Four Seasons Dallas: A Perfectly Relaxing Staycation Spa-cation

It’s no secret.  A staycation at the Four Seasons Dallas has been on my 101 in 1001 list for three years.  One Friday morning, my husband decided to go visit his family in Houston and I decided to check myself into a hotel for a little rest and relaxation.  I was between the Four Seasons, the Ritz Carlton Dallas (where we got married), and the Hotel Crescent Court.  My experiences with the Four Seasons spa have been impeccable.  One of the best masseuses I know is at the Ritz Carlton, but the service at the hotel is generally hit or miss.  And, the Hotel Crescent Court is newly renovated and has great spa packages

FUN FACT:  My first Christmas gift from Tom was a full spa day at the Crescent spa.  We’re talking 6 hours of non-stop pampering.

Ultimately, the Four Seasons resort won out because they were offering a Well & Being package, which included a massage (or facial) with the room rate.  By booking direct, I had access to an additional special offer that included a $100 food and beverage credit.  Those two perks were basically the equivalent of the room rate, so I would come out even – and probably ahead.  Eventually, I clicked confirm and set out to finish the rest of my work for the day.

Pre Arrival Experience

Within an hour of booking, I received a text message from Claudia at the Four Seasons.  Since I had booked a room with two beds, she wanted to know if she could help by adding the second name to the reservation.  When I declined, she let me know about an upgraded king room that was available.  (I accepted!)  Since I had booked a package that included a massage or facial, she offered to help me set that up as well.  She was able to check my previous therapists, my preference of treatment time, and book everything for me prior to arrival, even though I had booked on the same day as arrival.  I have to way – I was really impressed with how thorough she was with the attention to all the details of my booking.  Truthfully, I don’t know that I’ve experienced a hotel be as proactive as the Four Seasons Dallas was.  Maybe the St. Regis Florence – but certainly not anywhere in the US.

Four Seasons Lead with Care

Shortly after writing this post in late February 2020, the world changed.  Four grueling months later, I was completely exhausted and burnt out from all of the stress.  Tom and I decided to check into the Four Seasons when they reopened under the LEAD With Care Initiative.  

The Lead with Care Initiative includes temperature checks when you walk into the lobby, the use of masks in public places, social distancing in public areas, and enhanced cleaning efforts throughout the property.  They also enhanced the availability of the Four Seasons app, which allows you to request service, access menus, reservations and appointments, and chat with staff.  We were provided additional masks and hand sanitizer upon check-in.  Certain amenities in our room, like the remote control, were sanitized and packaged for our stay specifically.    

The transition to these new safety protocols were mostly seamless.  Since the purpose of our trip was to relax, we mostly used the app for ice delivery and spa requests.  The room service menu remained the same as our February visit, though items were individually packaged for no-contact delivery.  Our room was not serviced during our stay (neither daily nor turndown surface), though we were able to request extra towels as needed.    

I’ve been really impressed with how well the Four Seasons was able to adapt.  It gave me great peace of mind to know they were partnering with Johns Hopkins to ensure that their guest experience remained safe while delivering the same excellent service that they are known for.    

Arrival Experience

The Four Seasons, like most luxury hotels, allows you to choose your arrival time when booking.  While this practice is fairly ubiquitous, the follow through isn’t always there.  I don’t blame hotels for that, but it’s really nice when they are able to accommodate your arrival at the specified time.  Luckily, Bliss had my room ready to go when I arrived.  Check in only took a couple of minutes, and I was soon on my way up to the fifth floor with my luggage in tow.  I would have about an hour and a half to get settled before heading down to the Well & Being spa for my massage.

Room 553 – Corner Tower Room

From the moment I walked into my corner tower room, I was glad that I had upgraded to this room.  With floor to ceiling windows covering the left corner of the room and a large mirror reflecting those windows, everything feels bright and airy in the corner tower rooms.  The two plush chairs would be the perfect place to sit and do some writing.  It was too cold to truly enjoy the balcony, but that is another great place to work or enjoy a glass of wine.

The room itself has minimal furniture but everything fits perfectly into its space, giving the room a further feeling openness.  Thankfully, the nightstands aren’t cluttered either.  There are lamps, plugs, and a single clock.  The room didn’t have same character of the rooms at the Four Seasons Prague, but the hotel is very regionally appropriate with soft neutrals.  It wasn’t entirely my style, but I did love the carpet.  And, the entire space is streamlined in such a way that I finally felt like I could focus and declutter my mind.  Even the wooden shutters, which could be pulled open and closed, were designed with a feeling of minimal fuss.  The lamps did a good job of lighting the room so it felt well-lit but cozy.  Dark hotel rooms make me crazy.  I like to be able to make rooms dark to sleep, but other than that, I prefer well-lit rooms when I travel.

