This post contains affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you if you click on one of the product links, we may earn a commission.

This was actually my very first time visiting Dallas, and I was specifically searching for a pet-friendly hotel that was located right in downtown, reasonably priced, and within walking distance to the AT&T Discovery District. Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas Downtown checked all of those boxes perfectly!

FIRST IMPRESSION

To be honest, when I first exited the interstate and made my way toward the hotel, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this area. There were quite a few homeless people lined up along the streets about a mile or two from the hotel, which made the neighborhood look a bit questionable to me. Thankfully, as I got closer to the hotel itself, the surroundings improved and felt safer and less sketchy.

When I pulled up right in front of the hotel, a very friendly gentleman came over to offer valet service for my car. I had done some research beforehand and already knew that valet parking was the only option available, with a cost of about $45 per night. Although there could be some parking garages nearby that might charge less, since I was traveling with a lot of luggage, I preferred the convenience of unloading right by the hotel entrance.

Hampton Inn Downtown Dallas valet service

Aaron, who I later found out was the general manager, kindly helped us load all of our bags onto the luggage cart and then personally directed us to the lobby. The woman working at the front desk was extremely polite and managed to get our room keys ready in less than five minutes.

Aaron even accompanied us to the elevators and followed right behind us with the luggage cart. He happily carried our luggage to the room and helped unload everything from the cart as well. Such attentive, thoughtful service – truly impressive for a Hampton Inn!

LOCATION

Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas Downtown is situated in a fantastic location, making it incredibly easy to explore many popular attractions and a variety of eateries all within walking distance. One of the main sites I was excited to visit was the AT&T Discovery District, which was just a quick 5-minute stroll from the hotel.

This vibrant district features a beautiful park filled with enormous digital displays and striking art installations that make for a visually captivating experience. In addition to the outdoor attractions, there is a trendy food hall called The Exchange and a restaurant named Cowboy Chow to satisfy your cravings.

The neighborhood is packed with plenty of restaurants and bars, offering an assortment of choices for dining and nightlife. We chose to visit one of the local speakeasy bars known as Bourbon and Banter, which was a fun experience thanks to its unique secret entry—guests have to enter a special code on the phone inside a telephone booth to get inside.

Large digital display at AT&T Discovery District

Another place I had hoped to explore was The Sixth Floor Museum, the historical site where Lee Harvey Oswald shot former president John F. Kennedy. It was about a 20-minute walk away, but unfortunately, the museum was closed Monday, the day we were there, so I wasn’t able to visit during this trip.

AMENITIES

This hotel offers a range of amenities including an indoor pool, a well-equipped fitness center, free WiFi, complimentary breakfast, and a laundry room.

Although I didn’t have the chance to try the indoor pool during my stay, the fitness center truly impressed me. It featured plenty of space with several cardio machines positioned in front of large windows that offered stunning views of downtown Dallas. On the opposite side of the gym, there was a spacious workout area stocked with dumbbells, medicine balls, and other equipment. Plus, a sanitizing station with fresh towels was readily available.

Hampton Inn Downtown Dallas Fitness Center

The complimentary breakfast served from 6 to 10 AM was absolutely excellent. The dining area was spotless, and the buffet was thoughtfully organized. The breakfast options were similar to what we enjoyed at the Hampton Inn in Pensacola, including pastries, yogurt, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cereals, and my personal favorite — the waffle station.

Hampton Inn Downtown Dallas complimentary breakfast

Hot foods served at complimentary breakfast

What made this waffle stand out was that the waffles were creatively shaped like the state of Texas! I truly appreciated that charming, local touch. It was a real pleasure to sit in the dining area by the window, soaking in the relaxing views of downtown Dallas as I enjoyed my morning meal each day.

We also made good use of the laundry facilities which had two washers and two dryers available. The cost was $2.50 per machine, and it was convenient to pay by credit card.

For those who enjoy their coffee, a Starbucks is conveniently connected to the hotel through the lobby, making it easy to grab your favorite drink without even stepping outside.

