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Westin Galleria Frommer's Recommended

5060 W. Alabama St, Houston, TX 77056
Rates from
$197.00+
Frommer's ReviewMap ItPhotos and Video
Location Uptown
Phone 800/WESTIN-1 (937-8461), 713/960-8100
Fax 713/960-6553
Web site www.westin.com
Room Information 487 units
Prices $299 double; $519 suite
Credit Cards AE, DC, DISC, MC, V
In Room Amenities A/C, TV w/pay movies, dataport, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe
Parking Valet parking $22; free self-parking
Other Westin Oaks; 5011 Westheimer Rd

Westin Galleria Review

Similar in size, name, and appearance, these two hotels are often confused by travelers who arrive believing the destination has been reached only to find that they must yet again negotiate the mall parking lot. The Westin Oaks is on the east side of the Galleria mall (the side closest to Loop 610) and faces Westheimer Road. It's a family hotel, with no alcohol in the minibars. The Westin Galleria is attached to the west side of the Galleria and faces West Alabama Street. It targets business travelers, offering a business center and more formal dining than the Westin Oaks.

In other aspects the hotels are much alike. I find them a mix of good and bad. On the good side, they have the great location that allows you to walk from your hotel room into the shopping mall without ever having to leave the great indoors. The rooms are extralarge, the beds are comfortable, and the balconies -- an uncommon feature in urban hotels -- offer the best way to enjoy the view of perpetual motion below and the serene skyline above (get a north-facing room at the Westin Oaks, a south-facing room at the Westin Galleria). On the bad side, the rooms are awkwardly designed and plainly furnished. Another problem is the service: There wasn't enough staff present on my visits, and the concierge, once located, didn't inspire confidence. Having said that, I must add that all of this would be perfectly fine for a hotel in a lower price range, and that might be just what we're looking at here. I found the discounting of rates so common that I don't believe anyone pays the published rate here.

Facilities:
1 restaurant; 1 bar; heated outdoor swimming pool; health club access ($11/day fee); children's program; concierge; car-rental desk; business center; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; same-day laundry service/dry cleaning

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.


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Frommer's ranks every hotel, restaurant, attraction, shop, and nightlife establishment it reviews for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating scale, an expression of the strong compare-and-contrast opinions that are a brand hallmark.

Other ratings provide stars based primarily on price and amenities; the Frommer's star rating is meant to quantify the kind of intangible, experiential elements that help travelers make informed decisions.

The "baseline" recommendation is zero stars--every hotel, restaurant, attraction, shop, and nightlife establishment that Frommer's chooses to review is recommended; otherwise, we simply wouldn't include it.

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