Sometimes, the adventure of travel isn’t so much in the exploring of your chosen destination – it’s in simply getting there at all. Sometimes, that adventure leads to an unexpected layover, or a very late arrival or a very early flight, and instead of exploring the city, all you need is hotel close to the airport – a comfortable respite to lay your head in between flights and shake of the trauma of transit.
The Sheraton North Houston at George Bush Intercontinental Airport is just such a respite. When I found myself stuck in Houston, having been diverted due to storms in my final destination of Austin, I needed a safe, quiet, clean place to lay my sleep for few hours until I could depart early the next morning. Upon landing and realizing I’d be in Houston overnight, I quickly pulled out my phone and found that, since it was a holiday weekend, nearly every hotel nearby was booked. The few that weren’t either didn’t have shuttles from the airport at all, or those shuttles had long since stopped running at this late hour of 1:30am. I was stranded.
Room at the the Sheraton North Houston
Enter the Sheraton North Houston. Not only does the shuttle run every 30 minutes all night long, but the hotel is less than a mile from the airport; the only way you could sleep closer is to sleep at the airport itself (there’s an attached Marriott, which is often the first to book up). Given my lack of options, I might have been happy with even the most basic of accommodations. Luckily, I didn’t have to settle.
TV and storage in room
My room at the Sheraton North Houston was spacious, with two full beds covered in crisp white sheets and topped with soft comforters and an abundance of down pillows. The Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed lived up to its name despite the few hours I slept in it. Though I needed tocatch my flight to continue my trip, I would have happily slept in that bed a few more nights.
There was a small work desk, closet, and compact marble bathroom with shower/tub combo. The room wasn’t overly large but the size was ample for a single traveler and would have made do even if I’d been with a companion. I also appreciated that, though the hotel could have been devoid of personality, little touches like the artwork brought in a sense of fun and a nod to its Texas location.
Compact but functional bathroom
Wifi was complimentary, as was the airport shuttle – both big bonuses for travelers on a budget. Onsite, there’s a bar and bistro, a fitness center, business center, and outdoor pool – none of which I was able to use given my short stay, but perks I would have appreciated with a bit more time. However, the lobby commissary was the most delightful discovery, especially when I realized I’d forgotten to pack contact solution.
The Sheraton North Houston hotel wouldn’t likely be the top choice for many travelers looking to explore the city of Houston, but for those who need to be close to the airport, it’s a perfect solution and a great airport hotel for a short stay. Book your hotel room directly with the Sheraton or see if you can get a better rate with Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com.
