Hotel Review: SpringHill Suites Dallas DFW Airport South/CentrePort
SpringHill Suites would never have been my first choice even when I’m on a road trip. My image of SpringHill Suites was an outdated traditional property that never appealed to my age group. Then, I had a chance to stay at SpringHill Suites DFW Airport South/CentrePort recently, and I would like to tell everyone that my opinion has changed officially. The newly branded SpringHill Suites is a game-changer, and for those looking to stay at a modern no-frills budget-friendly hotel, I would certainly recommend it moving forward. Here’s my review of SpringHill Suites Dallas DFW Airport South/CentrePort:
SpringHill Suites Dallas DFW Airport South/CentrePort was located at 4360 Hwy 360, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
I earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points by using my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on dining and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on all other purchases. Paired with Marriott’s promotions and AMEX offers, it opens doors to endless points-earning opportunities.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card does come with a hefty $450 annual fee but offers tons of perks to significantly offset its costs. The card features the following benefits:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, the mid-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
$300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit that can be applied towards your room rate
$100 property credit when booked directly with Marriott and staying a minimum of two nights at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
Access to Priority Pass lounges
15 elite night credits that can prove helpful for chasing Bonvoy status
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card comes with great benefits that can substantially offset its annual fee.
Even if you don’t stay at Marriott properties often, this card is still a must-have, in my opinion. It’s a true example of a keeper card that offers benefits that outweigh the annual fee.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Bonvoy Brilliant Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSMaWs?xl=cp19&mpt=v0
If you are looking for a Marriott Bonvoy credit card with a low annual fee, consider the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of five Free Night Awards after spending $5,000 in three months, each covering up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. I personally value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.8 cents each, making the 250,000 points offer worth $2,000. This is the highest sign-up bonus we’ve seen for the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, and I highly recommend grabbing the card if you are under Chase 5/24. The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card earns 6X points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases every year on dining, grocery stores, and gas stations, and 2X points on all other purchases.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card’s annual fee is $95, and it offers useful perks to offset the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
15 elite night credits that will help you achieve a higher Bonvoy status (this cannot be combined with 15 Elite Night Credits from the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card above)
Be aware that 15 elite night credits from the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card can’t be combined with 15 elite night credits from the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.
Please note that you can only earn 15 elite night credits from a personal credit card and the other 15 elite night credits from a business credit card. Thus, if you own both AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, you would only earn 15 elite night credits.
If you’d like to apply for the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! https://www.referyourchasecard.com/252f/QJPU5UFB4R
The last Marriott Bonvoy credit card you could use would be the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $5,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. Considering that the annual membership costs $125, you get paid to have the card! The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 4X points on dining, U.S. shipping purchases, U.S. wireless telephone services, and at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 2X points.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business card’s annual fee is $125, and it offers valuable benefits to justify the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
15 elite night credits that will help you achieve a higher Bonvoy status
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is the only Marriott business card on the market.
As you can see, the card’s benefits are less substantial than the ones from the Bonvoy Brilliant card, but it is a great long-term keeper card due to its annual free night certificate perk. Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary if you want to chase a higher Marriott Bonvoy status because it is the only Marriott business card that is on the market and will grant you an additional 15 elite night credits. Lastly, even though it is a business credit card, it is very likely that you could get it approved. Check out my article on how to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSN1lx?xl=cp19&mpt=v0
Lobby & Check-In Review
With plenty of parking spaces available, I could park right in front of the hotel entrance even though I arrived well past my original check-in time.
The low profile of the front desk made the check-in experience more inviting.
The lobby was simple, modern, and clean. These three simple elements are usually expected of a hotel, but I’ve found it difficult to expect a budget hotel to achieve all three components simultaneously.
Yellow accent colors on the couch and side tables added energy to the lobby.
The front desk agent was very helpful and energetic and explained everything from breakfast hours to the hotel’s building layout.
Modern light fixtures instantly elevated the lobby’s atmosphere.
During the check-in, I looked at the concession desk, and all food and beverage items were neatly organized. With plenty of lighting from above, food and drinks appeared more appealing.
The concession stand was very well-stocked with snacks, frozen meals, and various types of beverages.
On my way to the elevator, I noticed an art collection hanging on the wall. The gallery wall was a collaboration between SpringHill Suites and Society Six to showcase and sell regional art in the greater Texas and Oklahoma regions.
Enjoy a free art exhibition in the lobby and purchase one if you want to support local artists.
As a SpringHill Suites guest, you would receive a discount, and I thought it was a brilliant idea to promote regional artists and boost the local art scene, connecting the property with communities. Since SpringHill Suites is a typical hotel product targeting the mass public, it could be difficult to embed a local flair in the brand identity. After enjoying the art, I went up to the fifth floor where my room was located.
Bedroom Review
As soon as I entered my room, I was surprised. I was shocked at how nice my room was. I immediately noticed a dedicated work desk with a leather-wrapped swivel chair and plenty of outlets and USB ports to charge devices while working.
The work desk had a dedicated recessed light in addition to a desk lamp.
There was plenty of lighting, and the semi-translucent panel of the desk enabled more privacy if you were to share a room with someone else. The living space had a modern couch from West Elm, and I would’ve never expected to see West Elm products at a budget hotel.
The low profile sofa from West Elm was perfect for lounging, and the microfiber fabric felt premium.
The low profile of the couch’s back was ideal for resting your head, and I loved how deep the seats were. The couch was a great option for a single adult to lounge on or even crash for a night or two. In the corner, a generic coffee machine by Cuisinart was on top of a cabinet that contained a microwave and mini-fridge.