I found the bed to be extremely comfortable and the pillows extraordinary soft.  Whether I was working or sleeping, I would sink into the pillows and feel properly supported and comfortable.  I’m beginning to support my mom’s claim that the Four Seasons bed is the most comfortable hotel bed out there.  Contributing to perfect sleep, it was also very easy to control the temperature of the room.  Sometimes I think the thermostats are capped so you can’t actually adjust the temperature of the room, but at the Four Seasons, I felt like I could warm up the room when I needed to while also cooling it down to sleep.

Corner Tower Room Bathroom

The large bathroom includes a stand-up shower and a deep soaking tub.  With a single sink, the vanity is large with plenty of space to lay things out, and get ready.  What I liked most, however, is how well lit the bathroom is.  Despite being artificially lit, it also felt bright and airy.  Toiletries were L’Occitane Amande.  My only regret was that they didn’t offer bath salts.  (Minor thing, minor thing – and I brought my own from Le Chambard.)  The shower offered the best water pressure of any hotel shower I’ve ever experienced.  I might need to look into that shower head for home!  My hair feels so clean!

Note:  As an aside, my room was above the live music.  While it didn’t bother me, I can see how the noise could be bothersome to others.  If that sounds like you, I would ask for a room on the opposite side of the hotel and/or not overlooking the pool.  There were clearly kids playing outside (and having a great time) until pretty late.  Again, it didn’t bother me, but I can see how it could bother others.

Room 610 – Four Seasons Dallas Villa Room

One of the Lead with Care adjustments to the room is that most unnecessary essentials were removed from the room.  Tom, who tends to clean our hotel rooms to meet minimalist standards, was excited about the lack of unnecessary “stuff”.  The minibar was empty, books and magazines were nowhere to be found, and only the essentials were left behind.  (They left a coffee maker, if that’s an essential for you.)  In some ways it felt a little odd for a luxury hotel room to be so empty, but it was done with the intention of keeping everyone safe.  

The villa rooms are beautifully decorated.  I loved the canopy over the bed and the small details that made the room feel more personal.  As one might expect, I adored all the blue and cream accents, especially the accent walls and the art over the couch.  I thought this room had a bit more character than the tower room.  Both rooms are incredibly airy and comfortable.  I’m obsessed with the Four Seasons bedding; it is so soft.  We might have to buy a set for home when our duvet cover finally wears out.      

Our king villa room felt incredibly spacious.  It was big enough for a small couch and a large coffee table, as well as a desk with two chairs.  If we had come to work, that would have been really nice for both of us.  

The room offers quite a bit of storage between the closet, the coffee area, and the chest of drawers.  There is a safe, as well as an ironing board and iron.  The wine glasses and bottle opener had been removed, but we were able to get all of that delivered via the app.  

Our second-floor room had a spacious balcony with two lounging chairs and a table.  I was glad that our room overlooked the golf course, as it was very quiet during the day and most evenings.  (There was a golf cart drive-in movie that we could hear one night – but it was fine.)  We spent many hours relaxing on our patio, watching the sunset, and enjoying a bottle of wine.  If you are on the ground floor, you have an open patio and an option for a fire-pit room, which would be a great place to roast s’mores!

What makes all the Four Seasons Dallas rooms great is how well you can close them up for the evening.  There are sliding doors with shutters that can be left open for plenty of during the day and closed up at night.  I would love to install doors like this in our living room.   

Villa Room Bathroom

I was incredibly surprised by how large the villa room bathrooms are.  Not only is there a separate shower and deep soaking tub like the tower rooms, but there is plenty of space for getting ready.  I love the mounted make up mirrors in hotel bathrooms.  It reminds me of my great-grandmother’s powder bath when I was growing up.  Our room offered dual sinks, a huge mirror, and a separate toilet area.   

I love the grasscloth wallpaper in the Four Seasons Dallas bathrooms.  It truly elevates the space.  (Beautiful wallpaper always makes me reconsider my design choices at home.)  I also loved how well lit the bathrooms are.  The scones are gorgeous and make for great mood lighting, as well as just being a gorgeous design element.     

All bath amenities were individually wrapped for safety.  The villa rooms offer the same L’Occitane almond amenities as the tower rooms do.  I found it to be a more refreshing scent for the summer.     

My only slight complaint is that the water pressure in the villas wasn’t quite as good as it was in the main building.  It was good, but it wasn’t as good.

Four Seasons Dallas Spa Experience

As I’ve mentioned previously, I take advantage of Travelzoo offers for the Four Seasons spa quite frequently.  I think their masseuses are some of the best in Dallas.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad massage here, and they seem to understand the mechanics of my hip and work hard to help open it up and alleviate some of the pain.  For this particular visit, I booked an 80-minute Blues Be Gone massage with Susan.  This massage utilizes eucalyptus, ginger root, and acupressure techniques to relieve the body of adrenal fatigue and stress.  Susan did an amazing job of helping stretch and open up my hip so that I could get some relaxation that evening.

In addition to the vast array of treatments, the spa offers a large whirlpool and cold plunge pool, a dry sauna, and steam rooms.  On this particular visit, I took advantage of both the sauna and the whirlpool before and after my visit.  I also really enjoyed the blueberry lemon water.  Most of the time I don’t enjoy flavored water, but that one hit the spot.

