Can anyone tell me if there are any romantic places to stay in Dallas other than The Mansion at Turtle Creek and St Germain? My husband & I are attending the boat show in Dallas mid February. I am looking for upscale accomodations, but dont want to spend $300 - $400. I have had suggestions of the Omni Mandelay and Terra Cotta Inn but I have not stayed at either.

Try the Magnolia, new boutique hotel.
Also the Stoneleigh is a historic hotel in a great location _ oaklawn//turtle creek _ but i haven't seen the rooms.
Finally, the Melrose is a great historic hotel also with a great location near oaklawn.
And if you are willing to stay in downtown fort worth - about 30 minutes from dallas _ the Ashton is a nice boutique hotel that is about $200 a night.
any of those might be more negotiable on price than the mansion...

The Stoneleigh and Melrose are both great suggestions.

I believe the Terra Cotta Inn is on the LBJ Freeway, which is hardly romantic! (Hopefully I don't have the wrong property in my mind).

Thanks for both of your replies. John, have you been inside the rooms at the Stonleigh or Melrose? I have stayed in "historic hotels" before and they were VERY small and not nice at all! Do you hav any experience with the Omni Mandaley? I would appreciate your input.

I used to work at the Melrose many years ago so I'm partial to it. Room size varies quite a bit but only a few rooms were "small." Some were downright huge! It's been renovated since I left Dallas but I stop in every chance I get. It's a gorgeous old hotel.

I don't recall much about the rooms at the Stoneleigh. The Omni Mandalay is newer and more "standard" in design so I'd assume the rooms are comfortable at that property.
Maybe Texasgirl can give more information on the Magnolia as it's newer and I know nothing about it. Sounds nice, though!

Two downtown hotels to check are the Adolphus and the Fairmont. They should be less than the Mansion but are very nice.

paula, sorry, i haven't been personally to the magnolia, but it's been open less than a year and is a retrofit of an old building; friends who have seen the rooms say they're kind of like a W, nice decor and new, but maybe on the small side. keep in mind that's second hand information. It is in a good location for you, downtown.

Terra Cotta Inn is definitely on LBJ//635, and while it's a perfectly acceptable motel-style property with southwest accents, i wouldn't call it romantic. and i don't think you'd like the traffic up there.

The Adolphus is also really nice, also downtown, but may be pretty expensive.

I would also put in a vote for the Adolphus. It is a beautiful hotel, the restaurant is also perfect for a very special occasion and the staff and service are excellent. It's one of my favorites.

You might also think about the Crescent Court. A little bigger and, perhaps, less special, but still luxurious. They used to have a Chanel spa and the hotel provided Chanel soaps and other bath products.

Dallas is a pathetic place. What else can you make of a city where its top attraction is the spot a president was murdered. back out while there's still time.

Haven't stayed at the Omni Mandalay, but toured their public spaces last spring and was VERY impressed--even walked the 1/4-1/2 mile back to where we'd left the car to get the camera to take spy pictures for my husband, (who runs a hotel in another chain). It's elegant, Omni's flagship hotel, and beautifully done. Now...it is in Las Colinas, which is a bit out of the way compared to the other properties you are considering, especially if the boat show is at the convention center downtown.

By the way if you stay at the Omni, you can log onto the internet in their lobby bar and let us know how you like it! gt; They've got 5 or 6 keyboards/monitors arranged at attractive tables just outside the bar, with a high speed internet connection. My son and I sat down and gave them a spin, without a soul looking askance at us.

Have fun at the show--we were at the show in St Pete this fall (all sailboats) and people were writing big ticket checks at an unbelievable pace. What recession??

The Dallas Boat Show is at Market Hall on Stemmons/I-35, not at the Convention Center downtown. I would personally stay at the Wyndham Anatole if I were in your situation. Yes, it is a huge place and it is not a quaint B&B or a historic hotel, but it is right across the street from Market Hall, and their service is impeccable. The Nana Grill in house is an excellent restaurant, and the indoor pool and grounds are beautiful.

Thanks for all the replies!! We have decide to check out the Omni Mandelay since seeing Oliveoyl's posts and since we are now thinking of a spring break trip also. We're getting a great rate of $89 a nite for a superior king room. This is what I ususally pay at La Quinta for same so I am expecting at least better than that. I will let you know how the Omni stands up.

mk- let me guess you are a northern Yankee and a Catholic...figures.

Just returned from Dallas. We stayed at the Omni Mandaley Bay the first night. We had a lot of trouble parking our large 4dr pickup, but that is normal. The lobby was nice as were the employees. The trouble started when we went to our room and ran the water in the bathroom sink. Remember the movies where the water turns to blood? This is exactly what the water comming out of the sink, toilet, and bath looked like. The hotel had a water line break and had to repair it. I understand maintenance & all but I ran the water for more than 30 minutes and it never cleared. I finally gave up on a bath, paid $2.50 for bottled water from the honor bar. The water had finally cleared the next morning but I had to decide whether to get dressed & call the maid or clean the nasy black & rust greazy mess out of the sink and bath. We were booked for an additional night, but chose to go & stay at our standby LaQuinta Inns & Suites at Plano. Shouldn't the hotel have some way to flush their water lines? The room was just a normal hotel room & ok (other than the water problem) for the price. This is my fear of hotel rooms for $200 - $300 a night, great lobbies and just normal rooms.

We had a great weekend anyway and ate at two wonderful resturants in the Plano/Frisco area: Tenyas - wonderful elk chops and quail; and Blue Mesa Grill - excellent Sunday brunch w/Mexican food and bottomless Mimosa!