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I had to be in Dallas for a business dinner and needed a hotel nearby. The Adolphus, Autograph Collection looked fun and different and was not too far from where I needed to be for the dinner. The hotel opened in 1912 and is known as Dallas’ first luxury hotel. I loved the mix of classic and contemporary decor and found the service to be excellent throughout my quick stay.
Anthony’s Take: The Adolphus Hotel, Autograph Collection is one of my new favorite hotels in Dallas. The room, facilities, service, and in-room dining were all top notch. I wish I would have had more time at the hotel and the opportunity to try out breakfast, but I will definitely be returning.
Booking
I booked a Deluxe, Guest Room, 1 King on a Marriott LUMINOUS rate. It was $426 per night including taxes and fees. This total had a $25 Daily Destination Fee included. I did not mind this fee at this hotel because it was usable for food and beverage. I took advantage of that as well as a $100 credit that was provided from the Marriott LUMINOUS rate. I am a travel advisor and can book these rates that are not available without an agent. The cost was the same as if I had booked a “Member Rate Flexible,” but it included some nice additional perks. Reach out to me at anthony.losanno@fora.travel for assistance booking this hotel and others. Marriott did away with award charts a few years ago, but redemptions can be had for between 35,000 and 57,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points.
Transportation to/from the Hotel
I took an Uber Comfort from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to the hotel and back the next day to head home. The ride there took around 33 minutes (it’s around 23 miles) and cost $48. Departing, the ride was shorter and cost $36.
Location
The Adolphus Hotel, Autograph Collection is located in the Downtown Historic District and there are lots of restaurants and shops nearby. I was pleased to see a Starbucks a short walk from the hotel.
I loved all of the plants that greet you when you enter the space before the lobby. There were a good number of seats in this all-season room.
Upon entering the lobby, the front desk is straight ahead. Flowers filled the table in front of the reception desk.
The reception desk is original to the hotel.
I loved all of the old keys hanging behind it.
There were separate lines for Marriott Bonvoy® elite and non-elite guests.
Check-In
I arrived at the hotel around 2:00 PM. My room was ready, which I appreciated. I inquired about an upgrade and was told that there were none available. I was going to be in the hotel for such a short time that I did not push the point. I was asked if I needed a late checkout and I declined as I was out the door the next morning around 6:30 AM. The agent explained the Daily Destination Fee as well as the benefits afforded to me through booking the Marriott LUMINOUS rate. Unfortunately, I was unable to enjoy the breakfast based on my early departure. I chose points as my welcome amenity for being Titanium Elite. I had my keys printed and was on my way a moment later.
The agent handed me a giant cookie with a welcome letter, which was a nice touch.
The Daily Destination Fee includes the following:
- Daily $25 F&B Credit
- The Adolphus 45-minute guided historical tour-Offers the history and book for two guests per stay
- Daily Ice cold Longneck or Craft Soda for two guests
- Daily Access to Cowboys FIT at AT&T Discovery Plaza featuring a state of art fitness facility for two guests
- Daily House Car Service within 3mile radius of hotel. 10am-10pm
- Daily Enhanced Hi-Speed Internet Access
While any type of destination or amenity fee is annoying, this one actually had some useful inclusions.
The Marriott LUMINOUS rate included the following:
- Welcome amenity
- Complimentary American Breakfast daily for two guests per room ($35 per person) in City Hall Bistro
- Complimentary basic Wi-Fi daily
- Early check-in and late checkout (when available)
- Complimentary upgrade (if available at check-in)
- $100 USD hotel credit
Two drink vouchers were also provided in card form (these are part of the Destination Fee).
The lobby has a few sitting areas on the lower level where reception is located.
Complimentary water was offered to guests.
The concierge desk is also located on the lobby level.
I liked the art throughout the hotel.
Escalators led up a level to the elevators for guest rooms.
This was an expansive space with multiple fireplaces and lots of comfy seats.
The hotel has done a great job of blending old and new with lots on display to look at.
There were more plants on this level.
The elevator lobby on my floor was expansive and nicely decorated.
It had a nice seating area.
I liked the terrarium on the table.
The art in the hallways was funky.
The hallways were well maintained and clean.
Deluxe, Guest Room, 1 King (908)
There are 407 rooms and suites at the hotel.
The room held a king-sized bed and two nightstands.
A desk, dresser, TV, and some lamps lined the wall across from the bed.
The desk served as a good spot for me to get some work done.
Two complimentary bottles of water were here.
There was also a welcome amenity for booking a Marriott LUMINOUS rate.
Inside, I found two large bars of soap.
A chair along with an ottoman were near the windows.
A nook near the door held a refrigerator, coffeemaker, and more.
The refrigerator was filled with drinks for sale.
The counter on top held candy and snacks for sale along with a coffeemaker, coffee pods, and condiments.
The closet had an iron, ironing board, safe, and luggage rack inside.
My room offered this view.
The bathroom was nicely appointed with a vanity, toilet, and glassed-in shower.
APOTHEKE brand lotion and bar soap were on the counter.
The shower was a good size with decent water pressure and temperature control.
The Adolphus Hotel branded toiletries were mounted to the shower wall.
The toilet was well spaced within the room.
Room Service
I used the majority of my $100 credit to book a room service lunch of Meatballs with Burrata and Crab Cakes. Everything was delicious and the food arrived in around 25 minutes.
Public Areas & Amenities
The hotel has a fitness center, several restaurants and bars, an ATM, a rooftop pool that converts to a winter village space, a shoeshine station, and a barbershop.
The ATM is on the lobby level.
I walked by the 5,000-square-foot spa, but did not have time to check it out.
The fitness center is down the hall from the spa and open daily from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Towels and bottled water were provided.
The fitness center has Peloton Bikes.
There are also lots of other machines for cardio.
Free weights and other equipment filled the space.
The Adolphus Hotel does something clever with its outdoor pool during the winter. It turns it into a Winter Village with heated spaces for cocktails and a cute setup.
The Winter Village was closed during the day, but I loved the concept and execution.
These spaces are so cute.
What a great way to spend a chilly evening. It opened on December 1st and the pool will reopen in warmer weather.
Free coffee was offered to all guests in the morning near reception.
The shoe shine station was near the lobby entrance.
The barbershop was also on the reception level.
Overall Impression:
I loved this hotel. The design, service, decor, amenities, and just about everything I experienced made me happy. I can’t wait to stay here again.
Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: When I’m staying at a Marriott hotel, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. With it, I earn six Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. It also includes up to $300 statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month ) for dining in restaurants worldwide. Plus, a free night award every year after my card renewal month that I can redeem at any Marriott hotel with a redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points. Learn more. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit here. Terms apply.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
