Alden-Houston

05/10/09

Nice boutique hotel

by karlasegura at Citysearch

While on business I recently stayed at the Alden. I got pretty much what I expected. The room was small but comfortable and functional. The hotel is in a great location of many restarants and bars. They provided shuttle service to and from the convention center. This was very convienant and the driver was extremely friendly. The reason that I will go back to this hotel was the staff. From check in, to vale, to the bartenders I was greated by extremely friendly and attentive staff members. They couldn't have made my stay more enjoyable.

• Pros: Very attentive, friendly staff
• Cons: $250 rate/Small room

12/30/08

Not worth the visit

by tgodsey at Citysearch

I've stayed at the hotel a few times. The place was nicer when it first opened. One visit was horrible from a bad package deal (what was promised was not delivered). The rooms are OK but not great. The front desk tends to pretend you are not there until you actually ask (beg) for help, then they still just wander off and 'forget' that they were checking you in the hotel. That has happened for all three visits.

The highlight was the Whiskey Bar that is no longer in the hotel. The new bar is in the lobby, way over priced, and the light through the bar top is irritating. The bar chairs are horrible looking and who ever decorated the place must have lost a bet to add the seating.

The restaurant did have a very good head chef that left for another restaurant, and took the fantastic lamb dishes with him. There are much better places downtown and this place is really a near last choice when staying downtown.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Service Staff, new bar, parking, new menue, meeting room.

06/11/08

Not impressed

by htowncoog at Citysearch

I had the displeasure of going there for a seminar for a few days and was not very impressed. To start with, the parking is Valet only. I know it's downtown, but for seminars where people come and go and need to get things out of their car it would be nice to have a designated area. Second, the seminar room we had was actually a covered balcony with vinyl walls and ceiling. I guess that's ok for a wedding or a party but I could not hear the speaker over the loud downtown noise - whether it was a train going by, cars honking, or jack hammers. Third, the WIFI in this place was miserable. I would get a connection for a few seconds and then lose it. This was not a one time incident either, in all 3 days I was there I had to put up with the wifi. The food was ok, but this place wasa just not up to par for a serious seminar.

• Pros: attentive employees and valet
• Cons: Horrible WIFI, open air seminar room, no free parking