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.
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.
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.
[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.
[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.)
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by Jenna
