Houston Travel Forum

Having read through many pages here over the last dew hours (thanks) I am beginning to panic about the fact that having a car seems to be the only way possible to get around Houston!

I am acommpanying my husband on a business trip for a week. We are staying at the Willowbrook Hilton. I will have to keep myself amused in the day times. I will not be able to drive abroad. I have tried it once -diaster! What if anything could you reccommend? Are taxis going to be hideously expensive?

It's a shame that we couldn't have been more central. Hope I don't regret tagging along now lol!

Any advice would be much appreciated.

You will need a car.

Taxis will cost you a fortune.

Rent a car and get a GPS system in it and you will be fine driving around to the Museums and malls.

The Willowbrook isn't the worst area to stay in without a car, but it's certainly not good. There's one regular bus that goes through there that goes down 1960 and one that goes down 249 to the HP facility and back toward the city through kind of a sorry area of town. Sorry, but Houston's transit system, particularly in the suburbs, is just not good. But, you can familiarize yourself on their web site: http://ridemetro.org
Luckily though, the Willowbrook area is teeming with retail, and not just the mall. Tons of good restaurants, shops (large and small) and entertainment within a walking distance. However, being car-centric, Willowbrook is also not conducive to pedestrian activity. The 1960/249 intersection is particularly busy and people in suburban Houston do not watch for pedestrians, so you just have to be careful. Crossing 1960 on foot (actually, by car as well) is also an adventure.
Unfortunately though, aside from shopping and dining, you're very far from Houston's attractions in that area. Taxis would be prohibitively expensive to almost everywhere. You can ride the bus into town by taking the 249 route south to Seton Lake Park & Ride and then taking the express bus into Downtown, or by taking the 1960 route (44) east in the morning to Spring Park & Ride and taking an express route south to Downtown, but you're looking at 90+ minutes for a one-way trip.

Thank you for the prompt replies :)

Sorry Eve, sat nav or not I will probably end up very stressed and causing an accident. It's not an option.

I wish I had researched first! There was me thinking that a mjor city would have great transport links. Oops.

It seems too long to do the bus trip I think. Maybe I will have to go one day in a taxi and spend the rest sunbathing outside the hotel!I've had so little time to prepare for this trip (4 days) that I don't feel confident about not ending up in the wrong areas of the city as a lone female.I usually study books and here for weeks before I even book somewhere.

Oh well, I think that I have learnt that research FIRST is the way to go!

Thanks x

>>>>There was me thinking that a major city would have great transport links<<<<

Often a mistaken assumption in the United States.

It always surprises me how terrified Europeans always seem to be about driving over here. I've never thought of it as being that different, but I guess that I've never driven over there and can't make a real comparison, although I have driven on the left side.
Houston's trying to get better. There's suburban light rail expansion slated pretty soon and even more within the next 15 or so years. With traffic increasing, there's also a much greater push for increased suburban bus service. I don't think it'll ever be up to Chicago or San Francisco standards, but I think it will get better.

My husband has no qualms about it, however he'll be working in the day. I have tried driving on left. It was a disaster lol! If Houston wasn't sounding like such a crazy place to drive I may have given it a go (although I doubt it) I'm scared I'll cause an accident.

as soon as yo check in ask the front dek about local shuttles. they might have a service for guests.

Your hotel has a free shuttle bus that will take you anywhere you want to go within a 5 mile radius.

Its not much, but it will get you to the mall and a few other places with no worries.

Thank you so much for finding that out for me! Yey, it's a start. Feeling a bit more optimistic now.

All your replies are much appreciated everyone x

You will be far away from any locations in town that might have any appeal to tourists. If driving is not a choice, then you shall take taxis. With the exchange rate of the US Dollar 2:1 vs the GB Pound, it won't be cheap but it will still be affordable. You should make it into town with some $40-50 or 20-25 GBP, depending on the destination. Same amounts to get back to the hotel. The "Galleria" area (with the Galleria Mall) and the "Rice Village" are the most likely places where you can spend some time. Dress light clothings (summer clothing for Western European Standard), it's getting hot in the H-town.

Giuseppe

Am trying to find my summer clothes, not needed them here as yet! May just have to buy some more out there, what girl needs an excuse!

Thank you x

Welcome to Houston!

Rather than hire a bunch of taxi's you might consider hiring a driver for the day or days you would like to explore. (Your husband may be able to write this off on his expense check) You can check http://houston.craigslist.org/
or
http://www.wedriveu.com/default.asp?contentID=1

Also.. its hot and humid now.. 85F/30C

I live on that side of town, so let me know if you have any specific questions.

Oh ... are you at a Hilton or a Hampton Inn by Hilton? (that's the only thing I found in Willowbrook). I don't know that part of Houston, but it looks like they have a mall nearby.

One thing you *must* do is have your husband drop you off at the Galleria on Westheimer one day, and pick you up when he gets out of work. Yes, it's that good! And you can take a break and sit down at La Madeleine's for lunch across from the ice skating rink (inside the mall).

If you and your husband have a day and he's ok driving, you may want to drive to Kemah, by the entrance to Galveston and have lunch at the Flying Dutchman - this is where all the yatchts come into Galveston Bay - great experience! Can be a little hot and humid, so bring nice cotton clothing, however do bring a light cardigan because sometimes you come in very hot and the A/C is turned on quite low.