Escape to Houston: Greenway Plaza's Best-Kept Secret Hotel!
Escape to Houston: Greenway Plaza's "Best-Kept Secret"? Let's Dive (and Judge!)
Okay, so I just got back from a stay at what some are calling "Escape to Houston: Greenway Plaza's Best-Kept Secret." And let me tell you, the phrase "best-kept secret" immediately sets off alarm bells for me. Does it mean it's AMAZING and no one knows? Or just… undiscovered because, well, it's not that great? We’re about to find out. Buckle up, because this isn't your average, sterile hotel review. This is a messy, honest, and hopefully hilarious account.
Accessibility: Okay, Let's Get This Out of the Way
First impressions? Ugh, you know I immediately had to check the accessibility. I mean, in 2024, it should be a given, but… sadly it isn't.
- Wheelchair accessible: Check!
- Facilities for disabled guests: Check, but, I have to say, really pay attention to the level of detail. They have the basics, but assess for yourselves before booking.
Internet: Or, How I Almost Threw My Laptop Out the Window
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms?! YES! Praise be! I hate hotels that nickel-and-dime you on Wi-Fi. It's 2024! We need the internet to breathe!
- Internet [LAN]: It says they have it. I didn’t test it. LOL, I wouldn't trust it anyway.
- Internet access: They claim to have it (duh).
- Internet services: (crickets) Honestly, the basic Wi-Fi actually worked pretty well, which is a MAJOR win.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Yes, and I think it's the same one, so that's convenient.
I spent a day in the lobby and didn't have any internet-related meltdowns, which is a rare and wonderful experience for me.
Cleanliness and Safety: Did They Actually Clean?
COVID is (supposedly) in the rearview mirror, but cleanliness is always important, right? Right?!
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Listed. Okay. Good start.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Supposedly. I didn’t see anyone scrubbing, but I didn't get the plague, sooo…
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere. They’re on it.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: They say so. Again, hopefully a given in this day and age.
- Hygiene certification: Not mentioned. Strike one!
- Individually-wrapped food options: I saw these at the breakfast buffet, which gave me a little more faith.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Attempted, but not rigorously enforced. It’s Houston, people! Personal space is optional.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Unspecified.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Assumed.
- Safe dining setup: Seems relatively safe in the restaurant.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Hopefully!
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Probably. They didn't sneeze on me, so… good.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Fingers crossed, but you never really know, do you?
My BIGGEST Pet Peeve: The Food
Oh, the food. Where do I even BEGIN?
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Hunger Games Edition
Okay, here’s where things got a little dicey… (prepare for my rant…)
- A la carte in restaurant: Available, but the menu was…limited, to put it kindly. This is where I wanted to go straight to the food delivery apps and never see these people again!
- Alternative meal arrangement: Yes, but you better have an actual reason because I'm not sure they're used to too many requests.
- Asian breakfast: Nope.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Also no.
- Bar: Yes, but the selection was pretty… basic. Think well drinks and domestic beers.
- Breakfast in room: Yup, but the options are also really limited. (Like, what I would consider basic if I was a guest)
- Breakfast [buffet]: A very underwhelming buffet, TBH. Scrambled eggs (grey), rubbery bacon, and sad pastries. I cried a little inside.
- Buffet in restaurant: See above.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes, it's… passable.
- Coffee shop: No.
- Desserts in restaurant: The dessert options were equally depressing. I’m a dessert fiend, and I left them untouched.
- Happy hour: I’m not a drinker, so I didn’t pay attention.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Not really. More like… vaguely American with a hint of something.
- Poolside bar: No.
- Restaurants: One sad, sad restaurant.
- Room service [24-hour]: Yes, but with the same limited menu. Prepare to be disappointed.
- Snack bar: Nope.
- Soup in restaurant: No.
- Vegetarian restaurant: NO.
- Western breakfast: Yes, but as mentioned, it's a culinary tragedy. I felt like I was back in college, only paying a lot more.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: See above.
Okay, I'm done. The food situation was my major negative. I'm not a food critic, but even I could see it wasn't great.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa-ra-la-la?
Here's where things get a little more interesting, but expectations must be managed.
- Body scrub: No.
- Body wrap: No.
- Fitness center: Yes! And it’s… well, decent.
- Foot bath: Nope.
- Gym/fitness: See above.
- Massage: Yes!
- Pool with view: Yes, but it's not a spectacular view. It's a pool overlooking… buildings.
