The ideal solution for a quick getaway that doesn’t involve TSA or a stop at Buc-ees, is practically next door: The Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas, a luxury resort and playground eight miles from Love Field. I’d visited the property many times under its previous management company, The Four Seasons, and before the magnificent renovation that took place prior to the Ritz-Carlton rebranding. I recently enjoyed 24 hours there and can’t wait to return.
The Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas encompasses 400 acres in west Dallas County. That’s the equivalent of 40 Highland Park Villages in the middle of a booming metro area that is a mere eight miles from the second largest airport in the United States. But it feels much more isolated than that, not like you’re in the middle of a vast ranch, which it used to be. The layout of the resort and the two 18-hole championship golf courses on property buffer guests from the noises and bustle of the city.
Significantly updated with light warm tones and pops of black and gold, and brightened with a massive floral display, the Ritz lobby is inviting and sets a sophisticated tone for the property. Bar Juniper is in the immediate foreground with the tops of oak trees and crepe myrtles visible from the backbar arched windows.
Guest rooms were included in the $60 million renovation and are warm and welcoming, with warm greys, blues, and blond wood furnishings. The rooms are spacious, modern, and very comfortable.
Our guest room included access to the Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge which serves all-day snacks and beverages. The lounge has a spacious area to catch up on work, watch television, read, or relax. We had a quick snack there before heading to our room to change and proceed to the swimming pool.
The swimming pool’s winding shape and cabana and deck chair arrangements allows sun worshippers and those with “sunxiety” to enjoy the pool in the full sun or shade. I chose a sunny chaise and, next to me, there were four tween-aged girls playing mahjong on their portable tabletop set on the poolside turf. They were celebrating a birthday, enjoying milkshakes and playing mahj. Adorable. The Ritz did not provide that portable mahjong set but will offer mahjong sets poolside with floating mahjong mats this summer.
Two hours into my stay, I felt very removed from my life at home that held closets that need organizing, a garage that needs cleaning out, and my beloved dogs who need constant affirmation and snacks. This getaway was working for me.
The Ritz’s 18,000-square-foot full-service beauty and wellness spa is an elegant retreat located on the lower floor of the hotel. Also the beneficiary of renovation, the spa’s treatment rooms, lounge areas, cold plunge pool, and steam room are available to hotel guests and locals who prefer full spa services over day spas without the same amenities.
As day transitions to evening at the Ritz, guests in rooms with balconies or villas with patios can enjoy charcuterie and bubbles or watch golfers finish up their rounds. The soothing décor of the guest rooms and comfortable furnishings might also call for an afternoon nap.
Before having dinner at the in-house restaurant, Knife Italian Steak, we strolled back through lobby, which was buzzing and filled with families, beautifully dressed couples, and guests headed to a wedding reception. It echoed with laughter and the sound of bartenders shaking cocktails at Bar Juniper. It was a lively scene.
Dinner in the very pink dining room of Knife Italian Steak was superlative and worthy of its own recap apart from the hotel experience.
The Nelson Golf and Sports Club is the rebranded, updated club that existed when the property was managed by Four Seasons, and it’s an impressive place to sweat out the indulgent meal at Knife. All hotel guests get complimentary access to the club’s whopping 176,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor facility. The Nelson’s recent renovation upgraded its workout facility, indoor sports courts, fitness studios, and dining. Indoor tennis and pickle ball courts, and an indoor swimming pool are amenities particularly valuable with our unpredictable weather. The Nelson also has an outdoor swimming pool with a nearby mini beach so kiddos can play in the sand.
Then, then there’s golf. For 35 years, the Byron Nelson golf tournament was held at the TPC course here. Though the tournament has moved north, Mr. Nelson’s spirit is still very present. The Club has curated a collection of Byron Nelson’s personal effects and PGA memorabilia that is displayed in the grand hallway near the pro shop. Whether you’re a golf fan or not, this is a must see. He was a legendary golfer and a kind, humble man. This is an athlete to teach our children about.
On Sundays, Knife Italian serves an elaborate brunch, but if you spring for the Club Lounge, you can enjoy a nice breakfast spread that, for us, included a lobster omelet which a chef prepared on site and a wide variety of other breakfast goodies, coffee, and a Bloody Mary and Mimosa set up.
The final treat during our brief but Ritz respite, was to relax by the firepit in our villa, watch golfers, and make S’mores. You might not be able to do that in July, but early spring was the perfect time to enjoy one final “campfire” and unpack the Ritz S’mores kit, including house-made marshmallows, and feel like a kid again while carefully toasting them and setting them on the graham cracker without dripping.
The Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas is quite an amenity for Dallas/Ft. Worth. It’s an easy commute from just about anywhere in Dallas and Tarrant Counties. It’s a luxurious retreat for couples and families, or a choice spot for group trips for men, women, and couples. There are so many activities and amenities, but also creative programming that includes family movie nights and scavenger hunts for the kids, Poolside Mat Pilates, and, for adults only, Mahjong, Martinis & Mocktails Open Play at Knife Italian Steak.
Escaping doesn’t always have to mean getting on an airplane. North Texas has many great options for in-town escapes. While urban hotels have their appeal, a spacious, self-contained resort with fine dining, excellent sports, recreational, and wellness amenities, and the superior hospitality offered by Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas employees is a no brainer.
