Best Houston Hotels

Staying at the Hotel Za Za can be like a vacation in itself. Each of the rooms has its own, individual theme. We love the Asian-themed Geisha House and the art-deco, Space concept “Houston We Have a Problem” suites. Located in the same building as the former world-famous Warwick, Hotel Za Za is conveniently set on the roundabout overlooking the Mecom fountain next to the museums and known as one of the top hotels. Most people don’t know that if you get a mani-pedi here, you can have free access to their luxury pool for the day. Indeed, it's one of the top Houston hotels.

If you want to stay close to NASA and Space Center Houston, pick one of the best Houston hotels, the Kemah Boardwalk, for the prime location smack dab in the middle of all the Kemah Boardwalk attractions—the rides, the shops, restaurants. This two-story hotel has a crème-colored façade that blends nicely into the bayside region, and the rooms themselves have a homey ocean motif, with tans and blues. The hotel is owned by Landry’s, which also runs the Downtown Aquarium, the Aquarium restaurant in Kemah, and Inn at the Ballpark across the street from Minute Maid Park.

Owned by Steve Zimmerman and recently renovated by his sons, Mark and Dan, the small but luxuriant La Colombe D’Or Mansion has just five one-bedroom suites in the mansion itself, and across the way nine one- and two-bedroom villas clustered around a European-style courtyard. La Colombe D'Or is one of the best places to stay in Houston if you value privacy and luxury. Each villa has its own kitchen, balcony and Jacuzzi tub, which makes them ideal for extended stays (and for saving money on meals because you can cook right in the hotel). La Colombe D’Or operates a quaint on-site restaurant that specializes in cuisine from the French Riviera. It’s an easy mile to the light rail stop, and walking distance to the Museum district and medical center—or Rice University if you want to see southern ivy.

Located near Memorial Park on the west side of Houston, Hotel Sorella has a great location within the hip new mixed-use development called Citycentre. It also has a novel modern European-Italian style décor. First, the rooms: black wood laminate floors, oval and square furniture with hues of soft green, deep purple, chocolate, and white, plus floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the pulsing activity of Citycentre with the Houston skyline in the distance. Not exaggerating: you will fall back into the ultra-plush bed and get the best sleep of your life. Citycentre has shops, restaurants (Ruggles Green, RA Sushi, Cyclone Annayas, and more), a movie theatre, and an outdoor central area where live musicians come to play, complete with a dance floor under the stars—all walking distance from the hotel. The double rooms have only full-sized beds which are a squeeze if you’re sharing. The oversized King Suite, which will cost you approximately $100 more per night than the double room rate of around $179 per night, feels like home—only better. Free Wi-Fi and a continental breakfast of pastries, cereal, fresh fruit, coffee (including cappuccino) and juices are two more reasons to stay at one of the best Houston hotels.

A Victorian home in the historic Heights, Sara’s B&B is a quaint place to stay that catches the mood and history of the Heights District. During the week the B&B is often filled with business travelers while on the weekends a 20-something crowd comes to play. Their breakfasts are yummy enough that a lot of people ask owner Bob and Connie McCreight if they plan to open a full-service restaurant. On weekends, they serve a full buffet breakfast, but during the week expect something lighter, albeit still flavorful, like spinach and bacon quiche, fresh watermelon and berries, and a croissant.

Calling all bargain hunters—you’re going to love this place! Built by Starwood Hotels, Alofts have started popping up in cities around the U.S. One of the best places to stay in Houston, the Aloft offers complementary WiFi throughout, a public meeting space called the re:mix lounge featuring comfy couches, flat screens, billiards, an indoor pool, the w xyz bar, and a 24/7 re:fuel snack bar. The rooms have modern furniture, nine-foot ceilings, and built-in work desks built by a window overlooking the Galleria. The roomy bathrooms have nice oversized showerheads. Bring your pet! Dogs up to 40 pounds are allowed.

There are many online specials for this and other hotels, but for the location and luxury of Crowne Plaza in Houston River Oaks, the weekend rates in particular are great. Sure, it’s a pretty generic chain, but we’re including it because of the comfortable details like spacious rooms, marble countertops, and mini-fridges that make it one of the best places to stay in Houston. The entire hotel, from the pool to the 18th floor emerged from a major renovation in the spring of 2009. They also offer free WiFi and have a brand new fitness facility. Ask for a north-facing room for a great view of the downtown skyline.