OverviewLocated just off Highway 59 and about a 12-minute drive from Houston's city centre, the Crowne Plaza Houston River Oaks is suitable for business and vacation travellers who prefer a hotel with kitchenettes, on-site dining and easy highway access.
This non-smoking hotel has 354 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, each offering free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a desk, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a hair dryer and an iron and ironing board. Rooms with a separate bedroom, a living area with a sofabed and a dining table are also available, as are rooms with wheelchair accessibility.
Hotel amenities include a seasonal outdoor pool, a spa and wellness centre, a fitness room, meeting/conference space, a business centre, a gift shop, porter services, concierge services, guest laundry facilities and a free area shuttle (please contact the hotel for details). Reeds Restaurant is located on site and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Self-parking is an additional $8 per day and pets are not permitted.
The Interstate 610 on-ramp is a 3-minute drive away. The Galleria Shopping Mall is about a 7-minute drive northwestward, while Rice Stadium is roughly a 9-minute drive southeast. Texas Medical Center can be found a 13-minute drive away and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is approximately a 30-minute drive northeast of the hotel. (All travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: free Wi-Fi, parking $8/night, pets not permitted, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: July 29, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with praise going to the hotel's staff, location and rooms.
Many guests were pleased with the level of customer service they received, characterizing the staff as helpful with recommendations, professional and accommodating.
The hotel's location was praised by numerous reviewers. They found it to be close to Galleria Mall, restaurants, attractions, downtown Hobby Airport, Toyota Center, the museum district, highway access, Texas Medical Center and a bus stop.
Several lodgers enjoyed the hotel's accommodations. They described their rooms as clean, spacious, comfortable and well equipped with updated decor. A few guests were disappointed with their rooms, however (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the rooms and the parking.
While the majority of guests were pleased with their clean and well-equipped rooms, a few lodgers had complaints. They reported dated decor, worn carpet, inefficient and noisy air conditioning, slow Wi-Fi speeds, musty smells, rough linens and plumbing issues.
The hotel's parking was a source of complaint for a few reviewers. They felt parking should have been included in the room rates, and reported that the parking garage was in a state of disrepair.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #4 of 440 Houston hotels with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 830 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 3.8 out of 5 with a 79% recommendation rate from 385 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 7.7 out of 10 from 111 reviews.
The author called the hotel on July 29, 2013 to verify some information.
