hotel news

Houston boasts 10 of the best hotels in Texas for 2024, says U.S. News

The Post Oak Hotel is the No. 2 best hotel in the state.

Photo courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel

A new list by U.S. News and World Report has ranked 10 Houston hotels among the best in the state, with The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, Hotel Granduca, and The Lancaster earning top-10 spots.

The 14th annual report by U.S. News analyzes more than 37,000 properties across the United States, Europe, Bermuda, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. Hotels are ranked based on industry awards, star ratings, and Tripadvisor customer ratings.

Houston's distinguished Post Oak Hotel fell one spot into No. 2 this year after previously holding onto the No. 1 spot in 2023. The hotel's standout modern amenities and guest services earned high praise in the report.

"The property's 250 rooms and suites are outfitted in warm cocoa, gold and mahogany hues, featuring 50-inch smart TVs, marble bathrooms (also equipped with TVs, plus dual vanities, a tub and a separate shower), free Wi-Fi access and Nespresso coffee machines," U.S. News wrote in an overview of the hotel. "Amenities outside the rooms abound as well: The hotel houses a salon, a spa and a fitness center equipped with weight and cardio equipment, including Peloton bikes offering live cycling classes, seasonal wellness events and occasional exercise classes."

The report continues, "When it comes to dining, visitors have their pick of five venues, serving everything from steaks to seafood to French fare. The hotel is also home to a chic lobby bar and The Cellar, which boasts an inventory of 30,000 bottles of wine curated by the property's sommeliers."

The Hotel Granduca rose to prominence to take the No. 7 spot for 2024, in a major improvement from its 2023 rank as No. 22. European hospitality is the main focus at this hotel, whose guest rooms provide luxurious Italian bed linens, comfortable beds, antique furniture and art, and more.

"From the gourmet cuisine at Alba Ristorante to afternoon tea, this property knows how to help guests slow down and unwind," the report says. "You can pick from a number of room types, the most luxurious being the Residenza Imperatore, which has its own separate entrance and 2,100 square feet of space."

Rounding out the top 10 is The Lancaster, located in the heart of downtown Houston. The Lancaster is in an ideal spot for entertainment lovers, with the Bayou Music Center, Houston Grand Opera, Alley Theatre, and Wortham Center all within walking distance. The property was renovated in 2018 to update the most comfortable guest room amenities.

Houston had the greatest number of hotels in the top 25, including:

No. 11 – JW Marriott Houston Downtown
No. 12 – The St. Regis Houston
No. 14 – Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District
No. 15 – The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
No. 16 – Four Seasons Hotel Houston
No. 21 – Hotel ZaZa Houston Memorial City
No. 25 – C. Baldwin, Curio Collection by Hilton

In Central Texas
Austin Proper Hotel & Residences amped up its hospitality and customer service over the last year to become the No. 5 best hotel in Texas in 2024. It's a massive leap from its No. 16-rank in 2023.

The 32-story hotel is located downtown, boasting 238 unique guest rooms and suites, and 99 luxury condos. If it weren't for all that Austin has to offer, visitors would never need to leave the hotel. There are four on-site restaurants and bars, a 24-hour fitness center, a spa, and a fifth-floor swimming pool with a sun deck and cabanas.

The award-winning Commodore Perry Estate (No. 6) remains one of the best resorts in Texas, despite slipping three spots from third place in 2023. The resort is well known for its signature Texas hospitality combined with European-inspired elements like its antique furniture, breathtaking gardens, and a cozy library.

The three other Austin hotels that earned recognition in 2024 are:

No. 18 – Four Seasons Hotel Austin
No. 22 – The Loren at Lady Bird Lake, Austin
No. 24 – Archer Hotel Austin

San Antonio's Hotel Emma was deemed the No. 1 best hotel in Texas by U.S. News, and No. 13 in the nation. The Historic Pearl district hotel offers 146 luxurious industrial-style rooms inside a former 19th century brewery. The hotel provides easy access to Pearl foodie favorites, including Supper, the hotel's own restaurant led by executive chef Ned Elliott, and Larder, the hotel's deli market.

Hotel Emma's crowning achievement is a three-spot improvement from its former No.4-rank in 2023.