- Sauna: Yes!
- Spa: Yes! But very… basic.
- Spa/sauna: Both.
- Steamroom: Yes!
- Swimming pool: Yes.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Yes!
- Poolside bar: No. (Again, a HUGE missed opportunity!)
The spa was the highlight. I got a massage, and it was actually pretty good. Relaxing? Yes. Luxurious? Not really.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
- Air conditioning in public area: Of course. This is Houston, people. We would melt without it.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Yes.
- Business facilities: Yes.
- Cash withdrawal: Yes.
- Concierge: Yes. Helpful-ish.
- Contactless check-in/out: They say so. I didn't have any problems.
- Convenience store: Hmmm, didn't notice one.
- Currency exchange: No.
- Daily housekeeping: Yes.
- Doorman: Yes.
- Dry cleaning: Yes.
- Elevator: Yes.
- Essential condiments: Yes.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Yes.
- Food delivery: Yep, but they’re not the ones doing it!
- Gift/souvenir shop: Not really. Maybe a tiny display case with a few overpriced items.
- Indoor venue for special events: Yes.
- Invoice provided: Yes.
- Ironing service: Yes.
- Laundry service: Yes.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Yes.
- Meetings: Yes.
- Meeting stationery: Probably.
- On-site event hosting: Yes.
- Outdoor venue for special events: Yes.
- Projector/LED display: Yes.
- Safety deposit boxes: Yes.
- Seminars: Doubtful.
- Shrine: Nope.
- Smoking area: Yes. Because Houston.
- Terrace: Yes.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Yes.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Yes.
For the Kids: Can the Little Ones Survive?
- Babysitting service: Yes.
- Family/child friendly: Seemed to be.
- Kids facilities: Minimal.
- Kids meal: Nope.
**Getting Around: Don't Get Lost in the
Unbelievable Fort Worth Getaway: Comfort Inn & Suites Fossil Creek!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. This ain't your glossy travel brochure itinerary. This is MY trip to Houston, Extended Stay America Suites - Houston - Med. Ctr. - Greenway Plaza, and it’s going to get messy. Here we go…
Houston, TX: Operation "Exist Without Losing My Mind" (or at least, trying.)
Day 1: Arrival and the Dreaded Grocery Run
- Morning (ish): Landed in Houston. Holy humidity, Batman! Stepped out of the ridiculously air-conditioned plane into a blast of… well, everything. Felt like I’d walked into a warm, wet hug. Not a hug I asked for, mind you. Uber ride to the Extended Stay. The driver, bless his heart, was very chatty. Lots of stories. Mostly about his cats. Found it… charming, I guess?
- Afternoon: Checked into the Extended Stay. Honestly, it's exactly what you expect and hope for, maybe a little more. Cleanish. Smells faintly of… something that's not quite cleaning product, but not entirely offensive. The room? Adequate. The bed… well, let's just say I'm not expecting a memory foam experience. But hey, it has a fridge, and that's important for the next leg: THE GROCERY RUN.
- The Grocery Gauntlet: Never. Again. I swear, navigating a HEB (that's the Texas grocery store, for you non-Texans) after being on a plane? My brain was mush. Wandered aimlessly, grabbing what looked vaguely edible. Ended up with a questionable container of pre-made salad (mistake number one), a bag of chips the size of my torso (emotional eating, much?), and enough bottled water to survive the apocalypse. The checkout line? An eternity. The cashier? Apparently on a quest to break the world record for the slowest ring-up. She was very nice though! Took a little too much time. I didn't buy the most of things, but the bag was full.
- Evening: Dinner of shameful salad and chips in the room. Watched some terrible cable TV. Questioned all my life choices. Realized I forgot to buy coffee. Mild panic. Decided to walk to the vending machine. Vending machine was out of coffee. Devastation.
Day 2: The Medical Center, Coffee Desperation, and a Questionably Timed Walk
- Morning: Woke up. No coffee. This is a crisis. Stumbled out of bed, feeling like a zombie, and hunted for coffee within a 5-mile radius. Found a Starbucks. Salvation! The barista was a little too chipper, but I didn't care. Coffee inhaled. Life resumed. Headed to the Medical Center for my… appointment.
- The Medical Center Experience: It’s a city within a city. Massive. Overwhelming. I'm pretty sure I walked in circles for a good fifteen minutes just trying to find the right building. There were a lot of people, with various degrees of health. Felt a smidge guilty for the chips I ate the night before. The appointment itself? Let's just say it was… informative. And involved a lot of waiting. More waiting.
