The Visitation Hotel is an upscale property in the heart of Frederick, the second most populous city in Maryland after Baltimore. With 65 rooms and suites, the hotel opened in 2024, repurposing 19th century premises that was long used as a convent school known as the Visitation Academy.
The beautiful building’s heritage is proudly embraced with statues by the car park hinting at its Roman Catholic past. My room featured framed monochrome photos of groups of academy students in both the bedroom and the bathroom. There was also a shadow box on one of the walls containing archaeological finds discovered at the site that included pieces of pottery and glass. The front page of the 1863 catalogue of pupils of the Academy of the Visitation was framed between the two windows of my bedroom. Legend texts explained the significance of the images and informed me that every guestroom has a shadow box.
I was allocated a room on the third floor in the side of the structure formerly occupied by the Sisters of the Order of the Visitation. Assuming that the nuns were accommodated in modest cells, I was pleasantly surprised to open the door to room 307 and see a modern and spacious guestroom with a king-size bed. All the rooms in the Visitation Hotel have an area of at least 213 square feet. With beige walls, a large brown headboard and a black door, the room had a harmonic feel – some might say heavenly?
Carpeted, the pleasantly decorated room featured a large mirror, a coat rack and an old-style travel trunk next to the door. The chest held two electric fans, which I didn’t make use of in the air-conditioned room, and a foldable stand of the type typically used for storing luggage. Assuming that there would be no inspection by a chastising mother superior figure, I simply left my suitcase open on the floor on the far side of the room and dipped in and out as and when I required, heading out to explore Frederick rather than spending time indoors unpacking.
Handily, each of the bedside tables featured USB-A, USB-C and two regular charging points. Charging a phone overnight always feels much easier when it is within easy reach.
The sizable TV on the wall opposite the bed allowed me to check the day’s sports before nodding off. It was above a solid writing desk with a comfortable chair and an espresso machine. Generously, six coffee pods were supplied, along with a couple of water bottles. If I’d been better prepared, I would have brought drinks to place in the fridge below the desk to cool.
The bathroom featured a walk-in shower and felt roomy. Bathrobes hung by the door and towels were neatly stacked on a freestanding unit. Along with a hairdryer, a steamer was available. Delightfully scented Malin and Goetz toiletries were available to dispense in the shower and by the wash basin.
Other than the electronically controlled blinds in the bathroom and bedroom, which felt faffy to use and didn’t automatically switch off when fully closed, the room made the kind of positive impression that one might otherwise pray for.
A dispenser for refilling bottles with drinking water was mounted on the wall of the corridor diagonally opposite my room. Original artworks are displayed in the hotel corridors and are available for sale.
In keeping with the property’s historic vibe, rocking chairs stand on the rust-coloured wooden walkways overlooking the courtyard and car park. With black-painted wooden shutters and white walls, it is easy to imagine life in bygone times while staying at the hotel.
Visitation Hotel Frederick is a member of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio and has a fitness room on the ground floor.
The Acorn Provisions café is around the corner from the check-in desk and only a few paces from the grand dining space of the onsite Wye Oak Tavern which I recommend having dinner at. The restaurant is owned by Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, celebrated chefs who count Frederick as their home town. Produce from the U.S.’s Mid-Atlantic region is showcased within the former Visitation Academy’s repurposed chapel. The erstwhile altar serves as a bar and is flanked by stained glass windows designed by Franz Mayer.
The menu features the likes of tuna carpaccio, Maryland crab cake (a speciality of the state), savoury Parmesan cheesecake and oysters. The choice of meats includes a 16-ounce rib-eye steak of grass-fed beef, filet mignon and prime rib.
Remarkably, this hotel was the first to open in downtown Frederick for more than half a century. With bags of character and comfort, it’s a handy base for exploring a city that I enjoyed spending time in.
The Details
Visitation Hotel Frederick, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, 211 E Church Street, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, United States.
Tel: +1(240) 931-1120
Website: www.visitationhotel.com
Email: Info@visitationhotel.com
Frederick is a 50-minute drive along the I-70 northwest of Baltimore/Washington International Marshall Thurgood Airport (BWI). Both Washington D.C. and Baltimore are located about 50 miles from Frederick. The hotel is under 10 minutes’ walk from Frederick Transit Centre and close to the centre of Frederick. Its main entrance is on E. Church Street, where valet parking is available. A second entrance is on the other side of the block, E. Carroll Street.
Type of Hotel: Luxury Boutique Hotel
Number of Rooms: 65 rooms, including 15 suites, including complimentary Wi-Fi.
Price Band: Medium to high.
Insider Tip: If you appreciate a whiskey-based nightcap, sample one of the Smoke Point cocktails served in the Wye Oak Tavern. The main ingredient is rye whiskey; an alcoholic beverage long associated with Maryland. Featuring tobacco bitters, it is delightful to sip before heading to your room.
Take a short stroll from the hotel to visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Thousands of injured soldiers were treated in Frederick during the American Civil War. The museum engagingly conveys how the conflict was a catalyst for modernising medical care.
If you are interested in military history, drive out of town to visit Monocacy National Battlefield. Fought in July 1864, it is referred to as ‘The Battle That Saved Washington’. Though defeated, the Union force slowed the Confederate army’s advance sufficiently for reinforcements to save the capital.
Additional Information: Take a look at the Visit Frederick website to find out about things to do and see in and around Maryland’s second-most populous city. Head to the Visit Maryland website to plan an overnight stay in Frederick as part of a visit to the Old Line State.
UK travellers visiting the USA need a visa or a visa waiver. Visit the official Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) website to apply. Non-official sites can cost significantly more than the official ESTA fee of $40.27.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9/10
Author’s Bio:
Stuart Forster is an award-winning travel writer and the creator of the blog Go Eat Do. He appreciates city breaks, heritage and local flavours.
Photographs by Stuart Forster
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