Accommodations
Need a place to stay? You’ve got lots of choices here. The Greater Houston area boasts more than 60,000 hotel rooms, not to mention RV parks, hostels, and even a few chic bed-and-breakfasts. The vast majority of Houston accommodations are hotels and most are chains, many with multiple locations around the area.
You can find accommodations here in a range of prices and with a variety of bells and whistles. Most hotels offer free cable, local phone calls, and some sort of shuttle service. About half throw in free high-speed Internet, while others charge a daily or per-stay fee to get online. A few have kitchenettes and some include breakfast in the price of your stay. Just about all hotels here are wheelchair accessible.
In many cases, you can bring your four-legged friends along for the trip; one hotel even has special doggie beds. Some pet-friendly hotels charge an extra fee for your furry friends to spend the night, but many don’t.
Every hotel here offers parking, though many charge anywhere from $6 to $25 to park your car each night. Parking costs tend to be on the higher end if you’re staying in the Galleria, Medical Center, and downtown areas. Many Houston hotels are smoke-free; these have been identified as such in the listings that follow.
Overview
Plan to see a bit of the city? Your best bet is to stay in the Galleria area or downtown. These centrally located areas offer easy access to restaurants, shopping, and almost any place you want to go inside the Loop. The Galleria hotels are just a 15-minute drive from Reliant Park, downtown, the Texas Medical Center, the Museum District, and Hermann Park. Downtown hotels are even closer to these locations and within walking distance of the George R. Brown Convention Center, Discovery Green, Fortune 500 companies, Minute Maid Park, the Toyota Center, and the Theater District.
In town for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a Houston Texans football game, the Texas Bowl, or some other event at Reliant Center? You might find it more convenient to stay at one of the hotels in the Medical Center or the West Loop.
Prefer something off the beaten path? Consider some of the eclectic accommodations in the Montrose and Museum District area. Or, if you prefer to camp in your RV, try one of the RV parks along South Loop 610, just minutes from Reliant Center and the Texas Medical Center.
This chapter offers a sampling of some of the most centrally located accommodations in the Houston area, organized by neighborhood. This is hardly a comprehensive list, but it should give you plenty of options so you don’t have to spend hours online searching for a place to rest your head. For additional accommodations, visit visithoustontexas.com or the website of your preferred hotel chain.
1. Athens Hotel Suites
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (888) 759-4466 (Reservations)
Address: 1308 Clay St. at Caroline St.
Description: With just 23 suites, this family-owned place offers the look and feel of a European hotel. Each suite has a washer and dryer, as well as a kitchenette with a full-size refrigerator, microwave, oven, and coffeepot. Cable, Internet, breakfast, and maid service are also included. Depending on your needs and price range, you can choose from executive, deluxe, and standard suites. Athens Hotel Suites is located in the heart of downtown, just a short walk from the George R. Brown Convention Center, the Theater District, the Toyota Center, City Hall, Minute Maid Park, and the METRORail.
2. Best Western Downtown Inn & Suites
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (713) 571-7733
Address: 915 W. Dallas
Description: Located on the west side of downtown, Best Western Downtown is a good option if you don’t want to shell out a lot of money and don’t expect a lot of frills. No matter which of the 75 suites you stay in, you’ll get free parking, high-speed Internet, cable, and a hot breakfast, as well as use of the exercise room and Jacuzzi. The hotel doesn’t have any smoking rooms and doesn’t allow pets. Best Western Downtown offers free shuttle service to and from downtown.
3. Comfort Inn Downtown
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (713) 869-9211
Address: 5820 Katy Fwy.
Description: Comfort Inn Downtown shouldn’t ever be mentioned in the same sentence as “luxury hotel,” but it’s an option if your top priorities are a central location and saving money. Located just a few minutes from the Downtown Aquarium and other downtown attractions, the Comfort Inn Downtown offers a good location for a fraction of the price of most downtown hotels. The 90 rooms here include free continental breakfast, free local calls, free high-speed Internet, and daily newspaper delivery. There’s also an outdoor pool. Some rooms have microwaves and refrigerators; laundry facilities are available onsite.
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Address: 400 Dallas St.
5. Four Seasons Downtown
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (713) 650-1300
Address: 1300 Lamar St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Want to bask in luxury in the heart of the city? This is the place to do it. The Four Seasons’s 20 floors boast 404 swanky guest rooms, including 12 suites. Every room comes with the usual Four Seasons amenities—cushy beds, flat-screen TVs, CD/DVD players, wireless Internet, terry cloth robes, and twice-daily housekeeping service. When you leave your room, you’ve got options galore: a visit to the spa, fitness center, pool and hot tub, or the award-winning Italian restaurant Quattro. Bringing the kids? They’ll get their own taste of luxury in the form of nightly milk and cookies, pint-size robes, and goodie bags. Babysitting is also available.
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Address: 1600 Lamar St.
7. Holiday Inn Express
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (713) 652-9400
Address: 1810 Bell St.
Description: Seeking a prime downtown location without a ton of frills? You’ll find it at this Holiday Inn Express, just a few blocks from the George R. Brown Convention Center, Discovery Green, Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, and tons of restaurants. Since the hotel’s only been open since 2001, the 114 rooms here are in great shape. Like other Holiday Inn Expresses, this one offers a free breakfast buffet, high-speed Internet and cable, and daily housekeeping. There’s also a business center, a whirlpool, and a small workout room.