I also love the spa robes at the Four Seasons.  They are so soft and plush.  I always want to purchase one, but I don’t think I would be able to keep it as pristine and soft as the Four Seasons does.  There’s just something about those robes!  (My mom got me this plush robe for my birthday, and it’s almost as good as the Four Seasons spa robe!)  The locker room staff is always very attentive and happy to get you anything you need.

2021 Update:  The spa is utilizing the Lead with Care initiatives, too.  You can expect temperature checks, masks, and a reduced capacity.  Stacey O. is my go-to masseuse right now.  She is incredibly talented and I felt very comfortable with her.  You can take your mask off when you are face down, but if you turn over, you should expect to put your mask back on.  Remember, it’s for everyone’s safety! 

Note:  I don’t take photos in the spa area because of the comfort of other guests and the request of the property.  I do like that this area remains quiet and calm and I want to ensure that I am continuing to contribute to that environment.

Four Seasons Dallas Dining vs. In Room Dining

I kept going back and forth about whether I would use my food and beverage credit for brunch on Saturday morning or if I wanted to order room service.  Truthfully, I think that Law Restaurant offers the best brunch in Dallas.  It’s pricy but it’s worth it.  I’ve only been a few times, but I’ve never been disappointed.  It has a wide array of options that will meet anyone’s needs – and the sweet treats are my favorite part.

That said, there was just something romantic about ordering in room dining, even though my experiences with it have been less than romantic.  When I returned from my spa visit, turn down service had already happened and the room had an ambiance that I knew would help me get to work.  Why would I interrupt that by leaving the resort for dinner?  After debating several options on the in-room dining menu, I settled on a create your own pasta with penne, olive oil and garlic, and chicken.  I also ordered apple pie (with ice cream) for dessert.  To top it off, I added a French rose (Belleruche) from the Rhine valley.

When ordering, they gave me an approximate delivery time of 50 minutes.  Yet, after 30 minutes, they called and told me that my meal was ready and wanted to know if they could go ahead and bring it up.  Bien sur!  It was delivered by the friendliest staff on a tableclothed cart with all the necessary accompaniments, including a bread basket, fresh parmesan and red pepper.  (The rosemary bread with the olive oil and garlic was divine!)  They even put the ice cream in the refrigerator so it wouldn’t melt.  Everything else was served piping hot.  And, it was all delicious.

If this is the new room service, I am here for it.  Not only was the presentation flawless, but I enjoyed my pasta and apple pie so much that I would come back just to order room service. Forget DoorDash and Ubereats, I’ll just order my meals from this hotel.  Seriously.

Four Seasons Dallas Resort Pool

During our June 2020 stay, we were able to take advantage of the resort pool.  There are actually two pools, but I’m not sure that hotel guests can access both.  During the week, it was not crowded at all.  Weekends tended to get incredibly busy during the afternoon.  We tried to swim a couple times a day – first thing in the morning, shortly after lunch, and then again in the evenings.  Overall, we found it easy to socially distanced in the pool.

If you’re looking for the hot tub, it’s under the bridge and around the corner from the main pool area.  It’s a little challenging to get in and out of unless you walk all the way around, so be mindful of that.  (There’s a villa building on that side of the pool, so if that’s important to you, you might ask to be in that building!)   

The pool staff is incredibly helpful in getting settled.  They were doing a great job of sanitizing chaise lounges between visitors and helping you find sun or shade, depending on your preferences.  There were QR codes on the pool tables if you wanted to order anything from the poolside bar.  

On Friday evening, there was live music outside of the Outlaw Taproom, which really helped with the ambiance.  We missed out on the s’mores kits for the fire pits – so that’s going to be at the top of my list for my next stay!     

Concluding Thoughts on the Four Seasons Dallas

This is a great property for a staycation and to take a break from everything.  I love that you can check into this hotel and not leave, and I think it’s absolutely perfect for that!  Originally I thought that I would only want to visit during the summer, so that we could take advantage of their incredible pool area, but the truth is, it’s wonderful in the winter, too.  I think this would be the perfect hotel for a girls weekend, a low-key bachelorette weekend, or a romantic getaway.  The spa and salon have extensive service menus, and my experiences have always been stellar.  The room service truly blew me way – there’s no reason to leave the hotel – and if you don’t want to get dressed to go downstairs, you don’t have to!  That said, the property restaurants are delicious and worth a visit.  There’s always a full schedule of activities for adults and kids and live music happens pretty regularly.  You won’t be bored, but the rooms are so comfortable that you could just hang out at the hotel and be perfectly content.

While I had high expectations for the Four Seasons Dallas, I had put off booking it because I didn’t want to be disappointed.  Overall, I wasn’t disappointed.  It surpassed all of my expectations and made for a very cozy spa-cation staycation.  I also got a lot of blog writing done while I was there, so that’s just a bonus.