Age 49 (for 4 more days!) but I look young for my age.

Traveling with wife and 16 year son.

Reason for travel, son competeing in golf event.

Hotel: , www.doraltesoro.com
1-817 - 961- 0800
25 min drive from the Dallas/ Fort Worth airport.

Hot Hot Hot ! Temperatures of 40 C made for an air conditioning seeking holiday. Out door events forced us outside for all the time we could handle. Other activites that would have been outside outings , we switched to indoor shopping etc. This fairly new hotel has changed hands 3 times in the past 7 years or so since it was built. I would give it a 3 1/2 stars only because it is lacking in the extra amenities a 4 or 5 star would offer. The lobby is large and spacious , Resorty entrance large as in traditional Hawaii or other hot spot locations. The only difference is that it was enclosed , not open air. Very clean, polished with new furniture inside and out on the patio overlooking the pool and golf course. The patio became a favorite meeting place of ours in evenings. The management did not seem to mind that we brought our own beverages to enjoy withy friends. The rooms were big , all new furniture, again very clean, lots of towels, which we needed with the hot weather, and a teenage son ( although I always tip the housekeeping staff early on our stays to help the cause). Half the rooms over look the golf course and the pool at the back of the hotel. The beds were very comfortable and new as well. The hotel was quiet with the air conditioning unit built into the closet with only the vent facing out to the room. Quiet is very important to me, so that was a big plus. The standard rooms are exactly as the picture on the web site. Two double beds, big chair, desk chair, lots of drawers. There was ample room to move about the room even with essentially 3 adults. Bath rooms came well equipped with all that you would need including a hair dryer.

Our room rate was $95.00 night as a special event rate. Not sure what the full rate was. Suites are also available.

There is one restaurant and a lounge that also serves food with a slightly better than average bar menu. The food was moderately priced with quality also being moderate. We had a couple breakfasts and dinners at the hotel , with most of our meals eating off the resort. Buffets are big there and was one of the reasons we chose to eat out. We are not buffet people.

There is a large selection of restaurants, shopping and entertainment all within a short 15 - 25 min. drive. The choices are endless for shopping , movies, 6 Flags Amusement park is only a 30 min drive away, as is The Stockyards (a western theme area) .

We golfed at the hotel resort and my son also golfed at the nearby Hogan Course at the Trophy Club. My son loved the Hogan course and was impressed with it's quality of fairways, greens and variety of holes. We also liked the Hotel course, The Doral. Again it was in good shape, very playable from, I suspect all Tees. We played off the whites and found it a bit short. I would suggest the Golds for most handicappers in there low to mid teens. The course itself was originally a Greg Norman course. It was decided that it was too hard to play for the average golfer and was totally redesigned with trees taken out, fairways widened and greens enlarged. With one of my many errant drives to the edge of the woods I came across a foraging Armadillo! Harmless as house cat it was interesting to see. The course is well bunkered and well treed, which is great because of the shade. I wouldn't say it has a signature hole but all holes were unique.

The pool is large, square shaped with ample chairs, shade ares, food service. If you have little ones, the pool is enclosed with a fence and gate so, no need to worry about wandering. Towels are at the pool, some flotation devices are available. There is a hot tub in the back corner that is visible easily from the pool area.