Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas

This large hotel is designed as a center of activity for the numerous corporations with headquarters or major operations in Las Colinas or Irving. Its large inventory of meeting and pre-function space -- including board rooms decked out with chandeliers and antique furniture -- buzzes with activity. Couples also like to utilize this hotel and its spa to celebrate anniversaries and other special occasions. This classy hotel handles the activity well. Its large and lovely lobby features wood paneling and intricately patterned carpet in rich color combinations. Beautiful tapestries grace some of the walls, and antiques line hallways. Several living room-like seating arrangements are spread throughout the lobby for quiet, intimate conversations in comfortable sofas and armchairs. A white marble platform with tables and chairs is surrounded by large tropical plants, and a piano sits nearby, furthering the elegant ambiance. Guests are also often seen enjoying the trail winding around Lake Carolyn, or lounging by the lakefront pool and landscaped grounds. This upscale hotel has an inviting feel throughout, though some interior spaces can look a bit dark. 

The Omni is in the upscale, planned community of Las Colinas within the City of Irving on the shores of Lake Carolyn. The area is home to numerous corporate headquarters, about mid-way between Fort Worth and Dallas, just off the John Carpenter Freeway. The Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas is a three-minute drive (11 minutes by public transit). The Las Colinas Urban Center where the DART orange line stops is on the opposite side of the lake, a four-minute drive or 14-minute walk. Once there, train service to downtown Dallas takes about 45 minutes (or 20 to 25 minutes driving). Drive times to Dallas Love Field and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport are approximately 15 to 20 minutes for each. The attractions in Arlington including AT&T Stadium, Six Flags Over Texas, and the Ballpark at Arlington are 20 to 25 minutes. Driving to Fort Worth takes 35 to 40 minutes, and the Grapevine Mills Mall takes 15 to 20 minutes. There are a few restaurants within a two- to five-minute walk of the hotel, but many more are a brief drive away, as are many shops.

Rooms at the Omni Mandalay lean toward the tasteful and traditional side. It features lovely red oak furniture including headboards, nightstands, desks, and marble countertops. Walls are light gold, as are the drapes that cover large windows. Carpet is a two-tone brown with a repeating sunburst pattern. Two light blue, upholstered armchairs are included in each standard room. Large framed art that’s a step above average hotel artwork hangs from most walls. The bathrooms continue the upscale feel, complete with cushy robes and white marble vanity sinks with magnifying mirrors. Basic white tile with some marble edging framed in the shower/tub combo. Minibars with snacks, and Cuisinart coffeemakers (with tea provided) are in all rooms. Laptop safes are standard, as is twice-daily housekeeping. But Wi-Fi is only free for guests who book directly through Omni or are members of Omni’s loyalty program. 

Each of the standard Deluxe Rooms is a spacious 450 square feet and has either a king or two double beds. The corner Mandalay Suites offer 670 square feet of space and each has a living room area, sofa, and balcony with lovely views of downtown Dallas or Lake Carolyn. The 770-square-foot Parlor Suites include sleeper sofas and wet bars. The two-bedroom 2,890-square-foot Presidential Suite is on the 28th floor and has a grand piano. Views can be quite impressive from certain rooms on upper floors, but only rooms in the back of the hotel overlook Lake Carolyn.

The Omni Mandalay offers the type of features expected from an upscale hotel, if not a tier above. Trevi's, the fine-dining Italian restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has outdoor seating. But breakfast is not included in room rates. The lobby gift shop also sells coffee and pastries made on-site along with sundries. And room service is available 24 hours as well. The on-site sports bar, M Bar, has a pool table and six plasma TVs, and another lounge, Les Jardins, has live music on some evenings. 

The Omni's star attraction could be its lakeside heated pool, which is quite large and includes covered, cabana-like tents. It offers drink service in warm months. A children’s playground is adjacent to the pool, a boon to parents, as is a whirlpool. The fitness center is a step above most offering a pleasant, sunny, and nicely equipped space with cardio and weight-training equipment and free weights. For pampering, the full-service Mokara Salon & Spa offers various facials, massage, and other body treatments as well as hair and nail services. The hotel also has 31,000 square feet of meeting space including two large ballrooms. The 24-hour business center has two computer stations with Internet access and printers. 

Aside from the hotel's playground, the Omni also welcomes children with a free backpack stuffed with games and goodies. There's a full-time concierge staff, and valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available. Other amenities include a safe deposit box at the front desk and an ATM in the lobby. Small animals are welcome in select rooms for a surcharge. Self-parking in the covered garage is free, and there's a valet option for a rather hefty fee.