10/10 Exceptional
I stayed here with my partner for a little anniversary getaway weekend and we were very, very impressed. This is definitely a unique experience in a unique location, but it’s absolutely worth the few hoops you have to jump through — so let me share some tips!
The hotel is located on the 49th and 50th floors of the Santander/Thanksgiving Tower in downtown Dallas. The building is shared with offices and residential units, so parking and navigating can be a little confusing at first. There are garage entrances and exits on either side of the tower, which is super convenient. If you pay for parking through Mint House (totally worth it), you get in/out privileges for your whole stay. That means you can come and go freely without paying again each time.
The elevators are kind of futuristic and might throw you off at first. You select your floor on the screen outside the elevator, and then it tells you which elevator to take. If you’re parked on-site, just find the garage elevators and hit the big “1” on the screen to head to the lobby. From there, the high-rise elevators will be right in front of you. Pick floor “48,” ride up, and then walk to the end of the hallway where you’ll see a big Mint House sign and their mini front desk, plus the elevators that take you up to your room.
Yeah, it’s a bit of a process to get to and from your room, and I can see how that might turn some people off. But honestly, the views from these rooms make it all worth it. I’m pretty sure these are the highest hotel rooms in all of Texas, even taller than the nearby Sheraton by five floors. So if great views are your thing, this place delivers big time. That said, it’s probably not the best choice if you’re scared of heights.
The room itself was simple, but very clean and tidy when we arrived. The bed was comfy — the pillows, not so much. The shower had low water pressure and the showerhead was a little loose, which caused some leaking, but the overall shower setup was beautiful and spacious. The high-quality Public Goods toiletries were a nice touch too. There are also public restrooms on each floor, which more hotels should honestly consider, especially for families. The AC worked great. The ceiling fan, not so much.
Overall, we had an amazing stay at this one-of-a-kind hotel and would love to come back sometime soon. We didn’t try the Tower Club because the prices were kind of ridiculous, especially with so many better and more affordable restaurants nearby — plus two 7-Elevens if you want to avoid overpriced drinks and snacks. Definitely check out White Rhino Coffee just two blocks down Elm, and Uno Mas for Tex-Mex over on Main Street!
Update -
We recently stayed here a second time as we were in town for a concert, roughly three months since my original review. The experience was just as exceptional as the first time around. My only complaint would be some very noisy neighbors but that is very much not the hotel’s fault. Also, some fixtures in the room (mainly the TV and mini-fridge) could definitely use some updating. Other than that, we enjoyed the same seamless, easy check-in/out process and incredible views from our corner room. I would still highly recommend this property as an affordable stay downtown.