Experience True Texas Hospitality at the St. Regis Hotel, Houston.
Written: Jan 09 '08 (Updated Jan 12 '08)
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Pros: Luxurious accommodations, top of the line Spa and a Zagat-rated restaurant on the premises.
Cons: Can be expensive, but compared to the St Regis NYC, it's a bargain!
The Bottom Line: Although this is a luxury hotel, the staff is friendly and accommodating. The atmosphere is unpretentious, as it should be...in the true spirit of Texas hospitality!
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| reginafug's Full Review: The St. Regis, Houston |
The St. Regis Hotel Houston, is by far one of my favorite properties in the Starwood collection because they know how to pamper and make a guest feel welcomed. Located in one of Houston’s most prestigious neighborhoods, River Oaks, a guest has easy access to world-class shopping at the Galleria and the Theater and Museum District are less than 15 minutes away. Some of Houston‘s finest restaurants are also easily accessed from this location.
Getting There
Take Loop 610 and exit at San Felipe Road, the hotel is but a few minutes away from this major road. However, it’s a good idea to print the driving directions because the hotel is situated in a residential area and it sits discreetly behind a verdant enclosure. Heralding the entrance to the hotel is a demure wall with the name St. Regis Hotel, which, if you’re not paying attention you’ll drive right past it!
Arrival/Parking
You have no choice but to valet park because there is no parking garage nor off-the-street parking, after all this is a residential area. The parking fee is $24 a day, with in-and out privileges, and for a large city, the fee appears reasonable.
The hotel has a beautiful circular driveway with a fountain in the center. An attendant rushes to your car door, opens it, greets you, while another attendant takes your key and gives you a claim ticket.
Lobby/Reception
At a glance, the lobby is not huge, but it is comfortable, and you’ll see beautiful furnishings, original paintings on the walls, and gorgeous flower arrangements. In fact, I learned that the St Regis Hotel is somewhat of an art gallery, displaying veritable works of art, to include antique and rare Japanese porcelain vases.
Three impeccably dressed young women stood behind the front desk, and one of them offered to assist me. To my dismay, there was no reservation in my name (I explained to the lady that I had made it on line, but I had no reservation number to prove it). The lady asked what rate I had been offered online because the going rate at that moment was $329 for a standard room. Yikes! I told her the online rate was $205 (the corporate rate for my husband‘s employer). She called Starwood to verify the corporate code and the rate I’d given her, and a few minutes later she told me Starwood had made a reservation for me, and getting a room at $205 would not be a problem.
With our Platinum status, we were upgraded to a “Grand Luxe Suite” !
The Grand Luxe Suite
Our suite was located on the fourth floor, facing the pool, and one of the features it that it has sliding doors that open into a long, but narrow balcony that affords a view of the green space by the pool. Floor to Ceiling windows gives you a glimpse of downtown Houston in the nearby distance.
I was pleasantly surprised to see how beautiful our room was. You could see that no expense was spared in decorating this room with gorgeous striped wallpaper (pale yellow and white), beautiful curtains (Laura Ashley-style), and the couch and chairs are upholstered in rich materials. The décor is very English complete with pictures on the walls depicting Equestrian Hunt scenes. There were two fresh floral arrangements gracing the room!
The suite is shaped like a reverse "L", allowing for a private sleeping alcove a the top of the “L”, a nice living area at the bottom of the “L”, and a work area on the short side of the “L”. The suite is cleverly designed to offer separate areas for work, lounging and sleeping.
The bed is extremely comfortable with a pillow-top mattress. The “Pratesi” linens were exquisitely soft and smelled fresh (“Pratesi” linens are imported from Italy and are outrageously expensive!), and the down pillows and comforter were very plush and soft.
A note is left on the bed asking the guest to notify Guest Services immediately if Hypoallergenic bedding is required.
The Bathroom
The bathroom is fairly large, with marble floors, countertops and walls. The bathtub is mirrored, large and would appear to be great for soaking and relaxation.
There is a dual-line telephone in the bathroom. While some folks might be impressed by this, I think it would be utterly rude to take/make a call while sitting on the throne!
Bathroom Amenities
~ Two Terry Cloth Bathrobes and two pairs of slippers
~ Hairdryer
~ Slippers
~ Lighted Make-Up/Shaving Mirror
~ Weight Scale
~ Remede Bath Amenities (generous 4 oz. bottle for each item: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion). These are very nice products and I checked their price on-line, and they are truly upscale products (pricey!). These are standard bathroom amenities available in all types of rooms.
