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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

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LATE CHECKOUT

These 2 haunted Texas hotels promise a spirited overnight stay

The Emily Morgan Hotel/ Facebook

The Emily Morgan is steps away from the Alamo.

If you hear something knocking during a vacation in San Antonio, it might not be housekeeping. Two of the city's downtown landmark hotels — the Gunter and the Emily Morgan — have been named among the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 25 most haunted hotels in the U.S.

Each year, the nonprofit’s Historic Hotels of America program recognizes iconic properties where things are said to go bump in the night. It’s a playful way to highlight the organization’s work to preserve the nation’s diverse historic buildings and neighborhoods, whether one believes in the supernatural or not. The San Antonio pair were the only Texas properties to earn the hair-raising honors.

“The list invites heritage and cultural travelers to discover historic hotels where lore and legends make for memorable stays,” explained the trust in a release. “For believers and skeptics alike, these one-of-a-kind hotels preserve tales of guests who never want to leave and staff who never stopped helping.”

The Emily Morgan returned to the list after a year’s reprieve (maybe someone forgot this year’s blessing). The trust noted that the 102-year-old building is considered one of North America’s most active paranormal sites, owing to its original use as a medical building. Carved grotesques on the facade writhe from tooth pain and stomachaches. Inside, spectral nurses are said to be still providing care.

“On the fourteenth floor, guests have reported a hospital-like smell and, on rare occasions, visions of a hospital scene rather than their guestroom when they open the door from the hallway,” wrote Historic Hotels. “On the twelfth floor, guests have reported bathroom doors opening and closing on their own, lights flashing, and apparitions of nurses pushing rickety gurneys down the corridor before vanishing.”

Gunter Hotel Not pictured: Gunter's resident shadowy figure.Photo by Daniel Kelleghan Photography

Although medical manifestations are unsettling enough, the other San Antonio hotel on the list has a more gruesome claim to fame. Built in 1909, the Gunter Hotel boasts a room that is only slightly less notorious than The Shining’s Room 237. Room 636 was the site of one of Alamo City’s most famous murders.

In 1965, a housekeeper found ex-con Walter Emerick standing beside a blood-soaked bed. Police found empty wine bottles, bloody footprints, strands of blonde hair, and women’s clothing, but never found the body. Emerick left a psychic stain all over downtown, booking it to the St. Anthony’s room 536 (he reportedly asked to stay in 636 again), where he offed himself before arrest. The Gunter never quite recovered from his brief stay.

“Since the 1960s, guests and staff have reported unsettling phenomena, including unexplained cold spots, flickering lights, and faint whispers or footsteps when no one is present,” said Historic Hotels. “Some claim to have seen a shadowy figure lingering near the doorway or caught the faint scent of cigar smoke despite the hotel’s smoking prohibition.”

Still, the dark specters have not kept the Gunter from receiving another honor this year. Historic Hotels recently named it the Best City Center Historic Hotel, given to the property that “best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service.”

Both of San Antonio’s haunted hotels have largely embraced their eerie reputations. The Emily Morgan proudly touts its mysterious occurrences on one of its webpages. The Gunter glosses over some of the more grisly details of room 636 on its own page, and assures guests the room has since been remodeled.

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