My room had essential amenities for long-term stays.
Since I was spending a quick night in Dallas before picking up my parents from DFW, I booked a room with two queen beds to secure the cheapest available rate.
The blue accent wall added calm and relaxing elements to the room.
The beds were comfortable, and the sheets were softer than I expected. The contemporary headboard and the patterned wall against the beds made me feel like I was at a much more expensive hotel.
The headboard utilized contrasting materials to provide textural difference to the bedroom.
Each bed came with a reading light, but I wish there were more lighting around the beds because there was simply not enough lighting in the room. To save space, both beds shared a nightstand in the middle.
Unfortunately, there was only one nightstand to share between two guests.
The nightstand had plenty of USB ports and outlets for any charging needs. It was amazing to discover that the TV was a Smart TV, which was rare given that the hotel was budget-friendly.
If the TV’s viewing angle could be adjusted, it would be much more accommodating for all guests in the room.
However, it was wall-mounted somewhat awkwardly and positioned between the work desk and the bed closer to the entrance. The viewing angle was terrible if you watched the TV from the other bed. Other than the lack of lighting and the TV placement, I genuinely enjoyed the bedroom, which was simple, clean, and modern. Although these three elements may appear seemingly obtainable for any hotel, hotels attain either or two criteria more often than not. The newly branded SpringHill Suites checked all three boxes, and I was thoroughly impressed.
Bathroom Review
The bathroom used a sliding door with a very minimal gap, successfully isolating noises from the inside. The door was equipped with a locking mechanism and used a semi-translucent glass which enabled another guest to check if the bathroom was in use. The vanity had a tiny single sink but had decent countertop room to lay out your personal toiletries.
I enjoyed the aesthetics of the floating vanity, but the sink was tiny.
The mirror embedded additional lighting to make the space more inviting. The walk-in shower also had ample lighting, but the water pressure was not great.
The shower’s water pressure was weak, and the showerhead was defective.
Furthermore, the showerhead unevenly projected and dispersed water in multiple directions, so it took me longer to finish taking a shower. The toiletries were by Paul Mitchell—a staple at multiple Marriott brands.
SpringHill Suites should use communal toiletries, which would suit their brand identity as a long-term stay brand.
I’ve used toiletries by Paul Mitchell countless times during my consulting days because it is widely used at Courtyard properties. To be frank, I’m not a huge fan of it. Not only does it strip moisture out of your skin but also comes in tiny bottles where you will have to ask for more from housekeeping if you spend more than a night. Even when the shower wasn’t satisfactory because SpringHill Suites is a budget hotel, I didn’t mind the bathroom much.
Gym Review
The gym was located right next to the elevator on the first floor. As with most budget hotels, the gym was small and compact, but it essentially had everything guests would need. The hydration station had towels, sanitizers, and a filtered water fountain with cups. The water from the fountain was cold, and I refilled my water bottle with water before heading back up to my room.
I stopped by at the gym more than once to fill up my water bottle.
The cardio machine such as ellipticals and treadmills were in great condition.
The gym’s brightness and cleanliness actually made me want to work out.
There were two adjustable benches and a set of standard dumbbells weighing up to 50 pounds.
The gym was spacious enough to spread out and engage in bodyweight exercises.
The fitness center didn’t have any other strength machines, but there was a nice collection of kettlebells, gym balls, and foam rollers for guests to be creative when exercising.
The fitness center used premium gym equipment by Matrix.
The gym floor wasn’t padded, but it had a decent amount of open space. If other people were not sharing the gym, you could easily engage in HIIT exercises or other bodyweight workout routines to keep you sweating. The swimming pool was adjacent to the gym.
The swimming pool was always booming with families every time I passed by.
While it wasn’t anything noteworthy, and it could be a nice amenity for families with kids.
Breakfast Review
Breakfast was served at the lobby from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM. With many seats available, it wasn’t difficult to get a table by myself and socially distanced from others.
The lobby had plenty of seats for breakfast service.
I fully expected the hotel to offer traditional potatoes, bacon/breakfast sausage, and powdered eggs. However, the hotel offered waffles, egg bites, and bagel breakfast sandwiches.
The breakfast buffet had a great selection of condiments, but the actual quality of the food suffered.
The waffles were hard as a rock, and I’d have much preferred to make my waffle. The bagel from the breakfast sandwich was dry, and I barely ate my egg bites.
I barely ate any of the food above.
The egg bites contained a handful of ingredients, and while I don’t have any food allergies, it may be wise to have a list of ingredients next to the dish in case a guest needs to check before consuming the food.
I suggest you go for a bagel instead of breakfast sandwiches or egg bites.
The breakfast was underwhelming compared to my lodging experience, and I hope the hotel will improve the selection and quality of food by including nutritionally rich items in the future.
Summary
I never thought I would praise the Marriott SpringHill Suites brand. I’ve stayed at SpringHill Suites before, and the brand didn’t resonate well with me. Most SpringHill Suites properties have been outdated and dirty, and its brand identity didn’t appeal to my taste. When I stay at budget-friendly hotels, I look for three elements: clean, simple, and modern. The newly branded SpringHill Suites checked all three boxes. My room came with a smart TV and a sleek couch by West Elm and featured a work desk that enticed me actually to use it for work. Although the showerhead in the bathroom was defective, and the breakfast options were substandard, I still enjoyed my night at SpringHill Suites DFW Airport South/CentrePort. Whether you are road tripping or visiting someone in town, give the new SpringHill Suites brand a shot because it may pleasantly surprise you, and you could be a repeat customer in the future.
