Hotel Dryce

I called because I’m from out of town and wanted help booking a room for an event. The woman who answered sounded completely flat and didn’t know anything about the concert I asked about, even though she said the hotel was right across from the dickens arena. I expected someone to explain the walk, nearby food, rideshares, or the neighborhood, and maybe tell me what the hotel offers. She didn’t try to help with a reservation or connect me to a manager or anyone more helpful. She just answered the phone. I went to the website myself, but the photos didn’t make me want to book either. The rooms looked like dorms or some kind of college bunkhouse, and the bathrooms reminded me of old gym group showers. I couldn’t see anything that felt luxurious or like a nice vacation stay. The woman didn’t mention a bar, explain where guests could eat, or give me any reason to choose the hotel. I came away with the impression of a place for a marching band, students on a budget, or a traveling football team. I don’t want to spend my money on a room that looks like something from Build-A-Bear.

There’s no coffee maker in the room, so you have to go downstairs for the free coffee. The rooms are pretty basic, though they still have a touch of luxury, and the shower was like an Herbal Essences commercial, with decent soap and shampoo. At first, coming through a residential area, we thought the place was an apartment complex. Once inside, the grounds and bar were lovely. The bar manager was working and knew a lot about drinks. They were kind and made sure we were completely satisfied. Everyone on staff was friendly. A really wonderful place.

It looks like you’re paying mostly for the location, since Dickey's arena is only a stone’s throw away. For what you get, though, I thought the price was too high. The industrial, minimalist look makes it feel like you’re living out of a suitcase, and the rooms are small and awkward to use. There’s no closet, just two short wall pegs, and one drawer under the bed, so there’s barely room for anything beyond an extra pair of shoes. The unfinished concrete floors feel cold under the tiny rug. There’s only one bedside table, and the little Murphy-style desk folds down from the wall. Bringing takeout seems impractical unless you plan to eat alone.

I came from San Antonio for a concert, and the location made it easy to walk back to my room instead of sitting in the long traffic leaving Dickies Arena. I could even stop for a drink at the bar before going to the venue. The neighborhood seemed fine. My one suggestion is to light the parking lot. As a solo traveler, I felt a little uneasy going to Waffle House after traffic had died down because the lot was completely dark. There were no lights out there.