Whisper Pub & Restaurant, Nando’s Peri Peri, and the Silver Diner were among our favorite meals. However, the star of my National Harbor vacation was the pint-size vanilla milkshake with caramel plus a brownie topping from The Yard Milkshake Bar, a celebrated milkshake chain.
Club Wyndham National Harbor: Wonderful Vacation Destination
If you’re visiting Maryland or the Washinton DC area, Club Wyndham National Harbor Resort is a great place to stay. The resort staff was attentive, friendly, helpful, and continuously made sure that guests were enjoying themselves. Our 3-bedroom suite was impeccably clean, and it was such a treat to stay in a room that featured beautiful new furniture and appliances.
The resort was conveniently close to so many wonderful restaurant choices and great shopping around National Harbor. The scenic beauty of the Potomac River made for breathtaking sunsets. This Maryland vacation exceeded my expectations from start to finish.