If you want to be Downtown, why not stay Downtown? There's a Courtyard and Residence Inn right on Main St. at Dallas Ave., right across from Macy's and next to the Main Street Square MetroRail stop in the old Humble Oil tower.

I was thinking if he wanted access to both downtown and the Museum District but the more I think about it, the area around Reliant Park isn't the greatest.

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'm leaning towards either the Courtyard or the JW by the Galleria. Normally, I'd just go with the JW (only $30/night more) but I'm a little disappointed that it is missing some of that JW feel.

Either way, I'm OK with being a bit of a drive from downtown. I'm from NJ where we drive everywhere and sit in traffic anywhere we go. :D

Yeah, I'd definitely stay in downtown in that case. There's more stuff around you down there, it's closer to a lot of the better inner-loop restaurants, and if want to go to Museum District/Hermann Park area, it's almost easier to hop on the MetroRail if you're staying downtown than it is to drive. In the case of the Courtyard/Residence Inn, you can almost certainly get there faster on Metro than you can driving, considering my experience last weekend there with slow valets, plus the time it takes to find parking in the Museum District on busy weekends.

I stayed at the Downtown Courtyard for the Astros Do and was quite happy. The rooms are very standard Courtyard rooms, which is fine; unlike some regulars on the Marriott forum I really don't have a problem with a well-maintained Courtyard. The hotel employees were friendly, the weekend rates are great ($99/night for Downtown Houston I consider to be excellent), and you can't beat the location. My only complaint was the valets could be a little slow to get your car, especially around noon on Sunday when everyone was leaving at the same time. I was surprised how many tourists were staying there that weekend.

Making phone calls using AA's in-flight internet: http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/08/despite-airline.html

I like how it's a picture from a LH flight ;)

Hmmm - I'll throw this one into the hat as well.

What type of area of the downtown is the Courtyard in? Business? Commercial? Residential? I'd be curious to see what the downtown residential areas are like (high rise/mid-rise).

There are many people passed out in that row , must be the free booze :D

I saw this earlier and couldn't help but laugh at "Phweet". :rolleyes:

Fortunately, this work around will never make it into the hands of the average (non-tech) traveler. It will probably be blocked sooner or later as well.

Well, I am not sure downtown is split that way really. There is mid-town which is just south of 45 which is a lot of residential but there are high and mid-rises all through downtown that are residential. In fact, the area above ALCO's favorite pub has lofts for rent and sale. Other than that, the residential and business areas of downtown are intermingled.

The Courtyard is across from a couple of residential places and down the street from a business area (CenterPoint Energy is about a block away).

Is the ballbreaking that Houston takes justified? Nothing is off the table for me as far as moving and settling someplace.

I should be able to give you an outsiders view in October. We're planning on taking a trip down to check it out as a place to live. I really want a change and part of that change needs to include a warmer climate in/near a large city. The job market in Houston seems to offer a lot more selection compared to what my current target area is offering.

EDIT: Hartmann - thanks for all of the excellent info! ^

In some ways, yes, but in others, Houston excels.

Traffic is a pain here and the city is very spread out, so you do a lot of sitting. It is extremely hot here in the summer and summer lasts most of the year.

We have a lot of parks, amazing restaurants, great fine arts, and a growing technology scene. Sports, minus NHL hockey, are covered, and you're a 2.5 hour drive from the heart of the Hill Country.

We'll probably have to move back in the next few years for my job, and neither of us is opposed to it. As much as people complain about the weather, I don't mind the heat and humidity that much. It does get hot and humid in the summer, but you learn to adjust. DH, originally from Boston, was miserable in the summers and we fought over the ac because I like the warmth. I grew up in the Houston suburbs, so I know what to expect. Oh, and the area is so flat, but as Hartmann said, the Hill Country is 2.5 hours away.

We also enjoy the people as the city is very diverse. You won't meet many native Houstonians. When DH first moved to Houston, he expected to find saloons and cowboys and the closest thing he could find to that was the Armadillo Palace (that mirrored armadillo is a hoot).

Dear Sir,

We have recently come across a PR Release of yours concerning the city of Houston. We were, quite frankly, rather impressed at your skill. Should you be in the market for new employment, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely yours,

The National Federation of Tobacconists, Coal Producers, and Abortionists

CM needs the NHL , it may be the dealbreaker
unless the expansion NHL team Houston Otters starts up soon .