I cannot recommend this hotel. Fine, they're doing renovations, but my room is trashed: every piece of furniture is scratched, the carpets have stains and gunk, the sink is cracked, the windows are ridiculous to operate, etc... I'm here on a Saturday, and there are little to no places to eat around here except the basic hotel restaurant or shops which cater to, well, people who work in the office towers surrounding this downtown and desolate location. The service is poor: Front desk lacks distinction for a place which claims distinction. The valets know nothing of the area - they certainly aren't from Texas and aren't the type to do research on the surroundings, even making it difficult to describe a place to be dropped off (hey, the hotel offers this service, so shouldn't we expect people who know the area or act like they can figure out where you want to go by the name itself. Surreal). No onsite laundry either - so forget about pressing that suit when you get off a plane.

The only people I can imagine choosing to stay in this sub-par place are those wanting to walk to the aquarium or opera or business persons not on an expense account.

The worst part is, this trip was booked and paid for by a third party and the price they paid, which I saw when I checked in, is more than a room at the 4 Seasons in Manhattan. The management should be ashamed of itself for such a shoddy job of 'hospitality'.

We stayed, for the third time, at the beautiful Lancaster Hotel on Texas Street in downtown Houston. We usually go for the opera, and it is only two blocks away from the hotel, which is fabulous, but if this were not a wonderful hotel, we would find another. This is the theater district, so it's close to lots of great things to do. The fact is that each time we have stayed here it has been a wonderful experience, and this time was no exception. I love the whole feel of the hotel - it is quality-built building from the early 1900's, and I'm sorry, but the construction of new places is just no match for these beautiful old buildings. Consequently, it has a fabulous feel, it's quiet, and is beautifully decorated - not in the currently-popular beiges and neutrals, but with some beautiful, rich colors. Everything in the rooms works very well and is spotlessly clean. The beds are wonderful. On two of our visits we have had rooms with a king size bed, and once we got a one-bedroom suite. They were both great. The staff, from the valets to the front desk to the cleaning staff, could not be more competent, more helpful or friendlier. We have eaten at the restaurant downstairs twice for dinner and three times for breakfast during our three stays, and it was just wonderful in quality and service every time. As long as the Lancaster is available, we will always stay here when we are in Houston. We just love this place!