HotelChatter

Tags: Cute Hotel Doggies / Pet-Friendly Hotels / Halloween Hotels / Houston Hotels / → All Tags

Cute Hotel Doggie Friday: Howl-o-ween Edition

Where: 2525 West Loop S [map], Houston, TX, United States, 77027

Friday is now officially Cute Hotel Doggie Day here at HotelChatter, and in honor of Halloween, we felt it was our duty to bring you Dogs At Hotels in Halloween Costumes. It looks like quite a few properties have had Halloween parties for their four-legged guests this week, including Houston’s Hotel Derek.

Dog Days Out are a regular affair at the pet-friendly Hotel Derek, but this Wednesday was a special Howl-o-ween Spooktacular. As you can see from these photos, it wasn’t just the dogs who dressed up: owners were welcome to come in costume, too. (Which seems fair, considering how silly and perturbed some dogs look when they’re in costume.)

more ›

Tags: Pink Hotels / Houston Hotels / Hotels Doing Good / → All Tags

Hotel Derek in Houston Unveils Its 'Lady Pink' Rooms

Where: 2525 West Loop South [map], Houston, TX, United States, 77027

The pink hotel craze continues but the latest hotel to use pink in its rooms is doing it for a good cause. The Hotel Derek in Houston has created five guest rooms designed for the female traveler (uh oh, paging gender neutralists) and 10 percent of the room rate will go towards the Houston chapter of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Pink décor complements each of the guest rooms and includes luxurious bedding, bathroom accessories, as well as a cozy robe and slippers. A unique feature of the Lady Pink rooms is the wellness bar and soothing spa music atop each nightstand.

Room rates start at $289 a night during hte week and goes down on the weekends to $169.

Tags: Hotel Technology / Geek Hotels / Hotel Amenities / Hotel Openings / Houston Hotels / → All Tags

New Houston Hotel Introduces Bluetooth Stereo in Guestrooms

Where: 800 West Sam Houston Parkway [map], Houston, TX, United States, 77024

Hey there tech geeks: next time you find yourself in need of a hotel room in Houston, consider spending the night at the Hotel Sorella which will open on August 16. That's because the hotel promises to have a plug panel that includes bluetooth stereo for guests in-room--meaning they can play music from their iPhones or other Bluetooth-enabled devices through the rooms's TV speakers.

We got the tip from someone who works for the plug panel technology. Here's how it all went down:

I work for a hotel technology supplier and we are installing our first MediaHub panel with stereo Bluetooth at the Hotel Sorella in Houston. I know I've seen a few people chatting about plug panels. The new one going into the Hotel Sorella has a stereo Bluetooth interface so guests can stream music or any other audio through the TV speakers by using Bluetooth - no wires or cables. The catch: you have to pair an A2DP enabled device or one that will work with wireless speakers (not just a Bluetooth headset).

Ok, so what the heck is an A2DP enabled device and how do you know if you have one? Well if you have the iPhone 3G, that will definitely work here. A lot of Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson phones will work with this, as will Palm TREOs. Unfortunately, your first, second, or third generation iPod will not work with this feature. Still, you can just plug it into the panel.

more ›

Tags: Hotel Video Tours / HotelChatter Reviews / Houston Hotels / → All Tags

We Came, We Saw, We Texas Two-Stepped at The Houstonian

Where: 111 North Post Oak Lane [map], Houston, TX, United States, 77024

This past weekend, we jetted down to Houston, Texas for an insanely over-the-top wedding that only a true Texas bride could pull off. It was large, it was lavish, it was ornate — and so was the hotel in which the wedding was held (which is also where we crashed for the weekend).

Check out the tour of our room at The Houstonian (apologies for the shaky camera work; we were fresh off the plane and all psyched up to hit the wedding festivities) and our thoughts on the "urban resort" — which is part of the Preferred Hotels and Resorts Group — from our two-day stay & play.

more ›

Tags: Hotel Pools / Houston Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags

Will Houston's Luxury Pools Convince You to Go to There?

There are many reasons not to go to Houston. Among them: soaring temperatures and humidity that makes your hair frizz within 30 seconds of leaving the salon. And then there's the whole Hilary Duff thing.

But the Houston Chronicle seems to think that maybe Houston's luxurious hotel pool scene may give travelers a reason to reconsider the great H-Town:

Blending a high-end hotel pool with an upscale bar to create a resortlike scene is a national trend, and Houston is diving in.

