Notes from the host
Songbird Retreat Old Town
No shared spaces, separate entrances from main part of house where hosts reside with two well behaved pups. Unlike many short-term rentals that are cookie cutter and corporate-managed, we are very available to respond to guests needs and do not skimp on quality or comfort. We love our community and truly enjoy sharing our unique home and our knowledge of the area. We respect guests privacy and preferences but are always like to treat everyone as if they are our personal guests and are happy to interact as desired. We run a business, but also consider it a privilege to contribute in a positive way to lives and provide comfort whatever the reason for their stay.
SAFETY/SECURITY - hosts live onsite which is a comfort to many solo and other travelers. Our smart lock generates a new code for each guest at check-in which automatically expires at checkout. Hosts/owners are the only individuals with physical key access. While we have external ring cameras like every house in the neighborhood, we have no internal or internally-facing recording devices and clearly label all electronics. Our maintenance and cleaning teams have been with us for over 3 years and are supervised while onsite.
The unit is equipped with fire extinguishers, fire blankets, two separate express stairwells, and nest smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that remotely alert owners of any issues. We have multiple emergency services within walking distance.
CLEANING FEE: We do not ask guests to clean on their way out. The only optional tasks we request are placing towels in the bathroom and starting the dishwasher. Our cleaning fee is not something we profit from, it only covers a portion of our costs. We pay our cleaners $130 per per standard turnover (more for damages or excess cleaning). Prices have increased greatly in our area but we have kept guest fees steady.
HOTEL COMPS: For comparison to neighborhood hotels, the unit is the size of 2 standard hotel rooms and has a full kitchen, free high speed WiFi, plus free street parking for 1 car. This easily saves a family of four $200/day or more compared to a hotel stay on King St just a few blocks away (which charge $32-$49/day for parking with no in/out privileges). A good comparison of value is a King Room Suite or Loft Suite with Sofa Bed at the Alexandrian mere blocks from us.
Trader Joes just 2 blocks away also has an array of ready to eat meals which our guests find to be of great value as well.
PET POLICY: Please note we are a DOG FRIENDLY property (plenty of grassy relief areas on our block, please inquire about our preferred dog walker/sitter) with appropriate Fee for dogs that meet our guidelines and are declared on the booking. However we are unable to accept cats under any circumstances (even service animals/ESA cats) as we have a documented, life-threatening allergy.
PARKING: zoned, public parking pass for street parking available for 1 car. Please provide car info upon booking (license plate state and #). Parking longer than 7 days requires additional info for a pass from city hall. With a pass, guests are exempt from hourly parking limits. Without a pass, parking is subject to a 2 hour limit weekdays between 8am-5pm. Parking is first come, first serve but to date our guests have not had any issues finding parking on our block. If you have more than 1 car we can recommend affordable lots within walking distance. For guests with electric vehicles, we are down the block from a charging station with multiple units.
LOCATION: Our location is unbeatable, Old Town has historically ranked the one of the top 3 most desirable locations in the DC metro. We boast an incredible 95 walk score and are only a couple blocks from 2 major grocery stores, 10 min walk in to the waterfront, 7 mins to King St, and 10 mins to Braddock Rd metro. Only a 11 min drive to the Smithsonian Museums and other DC favorite venues (or 35 mins walking/riding train). We are urban with a vibrant downtown and no shortage of activities, but once you are a couple of blocks off King St, you will find a quieter, neighborhood feeling with incredible historical architecture and charm. We are in the boundaries of the designated historic district and the house dates back to the 1820s, but was fully renovated in 2005 (down to the studs) to install all the best modern comforts. We are within a 10-15 min walk of at least 5 parks with plenty of green space, sports courts, and playscapes.
APARTMENT/BEDROOM: The apartment is a private, peaceful sanctuary with a large 15x13ft bedroom that includes a Cal King hybrid mattress (Allswell hybrid luxe) with bamboo sheets, and a 55” smart TV, perfect for when you are ready to wind down. Escape the heat of the summer with a fully air conditioned space and warm up on a cold or rainy night with our cozy electric, ventless fireplace. You’ll find spa-like touches including a white noise machine for a peaceful nights sleep.
