Hotels

If you're in Dallas for a business trip or just a brief vacation, or you simply abhor the thought of driving everywhere, you'd do well to choose your hotel according to neighborhood. Some of the city's best hotels are downtown near the central business and Dallas Arts District, and in the fashionable area called Uptown, but many more hotels (especially more affordable chains) are nestled in North Dallas and near Irving. For most people, the latter locations will involve considerably more highway time, because Dallas is so spread out.

Dallas has a bundle of excellent choices at the top end, a number of them surprisingly old-world in feel. The majority of hotel offerings in the city are large and luxurious, well-run hotels aimed squarely at business travelers, though some very appealing boutique hotels have also taken root. The high-end luxury market is really taking off, with new Mandarin and Ritz five-star hotels coming soon to compete with the most ballyhooed properties. The best of the cheaper options are all-suites hotels. Note: Reservations in Dallas are toughest to come by when conventions take over the city. Check as early as possible with the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.dallascvb.com) or www.visitdallas.com to see if your visit coincides with major business traffic to the city.

The rates cited below are high-season rack rates -- few people pay list price, and you shouldn't either. At a minimum, request the lower, corporate rate and ask about special deals. Virtually all hotels offer some deals, especially on weekends when their business clientele dries up. Check the individual hotels' websites for special online offers. The hotel occupancy tax in Dallas is 15% (the rates quoted below do not include tax). Breakfast, either continental or buffet, is offered free at several hotels, as noted below. Do not assume that breakfast is included; if it is not, it can really add to your bill.

Hotel & Motel Chains

The following national chains have several hotels in the Dallas area and can serve as dependable, affordable places to stay, especially if many of those reviewed in this chapter are full: La Quinta (tel. 800/642-4271; www.lq.com; "Texas Specials" starting at $49); Comfort Inn (tel. 877/424-6423; www.comfortinn.com; 10% discount for booking online); Courtyard by Marriott (tel. 800/321-2211; www.courtyard.com); Holiday Inn Select (tel. 800/315-2621; www.hiselect.com); Days Inn (tel. 800/329-7466; www.daysinn.com); Hampton Inn (tel. 800/HAMPTON; www.hamptoninn.com); and Super 8 (tel. 800/800-8000; www.super8.com).

Family-Friendly Hotels in DFW

Embassy Suites Park Central -- Large and airy, with glass elevators that stream up the interior of a huge central atrium, this hotel welcomes the whole family -- even pets. Distractions include a nice pool, full free breakfasts, and racquetball courts. The kids will actually think they're on vacation. For the parents, there are free cocktails every evening.

Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas -- Your kids don't have to be golfers, but if they're into any sports at all, this resort should seem like an amusement park to them, with tennis courts, three outdoor pools, and one indoor pool, as well as a host of complimentary children's programs.

Residence Inn Fort Worth -- Perfect for families, this friendly hotel has rooms that are more like apartments, with fully equipped kitchens and comfortable sitting areas. When you tell the kids they can walk to the acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo, they're sure to think you've made the right choice.

Residence Inn Forth Worth Cultural District -- The spacious rooms, full kitchens, outdoor pool, and foldout couches are just a few of the amenities that make this hotel, on the edge of the Cultural District, a welcome spot for families.