My husband and I visited Houston in September for our 14th year anniversary. We stayed in Downtown Houston at the Cambria Hotel . The Cambria Hotel Houston Downtown Convention Center is a swanky boutique style hotel housed in an eclectic and historic Art Deco skyscraper. Although it is considered a 3 star hotel on most travel websites, it was definitely giving 4 star vibes upon arrival. It is obvious that all the design details from the lobby, lounge, down to the room decor is was carefully and artistically curated to give the hotel a wow factor.
Here is my honest and unfiltered hotel review of the Cambria Hotel in Downtown Houston. Hopefully it will give you a sneak peek into what the hotel has to offer.
The Pros of Cambria Hotel Downtown Houston
Cleanliness: The hotel was very clean and I could tell that the housekeeping staff took sanitizing the hotel very seriously. I sanitized the space myself and there was no visible dirt or grime on any surface.
Staff: Everyone we encountered was very friendly and helpful. The front desk clerk was nice enough to ensure we would have a nice view once she found out it was our anniversary weekend.
Amenities: There was a bar/lounge in the facility which is great for those who just want to stay inside the hotel. There is also a 24 hr fitness center on site and convenience store available for those forgotten necessities.
Walkability: The location of the hotel is great. There are many restaurants and attractions within a 2-5 minute walk from the hotel. We could see Minute Maid Park from our window. The aquarium and Discovery Green were also nearby.
Comfort: The bed is super comfortable if you like a soft to medium mattress. I slept like a baby the second night. The A/C system worked well which is a super important element in Texas.
The Cons of Cambria Hotel Downtown Houston
Valet: The valet price is expensive- a whopping $35 a night. Fortunately, there is street parking directly across from the hotel if you are lucky enough to snag a space. Pro tip: Street parking across from the hotel is free from 6 pm Saturday night and all day on Sunday. During other daytime hours, you will have to feed the parking meter which is super easy using the Park Houston app. There are also parking garages in the vicinity with much cheaper parking rates.
Thin walls: I could hear the neighbor’s music and people chattering on Friday night for hours. It sounded like a party going on so this may have been a one-off thing. The second night of our stay was eerily quiet.
Elevator: The elevators are historic so they were super slow, very small, and a little shaky which freaked me out a little bit at times. The elevators were always packed to capacity because guests would get impatient while waiting the next elevator to arrive. This would lead to us being packed in the elevator like sardines. It was definitely not the best practice during a pandemic but unfortunately a necessary one it seemed.
Final thoughts.
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at Cambria Hotel and would definitely return someday. I got a great rate for the hotel on Priceline for less than $100 a night! I would even pay more for a stay here now that I know the quality of the hotel firsthand. This hotel gets the Sky, Miles, and Style stamp of approval.