BATHROOM: The 3/4 bath is equipped with a spacious shower with multiple shower heads and body jets for a true spa-like experience. Bring your own toiletries or we provide all of the essentials for your enjoyment.
FRONT ROOM/SECONDARY BED: In the sitting area that adjoins to the kitchen, you’ll find a custom Murphy bed/couch combo that is easy to convert from couch to a queen bed in under a minute with a thick hybrid mattress with individually wrapped coils topped with a generous layer of memory foam. Relax by the electric ventless fireplace which doubles as a whole unit space heater and creates a wonderful ambiance.
TECHNOLOGY: The front room 65” 4K smart TV includes an Amazon Fire Stick with complimentary Prime, Netflix, & HBOMax as well as a cable via YouTubeTV, including Big Ten Network and sports channels. The bedroom TV is 55” and has all streaming services and YouTube TV.
Fast, free WiFi (200mbps) available to allow for plenty of streaming and for remote workers and students, a rolling height adjustable laptop cart as well as a desk and chair in the bedroom.
KITCHEN: The kitchen has bar seating for 4 and is kept stocked with all the essentials. Energize at the coffee bar with the keurig, nespresso, drip coffee maker, or French press. For tea lovers, we have an assortment of teas and an electric kettle. We have all the essential pots, pans, and tools to make cooking a breeze including a crockpot and Dutch oven. A rolling grocery dolly is at your disposal for trips to nearby farmers markets, Trader Joe’s, and the enormous Harris Teeter that are only a 4 minute walk away!
KID’S EQUIPMENT: For little ones we have various equipment available for guest’s use such as two 4Moms playards (30 lb limit) and a Regalo extra long cot (80lb limit). with a signed liability release. Please inquire at booking.
5 Star, personalized touches await you to make your stay luxurious and relaxing and we have everything you need to experience the best of Old Town and the DC Metro such as:
- Bath products including shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel
- local information including recommendations for restaurants, shops, and activities.
- metro and bus maps, “how to” advice on how to access and use all of the public transportation in the area, and guidebooks for seeing the surrounding by metro or days trips by car.
For our active guests, we are walkable to great parks and the famous Mt Vernon trail, an 18 mile long paved multi-recreational path that traverses the metro area. We are a 4 min walk to the Charles Houston Recreation Center with gym, sauna, and pool access for a small guest fee. Inside the unit, we have a yoga mat (resistance bands and free weights upon request). The wonderful 532 Yoga Studio is just a block away if you want to catch a class while here!
CANINE AMENITIES: Old Town is a dog’s paradise & Alexandria ranks 16th highest in the country for dog friendliness with offerings like the Canine Cruise, dog happy hour and plentiful dog-friendly businesses. We provide a list of dog friendly areas. One of the best veterinary hospitals, VCA, is also 2 blocks away should any emergencies occur. We also cater to our canine guests with the following provided:
Crates
Beds
Bowls
Poop bags
Towels
Blankets
NOTE ON SHARED BUILDING/THERMOSTAT: While we live in the floors above, we have performed over $10K of soundproofing for our guests comfort and privacy to the fullest extent possible. However please note that similar to a hotel/apartment building, no soundproofing is 100% and you may hear us moving around. Also please note that temperature control is on the floor above. We keep the temp at around 68-70 degrees but have a whole apartment heater for those who want it warmer, and for those that like it cooler, are happy to adjust for guests preferences and set a day/night schedule on our thermostat. Our 3rd floor where we sleep has its own temp control so we keep the bottom 2 floors at guests comfort, just let us know!
We take great pride in the clean condition of our property despite being dog friendly. The health and comfort of our guests is important to us. We offer contactless check-in and check-out, entrances and all spaces are private, we have HEPA equipped air filtration units throughout.
