Texas - Consolidated "IAH Layover - what to do, where to go, how much time" thread

Hello,

I have a 10 hour layover in IAH and was thinking to go downtown with line 102 as I find it. However, I would like to get to a bestbuy to buy Sony player.

What would you recommend? which one would me most convenient in this case?

Thanks

IAH is north of downtown and depending on time of day it can be a long haul. The line you refer to must be a bus line as the light rail only goes around downtown not to the airport (or where people live and want to go for that matter. Airports, Katy area, Galveston etc). There are some bestbuys on 59 and 45 near the airport. Might want to look into renting a car fir the day if you run around as taxi prices will eat you up and probably come out ahead with a car.

Please follow the thread as it moves to the Travel->Texas forum for more discussion or suggestions. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator.

What exactly do you need? Maybe you can get it at one of the Best Buy kiosks in the airport.

The line you refer to must be a bus line as the light rail only goes around downtown.

Indeed, 102 (http://www.ridemetro.org/schedulesmaps/Pdfs/102-iah.pdf) is the Metro Bus IAH Express from / to downtown.

Pretty sure there's no Best Buy Downtown, but there are a couple close by:

GREENSPOINT(Store 215)
10777 North Fwy
Houston, TX 77037-1129

And it looks like it's a fairly short walk from 102 Bus stop, and even closer to Fry's Electronics.

While the Humble store is closer, no bus will get you there (on US 59).

EmailKid

102 is no longer an express to downtown, it's a local. Looking at the schedule confirms it's an hour ride to downtown.

102 is no longer an express to downtown, it's a local. Looking at the schedule confirms it's an hour ride to downtown.

Hence OP can take it to Best Buy on I-45 ^

EmailKid, currently only connecting via IAH

Hi,

I have a 53 minutes layover at IAH on my way to AUS from LGA on Sunday.
It's my first time going to IAH airport and first time having a layover between two domestic flights.. So I'm unclear about what steps I need to take before I get on my transit flight.
Moreover, I have to switch terminals- from terminal C to B in 53 minutes.

Will I have enough time to make my transit flight?

Thanks!

As long as your inbound flight is on time you should have no problems making the connection. Just proceed to your next gate. You can take the TerminaLink from C to B just look for the flashing blue light.

Easy, peasy.

45 minute connections are easy at IAH, so yours should be no problem. And since you are flying an RJ to New York it's even easier in that they tend to start boarding later than mainline jets.

Just follow the signs, it's that easy :)

EmailKid

Allow me to be a contrarian.

To risk a close connection based on an on-time departure out of LGA is risky.

If the flight leaves on time you have it made. LGA is the issue here.

Thanks everyone! Now I will quit worrying.. :)

So, I used some miles to buy a couple tickets to south america but unfortunately it's left us with a 12 hour layover in IAH. I have a United club pass but even that I can't imagine sitting in the lounge for 12+ hours.

Is there any recommendations for leaving the airport? Is there good Public transport to take us to someplace interesting. 12 hours should give is plenty of time and we need to be back by 6 to go through security for our flight.

I've never left the airport in IAH but it all looked pretty desolate around the area.

It is desolate. Rent a car. Though, 12 hours should give you 8-9 to do whatever.....

Can you give an idea when the layover is? Normal business hours?

Hosuton has a good zoo; there might be a baseball game going on; Galveston is pretty interesting (allow 1.5 hours each way); there are a TON of good restaurants; and two museums I think are great are Bayou Bend and Rienzi - two house museums with huge furniture collections. Shopping is good, though I'm assuming you don't want to lug everythng to South America and back...

Nasa is about an hour away. I have not been there since the closed the ISS/STS program down, though.

Is there any recommendations for leaving the airport? Is there good Public transport to take us to someplace interesting

I've never left the airport in IAH but it all looked pretty desolate around the area.

Asked and answered not too long ago.

Pretty desolate around IAH.

Go back a page or two or do a search on this topic.

EmailKid

Oh, and welcome to FlyerTalk

Rent a car and head to the Museum District. The Museum of Fine Arts is a good way to kill a few hours and admission is pretty cheap. Take a stroll around Hermann Park (right next to MFAH).

Pick a restaurant from this list (http://foodinhouston.blogspot.com/2011/06/where-im-eating-now-2011-version.html) and have a terrific meal. The list is a little out of date but it's still a solid collection. For instance, Downhouse is now open till 2am, not just 3pm. I'd also add Underbelly and Hay Merchant to it.

Just make sure to leave enough time to get back up to IAH, especially since it sounds like you'll be heading up during rush hour.

