Graduate by Hilton Dallas

The hotel is cute, and the restaurant staff were great. Check-in was pretty ho-hum, as other reviews have mentioned. It was also noisy: my neighbor had loud music and a loud TV, and a few doors down a dog kept yapping. I could hear the dog over the TV in my room. They didn’t offer earplugs, either free or for purchase. The sheets were high-quality microfiber, but still not cotton, which was disappointing for a premium hotel.

The employees always make me feel welcome, and the property stays clean from the lobby through the hallways and rooms. I also like the Texas-themed pillows, wallpaper, and signs. The location makes it easy to get around Dallas, and I especially like being close to SMU. The Graduate Dallas is one of my favorite hotels in Texas and the US. I choose it every time I return, and my great experiences so far give me no reason to change that.

Helina was especially welcoming and helpful, and the staff made the whole process easy, from checking in to checking out. I had a great stay at Graduate by Hilton and would happily come back.

We spent two weeks in a King Suite, and the Front Desk Manager, Gilberto, was a trusted resource throughout. Ray at the desk was helpful too, and housekeeping couldn’t do enough for us. The valet team greeted us warmly, a welcome change from recent DFW experiences. The price may seem high, but it matches other hotels nearby, and the staffing felt better. Parking is tight because the hotel sits on a small lot on Hillcrest Avenue, with an expensive neighborhood behind it. I can see why there’s no garage. The setting is a major plus. The Graduate is across from the west side of SMU, and you can walk north along the avenue to shops and restaurants. When the Dallas heat sets in, Snider Plaza is a short drive up Hillcrest. It’s a restored shopping and dining area with options from breakfast through late supper, plus CVS, Tom Thumb, banks, and independent shops. Skip the Shell at the north end on Lovers Lane unless you like paying too much for gas. The hotel is marketed as being in Dallas, but it’s actually in University Park, or UP. UP and neighboring Highland Park, HP, have visible police patrols and quick police and Fire Rescue response for residents, visitors, and SMU students. The hotel doesn’t put down Dallas in its marketing. From my experience with crime and local officials, though, I’d stay and eat in UP. There are no hotels in HP. Al Biernat’s Oak Lawn is a safe exception south on Hillcrest, less than a ten-minute drive away, with impeccable service and steak. Don’t assume a place advertising “Park Cities” is outside Dallas. It may be in the City of Dallas, where staffing shortages have meant dedicated officers might not be available when needed, though those shortages are finally being addressed. Our recently remodeled suite was lovely, with an SMU theme, fitting given the campus across Hillcrest Avenue. The living room had a large desk, plush sofa, chair, and a new large-screen Smart TV. Internet speed was excellent. The kitchen had a full-size fridge and freezer, the largest I’ve seen in a hotel suite, along with a roomy sink with good pressure, a new microwave, and enough cabinets for a visiting football team’s supplies. In the bathroom, a solid door separated the vanity and mirror from the toilet, and the glass shower gave us hot water and good pressure. The bedroom’s King bed was exceptionally comfortable. It had attractive wallpaper and decor, a large dresser between the bedroom and bathroom, a big closet, three drawers beside it facing the bed, and another large-screen Smart TV. The room, service, and location make this property stand out, just like UP.