If you’re looking for a great place to stay in the heart of downtown Hot Springs, then look no further than The Waters Hot Springs. One cool feature of Hot Springs, Arkansas is the historical architecture. In the downtown area, right across from the famous Bathhouse Row, the landscape is free of big box stores. Instead, you will find both architectural and natural character that will spark your curiosity about the past.
The Waters Hot Springs gives you the opportunity to stay in a beautifully renovated historic building, with luxury amenities and a great location! Here’s our review.
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The Waters Hot Springs Highlights
The hotel supports local businesses.
The artwork in the hotel is made by local artists. The soap that you get to use comes from a local vendor. The Mountain Water Spring Water that is yours (free of charge) is bottled at the base of the Ouachita Mountains.
The Waters is beautifully restored.
The building is restored with many of its original touches, but with a modern flare. Beautiful marble runs floor to ceiling. Individual tiles decorate patterns along the halls. Tall gothic windows allow ample light. If you’re lucky enough, you can get a room (like 201 where we stayed) with the original hardwood floors. The original doors were also converted into a barn door entrance to the bathroom. The restoration of the building was expertly done, and adds a lot of value to the downtown city-scape.
Proximity to the National Park, local shops, and low-key hiking.
They say: location, location, location, and The Waters Hotel offers the best of it! You have immediate access to the very best of Hot Springs when you choose the Waters Hotel. Check out our tips for great things to do at Hot Springs National Park.
Explore this lovely hotel (and other visitor reviews) here on TripAdvisor.
Friendly front desk staff and valet greet you each time to come and go.
We appreciated how personable the staff were, and how willing everyone was to help and tell a deeper story about Hot Springs, the hotel, and their recommendations.
Valet service that is very accommodating.
For $22 per night, you get unlimited, quick, 24/7 curbside access to your vehicle.
On-site restaurant (The Avenue) that is superb.
‘Nuff said. We talk more about the restaurant and our recommendations in our blog post on Best Places to Eat in Hot Springs Just Steps From Hot Springs National Park.
Since our stay, it appears as though a rooftop bar was added to the lineup as well. Assuming that the food is as good as it is in the Avenue, The Rooftop Bar is a place we’d like to check out on our next visit!
Super comfortable stay – clean and spacious room.
I mustn’t forget to share that in addition to having a lot of amenities and personal touches, the hotel has the basics down too! Nothing beats comfort and cleanliness when choosing a hotel, and the Waters had the fundamentals down! As a Hilton hotel, the high standards associated with the brand are evident in this hotel which is a part of their Tapestry Collection.
Explore this lovely hotel (and other visitor reviews) here on TripAdvisor.
The Waters Hotel Downsides (gotta keep it balanced)
Having to valet your vehicle.
Even though the valet service is outstanding (see above), the fact that on-site parking is not available was frustrating. Keep in mind that the Waters Hotel is located in the Hot Springs downtown area, so parking is at a premium. Nonetheless, it is an additional expense for those that plan to keep a personal vehicle during their visit.
Restricted hours of the restaurant.
During our visit, many of the local shops were closed in the early parts of the week. The Avenue restaurant had limited availability during our stay. Fear not, you are within steps of other dining establishments. That being said, if you plan to make the Avenue a part of your itinerary, you will want to check out the hours that it is open to ensure that you will be able to try their fare.
Smallish bathroom.
While our room was quite spacious, the bathroom was very compact. Perhaps this comment is a little nit-picky, but if two people are trying to brush their teeth at the same time, there will be a traffic jam. The toilet also didn’t have a seat cover, and there was only one bar on which to hang towels (which happened to be annoyingly over the toilet as well).
No pool.
Not every hotel has one, no sweat… but… if you (or your family) did want to swim, you’ll have to look elsewhere. You are, however, right across the street from the bathhouses. Who wants to swim in a cold hotel pool when you can relax in the pools of thermal water? Just sayin’…
Decisions… decisions…
When you visit Hot Springs, you certainly have options as to where you stay. We loved our stay at The Waters Hotel, and are happy to provide a recommendation. You can explore hotel availability and other options in the area on TripAdvisor.
