Home2 Suites by Hilton DFW Airport South/Irving, TX

Being close to DFW's south entrance, especially the rental car center, was the one good thing about this hotel. The entrance and lobby are awkward and cluttered, just what you don't want when you're tired and trying to find your room. My electronic key didn't work, so I had to carry my bags back downstairs to get a physical card, defeating the point of using a phone key. The room smelled odd, though not terribly, and there was no chair at the desk. I couldn't sit to work on my computer. The TV showed only a blue screen, and there were a few stains on the shower floor. I was exhausted and needed sleep before an early flight, so I didn't go back down to ask for a different room. Hilton, you're slipping fast. I travel every week for work and have seen good, bad, and ugly hotels. This one was solidly ugly. I won't stay there again and will use the Embassy down the road next time.

A heads-up: there are four hotels around the Dallas airport called “HOME 2 SUITES DFW.” This is the South location. There are also North, West, and Southwest. I ordered an Uber to the wrong one, so make sure you have the right address. They offer a free airport shuttle, but be sure to call the correct hotel for it too. I had a great stay for the price. The room was clean and comfortable, with a regular bed, sofa bed, kitchen, and desk. The gym was clean and modern, and breakfast was free, with scrambled eggs, bacon, waffles, and hot grits. The staff were friendly and the shuttle between the hotel and airport was convenient and free. There's an outdoor pool, though I didn't use it. There was no chair at the desk. Since I only stayed one night, I didn't ask them to bring one. It looked like they were replacing several chairs with torn arms under the desks. I also lost my driver's license during the trip, which was alarming, but hotel staff found it and cheerfully mailed it back after I emailed them a shipping label. For what I paid, the amenities made this a surprisingly good stay. My one small gripe is the coffee. I'm picky about it, and theirs is the usual Sam's Club-style coffee. I don't deduct a star, since almost no hotels offer good free coffee unless they're truly luxury places.

We've stayed here at least three times, and the service has always been quick and friendly. It's a quiet place otherwise, though we can hear the freeway and it doesn't bother us. There's a restaurant and a jack in the box right next door. Nice people, and it works well for what we need.

There was hair around the room, including on the desk chair, shower ceiling, shower handle, and floor. When I checked out, nobody was at the desk. At check-in, the man at the desk rattled off so much information so quickly that I had to ask him to repeat details he'd just covered. I told him he was going too fast, and he agreed. Breakfast was awkward too. The employee made a waffle while I waited, then started making another. She came back laughing and said, “Just one more, okay?” I told her I only wanted one and that she was trying to make three. She took the second waffle to the back, where she and others were laughing and chatting. After I made one waffle, another person came out from the back to make one.