Hotel Review: DoubleTree by Hilton Tulsa Downtown
While on a genealogy research trip to Arkansas and Oklahoma I stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Tulsa Downtown.
Location
Only a few blocks from the freeway exit the hotel is easily accessible from the airport whether driving or using the free DoubleTree shuttle. It is easy to accidently enter the exit driveway, so watch for the signs! If you enter the wrong way you can get turned around, but may find yourself blocking the entrance for others trying to enter correctly.
I was driving from south Oklahoma the day I arrived and used the hotel garage on the evening of my arrival. I needed to be at the airport at 6am for my flight home after a two night stay, so returned my car to the airport the day before to save myself some time on the morning of departure.
I stopped at the front desk and let them know I was returning my car to the airport and they had the shuttle depart to pick me up ten minutes later so that they would be there as soon as I was through returning the car.
It is less than a 15 minute drive to the airport, making it very convenient for an early morning flight. While I was there the shuttle departed for the airport every 30 minutes starting at 5am.
Check In
The lobby is large with areas for sitting and a lot of open space. The ambience is not especially warm and, personally, I would not go there to sit and read for a break from my room. It is fine for waiting to meet someone.
The front desk staff was efficient and welcoming. As a Hilton Honors Gold member my room key and packet were waiting for me upon my arrival. After a long day of driving it was great to complete the check in process in less than a minute.
Room
When I entered my deluxe king room I was disappointed to find that there was an adjoining room. My experience is that the noise level in these rooms can often be an issue. Invariably I am next to someone on a business trip making phone calls to a different time zone at 5am.
That small slit under the door between rooms does not look like it would have an impact until someone is speaking in a normal voice at 5am and it sounds like they are sitting next to you in bed, or you have a snorer in the next room.
In spite of looking forward to settling in for two nights, I went back to the lobby and asked to have my room changed to one without an adjoining door.
Because I am a HiltonHonors Gold member I was given the Presidential Suite as it was not booked for the night. They left the parlor locked off making the room equivalent to a King one bedroom Junior Suite.
The suite, on the top floor of the hotel, was very spacious with an entryway, large living area, sleeping area, separate dressing room with closet, separate bathing area with step up tub and shower combination, and toilet and sink area separated by another door. There was still enough open floor space in the living area to have a few couples over for a dance!
The bathroom held the typical hotel amenities and the coffee area had a good selection of teas and coffee. As a tea drinker I am always disappointed when there is not a microwave for heating tea water, as running your water through the coffee maker always produces a slight taste of stale coffee grounds in your tea.
The large picture windows overlooked downtown Tulsa providing a good view of the Tulsa skyline both during the day and at night with the buildings lit up.
As a Gold member I had free wifi in the room with speed that was adequate for getting some work done.
Amenities
Following is a list of amenities as described by Hilton. Below the list are my descriptions of the ones that I viewed or used.
• Audio/Visual Equipment Rental
• Business Center
• Express Mail
• Fax
• Free wireless in the lobby
• High Speed Internet per 24 hrs ($10.95)
• Meeting Room Internet ($100.00)
• Meeting Rooms
• Notary Public
• Photo Copying Service
• Printer
• Children’s Menu
• Cribs
• Family Package Offered
• High chairs
• Automated Teller (ATM) ($3.00)
• Baggage Storage
• Bar Area
• Coin Laundry ($0.25)
• Gift Shop
• Guest Activity/Recreation Desk
• Laundry/Valet Service
• Local Area Transportation
• Lounge
• Multi-Lingual Staff
• Safety Deposit Box
• Snack Shop
• Fitness Room
• Pool
• Video Arcade
The Business Center is quite large as compared to many hotels. There are three computers and one printer available. I used them to print my boarding pass for the flight home and to print out directions to a few meetings that I had while there.
There is also a small reading area with comfortable chairs and a separate meeting area with tables and chairs where you can work on your laptop if you want to avoid wifi charges in your room or need to meet with colleagues.
The hotel’s FedEx service was very convenient for mailing a stack of papers from my trip back to myself at home. The front desk provided me with a box and mailing label. I was able to pay them with a credit card and they used their FedEx account to send the package which I received the day after I arrived home.
The indoor swimming pool is inviting with a small spa in the same area. There are plenty of lounge chairs and towels are available poolside. I only saw a few people using the area during the time that I was there.
The video arcade has two machines that looked a bit outdated to me.
There is a large guest laundry area with vending machines for detergent.
The Snack shop is located at the entrance to the Made Market and has a large selection of both packaged and fresh food.
Dining
Made Market is the only option for dining within the hotel. They offer take out, room service, or dining in a café setting.
I ate breakfast in the cafe one morning. It was okay, food was just room temperature and the atmosphere is a bit cafeteria like in spite of the modern décor.
The lounge area was more appealing and included workspaces with conveniently located plugs making it easy to work while enjoying a drink in the evening.
I arrived in Tulsa about 3pm after a day of meetings and two hours of driving. I had skipped lunch and was ready for food and a relaxing atmosphere. The vibe of the Made Market was not what I was looking for that day. I asked the waitress if there were any other restaurants close by.
She recommended Baxter’s Grill which was just around the corner from the hotel, less than a two block walk. It was just what I was looking for, warm and inviting with friendly wait staff. (717 S Houston, Tulsa, OK (918) 585-3134)
Points and Rates
I used 10,000 Hilton Honors points per night for my stay. A King Deluxe room has a current rack rate of up to $179 per night, the Junior Suite up to $239 per night. This makes either room a deal at 10,000 points. Regular room rates can start as low as $89 per night depending on when you are traveling.
Summary
Overall, I found the DoubleTree by Hilton Tulsa Downtown a welcoming, comfortable environment for a stay in Tulsa. Although the dining options in the hotel itself are limited, there are many restaurants within walking distance.
The staff was helpful and attentive and each guest is made to feel as if they are a priority. Given its convenient location and amenities, the Hilton Tulsa Downtown is a bargain whether paying with points or cash.
