Houston hotel question...
 

I am planning ANOTHER week in Houston and have a question for natives.
My classes are at UofH, 8am - 5pm.
It appears that the scheduled week is also NCAA finals and all 'my' hotels will have occupancy issues.
Yes, there is availability but I prefer to not take up space in their hotels during times of high demand.

SO... my question is this... What would be a very nice, clean (possibly new-ish) hotel within easy commuting distance from UofH?
I don't mind moderate properties if they are in a great area.

Please help.

Look for a hotel in SugarLand. It is noted as the #5 safest city in the US and is a short (20-30 min) commute from downtown Houston.

Best bet for location, but not necessarily price is the U of H Hilton. But for more reasonable prices try the Medical Center area. There are several limited service Marriotts there including Residence Inn and Springhill Suites. Also a nice Hampton. You can get to U of H from there very easily by going on McGregor and heading East without going on a busy Expressway, I've gone to seminars there several times from this area and early morning or afternoon rush hours are not a problem. I would strongly disagree with previous poster about staying in Sugarland. That is so far away why would anyone even suggest that when there are so many closer in alternatives. And 20 to 30 minutes during rush hour? What am I missing here? If you plan on having some social life after class you might also check out the Courtyard or Residence Inn on Westchase. Just a bit more inconvenient than the Medical Center area at rush hour but close to Gallaria and walking distance to nice shops and restaurants on Buffalo Speedway and Kirby areas.

Just out of curiosity, what NCAA finals are you talking about that would impact hotel occupancy?

By the way, you might want to post on the Texas site. I just happened to see your posting as it was at the top of the US general site. You will get a lot more responses if you do that. I didnt see it on the Texas site but maybe it doesn't appear as rapidly there as it does on the general site?

Larry - There's no "Texas" forum. There are only one United States forum. When you post and pick a state, it only tags it for search purposes.

But your advice is sound. Quite a few relatively new hotels in the Texas Medical Center area. Couple weeks ago, I went into a room at the Extended Stay Deluxe on Braeswood. I think for a week-long stay, something similar will be nice. It as microwave, fridge, stove, dishes and silverwares. You don't have to eat out every single day.

March 27 - April 1. NCAA Regionals.
They peak at over 8K room nights over those dates. The city only has 4,500 downtown rooms.
One of my hotel customers has generously offered to let me stay despite the crowd. I may take them up on it even though it means a significant loss of revenue.
But the kitchen sounds really good.
I still plan to look into it.

Anyone know of a new hotel in the TMC area? The Extended Stay property was built in 1999.
Is the TMC a very safe area?

That Extended Stay Deluxe only becomes a Extended Stay recently. Everything seems very very new.

One of the newer hotels in the area may be Holiday Inn Express on Main, which DebitNM stayed at earlier this year.

It's a safe area, though quiet at night. Main Street is less "safe" as it has more strip centers. There's nothing on Braeswood nearby that Extended Stay, so it really can't be "unsafe".

But I'll also look at the Residence Inn, Springhill Suites, and Hampton Inn and Suites.

Thanks a million, rkkwan.
My routine during the last Houston trip was school, Whole Foods, hotel. Same routine everyday.
My hotel was free last time but I had to pay 26 per night parking.
I'd like to avoid paid parking this time if possible. I have to pay to park at the school each day, too.
A kitchen would be awesome since I prefer eating in my room.
Just as an FYI, I do not stay in hotels with exterior corridors or with windows accessible to foot traffic.
I am a person very concerned with safety and security at hotels.
I find a lot of moderate properties fit the bill quite nicely. But generally I have noticed the hotel on a previous trip.
Thanks again for any advice :)
Happy Thanksgiving!