Hampton Inn Downtown Dallas laundry facility

THE ROOM

I booked a King Room online and made a special note requesting a stay on a high floor away from the elevator. Most of the time, hotels tend to overlook these notes, but to my pleasant surprise, the staff actually took notice. They informed me that while they couldn’t accommodate my request for the highest floor, they could definitely offer me a room situated away from the elevator. For me, that was a perfect compromise because I’d much rather have peace and quiet away from the elevator traffic than be on the very top floor.

The main reason I prefer rooms away from elevators is due to the frequent commotion caused by people coming and going, which often leads to loud noises. This kind of activity tends to alert my dog, Kuma, who sometimes starts barking in response to all the noise, so to avoid that chaos, I always make it a point to request a room set away from the elevator area.

In the end, I was assigned Room 1103 on the 11th floor, which was still a fairly high floor and met my needs well. I especially appreciated the conveniently located ice and water station near our room, as we used it multiple times to refill our water bottles throughout our stay.

Admiring the view from our hotel room — Loved the view from our room

I loved the view we had from our room. Most of the time, I end up getting rooms with not much of a view because I don’t want to pay extra for it. So I was surprised to see that I had a lovely view of downtown Dallas.

The King Bed room wasn’t quite as spacious as the Pensacola one we previously stayed in, but there was still plenty of room for me, my boyfriend, and Kuma to move around comfortably. The bed itself was comfortable, and we all enjoyed restful nights both evenings we spent there.

Convenient ottoman chairs for luggage placement

On either side of the bed, there were nightstands with lamps. The lamps had outlets built in, but they didn’t work. I assume that’s why extra outlets were installed on the tables separately, and thankfully those worked perfectly fine for charging our devices.

In front of the bed, there were two square ottomans that I found really handy for setting down most of my luggage and keeping things organized. Facing the bed, the room was equipped with practical amenities including a working desk, a coffee machine, a microwave, and a mini refrigerator. The fridge struggled to cool adequately and had a bit of a leaking problem.

Corgi looking into hotel room's fridge — Mini fridge that did not work well

Hotel room closet space — Closet space with luggage rack, iron, ironing board, and extra pillow and blanket

Near the entrance, the closet included a luggage rack, an extra pillow and blanket, as well as an iron and ironing board.

The bathroom surprised me with its spaciousness given the modest size of the room. I appreciated the ample counter space paired with a large mirror. While the provided toiletries were limited to soap, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner, the hotel had a sign indicating guests could request additional essentials like toothbrushes, combs, or razors at the front desk free of charge.

The shower stall was generously sized and featured both a rain head shower and a regular shower head. There was a convenient foot stand in the corner—perfect for ladies needing to shave their legs.

PET-FRIENDLINESS

The hotel is pet-friendly, but they don’t really provide many amenities specifically for pets. For instance, there were no treats offered upon arrival, which is something a lot of pet-friendly hotels like to have as a nice gesture for the furry guests.

Main Street Garden Park Dallas — Main Street Garden Park

Additionally, there were no designated pet relief areas or pet waste stations on the premises. While there is a park with plenty of grass located a few blocks away at Main Street Garden Park, it was a bit too far for Kuma to hold it until we got there. As a result, she ended up relieving herself on small patches of mulch or right on the sidewalks and crosswalks nearby.

The pet fee is $75 for stays of 1-4 nights and increases to $125 for stays of 5 or more nights. They allow a maximum of two pets per room, and they can be either dogs or cats, with a weight limit of up to 75 lbs per pet.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at this hotel. It was situated in a fantastic location, close to many attractions and easily accessible. The breakfast options were excellent, offering a variety of delicious choices to start the day right. The staff were consistently friendly and helpful, with Aaron standing out for his exceptional service and warm attitude.

However, the only thing that made me a bit uneasy was walking around the neighborhood at night. There were some sketchy individuals in the area who would shout out random things to passersby, which made me feel somewhat uncomfortable and cautious. If my boyfriend hadn’t been with me, I definitely would have avoided going out alone after dark.