Though the pools can be costly -- the Four Seasons spent $4 million on its upgrade and the San Luis, $2 million -- hotel operators say they help boost room stays and business in general.

A key ingredient is opening them to the public. By mixing stylish outsiders with hotel guests, the hotel gives its pool a trendy, clublike feel.

more ›

Tags: Gas Packages / Houston Hotels / → All Tags

Gas Package Spotted: Houston Hotel's 'So Tank Full' Package

Where: 1117 Prairie Street [map], Houston, TX, United States, 77002

The Alden-Houston Hotel in Houston is offering a silly-named gas package called the "So Tank Full" that includes deluxe room accomodations for one night, overnight valet parking and a $50 gas card. If you upgrade to a suite you get a $75 gas card.

The price for a deluxe room is $179 and the price of a suite is $229. Taxes not included.

Once you get to the Alden-Houston, you probably won't even need your car. The hotel is four blocks from Minute Maid Park, six blocks from Downtown's new Discovery Green and the Theatre District, and just one block from the Metro Light Rail which can take you wherever else you need to go in town.

Tags: Houston Hotels / Jock Jam Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags

WTF News: Houston's Astrodome to Turn into a Convention Hotel?

The might be one of the strangest hotel conversions we have heard of yet. But if it all goes as planned, sports fans might have a chance at staying on some hallowed athletic grounds.

The Houston Reliant Astrodome was once considered the "Eigth Wonder of the World" and indeed it was the world's first domed stadium when it opened in 1965. But as the years went by the place began to show its age.

After the last b-ball game was played there in 1999 (the Astros moved to the Minute Maid Park), the dome hosted mostly concerts and rodeos since knocking it down wasn't environmentally sensible.

But now there are plans to turn the dome into a 1,200-room convention hotel. The county and the city is still working out the messy logistics and financing of such a place. However, if this conversion does take place, we'll be real interested to see how they make a hotel out of the dome.

[Photo:Cybertoad]

Tags: Bad Rate / Houston Hotels / Hilton Hotels / Hotel Gyms / → All Tags

Bad Rate: Fitness Fanatic Package at Hilton Houston Americas

Where: 1600 Lamar [map], Houston, TX, United States, 77010

[Ed. Note: This is the Bad Rate in our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature. This rate was valid on October 24, 2006 and is subject to change. Enjoy.]

What do you get with the $309 "Fitness Fanatic" package at the Hilton Houston Americas? We hope you're sitting down; it includes a standard room and free access to the gym!

You see, there once was a time when entrance to the gym was always included at every hotel that had one. Then some bean counters came up with the brilliant idea to rent out space in the hotel, outsource the gym to this new tenant, and then charge guests to use what is now a "private fitness club" open to local residents. Who cares if it annoys guests--it's a new profit center!

We suggest you spend your Houston weekend at the St. Regis instead--this week's Good Rate--where for $69 less than the standard room here at the Hilton, you'll get a junior suite and far more pampering.

Related Stories:
· Hilton Houston Americas reviews [TripAdvisor]

Tags: Good Rate / Houston Hotels / St. Regis Hotels / Hotel Deals / → All Tags

Good Rate: Weekend Deals at the St. Regis Houston

Where: 1919 Briar Oaks Lane [map], Houston, TX, United States, 77027

[Ed. Note: Welcome to our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature where we look at hotel prices in the same city and decide which is better worth your hard-earned benjamins. The rate listed here was valid on October 24, 2006 and rates are subject to change.]

If you are heading to Houston before the end of the year, enjoy a sweet deal at the St. Regis for under $200 per night. If you book a weekend room now through 12/30, you can get a regular room for $165 or a deluxe room for $185 (before taxes and fees). Or go all out and get a junior suite for $240.

The St. Regis in Houston is no humdrum affair. A hotel that brashly bills itself as "a haven of style, sophistication and unmatched pampering" is not going to make you carry your own bags and deal with an outsourced concierge. Room sizes start at 500 square feet and all of them come with a CD player, Pratesi Linens, pillowtop mattresses, robes, a scale, and nightly turndown service.

Considering that weekday rates at this upper crust hotel routinely hit the $350 level, this is a bargain of Texas-sized proportions. Follow this link to book directly at the hotel site, where we've noticed a new luxury best rate guarantee. (They only give you a 10% discount for finding a better rate though, so that doesn't inspire much confidence.)

Related Stories:
· St. Regis Houston reviews [TripAdvisor]