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    happy staycation, houston

    11 hot Houston-area hotels for a last-minute weekend staycation

    Steven Devadanam
    May 27, 2021 | 7:42 pm
    Pool deck summer music series
    Dive into Four Seasons fun this weekend.
    Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Houston

    The long weekend (and requisite salute to all who gave all to the nation) means Houstonians are in search of local getaways.

    While many hop spots are completely booked for Memorial Day weekend (staff at The Houstonian Hotel confirm the elegant spot is jam-packed), many hotels still have availability and even decent rates.

    Best bet is to confirm online or call. Here, then, is a roundup of staycation spots for that wayfaring Houstonian.

    Four Seasons
    1300 Lamar St.
    Downtown’s hottest hotel, which recently unveiled its site-wide room renovation and a new Pan-Latin steakhouse from renowned chef Richard Sandoval, is toasting Memorial Day with special discounts. Look for deals on the hotel’s posh, poolside cabana rooms and the Residents Retreat Package for a weekend getaway.

    The packages include 10 percent off the room rate, daily American breakfast for two, complimentary in-room movie with popcorn and sodas for two, one hour of complimentary play in Topgolf with reservation, and valet parking (always a plus).

    Four Seasons is also kicking off summer programming with a BBQ cookout on the pool deck Saturday, May 29 from 11 am-5 pm, featuring a live DJ, a la carte BBQ menu, and new poolside cocktails. Expect the BBQ Cookouts with a DJ every Saturday throughout the summer.

    Hampton Inn Houston Downtown / Homewood Suites Houston Downtown
    710 Crawford St.
    Houston Astros fans can catch an Astros foundation package. Offered all season (through 11/20), the package at each property includes complimentary valet parking, Astros swag, two beer vouchers to St. Arnold’s brewery, and St. Arnold's swag.

    The inns are less than a mile from George R. Brown Convention Center and Minute Maid Park. And added draw: Take in the gorgeous new five-story mural (the largest in Houston!) on the back of the hotel created by New York-based street artist Dragon76.

    Heights House Hotel
    100 W Cavalcade St.
    Houston’s newest boutique hotel is offering special Memorial Day Weekend room packages on Sunday, May 30 and Monday, May 31. Rooms for both days are priced at $100 and include two cocktails from the hotel’s buzzy Space Cowboy bar and lounge, as well as early access to the hotel pool.

    Beginning Sunday, May 30, Space Cowboy will be expanding hours to open for lunch at noon. (Hours of operations will be noon-2 am seven days a week.)

    Holiday Inn Express Houston - Galleria
    2351 West Loop South
    The Galleria’s newest centrally located and stylish hotel,has just opened. The 14-story property is just a stone’s throw from the tree-lined promenade Post Oak Boulevard in Uptown District and close to River Oaks District, Highland Village and the world-famous Galleria. Memorial Park is also within easy reach of the new hotel. Rooms start at $122 per night.

    Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District
    Post up at the chic and secy Museum District spot and explore nearby attractions including the Museum of Fine Art’s new Kinder building and Hermann Park. Afterwards, unwind with a facial or full-body treatment at the onsite ZaSpa.

    Enjoy the delightful backdrop of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Mecom Fountain while imbibing in one of the many spring cocktails at Monarch, Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District’s signature restaurant. Rock star concept suites such as the Villa Champagne or Soho Loft and offer a more spacious, residential feel with all of the amenities of hotel living.

    Hotel ZaZa Houston Memorial City
    Adjacent to Memorial City Mall and Memorial City Medical Center, Hotel ZaZa Houston Memorial City offers swimming and sunbathing at The Beach Club, the on-property luxury pool. Afterwards, head to the in-house restaurant, Tipping Point. Go big with one the Magnificent 7 Suites; the Passage to India and French Connection don’t disappoint.

    Both locations are offering a Stay More, Get More package, featuring different tiers of percentages off depending upon length of stay. Guests who stay three consecutive nights, weekday, or weekend, get 20 percent off the daily rate.

    InterContinental Houston - Medical Center
    6750 Main St.
    The chic and acclaimed Medical Center hotel and the Houston Zoo are partnering to offer tickets to the beloved Houston attraction. Families are invited to getaway near the heart of Houston with the Houston Zoo package, which includes an overnight stay in luxe hotel accommodations, self-parking, four tickets to the Houston Zoo (two adults, two children), and two stuffed InterContinental bears.

    Hop in the hotel’s shuttle and enjoy a day at one of the best spots to discover animals from around the world and the zoo's newest exhibit, Prehistoric Beasts presented by TXU Energy. The hotel property is just minutes from the Museum District, Hermann Park, and Rice Village. Helpful tip: Hotel guests have complimentary access to courtesy car service to destinations within three miles of the hotel.

    Additionally, in honor of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the hotel is offering a special dish, Kampachi Crudo, with sales of the citrus/sashimi dish benefiting Stop AAPI Hate.

    The Sam Houston, Curio Collection by Hilton
    1117 Prairie St.
    Yet another downtown hotel is cheering on the Astros. Here, guests can enjoy an upgrade to a King deluxe room, welcome amenity, vouchers for two beer per night, and a 2 pm late check out (available through October 3).

