Houston Hotel Suggestions (Redux)

[Guest ncm2169]

Hi guys, lookin for some help here. I'm planning a biz trip where I'll fly into Houston (IAH) mid-week, stay the night, then drive about 100 miles NNW (on I-45) for a biz meeting the next day, then drive back to IAH and fly home later that evening.

 

I'll be seeing a local escort the first afternoon, and we'll play and then go to dinner. My only hotel specs seem to be: (a) reasonable access to I-45, (b) a clean and reasonably economical hotel, and © proximity to "good local food." I'm really into "local authentic" cuisine; I detest chain restaurants and I'm burned out on expensive "trendy upscale" restaurants. The "gay scene" is unimportant - the good authentic local food is.

 

I'm told that to meet my food requirements I should definitely stay "inside the loop." That's cool, but could anyone give me some help on hotels which meet my specs above?

 

Thanks in advance! }(

[BigK]

I'd suggest staying in a Hotel around I45 and beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway) which is near the airport and north of downtown, and a good starting point for your business meeting the next day. Plenty of hotels to choose from. Plan to drive for the meal.

 

Check Hotwire then book on priceline. For the best idea of what to bid check out biddingfortravel.com.

 

I will come up with some restaurant suggestions. What are your dates. If you decide on a restaurant before you leave go to mapquest.com for driving directions from Hotel to Restaurant.

 

First restaurant suggestion is Hugo's

 

http://www.wineskinny.com/past_issues/restaurants/hugos.htm

 

http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv2292.asp

 

http://listings.houstonpress.com/gyrobase/Dining/Listing?oid=5853

 

Another Restaurant Suggestion is Pappasitos Cantina. This is a regional Tex/Mex chain run by the very successful Pappas (Greek) family. I think their Beef Fajitas are the best. There is one on I45 a few miles north of I45 and Beltway 8 (Greenspoint area).

 

http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv0075.asp

 

Houston has a great international choice of cusines. BBQ and Seafood restaurants abound.

 

I will try to come up with some other restaurant suggestions. Let me know of any particular areas of interest.

 

BTW...Hugo's borders Houston's Gay area Montrose.

 

Another suggestion, stay an extra day and visit NASA's LBJ Space Center visitors center south of downtown.

[Guest ChgoBoy]

>I'd suggest staying in a Hotel around I45 and beltway 8 (Sam

>Houston Tollway) which is near the airport and north of

>downtown, and a good starting point for your business meeting

>the next day. Plenty of hotels to choose from. Plan to drive

>for the meal.

>

>Check Hotwire then book on priceline. For the best idea of

>what to bid check out biddingfortravel.com.

>

>I will come up with some restaurant suggestions. What are

>your dates. If you decide on a restaurant before you leave go

>to mapquest.com for driving directions from Hotel to

>Restaurant.

>

>First restaurant suggestion is Hugo's

>

>http://www.wineskinny.com/past_issues/restaurants/hugos.htm

>

>http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv2292.asp

>

>http://listings.houstonpress.com/gyrobase/Dining/Listing?oid=5853

>

>Another Restaurant Suggestion is Pappasitos Cantina. This is

>a regional Tex/Mex chain run by the very successful Pappas

>(Greek) family. I think their Beef Fajitas are the best.

>There is one on I45 a few miles north of I45 and Beltway 8

>(Greenspoint area).

>

>http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv0075.asp

>

>Houston has a great international choice of cusines. BBQ and

>Seafood restaurants abound.

>

>I will try to come up with some other restaurant suggestions.

>Let me know of any particular areas of interest.

>

>BTW...Hugo's borders Houston's Gay area Montrose.

>

>Another suggestion, stay an extra day and visit NASA's LBJ

>Space Center visitors center south of downtown.

 

Book on Priceline??? No wonder escorts ask for their money up front....

[joel304]

I ate a Hugo's. It's a great choice!

[Vincent_Michael]

Book on Priceline? ROFL

 

I think Hotels.com is good and I my self will be staying in Houston tomarrow night with my partner to get our rings. But If i didnt have to go to houston I never would...Just to damn big.

[bigguyinpasadena]

ChgoBoy and VM,Please be aware that a LOT of very savvy travellers-and a lot of very succesful people(some who post on this board)book through Priceline-even when they could afford to pay much more for the same product.

You do not get to be rich by paying more than you have to just to impress someone-BTW who are you impressing?A hotel clerk making $8 bucks an hour?Because that is the only person(besides yourself)who knows how you booked your room and how much you payed for it.

[Guest ChgoBoy]

>ChgoBoy and VM,Please be aware that a LOT of very savvy

>travellers-and a lot of very succesful people(some who post on

>this board)book through Priceline-even when they could afford

>to pay much more for the same product.

>You do not get to be rich by paying more than you have to just

>to impress someone-BTW who are you impressing?A hotel clerk

>making $8 bucks an hour?Because that is the only

>person(besides yourself)who knows how you booked your room and

>how much you payed for it.