Other Room Amenities
~ A beautiful armoire hides a 27” television, and there are many cable channels to choose from, as well as paid-for-entertainment. This armoire is large and has several drawers to store your clothing.
~ On the work desk one finds a fax/copier/printer machine, High Speed Internet (for a fee, did not use), dual-line cordless telephone, and a clock.
~ A fully stocked mini-bar with the usual expensive items
~ One complimentary 700ml bottle of Pellegrino mineral water is offered, while additional bottles are sold for $6 each.
~ A large closet houses an ironing board, iron, extra pillows, a safe, and an ample supply of hangers.
There is no in-room coffee maker, though.
Free Coffee with a Smile!
On my way to the Fitness Center, I came downstairs looking for my cup of complimentary coffee; a butler standing around one of the sitting areas informed me that the complimentary tea and coffee service ended at 8:30 a.m. I must have looked disappointed because he asked me “how do you take your coffee? I will go to the restaurant and pick it up for you”… a few minutes later, he returned with one of those large mugs with a lid, and he said it was complimentary. Nice Service!
The Fitness Center
Now we’re talking… this is a beautifully designed fitness center facing a lush garden and swimming pool. The Fitness Center is inside the Spa, so as soon as you walk in, the aroma of the various herbal treatments soothes your senses. There is a water cooler, a bowl of fresh apples, and a mini-fridge with complimentary water in the aerobic machines area.
After finishing my workout, a Spa attendant approached me and asked if I cared to use the Steam Room. Thinking it would cost an arm and a leg I declined the offer, but he winked and with a smile said: “it’s complimentary to all guests” from 5am to 11pm! Wow!
The Eucalyptus Steam Room
I went to my room, gathered my clothes and make-up bag and rushed back to the Spa. A female attendant gave me a plush robe, a key to a locker, a towel, and showed me where the Steam room was, as well as the showers. The Steam room was ready for me, and when I stepped in, my first reaction was to gasp for air because the Eucalyptus aroma is quite strong and stings a little bit.
After a couple of minutes of deep breathing, my lungs and eyes became used to the aroma, and after that, it was the most relaxing steam room session I’ve ever had! I had the Steam room all to myself!
The Spa showers are large, beautiful, and fully stocked with giant-size bottles of Remede bath products. The Spa offers a full range of Ayurvedic Rituals, Shirodhara and marine therapies, as well as a variety of massage techniques. I perused the price menu, and I was not surprised to see the range of prices (high!). For an additional $50, a massage therapist will come to the guest rooms for the massage therapy.
I give the Spa and Fitness Center A++
The Outdoor Pool
The pool is 800sq ft. While it’s not a huge pool, it looks large enough to do some laps, and the water is temperature-controlled for year-round comfort. Pool is open from 5am to 11pm.
The pool is surrounded by a very pretty, lush garden. I did not use the pool, but it looked lovely!
Additional Hotel Amenities
~ The hotel offers a traditional afternoon Tea Service, and reservations are suggested. The Tea Service is offered on Tuesdays-Sunday, at $35 per person.
~ The Remington Restaurant at the hotel is Zagat rated. Under the supervision of Chef Garret Fujieda, the Remington offers a wide-array of culinary choices. The restaurant has been newly renovated, and it looks beautiful! I had lunch at this restaurant, an enjoyed a Curry Chicken Salad, which was quite delicious. Price for lunches start around $11 to 25, drinks, taxes and gratuity not included.. The service was flawless!
Summary
Staying at the St. Regis is truly a treat. We live in Houston, so, this hotel is perfect for a couple’s weekend gate-away (stay Saturday night and enjoy a luscious brunch the next day), or for corporate stays/meetings, as was the case on this most recent stay. Of course, those travelers to whom money is no object, may choose this hotel.
Regardless of the occasion, you can be sure to enjoy a luxurious stay in an elegant yet unpretentious atmosphere, as can only be found in Texas! As with most Starwood properties, this hotel offers various promotional packages; check their website (Starwoodhotels.com). The most popular packages are the “spa” package as well as the “weekend getaways”… neither package is inexpensive, but the services received in return are top of the line and are sure to please!
© reginafug 2008
Recommended:
Yes
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