A hotel room with a large bed, white bedding, two pillows, wooden headboard, two wall-mounted lamps, a side table with a phone, and a gray armchair in the corner.
A brightly lit mirror with LED edges mounted on a wall above a white countertop in a bathroom or dressing area, with a doorway reflected in the mirror.

We take trips to Dallas usually about once a year so I will add to this page after each trip with new experiences. Please let me know if you have suggestions for our next Dallas trip! Don’t forget to check out where we ate and what we did.

A hotel room with a large bed, white bedding, a nightstand with a phone, a wall-mounted lamp, a blue accent wall, a window with a closed blind, a small sitting area with a chair, a side table, and a floor lamp.
Hotel room with a bed, a wooden wardrobe, a TV in a wooden cabinet, a desk with a yellow chair, a mirror, a luggage, and some personal items.

Holiday Inn Express

Harry Hines Boulevard - Dallas, TX

A small, modern bathroom featuring a toilet, a floating vanity with a white countertop, a rectangular sink, a faucet, a large mirror with LED lighting, a towel bar with a white towel, a tissue box, and a small trash can.

What We Liked and Would We Stay Again?

I would stay here again and not be upset about it, but it wouldn’t be my first choice. The experience was overall average, but we have stayed in much nicer Dallas hotels on previous visits. If we were to go back for another hockey game, I would definitely consider this hotel just for the proximity to the DART park-and-ride lot.

If you are looking for a hotel close to downtown without the price tag of being downtown, this a great spot to consider.

Hotel Website
DART Website

What We Didn’t Like

Getting in and out of this hotel can be tricky with traffic. You can't turn left into the lot, so you must go to the next street to enter. To leave, you either turn right and make a U-turn or go back to the side street and try to cross a busy 4-lane road. It made things interesting.

We always hit hotels during renovations; this one was no different. The covered drop-off was taped off for painting, and since it was pouring when we arrived, we were soaked before we got inside. I know it’s temporary, but it still colored my view of the stay.

Walking into the hotel, there was a strange smell. Not terrible, but not pleasant either. It was weaker on the upper floors and barely noticeable in our room, so I ignored it during our stay, but it hits you each time you enter the lobby.

A cityscape view through a window shows an overcast, foggy day with a parking lot in the foreground, mostly empty with a few trees and parked cars. Behind, there is a large commercial building with a flat roof and multiple vehicles parked around it.
A plain white bathtub with a wall-mounted faucet, a shower head, and two small built-in shelves in a bathroom.
Where Should I Eat in Dallas?
What Should I Do in Dallas?

View from our 9th floor window

 

The Room

We booked a standard king room. It’s spacious and simply furnished: king bed, dresser, double closet, extra seating, bathroom, small desk, and a lounger with its own lamp and side table. Each nightstand has a light and multiple plugs/USB ports. The TV accepts HDMI so you can use your own device or watch free cable. The double closet gave my husband and me separate spaces to hang and store clothes.

The bathroom is a bit cramped: a large vanity on one side, a tub/shower on the other, and the toilet in the middle. That was easier because there’s a separate vanity with a mirror just outside the bathroom. I kept all my things there while my husband used the main vanity. There were plenty of towels in the bathroom and full-size Dove products in the shower.

Across from the vanity is a counter with an ice bucket and cups. A shelf above holds a microwave and a mini-fridge sits on the floor. The room was very clean.

A small kitchenette with a black mini fridge, a white countertop with a silver container and a small item, a wooden shelf with a microwave, and a doorway to another room.

Checking in

Check-in was quick and easy and the staff were friendly. A covered driveway lets you load and unload. Free on-site parking is available. The lobby is clean with seating. To the right is the breakfast area with TVs and a lounge. To the left are the front desk and pool entrance. Elevators straight ahead go to nine floors of rooms.

The hotel is about 10 minutes from downtown in the medical district. A free park-and-ride lot under a mile away connects to the DART train ($6 day pass). The train is a great way to get around, but the DART website can be confusing—check it carefully before you go.