I'm meeting two people in Houston (IAH) the night before we all leave for Asia. We arrive at 745p, 945p, and 1030p, respectively and have a 10:50a flight the next morning.

If we rented a car, is there good BBQ or other food anywhere near the airport and open late? Anywhere worth going for a unique breakfast?

For three people, the Hyatt Place seems like a logical choice as their couch looks good. Does anyone have experience there? They appear to not have 24/7 shuttle service - what is the frequency of the shuttle when it is operating and what would a cab from IAH to the hotel run when the hotel shuttle is not running?

Thanks.

I'm meeting two people in Houston (IAH) the night before we all leave for Asia. We arrive at 745p, 945p, and 1030p, respectively and have a 10:50a flight the next morning.

If we rented a car, is there good BBQ or other food anywhere near the airport and open late? Anywhere worth going for a unique breakfast?

For three people, the Hyatt Place seems like a logical choice as their couch looks good. Does anyone have experience there? They appear to not have 24/7 shuttle service - what is the frequency of the shuttle when it is operating and what would a cab from IAH to the hotel run when the hotel shuttle is not running?

Thanks.
Pappa's is close, never been there, but the others places in the Pappa's chain are good. There is also Rudy's on 45, but not sure about how late they are open. Plus do you want to eat BBQ at that hour of the night?

I have a 4-hour layover in IAH between 5am and 9am soon. I do have United Club access. But, their breakfast selection is just not that inspiring. So, I am trying to get some advice on where is a fun place to have some breakfast in IAH. Thanks!

So, I am trying to get some advice on where is a fun place to have some breakfast in IAH. Thanks!

Fun :confused:

Term E has Starbucks and a few other places for b-fast.

EmailKid

Spending the night in Houston now thanks to a United problem. Where to stay tonight? What's a good seafood or sushi place?

I have 5.5 hours between flights, so that likely means I have about 4 hours to work with, more or less. (Flying YVR-IAH-PBC (Puebla)).

I've previously had an 11-hour layover at IAH, and took a cab to a shopping mall, which worked out fine, but I want to do something different this time.

I am thinking that maybe I'll go hang around an airport hotel and take a walk, particularly a hotel that has nice grounds. Is there such a place near IAH?

Any other ideas for doing something other than wandering the airport? I don't want to rent a car.

I am thinking that maybe I'll go hang around an airport hotel and take a walk, particularly a hotel that has nice grounds. Is there such a place near IAH?

Any other ideas for doing something other than wandering the airport? I don't want to rent a car.

No, the only hotel at the airport is not so great, and no place to walk really (I am a walker).

When I want to walk, I try to (and usually do) find a cart, put my carryon on it, and just wonder the halls of the terminals. Term D is particularly deserted and suitable for walking before the afternoon flights by foreign carriers.

As *A I normally connect at IAH (opposed to when I used to fly out of there) in int'l itins, so spend good two hours at President's Club, always Term E. Short of going to the mall, there really isn't much to do close to the airport itself.

EmailKid

How about catching a shuttle to the Doubletree and walking around there?
I will keep Terminal D in mind, though, particularly for shorter layovers.

How about catching a shuttle to the Doubletree and walking around there?

OK, you could do that, but short of walking down sidewalks don't recall anywhere else to walk. Now that it's cooler that would be OK, in summer it's pretty toasty for walking :p

It's all flat, but IIRC plenty of pine trees around so it's not all bad.

EmailKid

Oh yeah, my plans re walking would be slightly different in August :).

I'll give this a try, I think.

I note that the Marriott is accessible by tram from within the airport. Are there any grounds around the Marriott?

I note that the Marriott is accessible by tram from within the airport. Are there any grounds around the Marriott?

As I alluded to in my previous post, not really.

In this case, Bing.com/maps is your friend in Bird's Eye View. This gives you about 45 degree view, much better than Google maps which is pretty much straight down.

EmailKid

Great tip about Bing! Thanks.

I looked on TripAdvisor and saw this in a Doubletree review, so I think that hotel will be the "winner" for my walkabout.

the hotel is large, nice and has a great pool/open green area within the building grounds.

I note that the Marriott is accessible by tram from within the airport. Are there any grounds around the Marriott?

If you're killing time at IAH and can leave and re-clear security, you really should venture to see the tram. It's quite an experience.

Hi,

This summer, I will travel through IAH on the way from Rio de Janeiro to Amsterdam.

As cannot sleep on planes and have a long layover at IAH from 6 am to 5 pm, I would like to book a dayroom or hotel room at or near the airport. I tried different chains that have hotels near the airport, but cannot find any dayroom offer which does not involve booking for two nights, when all I want to do is stay at the hotel during the day.

