Hotel Review: Arlington Hilton in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Me and Hilton just do not get along. Yet I keep insisting on giving them another chance for some reason. Go figure. The Arlington Hilton put me off the hotel chain once and for all. Final answer.

This trip we were just passing through Dallas and needed a place to stay fairly close to the Dallas/ Fort Worth Airport and they happened to have the location (within 5 miles of DFW and across the street practically from Six Flags Over Texas) and at a pretty good price. The lobby is smallish and nothing remarkable at all. Actually it resembles a more expensive Motel 6 lobby. Seriously. there was a Check In desk and that's about it, but hey, nice carpet!

So I tell the desk chick that I will be paying cash. I hand her my Visa for incidentals but tell her point blank Do Not authorize that card for any amount, I will pay cash for everything, this is just for your security. She says that is fine and for me to wait til I check out to pay. I go up to my room thinking everything just might go ok this time.

The rooms have a Contemporary decor in pastels and earthtones. They advertise spacious, but my room was on the small side. A king size bed and a low dresser... and that's about it. This was cramped. Now, this room usually goes for about 90-140 bucks. I'm very glad I didn't pay that. I would have been a bit miffed. For the $60 I did pay, I guess it was adequate.

It was clean at least, and so was the bathroom. They do supply shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap and a shower cap. It's not bad quality either and you can request extras. The shower is in the tub and it's a bit cramped in there too. Hot water was plentiful, and the towels were fluffy at least...

I did have a hair dryer and coffee maker. They do have a business center but I wouldn't bother with it... having gotten frustrated to the point of wanting to kill something, the desk staff just shrugged. We're talking so slow that most pages won't load. I think it must have been running an old 2400 baud modem. I kid you not. Did I say most pages? I meant NO pages. I couldn't even get to email. Worthless. They have the typical free newspaper that never arrived, the fitness center/spa that wasn't open, and the pool outside that was locked the whole time. Are we havin' fun yet?

They do have a bar but I didn't bother with it. I was so infuriated that I left the next morning. Why was I infuriated? I went to dinner. That's why. Ok that's not why... I went to dinner outside the hotel (Conrad's was closed). My Visa was declined. I'm guessing you can figure out the rest. Not only did she authorize my card after assuring me she would not, she authorized it for a Full Week when I was planning to stay 2 days... and she did it at the rack rate. So even if she had just charged me what I actually planned to stay it would have been only 106 bucks. I would have been peeved, but not infuriated. But no. She had charged me over a grand.

Believe it or not I approached the desk quietly and politely wanting to know what part of the conversation had not been understood. The manager got involved and was absolutely no help at all.

It's policy ma'am.

That's not what we agreed on explicitly.

It's policy ma'am

What's your policy if I come over this desk...?

Ok I didn't say that last line but I was damn sure thinking it! She has no clue how close she came to visiting the nearest hospital. ARGH! I did write corporate several times and received no response whatsoever. Hilton is not an option in my book any longer. Not even remotely. We travel quite a bit. I'll stay at a damn Knight's Inn before I'll frequent a Hilton again.

2401 East Lamar BLVD
Arlington, Texas 76006
Tel: 817-640-3322
Fax: 817-633-1430