With apologies to George Orwell, some hotels are more equal than others. Their superiority amid legions of also-rans comes not by dint of brand or price or even celebrity influence but from the plain fact that they deliver a superb night’s stay, a judgment that only comes from firsthand experience. Luckily for you, we’ve done the work.
W Dallas-Victory With so much construction under way in downtown Dallas, it would be easy for the new W to be, well, just another W. But inside and out, this 252-room Victory Park hotel is a standout. In addition to the usual amenities, such as Bliss bath accoutrements and downy beds, the 33-story property has a stunning sixteenth-floor outdoor infinity pool with panoramic skyline views, a top-floor lounge cum night club with an exhilarating (or terrifying, depending on your level of acrophobia) all-glass balcony, and an outpost of Tom Colicchio’s Craft restaurant. While the doormen, with their designer uniforms, seem more L.A. than Dallas, the lobby is all Texas, with its massive chandeliers and its beaded curtains strung with miniature cowboy figurines—and so is the hospitality. When to go: September through November, when sticky summer days give way to the perfect fall. Which room to book: Fifteenth-floor Mega rooms are Texas-style; in other words, everything—from the beds to the ceilings to the bath linens—is supersize. Amenities: 24-hour Room Service Bar/lounge Gym Pool Spa Click here to read the list of Conde Nast Traveler Hot LIst Hotels 2007.News Article | 5/1/2007