I've lived in Texas for 30+ years. Staying at The Driskill was on my bucket list since the first time I saw it. Of course, this was during the more financially modest years of my military career.
But this week, my wife and I finally achieved my goal and it did not disappoint. Superb service and detailed fit and finish in all aspects of our room. Unfortunately for us, they are in the middle of an upgrade and we missed the most beautiful parts of the lobby et al.
I did take away one star for a somewhat minor issue, but one that seems to be pervasive throughout the industry: We enjoyed some drinks in The Victorian Lounge before we headed to a late dinner. Oddly (to me anyways), a credit card was requested when we ordered our cocktails to keep on hand for a tab. We did end up having a second drink, left a modest tip on our table, and then headed out. Sometime later, my card was charged for the 2nd round at a higher price than the first round. After a quick calculation, we discovered it was because a 20% gratuity was automatically added. It's a little insulting to have a gratuity added without our consent and supplementing a tip we'd already left in cash.
We eventually realized the card up front was probably because they'd been stiffed in the past by careless or malicious customers. But it should be the customer who decides if service and product is worth a tip, not the staff.
Other than that little annoyance, we enjoyed our stay and thank you for the hospitality.