- Afternoon: Decided to be adventurous. Decided to walk. From the Medical Center back to the hotel. (Big Mistake!). Google Maps said it was manageable. Google Maps lied. It was hot. My feet hurt. I regretted the decision. Profusely. The walk began in bustling city streets, then into the sun-baked side roads. Took me twice as long as I thought it would to arrive at the hotel.
- Evening: Soaked my feet in cold water. Ordered pizza. Pizza was good. Slept.
Day 3: Culture, Coffee, and Questionable Decisions (Again)
- Morning: Coffee triumph! This time, I made instant coffee in the room. Not ideal, but it kept the monster at bay. Decided I should probably be a cultured human. So, looked for something to see.
- Mid-day: Found some sort of… museum. About… something. Honestly, my brain was still stuck on the walking experience. Wandered aimlessly. Read some plaques. Pretended to be fascinated. Was mostly thinking about a nap and more coffee. The exhibits blended into a blur of history and art, yet not really.
- Afternoon: Decided to be adventurous again. Found a local coffee shop. The best decision of the trip so far. The coffee was amazing. The atmosphere was chill. The people were cool. Started feeling slightly less like a grumpy, sunburnt zombie.
- Evening: Went back to the hotel. Considered ordering pizza again. Restrained myself. Watched more terrible TV. The hotel remote was the best. Decided to write this itinerary. Because, you know, who cares?
Day 4: Farewell, Houston (and Please, No More Humidity)
- Morning: Packed. Ate the remaining chips. Regretted it immediately. Coffee. Lots of coffee.
- Afternoon: Ubered to the airport. Said goodbye to Houston. Said goodbye to humidity. Promised myself I'd do better next time. Namely, walk less, and avoid the pre-made salad.
- Evening: Plane ride home. Exhausted. Reflecting on the trip. I might have spent too much time inside my hotel room. A sense of a deep void.
Post-Trip Reflections (or, just rambling):
- The Extended Stay: Surprisingly decent. Don't expect luxury, but it's functional. And thank god for the fridge. The laundry room? I didn't even look at it.
- Houston: Interesting. A city of contrasts. Really should have done more research. Should have avoided the walk.
- People: The people were nice. Generally, the service in Houston seems really good.
- Me: I need to get some more hobbies and maybe a therapist.
So, there you have it. My messy, imperfect, and probably slightly embarrassing account of a trip to Houston. It wasn't perfect. Far from it. But it was mine. And hey, at least I survived. Now, gotta go find more coffee.
Tucson Getaway: Unbeatable Deals at Travelodge Marana!
Escape to Houston: Greenway Plaza's Shadiest, Most Secret Hotel - FAQ (Because Let's Be Real, You Need Answers)
Okay, spill the tea. What *is* this "secret" hotel? Seriously, did I miss a memo?
Alright, alright, settle down, Nancy Drew. The "secret" is less a hidden lair and more a... well, a hotel in Greenway Plaza that *doesn't* scream "luxury resort." Think of it as the slightly-offbeat aunt of the Houston hotel scene. No velvet ropes, no pretension, just… a place. And honestly? That’s sometimes all you need. I'm not gonna lie, I stumbled upon it myself. Needed a crashpad after a particularly brutal concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (don't judge my musical tastes!). Found it through some obscure travel site, and the reviews were…intriguing. Mostly along the lines of "It's a hotel." and "It exists." Which, honestly, are the *best* kind of reviews, right? No false promises of spa treatments you'll never use.
Is it... *good*? Like, should I actually book a stay, or is this just a glorified motel six?
Good? That’s a loaded word, isn't it? Depends on your definition. If you're envisioning chandeliers and white-glove service, RUN. This isn't that. But if you're looking for clean, comfy, and actually *affordable* (because let's face it, Houston hotels can rob you blind), then yeah. It's good. I mean, the lobby isn't going to win any design awards… the decor is… how do I put this delicately… "utilitarian." Some might call it "dated." I call it "charming in its own way." My first impression? A strong sense of "budget hotel meets business traveler refuge." But the beds? Surprisingly comfortable. REALLY comfortable. I practically melted into mine after that concert. Seriously, I think I slept for 12 hours straight. THAT'S a good hotel, in my book.