8. Hotel Icon
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (713) 224-4266
Address: 220 Main St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Hotel ICON may be part of the Marriott family, but this celebrity magnet is probably unlike any hotel you’ve stayed at before. Located in the 1911 Union National Bank building, this “it” hotel features neoclassical architecture blended with intrepid contemporary designs. The 12-floor hotel has 135 guest rooms, including 9 suites. Guests can take advantage of the luxury spa, oversize personal safes, a 24-hour fitness center, free Wi-Fi, limo service, and valet dry cleaning. Hotel ICON is located on the METRORail line and within walking distance of major corporations’ headquarters, Minute Maid Park, the Toyota Center, George R. Brown Convention Center, and the Theater District. The hotel is smoke-free; pets are allowed.
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Address: 1200 Louisiana St.
10. Inn At The Ballpark
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (713) 228-1520
Address: 1520 Texas Ave. at Crawford St.
Description: Looking for big-city amenities and plenty of personal space for relaxing or working? You’ll find both at this hotel just across the street from Minute Maid Park. No matter which of the 200 luxury rooms or suites you stay in at Inn at the Ballpark, you’ll enjoy evening turndown, 24-hour room service, free coffee, AVEDA bath products, free Wi-Fi and transportation, safe deposit boxes, and in-room spa services. Inn at the Ballpark is owned by the Landry restaurant family, which also owns the nearby Downtown Aquarium. Suites start at $300 for those who want even more space. When you’re ready to leave your room, relax in the 4-story bar and lounge or enjoy a fancy dinner at Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse.
11. The Lancaster
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (713) 228-9500
Address: 701 Texas Ave.
Description: There’s a reason Condé Nast Traveler called The Lancaster “one of the best places to stay in the world.” Houston’s oldest boutique hotel prides itself on paying attention to all the little details of your stay, even going so far as to host a complimentary wine hour Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Each of the 84 rooms and 9 suites offers an historic European feel with brass door knockers, marble vanities, and four-post wooden beds covered with high-end bedding. You’ll also enjoy free Wi-Fi, free car service, in-room massage service, and 24-hour room service. Prefer to get out of the room to eat? Dine in The Bistro, where you’ll find signature dishes like crab cakes and grilled lamb meatballs.
12. Magnolia Hotel Houston
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (888) 915-1110
Address: 1100 Texas Ave.
Insider Pick:
Description: Long gone are this building’s days as the home of the Houston Post-Dispatch and headquarters for Shell Oil. Today, one of Houston’s most chic contemporary hotels occupies 1100 Texas Ave., and its poshness shines in everything from the velvet curtains to the rooftop pool and Jacuzzi. No matter which of the 314 guest rooms or suites you stay in, you’ll enjoy free breakfast each morning and free domestic beer, house wine, and soft drinks every evening. Other perks include a 24-hour fitness center, free Wi-Fi, car service, a bedtime cookie buffet, and a billiards room. Magnolia Hotel Houston is just a few blocks from Fortune 500 companies’ headquarters, Minute Maid Park, Discovery Green, the George R. Brown Convention Center, and the Toyota Center.
13. Doubletree Guest Suites
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (713) 961-9000
Address: 5353 Westheimer Rd.
Insider Pick:
Description: Located just a block from the Galleria and its 350-plus fine shopping and dining options, Doubletree Guest Suites is a great place to stay if you’re planning to do some serious shopping or just want to stay in a central location. The 380 rooms here include newly renovated suites, which are perfect for stays with the family. The hotel features the usual Doubletree amenities—cushy beds, great chocolate chip cookies, Wi-Fi, and sophisticated decor. Every room also includes a microwave and a mini refrigerator and many rooms include a 32-inch TV. Sunbathers and swimmers can take advantage of the outdoor pool and whirlpool spa, or work out at the state-of-the-art gym. Pets are permitted. This is a nonsmoking hotel.
14. Hilton Houston Post Oak
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (713) 961-9300
Address: 2001 Post Oak Blvd.
Insider Pick:
Description: Sitting just 1 block from the Galleria and just a few blocks from Uptown Park, Hilton Houston Post Oak offers the convenience and amenities you’ve come to expect from this popular hotel chain. It also boasts luxury, which helps explain why this is such a popular spot for weddings and receptions. The 448 guest rooms include minibars, safes, high-speed Internet, and plush bedding. During your stay, take advantage of 24-hour room service, the business center, a fitness center, as well as The Brittany Bar (a British-style pub), The Promenade (a casual American restaurant), and, of course, room service. Complimentary shuttle service is available within a 3-mile radius of the hotel. Pets up to 75 pounds are permitted for a nonrefundable $75 fee. Smoking is prohibited.
15. Homestead Houston/Galleria Area
City: Houston, TX
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (713) 960-9660
Address: 2300 W. Loop South
Description: The newly renovated rooms at Homestead Houston cater to those who are in town for a few weeks, as well as those looking for an inexpensive place to stay for a night or two. The studio suites here include full kitchens, complete with utensils and cookware. There are also on-site laundry facilities. Housekeeping is provided once every 7 days, but you can get your room cleaned more often for $10 per service. Need to get online? Wi-Fi costs $4.99 per stay. Guests can bring one pet for $25 per day, up to a maximum of $150. Van transportation is available within a 3-mile radius. Advance payment is required.