Just wondering what suggestions folks have on lodging for nearly a week in mid-May in Dallas. The meeting will be at the Dallas Convention Center and so far I’ve made reservations at two different hotels–Holiday Inn Market Center and Home2 Suites by Hilton at Baylor Scott & White.
The Holiday Inn hotel is 3 miles away and has a free shuttle 7 days a week, 6am-9pm, no free meals. The Home2 Suites has no shuttle but free breakfast and is 1.5 or so miles from the convention center, according to the front desk. Both hotels are roughly the same price. Any thoughts about either of these hotels? I’ve never been to Dallas (other than the airport). Thanks for any insights!
Any other thoughts on lodging is also welcome. Most of the hotel rooms closer to the convention center are sold out and the convention lodging folks are running a waitlist.
I don’t eat breakfast, so the answer would be easy for me. I guess the question is which is more important to you? A free breakfast or free transportation? Seems like grabbing a meal would be easy on site or very close to. How much would an Uber cost twice a day? Since I live in Dallas, I’ve never needed to know anything about the hotels or services attached to the convention center. @MomofWildChild has traveled to Dallas for business in addition to living here for a period of time. Maybe she can answer your questions.
DS lives in Dallas, so we visit regularly. Before he had enough room for us to stay with him, we often stayed at the Hyatt Regency. It was a great deal with Hyatt points. There are lots of hotels closer than 1.5 miles, and many are walkable to the convention center. Keep looking!
Will your conference offer breakfast of some sort on site the days of the conference? Often conference food is so plentiful…I’d rather have short access to the conference facility with as little distance as possible between my room and the conference center.
I had the same thought as @abasket as far as the conference offering breakfast. Also try TripAdvisor. I’m sure you can narrow the search to hotels near the convention center.
That Holiday Inn is in an area that’s pretty much dead at night. No walkable restaurants (there are good ones in the nearby Design District and in Uptown, but you’d need to Uber). That Home2 Suites in Deep Ellum is within a couple blocks of an area with lots of restaurants and music and a short Uber ride from Lower Greenville restaurants. (I’m obviously all about the food). I would make a refundable reservation at the Home 2 but hope to get off the waitlist.
OK, have just made reservations @ Springhill Suites Dallas Downtown/West End which is 8 blocks from the convention center, 0.8 miles. They have free breakfast and will be an easily walkable distance for us. @yauponredux, is that an OK hotel & area? You’ve been most helpful! The front desk seems to think it’s an easy walk.
I stayed at that Springhill Suites a few years ago when my DD played in a volleyball tournament at the convention center. It is definitely walkable, and I felt safe. The West End was more vibrant in the past. Less so when I stayed there, but still fine. Good choice.
The West End area was redeveloped in the late 80’s/early 90’s. Afraid I don’t know the Springhill Suites and haven’t been to any West End restaurants in years, but finally visited the Sixth Floor Museum in the area a year or so ago and didn’t feel unsafe. The walkable restaurants are of the TGIF genre, fine but not destinations, with the exception of YO Steakhouse, which has a nice patio and can handle larger groups, and Ellen’s for brunch or happy hour. I think the West End draws more of a tourist and younger crowd than locals these days.
In downtown, Bullion and the Adolphus would be more or less on your way from the convention center to your hotel and are gorgeous spots for happy hour (would be very expensive for dinner). Walk through the lobby of the Joule just to see it (haven’t eaten there). There is a spot on the rotating top of Reunion Tower that is known more for the view, especially if you get a table by a window, than the food. Have heard good things about the Woolworth but haven’t been. We like Meso Maya, (more interior Mexican than Tex-Mex) and Olivella’s for Neopolitan pizza (the Nutella dessert pizza isn’t authentic but is wonderful).
The Dallas Museum of Art is probably a 10-15 minute walk from your hotel and is open late on Thursdays and occasionally Fridays when there is a block party of sorts with music, food trucks, etc. If you happen to be there when that is going on and the weather is decent, it’s fun. The DMA has a terrific collection of American art among other things, and admission is free to the permanent collection. Nearby the Trammell Crow Collection of Asian Art is smaller and has more limited hours but worth a visit. The Flora Street Café is near both museums and is terrific (but very pricey - think they do a pre-theatre menu that might be less stratospheric).
@“cincy gal” that’s on our list to visit - glad to have your recommendation- although it occurred to me as I was suggesting the Crow collection that @HImom may not need to come to Dallas to see Asian art!
We also made a reservation at Cambria downtown Dallas, 1907 Elm Street. Any thoughts as to whether that’s better or not as good as Springhill Suites above? Thanks @“cincy gal” & @yauponredux!
The Cambria is a “Choice” hotel that was built in 2017. It’s across from the Majestic Theater. It’s said to be very walkable and 0.6 miles from the Convention Center. I’m just curious about how good/bad the area is for walking around at various times of the day/evening.