Four more San Antonio hotels earned recognition on U.S. News' "2024 Best Hotels in Texas" list, including:

No. 13 – Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
No. 17 – La Cantera Resort & Spa
No. 20 – Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk
No. 23 – JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

The only San Antonio hotel that didn't make a reappearance in 2024 was Mokara Hotel and Spa, which ranked No. 21 in last year's list.

In North Texas

Dallas had five luxurious hotels earn spots on U.S. News list:

No. 3 – Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
No. 4 – The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas
No. 8 – Hall Arts Hotel Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton
No. 9 – The Joule, Dallas
No. 19 – Hotel Crescent Court, Dallas

hotels san antonio travel vacations reports rankings houston dallas austin resorts spas

Pack Your Patience

Houston's IAH declared 10th worst airport for delays and cancellations

United Airlines plane at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Photo by David Syphers on Unsplash

As if flying wasn't stressful enough already, George Bush Intercontinental has landed among the top 10 worst airports for delays and cancellations.

Ahead of the busy holiday season, Houstonians should budget extra time into their travel plans before flying out of the metro's bustling George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

IAH was just declared the 10th worst airport in the nation for flight disruptions by consumer review platform ConsumerAffairs, which analyzed the rates of moderate and severe delays, diversions, and cancellations at the 29 biggest U.S. airports. IAH also appeared as the 10th worst airport where holiday travel causes the biggest disruptions.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia led the nation as the No. 1 worst airport overall.

The report revealed IAH's biggest issue is its high volume of flight cancellations, rather than delays. IAH has the 7th highest rate of flight cancellations nationally, though the airport's cancellation rate is just 1.8 percent. A silver lining for some travelers is that less than a quarter (24.22 percent) of all cancellations were the last flight of the day to that destination. The average number of same-day flights to the same destination at IAH is 3.69, so there's a high chance travelers will get re-booked on a same-day flight after a cancellation.

Fortunately, the rate of delays at IAH is lower than most other airports, according to the study. IAH has the 10th lowest moderate delay rate out of all the airports examined with nearly 20 percent of flights delayed by 15 minutes and up to three hours. About two percent of all flights are delayed by more than three hours, making IAH the 12th worst airport for severe delays.

The top 10 worst large U.S. airports for delays and cancellations are:

No. 1 – Ronald Reagan Washington National
No. 2 – Dallas Fort Worth International
No. 3 – Newark Liberty International
No. 4 – Miami International
No. 5 – Philadelphia International
No. 6 – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
No. 7 – LaGuardia
No. 8 – Tampa International
No. 9 – Washington Dulles International
No. 10 – George Bush Intercontinental

Surprisingly, Los Angeles International Airport landed as the best major U.S. airport for avoiding travel disruptions. Phoenix Sky Harbor International (No. 2) and Seattle-Tacoma International (No. 3) round out the top three best airports for on-time travel.

In ConsumerAffairs' separate list of the worst medium-sized airports, William P. Hobby landed as the 18th worst out of 32 U.S. airports. About 19 percent of all flights at HOU experience moderate delays — the 5th highest rate in this category — and only one percent are severely delayed.

Pack your patience during the holidays
Flying from IAH may be more stressful during the holidays, as 22.5 percent of flights will suffer from disruptions during the Thanksgiving and winter holiday travel periods — starting the Tuesday before Thanksgiving through the Monday after, and again from December 18 to January 5.

IAH has the fourth lowest holiday disruption rate out of the biggest airports, and the 11th highest holiday severe delay rate. Put some padding on your itinerary, because two percent of all flights will be delayed more than three hours during the holidays

Additionally, 22.3 percent of all HOU flights will be disrupted during the holiday travel season, and 1.5 percent of flights will experience severe delays.

The report offers the following suggestions to help anxious travelers avoid flight disruptions: look into travel insurance to protect against delays or cancellations; look for nonstop flights; or book flights with earlier departure times on an airline with multiple departures to your destination.

For flights that do get delayed or cancelled, travelers need to "act fast" to rectify their situation, says Jennifer Rykaczewski, the CEO of nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Affordable Skies.

"In the first 10 minutes, open the airline app, see whether you have already been rebooked and search for acceptable alternatives," Rykaczewski said. "Throughout the process, save any documentation of the delay or cancellation, plus receipts for meals or hotels, in case you need it for an insurance claim later."

consumeraffairs flight delays flights holiday travel travel houston george bush intercontinental airport william p hobby airport hou iah anderson