    History buffs will note that The Sam Houston Hotel Curio Collection opened in 1924 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside, rooms have been updated with a chic, modern, boutique décor.

    This hip hotel is a three-minute walk from the Preston light rail station (for direct Museum District access) and within a mile to attractions like Minute Maid Park, Discovery Green, George R. Brown Convention Center, and the Aquarium.

    Galveston

    DoubleTree Galveston
    1702 Seawall Blvd.
    Located on Seawall Boulevard adjacent to the beach, DoubleTree Galveston is just 10 minutes from Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and offers up gulf views. Enjoy beach-front rooms with balconies, chic décor, quality seafood dining and a swim-up pool bar. Book five days in advance to save up to 15 percent off.

    Holiday Inn Express Galveston Beach
    3228 Seawall Blvd.
    This beach-front hotel’s packages include a 15-percent-off discount for those who book at least three days in advance. Explore Galveston’s historic downtown district, beautiful Victorian-era homes, antique stores, specialty shops, galleries, museums, and restaurants. Starting rates are an extremely reasonable $94.

    The Woodlands

    The Woodlands Resort
    2301 North Millbend Dr.
    This pristine property is nestled among 350 acres in a sprawling tree-filled environment. Now throughout the summer, the resort is extending their Waterpark Wonderland Package. Look for a $50 dining credit valid at any resort restaurant, access to the Forest Oasis waterpark with water slides and a lazy river, and late check-out at 2 pm.

    vacationhotels
    news/city-life

    hottest headlines of 2025

    Houston's richest residents, best suburbs, and more top city news in 2025

    Amber Heckler
    Dec 22, 2025 | 3:45 pm
    Museum of Fine Arts, Houston gala 2025
    Photo by Wilson Parish
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    Editor’s note: As 2025 comes to a close, we're looking back at the stories that defined Houston this year. In our City Life section, readers will notice several of our local universities earned high praise from prestigious global and national publications. Houston's sprawling suburbs continued to skyrocket in popularity for their livability and safety, and no top-10 list is complete without mentioning the city's wealthiest residents. Read on for the top 10 Houston City Life stories of 2025.

    1. 2 Houston universities named among world’s best in 2026 rankings. These two high-performing local institutions – Rice University and University of Houston – are in a class of their own, according to the QS World University Rankings 2026. QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) compiles the prestigious list each year; the 2026 edition includes more than 1,500 universities from around the world.

    2. Richard Kinder is Houston's richest billionaire in 2025, Forbes says. The Kinder Morgan chairman is the 11th richest Texas resident right now, and ranks as the 108th richest American. Kinder also dethroned Tilman Fertitta to claim the title as the wealthiest Houstonian.

    3. 2 Houston neighbors shine as top-10 best places to live in the U.S. Pearland and League City, respectively, claimed No. 3 and No. 6 in U.S. News & World Report's annual "Best Places to Live in the U.S." rankings. The 2025-2026 rankings examined 250 U.S. cities based on five livability indexes: Quality of life, value, desirability, job market, and net migration.

    4. 5 Houston suburbs deemed best places to retire in 2026 by U.S. News. The Woodlands and Spring should be on the lookout for an influx of retirees next year, U.S. News predicts. Three more Houston-area neighbors also ranked among the top 25 best places to retire in America.

    5. Activist group calls out Houston highway as a 'freeway without a future'. A May 2025 report from Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) included Houston's Interstate 45 expansion on its list of highways with infrastructure that is "nearing the end of its functional life." CNU claims further expansion of Houston's highway system could eventually lead to the loss of the city's bayous, while also diminishing the remaining flood-absorbing land.

    6. 10 things to know about America's first Ismaili Center opening in Houston. After nearly 20 years in the making, the long-awaited Ismaili Center, Houston finally opened its doors to the public. The 11-acre site was painstakingly designed and constructed to offer indoor and outdoor public spaces for all Houstonians to enjoy, connect, and engage.

    7. Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta asking $192 million for superyacht. Fertitta, who owns the Houston Rockets and restaurant and hospitality conglomerate Landry's, decided to sell his 252-foot yacht, named Boardwalk, to make room for an even larger superyacht he is expected to receive in April 2026. Among numerous luxurious amenities, Boardwalk also features a helipad.

    8. 2 Houston neighbors rank among America's safest suburbs in 2025. Spring came in at No. 19 and West University Place followed at No. 21 in SmartAsset's August 2025 study, which is the first time the two Houston suburbs have made it into the top 25.

    9. Houston is one of America's most overpriced cities, study finds. This likely isn't a surprise to some Houstonians. The study, conducted by Highland Cabinetry, said Houston "struggles with heavy pollution and underwhelming income levels."

    10. 9 Houston universities make U.S. News' 2025 list of top grad schools. Among the newcomers this year are Houston Christian University and Texas Southern University. HCU's graduate education school ranks No. 21 in Texas, and TSU has the 10th best law school in the state.

    houstonhot headlinescity liferichard kindertilman fertittasuburbsmost popular stories
    news/city-life
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