20th Anniversary-Need advice and suggestions for downtown

My husband and I would like to book a room at the Hotel Adolphus for December 22 for our wedding anniversary. Reviews I have read on different web sites differ vastly on this hotel. Many raves, but some negatives. Are some rooms better than others or are the differences just opinion? Is it worth the money to get a junior suite? Any particular room we should request? Are the bathtubs big enough for two? Where to eat dinner? (The French Room is out, we won%26#39;t have enough money left after paying for the hotel.) Where can we eat that is romantic and close by for less than $75 for both of us? Is there a better option for parking rather than using the hotel%26#39;s expensive valet service? (We are driving in from Ponder, so we have to have a car.) We will be arriving around Noon on Friday, does anyone have any suggestions for something uniquely ';Dallas'; to do?

20th Anniversary-Need advice and suggestions for downtown

I have only stayed once at the Adolphus- got a spur of the moment Saturday night stay for $99 the weekend before Christmas- the room was a standard room, just beautiful, the bed was amazing. We faced out on Commerce- I think we were on 14. The bathroom was a nice size but didn%26#39;t have a two person tub. Might ask if the junior suites do. We just loved the beauty and elegance of it.

A few places to consider to eat: Dakota%26#39;s (http://www.dakotasrestaurant.com/home.html)- little pricey but doable for less than $75 with no wine. Iron Cactus has good food for a good price. And Campisis on Elm offers some good italian dishes as well as pizza. If you are just looking for the chain type places, the West End is full of them.

On Friday, December 22, the 29th annual Tuba Christmas plays at Thanksgiving Square at noon- a happy way to hear the holidays!

20th Anniversary-Need advice and suggestions for downtown

We stayed at the Adolphus for our tenth anniversary and had a wonderful time. We upgraded to a junior sweet. The bed was huge and so was the bathroom. Our floor was very quiet. Upon our arrival we were greeted with a card wishing us a happy anniversary. We did not want to have to take the car out for dinner, so the concierge asked us what we were in the mood for - Italian. They made reservations at Lombardi%26#39;s for us and had their driver take us. After dinner we were served a special complimentary chocolate desert that wished us a happy anniversary. We had a wonderful time! I think that it%26#39;s a great place to spend your anniversary.

We%26#39;ve stayed several times in a junior suite and loved it, but it%26#39;s been awhile and I don%26#39;t remember anything specific about it. Now I take photos of every hotel with my digital camera and keep track of hotels much better. I%26#39;ve never seen their standard rooms and don%26#39;t really know what the differences are between them and the junior suite. I would think you%26#39;d enjoy a standard room just as well, if there%26#39;s a significant price difference. I%26#39;d be surprised if the Adolphus had a bad room, but you never know.

There%26#39;s a good restaurant that%26#39;s not too far from the Adolphus that I really enjoyed the one chance I%26#39;ve had to go there. It%26#39;s called Tucker%26#39;s and is just a few blocks from the Adolphus at Ross and Central. The area it%26#39;s in looks divey, but the restaurant is really nice and the food was exquisite. The entrees run about $20-25, so you%26#39;d need to limit drinks to stay at $75.

Did you check out the special the Adolphus does with the French Room and a night at the hotel? You might find that it%26#39;s not as expensive as you might expect. You will feel so in the lap of luxury at the Adolphus.

The Adolphus also used to do this program where you paid for a membership and that entitled you to a free night, dessert in the French Room, and some other items that I forget.

Call their reservations folks and chat them up about what the best deals are.

I would like to thank all who have taken the time to answer my post.

I would never have found out about the holiday concert in Thanksgiving Square if you had not told me. I am taking the suggestion about calling the hotel directly and speaking to the reservation staff about the best deals. Also, we are looking at Dakota%26#39;s andTuckers for dinner. We ate at a Campisi%26#39;s one time, I think in Plano, and I want something a litlle more romantic for this dinner.

Is there a less expensive place to park the car other than using the Adolphus valet service. Their price is $20 per day and with tip to the valet it will be $25 for one night%26#39;s parking!

Here%26#39;s a brochure of downtown parking with prices.

downtowndallas.org/ParkingFacilities-Brochur…

I think Dakota%26#39;s and Tucker%26#39;s are comparable in terms of food quality.

Dakota%26#39;s is more elegant and upscale environment, similar to the French Room in service, but not as big a price tag. They have black napkins so you don%26#39;t get white dust on your clothing from the napkins. They are at the edge of the ';underground'; Dallas system. You take an elevator from the street down to the restaurant. Note that if you drive there, there is metered parking just a block or so away that doesn%26#39;t charge after 6PM on Friday. So drive around and see if you can find a close free space. Or you can spring for the valet parking, if you prefer. You drive your car up to the elevator with the lit up Dakota%26#39;s and the valet people take the car, and you take the elevator.

Tucker%26#39;s is a romantic, but more casual environment. Tables are closer, it%26#39;s noisier, more of a bar/restaurant feel. They have valet parking, even though it%26#39;s their own parking lot. There is on the street parking, but it%26#39;s an iffier area and you might want to just pay the valet.

I don%26#39;t like Campisi%26#39;s at all. They used to be really good about 15 years ago, but when they started making pizza for Kroger%26#39;s their pizzas became terrible. If you%26#39;re in Dallas at another time and want to have Italian food that%26#39;s like Campisi%26#39;s used to be, go to Scalini%26#39;s in Lakewood.