Post Oak area for training

Hello. I%26#39;ll be in town in early May for training. The training center is at 1300 Post Oak Ave. They%26#39;ve suggested the Hilton Houston Hotel.

Can anyone give me an opinion on this hotel and the area around it? I can get a rental care if necessary, but the training facility say it%26#39;s a half mile to the hotel. Parking seems to be an issue at this facility and I%26#39;d rather walk or take a shuttle that the hotel advertises than negotiate the parking.

Is there a closer hotel or a nicer one in the same area? I%26#39;m not seeing much via my internet searches.

Thanks!

Post Oak area for training

Short answer - stay at Hilton.

Hilton is the old Double tree - good location and good hotel. Hilton is most probably the closest but several other hotels in the general area. The Hilton has a self park in the back and should not be a problem but by the time you get the car and than park again at 1300 Post Oak garage, you are better off walking. Also hotel parking is not cheap. If you go an additional half a mile - or a mile you would still have the same issues - but have more options with hotels. You have the Westin Okas and Westin Galleria (inside the mall), InterContinental just West of the Galleria, Hotel Derek (on the other side of 610 - further West). Then North of these, a Hampton and I think a Drury Inn, further down St. Regis to name a few. Just so that you know (hope you have looked at a map), but the 610, San Felipe, Westheimer, Post Oak block is one of the most congested in the country. For example - getting out of Hotel Derek in the morning and to drive that mile or so will not be fun.

Several restaurants in the area and the Galleria mall is a %26#39;walk%26#39;. You will be able to keep yourself occupied in the evenings.

Post Oak area for training

Thanks for the information. I have heard that parking in the training facility is not easy (it involves multiple stair cases and elevators just to get out of the parking area). I%26#39;d much rather walk it out anyway and save myself the time in the gym after work.

So you do think it%26#39;s walkable? I can%26#39;t always tell if there are sidewalks or other obstacles from available maps.

Any restrauant or nearby attractions that I should look into?

Thanks again!

Just noticed that there is a huge convention in town. The Hilton is totally booked. I%26#39;m concerned about driving traffic per your earlier post. Are any of the hotels near the galleria drivable to the Wells Fargo building in decent time (under an hour)?

Yes you should be able to walk - and yes 1300 Post Oak is a big office complex (actually has 4 towers) and parking can be a pain.

Restaurants - several - just depends on how far you want to walk. You are right smack in the middle of restaurant / shopping / hotels. So several to choose from. The thing is how far are you willing to walk or are you planning on taking a taxi?

Just within walking distance you will find Canyon Cafe ($$1/2), Cafe Annie ($$$$), (Post Oak Grill $$$), 1515 Grille (or something like that) inside the Galleria inside Saks 5th ($$$), Cheesecake Factory also inside the Galleria (ppl love this place - I can do without it), and literally 100%26#39;s more (both inside and outside the Galleria). You may also head North and go to Uptown - Cafe Express (casual), McCormick and on and on. If you like Chinese - very goog China Town - but a few miles away.

Not a whole lot of attractions - a nice park on the other side of the Galleria (by the tower), Galleria itself (including ice skating).

If you have any specifics post here - other than that - you will find that you can eat at a different rest for every meal and not even scratch the surface.

One site www.b4-u-eat.com/eat002.asp鈥?/a>

I am assuming the Wells Fargo on Post Oak - sure any of the hotels I mentioned. They are all within 2 or 3 miles - but can take 15 to 20 minutes.

You could also try the Marriot West Loop.

There is a cab service with a flat rate of like $6 in that area also. Plus, you might check the hotels to see if they offer shuttle service for their guests.

I%26#39;ve put relatives up at the Marriott West Loop. It would be a good location. You could still walk if you wanted.

But...

There is also a hotel nearby called the Hotel Granduca that is getting great reviews. They also have luxury apartments if that is your bent. It is in the Uptown Center area only a few blocks from your meeting place. Uptown Center is an upscale shopping and restaurant area that will keep you very happy in the evenings. It is where I was going to recommend you look to eat in any event.

Except for any temporary construction, all of the Post Oak Bvld section has good sidewalks and walking access. Still be mindful of crossing lights.

The two hotels with reasonable walking distance to your 1300 POB building are listed below. Both have some reviews on tripadvisor.com

Marriott West Loop, 1750 West Loop South, Houston, TX鈥?- (713) 960-0111鈥?- Traditional old fashioned Marriott south-southwest of 1300, but probably OK.

Hotel Granduca, 1080 Uptown Park Boulevard, Houston, TX鈥?- (888) 472-6382鈥?- 3 year old ';spa type destination hotel';, normally very expensive unless you snag a hotels.com type discount. It%26#39;s north of 1300 on the other side of an upscale shopping center.

South along POB on the southside of the Galleria Mall are a number options, but that location is a long walk unless you are especially fit. Try using maps.google.com/maps, and entering ';2700 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, TX; hotels'; and you can get the spread of hotels in the section bounded by POB, Sage. Alabama %26amp; Hildago Streets. Staying in this area without a rental car and without the long walk means you would want to use Metro Bus 33 (www.ridemetro.org).

Forgot about the West Loop Marriott. Never been there - kind of looks like %26#39;tired%26#39; from the outside - but the other poster has first hand experience. There is also a JW Mariott by the mall.

Granduca is a ';boutique'; hotel. It is owned by a Wells client (at least was) - unless you get a hudge discount I don%26#39;t think it will comply with Wells policy.

Thank you for all the great information. You%26#39;ve all been a great source of information. I%26#39;m not sure what convention is in town, but there are NO rooms in that area. Everything from a 1 star hotel to expensive places are booked solid. I think the Granduaca (sp?) has some suites, but that%26#39;s way beyond my meager stipend amount.

I either have to find another training city (with would negate me being very close to my best friend in Dallas) or I have to find a hotel room in the area that is within reasonable driving distance.

Can anyone suggest an area of Houston that is within a 20 to 30 minute drive around 7:15 or 7:30? Or a street near the towers that will avoid horrific traffic? I%26#39;d like a nice hotel with an easy commute.

I can%26#39;t seem to get a sense of what areas I need to avoid if driving.

Thanks again for all the help. I don%26#39;t know what I%26#39;d do on these trips without tripadvisor peeps!