Amenities! What does this place *offer*? Spill the beans!
Okay, alright, let's dive into the nitty-gritty. Pool? Yes, there's a pool. I saw it. Looked…refreshing. I didn't actually *use* it, because, let's be real, the thought of putting on a swimsuit after a long night of listening to… *ahem*… live music was terrifying. But it *existed*. Gym? Yep. The kind with the basic treadmills and maybe a rusty elliptical. I peeped through the window. I *think* people were using it. Free Wi-Fi? Hallelujah, yes! Coffee machine in the room? Bless. That's crucial. Breakfast? Included, but don't expect a gourmet spread. Think continental – bagels, muffins, that sort of thing. Fine by me. I'm easy to please in the morning, as long as there's coffee. Parking? Free! In Houston! This alone is a miracle. Now, don't expect a butler or anything. The staff is friendly enough, but they mostly keep to themselves, which, honestly, I appreciate. No annoying small talk when you're just desperate for a nap.
The biggest question: Is it *safe*? Greenway Plaza can be a little… quiet at night.
Okay, let's get real. Safety is a HUGE concern, and it's totally valid to ask. I felt… fine. I mean, I didn't wander around alone at 3 AM, because, duh, rule #1 of surviving any city is to be street smart. The hotel itself seemed secure enough. Key card access to the rooms, security cameras, that kind of thing. The general area is… a mix. Greenway Plaza itself is pretty well-lit and has some office buildings around, so it's not *completely* desolate. But, yeah, it's not downtown. I walked back from grabbing a late-night snack at a nearby (not exactly gourmet, but open late) diner, and felt…okay. Not super-thrilled, but not terrified. It's Houston. You gotta be aware, is all. I’d say, err on the side of caution, but don’t let fear paralyze you.
Okay, you've piqued my interest. What's the *catch*? There has to be one!
Ah, the catch. Okay, here's the deal. It's not *in* the thick of things. If you're expecting to step out of the hotel and be immediately bombarded with restaurants and nightlife, you're gonna be disappointed. You'll need a car (or Uber, duh) for most things. The other "catch?" The location, while technically Greenway Plaza, feels a little… isolated. It's not a bustling, vibrant area. It's more business-y. Which, honestly, depending on your needs, could be a *pro*. I needed peace and quiet. Another potential “catch”? The Wi-Fi, at one point, seemed to be struggling a little. Slow but steady, not like the blazing fast fiber-optic I'm used to at home. But, hey, it's a trade-off. Free Wi-Fi is still free Wi-Fi. And, honestly? For the price and for the comfort of the bed… I'd do it again. No question.
So, you stayed. Tell me about a specific moment. A memory. Come on!
Okay, fine. Here's the real story, and it’s a little embarrassing, but whatever. I'm spilling all the tea. So, after the (ahem) epic concert, and after I’d collapsed into that incredible bed – the one that cradled my soul – I woke up the next morning, feeling… not great. The concert, the late-night greasy food, the general debauchery… it all caught up to me. I also realized that I'd completely forgotten to pack a toothbrush. (I know, rookie mistake!) The horror! The shame! I dragged myself out of bed (another glorious feature of this hotel: the blackout curtains!), determined to locate caffeine and oral hygiene. I stumbled down to the lobby, still half-asleep, and awkwardly asked the front desk guy (who, bless his heart, didn't even bat an eye), if they sold any toothbrushes. He directed me to the little "convenience" shop near the elevator. I went in, feeling like a zombie. Inside, I found one sad little toothbrush, with some generic brand toothpaste. Perfect. And I bought a cheap pastry, and coffee. The moment? Standing in the lobby, slurping lukewarm coffee, brushing my teeth with a plastic toothbrush, realizing I was *exactly* where I needed to be. Tired, slightly hungover, and utterly anonymous. It was…perfection. That's when I knew, this wasn't just a hotel, it was *my* hotel. Stupid, small, and perfectly imperfect.
Alright, alright, you've sold me. Anything else I should know before diving in?
Yeah. Don't expect luxury. Don't expect the Ritz. Expect basic comfort,Hotel Safari
Extended Stay America Suites - Houston - Med. Ctr. - Greenway Plaza Houston (TX) United States
Extended Stay America Suites - Houston - Med. Ctr. - Greenway Plaza Houston (TX) United States
Post a Comment for "Escape to Houston: Greenway Plaza's Best-Kept Secret Hotel!"