EVEN Hotel, Rockville

Location: 1775 Rockville Pike, Rockville
Date of Arrival: Saturday 24 January 2015
Duration of stay: 7 Nights
Room Type: Wellness King with glass enclosed shower
Average Cost: $128 approx. per night
My rating: 4.5*/5

Part of the IHG Group, the EVEN Hotel in Rockville* is an ample base for exploring the Washington DC area - although 18 miles from the city-centre (which to be fair, does a little out in the sticks), it’s a stone-throw away from the Twinbrook Metro Station from which you can navigate to  the bustling downtown tourist traps until your hearts-content! There are also a number of nearby shops and eateries – the Silver Diner an example of the latter which, within walking distance, is perfect for indulging in an all-American breakfast or brunch, (wear an elasticated waistline though folks…you have been warned!)

As one of the first EVEN hotels in the world (the others located in Maryland and Connecticut), it really is rather unique – its focus is the wellbeing of its guests and its aim is to help maintain one’s healthy lifestyle whilst travelling; objectives which have been wholeheartedly adhered to at every turn. Take my room for example – a Wellness King complete with fitness zone (think complimentary water bottle plus, yoga mat, foam roller, exercise ball and resistance bands), LED mood lighting, natural ‘EO’* bathroom goodies and organic Eucalyptus linens which, designed for a cooler sleep, ensure that you wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed…uh-maze-ing! Its two most notable features however were the spa-style shower with multi-sensory water jets and the cloud of a bed which resulted in what could well be the most comfortable night’s sleep I’ve ever head. Seriously, if I felt I could have smuggled out just one of those oh-so squishy pillows to take home (pregnant…yes, yes, I’m due in April), I would have definitely done so. WIFI is free and easy to connect to and there are several outlets for plugging in electronic devices, not to mention a small area from which to work from. Storage space is a little on the stingy side however and the heater, although effective, was incredibly noisy – not great in the middle of the night when it lends to your dreams the inkling of being in the flight path of a jumbo jet The gap under the door was also pretty sizeable so added a little corridor glare to the pink glow of my mood lighting…that said, the dedication to cleanliness, ethereal décor and fresh scents which have been made to subtly fragrance the room more than made up for these minor gripes. I should probably also mention that parking is accessible (at a fee) in the hotel's garage.

Back to that personal fitness facility and the enthusiastic lycra-clad gym bods that greeted me at the touch of my TV remote. That’s right, you can choose from a number of in-room virtual training sessions which have been premeditated to suit any ability (and time frame). The main gym has been thoughtfully arranged with state-of-the-art equipment – so many hotels cram a few ancient treadmills into a space the size of a store cupboard but not here! This is a light, airy space with floor-to-ceiling windows where a designated free weights area couples the cardio apparatus; the only thing missing was a pool but then again, the 'flex room' is fitted with a ping pong table which makes for a pretty fun alternative don't you think?! When it comes to outdoor pursuits, the clued-up staff can advise in terms of what's available locally. Daily activities and group fitness options are also offered if you’re the kind of person that prefers to sweat it out ‘on mass’.

The hotel's café come bar, Cork and Kale, offers sufficient and unsurprisingly healthy options for dining; ‘grab and go’ meals are a fantastic idea for those having to eat on the hop and the range of snacks available appear to have come straight from a ‘Wholefoods’ light bite aisle. The bean to cup coffee selection is fantastic and proved my initial go-to each morning; the quality here negating any reason to go elsewhere for that all-important early morning caffeine hit. The importance of staying hydrated was upheld with no less than four varieties of 'infused' water to choose from in the hotel lobby…I kid you not! Made-to-order smoothies are also available but I particularly liked the night-time tea caddy which you could help yourself to before retiring to your boudoir; simply perfect for us tea-swilling Brits…or so I was told! The hard-core drinkers amongst us (everything in moderation, right?!) can be rest assured that wellbeing doesn’t equal dry given the ample selection of alcoholic beverages on-tap to quaff from the sanctuary of one's room or from the sociable hub of the communal lounge. The latter sports a questionable green and orange colour scheme which I just about managed to find peace with once my eyes had adjusted to its garishness! That said, buckets of complimentary reading material and an ambient soundtrack makes this a suitable base for a little R&R.

Overall, I loved how friendly this hotel is – in the grand scheme of American hospitality, EVEN is right up there in terms of its customer service; you’re greeted warmly, asked about your day and nothing is too much trouble,. I also loved the attention to detail and the little quirks at every turn…there are no ‘odd’ room numbers for instance and colloquial text brandishes typically mundane items in order to raise a smile. The concept of a fitness hotel may be written off by some and this is a shame because regardless of whether you’re a gym bunny like yours truly here or altogether unlikely to be ‘working on your core, behind your hotel door’, the inviting originality and focus on wellbeing equals comfort in a big big way, (thus, really setting this hotel apart from others in the vicinity). So, get your sprint on and book yourself into witness the fitness at EVEN, you really won't be disappointed.

References:
*http://www.ihg.com/evenhotels/
*http://www.eoproducts.com