We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Houston downtown after bidding at Priceline $ 80 for a weekday room at a downtown hotel. That seemed to be a great deal, compared to their rack rate of $ 249, but we felt that even our price was still too high for a hotel that seem to be running on its last legs. Some of the staff members (front desk and housekeeping) were helpful and efficient with special requests like a bathrobe or extra pillows, but the overall impression isn´t a favorable one. The rooms facing Smith street tend to be very noisy (heavy bus traffic), and the "renovation" the hotel claims to have done in 2001 (see their website) does not show at all. The aircon in the lobby was very bad, it was extremly humid inside. The room: stained furniture, very low quality linens, bedspreads and pillows. The aircon unit in our room on the 5. floor was extrem dirty (filter AND outlet duct), and the "nonsmoking" room smelled smoky. In the tiny bathroom, the ceiling showed bubbles (mold?). The seating furniture was heavily stained. We tried room service once (mediocre sandwiches), and the server tried to play a common game on us: The receipt we signed in the room did not show extras charges for room service gratuity AND delivery that were later added, but had a line open for a tip. We asked the server whether there would be any additional charges for delivery, and he caimed no!
This way, they obviously try to secure a tip twice, or the hotel management just pockets the "official" gratuity added later. One morning, we tried their breakfast restaurant, and that was a very bad idea. The server was as friendly as a drill sergeant at a US marines boot camp and did not enjoy her work at all. We did not take the unimpressive $ 9.90 buffet, but both ordered an omelette a la carte, and two hours after finishing the dish we both began to have serious belly cramps, followed by day long diarrhea! I guess it would be a great idea to send the local food inspector into their kitchen.

Overall, a terrible experience in a run-down place that is not located too convenient in the downtown area. To go to the convention centre or the fine arts museum, you definitely need a cab. Next time, we will gladly pay more, but avoid the Crowne Plaza at all costs.