DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel McAllen

Our annual Holiday Christmas Party went smoothly from beginning to end. Andrea, the Director of Sales & Marketing, made group booking easy; Sandra from Catering and Event planning watched every detail; and Fernando, the Food & Beverage Manager, made sure the food and drinks were outstanding. The support staff were warm and attentive throughout, and our guests felt looked after. The accommodations were comfortable, the atmosphere was festive, and the service made it an unforgettable event. I'd highly recommend this hotel for special events or a stay.

The corner suite suited our large family well, with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a living room, and a small kitchen. One bedroom had a king bed, the other two queens, but I was uneasy that the balcony was attached to the room where my children slept. Wheelchair access from the front lot is limited since there are no sidewalks from that parking area to the main entrance. The side entrances have proper sidewalks, and you can also park in the hotel driveway. We found the staff kind. Housekeeping were friendly and did a good job, cleaning the beds and bringing fresh towels daily when we needed them. The front desk welcomed us with cookies and water. Room service was amazing and convenient, though it closes around 10 PM each night. It was open on holidays. Breakfast was a buffet, handy for a hotel this size. Most mornings had eggs, a protein, salsa, bacon, refried beans, waffles that take about two minutes per serving, bagels, milk, orange juice, fruit, and yogurt. Some days there were pancakes, which was a welcome change, but the menu didn't vary much. The food quality stayed consistent. What bothered me was other guests' hygiene: people sneezed, coughed, and blew their noses before touching the serving utensils. I saw used tissues in elevators and common areas too. Hand sanitizer near the buffet and other busy spots would help. The bar was quiet most nights, but got somewhat rowdy on Friday and Saturday with random women. It seemed possible that some weren't hotel guests, though I'm not sure. The bar stays open on holidays. The hotel met our basic needs, but cleanliness enforcement at the buffet and accessibility could be better.

Our room was so cold that I set the thermostat to heat at 76°F three times overnight, but cold air came through the vents each time and the temperature dropped to 63-65°F. Outside it was in the 40°F range. I shut the system off and called in the morning. A maintenance man explained that the old AC system runs on water. He had to turn the water off, and heat began working after about 10 minutes. To cool the room again, we'd have to call him to turn the water back on. The rooms are dingy and poorly maintained, and the whole hotel is old and out of date. I have a horrible cold, fever, and chills, and I'll never stay here again. Stay away!

The staff are so friendly and helpful, and the rooms are spacious, clean, and quiet. Breakfast was a really nice surprise, better than I expected and better than what I've had at any other hotel chain. I couldn't ask for better service. Ten stars.