 

Well, every business has its market. My experience with priceline 2 years ago was one of the worst I could imagine. Flying from Chicago to LAX my routing was; ORD-BHM-TPA-LAS-LAX....woohoo, 11 hours (with delays) to fly 1800 miles. When I got to my hotel, the room was simply unacceptable. Dark and dirty (not necessarily pricelines fault)but nonetheless, I was told at the front desk that the rate I had paid thru priceline wouldn't support a better room and I would be responsible for an upgrade. (the hotel did take resp. for the cleanliness issue)I ended up paying an additional $250.00 for my 5 night stay which put me in a room that I could feel comfortable about as well as feel good about entertaining in. I'm a very reasonable person but when I travel I expect a certain level of accomodation, esp in my lodging. My experience AND support from Priceline left me feeling like a second class consumer. Im all for saving money, however, not at the expense of my time and accomodation. Im glad your experience has been better.

[Vincent_Michael]

Your right I am sorry I guess it is more me than anything I just am finicky and want to see what I am getting before I book…Trust me I am a very froogle person and always try to get a good deal.

 

Now that being said I had a very similar experience in Philly I booked with holiday inn and the rooms were an absolute mess and the staff could care less about me. I was so upset I went right over to the Omni Hotel...I am spoiled when it comes to were I am sleeping but that’s pretty much it.

[bigguyinpasadena]

ChgoBoy-Your experience with PL's air product close to right-on,but your hotel experience is an exception to the rule.

The airfare product on Pl does give you the option of one connection or less per direction of travel.This is often overlooked by those willing to make some horrid connections for the sake of saving a buck.I have never used PL to book travel-and I doubt I ever will.

I have received NOTHING but nice rooms in decent hotels when booking via Priceline-and I often get to stay in 4 star hotels while paying 2 star(travelodge-fairfield inn)prices.

There are ways to "game"the system-biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com have taught me some of theese tricks.

In NCM's case I would toatally support him using PL since it is only for one night.

VM,I to am picky about where I lay my head,and if it is anything more than one night really work hard on getting the best hotel room at the best price I can.Sometimes this involves Priceline-othertimes I find workarounds via the frequent guest programs I belong to(Starwood,Marriott,IC's)but I always save money!This means I have $$$$to spend on "other things" ;-)

Let me use my upcoming trip to Orlando and Ft.Lauderdale for instance.

I read through the postings on Biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com and got a feel for what would be an acceptable bid for a four star or resort property,

I then visited the hotels own website(in this case Marriott.com)and looked under many different codes.(these are kind of an inside thing-but I am happy to share with anyone interestd)and came up with the Reniassance Orlando(sea world)Club Level(better amineties,private floor,lounge access,free b'fast and evening horsdouerves)for $149 a night-and I get bonus Marriott Rewards points.

Even Better-Same type of room in Ft.Lauderdale-$49 a night.

Now i admit,this toook a loooooooootttttt of work-and these rates are not available to the public,but do you see how much I am saving here?And that is how I can afford "other things" ;-) om these trips!

Ps-I had planned a trip to San Antonio-but now my main reason for going there has been taken off the market :+

[Guest ncm2169]

Ummm, can I please return this thread to Houston hotels and restaurants? :o

 

BigK, thanks. Your post was very helpful on the restaurants. Of course, I'd be happy with more choices. I love seafood, but I'm thinking Tex-Mex is the likely choice here.

 

< I'd suggest staying in a Hotel around I45 and beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway)

 

Any specific hotel suggestions?

 

Thanks again guys!!

[Guest Conway]

There is a wonderful and extremely authentic Mexican Restaurant in Houston called Otilia's. This isn't Tex-Mex. It's the real thing. You have to dry the cream of poblano soup. I could eat it everyday for the rest of my life. Otilia's is a very simple place. Nothing fancy, just great food.

 

Otilia's is located on Long Point Road not far off the Katy Freeway (I-10). West of the Galleria area.

 

http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv1115.asp

 

As for hotels, I have had excellent experiences at the Intercontinental near the Galleria Mall. Beautiful, spacious and comfortable rooms. There is lots of shopping in the area, movies and great restaurants.

[BigK]

Check biddingfortravel then bid on priceline. Here's Bidding for Travel link:

 

http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddinghouston

 

If you check Airport Hotels on biddingfortravel.com you will see a series of hotels from the airport along Sam Houston Toll Road (beltway 8) to I45. Even near airport you are only 5 minutes from I45.

 

Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

 

3 Star

Sheraton Houston North LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW

Marriott North Houston at Greenspoint LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW

Wyndham Greenspoint LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW

Marriott Houston Airport LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW

Hyatt Regency LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW

Holiday Inn LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW

 

2.5 Star

Amerisuites Greenspoint

 

2 Star

Baymont Inn and Suites Houston North

La Quinta (now a Howard Johnson Express)

[BigK]

Also suggest Rainbow Lodge for dinner:

 

http://www.rainbow-lodge.com/

 

http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv0459.asp

 

 

Also Cafe Annie:

 

http://www.cafe-express.com/www/html/ca/ca_home.htm

 

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/houston/D52776.html

 

http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv0235.asp

[Guest Conway]

You may enjoy the link below. It is a guide to ethnic food in Houston. I found it when traveling there a few ears ago.

 

http://www.b4-u-eat.com/ethnic/dining/ethrests.asp