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    Best Hotels

    Two Houston hotels make Condé Nast Traveler list of world's best places to stay

    Barbara Kuntz
    Barbara Kuntz
    Jan 8, 2014 | 2:45 pm

    A Houston hotel is “golden” for the fourth consecutive year, while another local institution has reached that shining status for the first time — the only two area hotels selected to the 2014 Condé Nast Gold List.

    Hotel Sorella, which opened in 2009 in CityCentre, keeps the prestigious designation. Sophisticated Hotel Granduca in Uptown Park joins the ranks of the best worldwide.

    Nearly 80,000 Traveler readers scored this year's Gold List properties based on rooms, service, food, location, design and activities. Hotels, resorts and cruises worldwide are considered each year, with 200 U.S. destinations selected as 2014 standouts. Condé Nast reveals the winners in its January issue and online.

    Hotel Sorella earned an overall score of 94.1, placing it as the second best hotel in Texas, after the Mokara Hotel & Spa in San Antonio with a 95.0 rating. Readers make special note of Hotel Sorella's "very modern and minimalistic" property with "easy access to all the major highways." The rooms receive high marks for being"spacious and comfortable," and Alex Bistro and the Monnalisa Bar bring praise. Condé Nast adds a final comment in the report: "The continental breakfast is world-class, the best I’ve experienced anywhere."

    With a score of 90.3, Hotel Granduca carries gold status as the seventh-best hotel in the Lone Star State. Rooms and design tallies help this hotel stand out in the eyes of Traveler readers.

    Also golden in Texas for 2014 are Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas (93.7), Ritz-Carlton in Dallas (93), Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio (92.8) and the Rosewood Crescent Hotel in Dallas (90.9).

    Hotel Sorella in CityCentre

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    TRANSPORTATION NEWS

    Luxury commuter van startup connects Houston with Austin and San Antonio

    Brandon Watson
    Nov 19, 2025 | 1:00 pm
    Shutto van
    Photo courtesy of Shutto.
    Shutto's regular routes travel most of the Texas Triangle.

    Houstonians now have a new way to hop between cities, and it comes with Wi-Fi, leather seats, and a guaranteed Buc-ee’s stop. On November 17, mobility startup Shutto launched its luxury van service connecting San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, offering travelers a more comfortable alternative to flying or long-haul rideshare.

    Bookings are now available Monday through Saturday with departure times in the morning and evening. One-way fares range from $47-$87, positioning Shutto in a similar lane to Dallas-based Vonlane, which also offers routes from Houston to Austin and San Antonio.

    Unlike other regional transit options, Shutto builds Texas road-trip culture into every journey. Each route includes a pit stop at Buc-ee’s so riders can stock up on kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, and drinks.

    In announcing the launch, founder and CEO Alberto Salcedo called the company a new category in Texas mobility.

    “We are bringing true disruptive mobility to Texas: faster and more convenient than flying (no security lines, no delays), more comfortable and exclusive than the bus or train, and up to 70 percent cheaper than private transfers or Uber Black,” Salcedo said in a release. “Whether you’re commuting for business, visiting family, exploring Texas wineries, or doing a taco tour in San Antonio, Shutto makes traveling between these cities as easy and affordable as riding inside the city.”

    Shutto enters the market at a time when highway congestion is a hotter topic than ever. With high-speed rail still years in the future, its model aims to provide fast, predictable service at commuter prices. The startup touts an on-time departure guarantee and a relaxed ride. Only 12 passengers fit inside each Mercedes Sprinter van.

    Beyond the scheduled routes, Shutto offers private, customizable trips anywhere in the country, a service the company expects will appeal to corporate retreat planners, wedding parties, and tourists wanting to make a day of crawling Hill Country wineries and breweries.

    The day-to-day service picks up at the Foam Coffee & Kitchen parking lot at 5819 Richmond Ave. near the Galleria. In San Antonio, it picks up at La Panadería Bakery’s parking lot at 8305 Broadway. In Austin, vans depart from the Pershing East Café parking lot at 2501 E. Fifth St.

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