Any ideas would be tremendously appreciated.

Thanks so much,

F Ganbich
Luxemburg

I am moving this over to the Texas Forum. Please follow there...
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Have you checked Marriot inside IAH?

Alternative hotel search option is using google map. Search for hotel near IAH. You should see smaller chain hotels like Ramada, Fairfield Inn, Townplace, Candlewood, Super 8. For a short stay, these hotels are fine.

Hope it helps.

The Marriott hotel located at IAH would be the most convenient option.....here is the address and phone:
18700 John F Kennedy Blvd Houston, TX 77066
(281) 443-2310
This hotel is between terminal B &C, so you ride the ground-side (outside security) underground tram to reach it. Any other hotels are outside airport property, so you wait for their bus to come pick you up at your terminal. When you make reservations somewhere, ask how often their shuttle picks up at the airport.

****Called this Marriott today.....they say a day rate of $99 is available, but only with "walk-in availability".....meaning no advance reservations accepted....you go to hotel when you arrive and ask at desk if they have a day room available.

Generally, in the USA a "day room" is not a common request.....hotels are more used to people asking for "late checkout" at 3 or 4pm after staying 1 night, then paying a "half-day rate" for the extra hours after the usual 11am or noon check-out time.

Arriving at 6am---the bigger problem may be finding a hotel that will let you check-in that early....most hotels have 2pm or 3pm check-in time....and if the hotel was full the night before, there's a wait until they clean-up rooms.

At most hotels, the room-cleaning housekeepers end their day at 3pm or 4pm, so are not available to clean a room to be used again that night......so that is why there may not be any lower "day" rate.

A couple of options:
Most secure would be to make a reservation for the night before arrival....a "guaranteed" reservation so the room will be held empty overnight, so you could it would be ready for you to check in at 6am. Just before you travel, fax or call the hotel and say your plane has been delayed/changed so you are arriving at IAH at 6am, and want a "late-checkout" for 3pm or 4pm.

You may have to simply book a regular 1 night reservation for the day of arrival....call hotel when you land and a hope they were not full the night before, and have a clean room ready..... then after you check-in tell the hotel something like "My boss now wants me to take a plane at 6pm, so I will be checking out at 3pm....is there a lower day rate?"

.......I realize I have over-explained things for an experienced traveler.....let me know what else might be helpful

Call/email Springhill Suites (Marriott down brand), "on the airport" with good shuttle service and much experience in addressing special travel needs. I suspect they it will quote you a "day rate".

Call/email Springhill Suites (Marriott down brand), "on the airport" with good shuttle service and much experience in addressing special travel needs. I suspect they it will quote you a "day rate".

as well as several other hotels just outside the property of IAH. but the thing is, they're all OUTSIDE the property which means you have to take a short shuttle bus (and I have done this before and it's not that big of a deal). BUT, For ease and convenience, I would definitely book the Marriott is it is physically on property as others have mentioned already. There is an excellent above ground rail system that will whisk you from one terminal to the other and makes a stop directly at the Marriott.

Call the properties directly. Do not go through toll-free reservations numbers or email. Explain the exact times you are looking for. If you arrive at 5:00 AM, you won't need a room before 6:00 AM, perhaps later and you will likely need to leave your room by 2:30 - 3:00 PM.

Given that you are looking for a place to sleep, so long as it's convenient to the airport and clean, you should not have any other needs.

Day rooms are becoming more and more common, they just aren't typically published online.

There is an excellent above ground rail system that will whisk you from one terminal to the other and makes a stop directly at the Marriott.

The above ground train is post security and does not stop at the hotel.

The below ground tram, pre-sec, does stop at the hotel. There is actually a little check-in stand down there too, that is sometimes staffed.

This hotel is between terminal B & C, so you ride the airside underground tram to reach it. Any other hotels are outside airport property, so you wait for their bus to come pick you up at your terminal.

The above ground train is post security and does not stop at the hotel.

The below ground tram, pre-sec, does stop at the hotel.

FlyingHoustonian beat me to it ;)

Just to affirm, you are inside airport property, but OUTSIDE secure area.

EmailKid

Dear all,

First I want to thank Obscure2K to move my query to the correct forum.
And then thank you so much everyone for all your valuable advice! I feel I have the perfect plan layed-out now!
Didn't quite realize that 'day room' wasn't such a popular thing in the US, as I hardly ever go there and if I do, not in transit. I think the late check-out concept is what I'll go for.

I hope this thread also helps others.

All best wishes to everyone,
R Ganbich
Luxemburg