Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston Downtown Convention Center

We picked this hotel for the Houston Chevron Marathon weekend, and it was a great choice again. This was our second stay. The location was convenient and accessible despite the downtown road closures, and the spacious rooms were just right for our needs. Everyone was patient and helpful. Claude was awesome, the manager was highly accommodating, and the women in the dining area were friendly and attentive. We’ll definitely stay here again!

Breakfast was included and good, especially the omelette cooked fresh right in front of you. Valet costs $60, though you can park across the street for much less and still come and go. I paid $30 for 28 hours. The room was spacious and smelled fresh, but showed its age in places. The bathroom looked worn and really needs renovations. The barn door in the bathroom is ridiculous: there’s a huge gap, no privacy, and sounds and smells travel freely through the room. The dusty staircase in the lobby looked like nobody had touched it in a while, and the front desk staff could be more welcoming.

Breakfast was excellent and the gym was fantastic. The bed was fine, average to good. The rooms are spacious, with a separate bedroom and living room, and the bathroom had clearly been refurbished recently and was lovely, though some other parts felt a little dated. The location worked well for getting around Houston. My main frustration was the expensive valet service. Its system didn’t seem to work with non-US phone numbers, which felt odd for an international hotel, so I had to call reception to get the car brought around. Even with that hassle, I had a very good stay and would happily return.

Claude was wonderful. He went out of his way to make our special time with our grandkids feel magical, explaining the downtown Christmas lights and walking us next door so we could use the pool amenities. He was truly awesome and deserves recognition for his customer service. Everyone else was friendly too, except the bartender at happy hour. We didn’t let that take away from an otherwise wonderful stay.