The Lancaster Hotel

Doesn't Recommend

LocalOfficer

Joined 3 years ago

Poor service, incompetent billing department. We stayed there 1 night for our aniversary. We have stayed at other boutique hotels, and though not nearly as luxurious as others we have visited, I thought the Lancaster was fairly nice and quaint. We went to Jones Hall, and the location was great. The issues started a couple of days after we left, when they overcharged us by $300 for out stay. I discovered that their accounting dept doesn't seem to ever answer their phones, only take messages and call back several hours later. It took a couple of days to convince them that I checked out when I said I did. Evidently, the bistro reopened by bill to charge me for a free breakfast (???) that my package included, and never closed the bill. Shortly after being told that they were issuing the refund, I get charged another $3.99, 4 days after I checked out. Other than to make sure that I am annoyed enough to never return, I have no idea what the additional charge could be for. Of course, I am waiting for accounting to call me back, since they are the only ones that can answer a question, and they don't answer their phone.

Doesn't Recommend

Sandy612

Joined 5 years ago

Worst Service. If I could give this hotel 0 stars, I would. I made a reservation to this hotel and then changed it to add an extra night of stay. I received confirmation of the change. However, when I arrived at the hotel, they told me that I did not change my reservation, even though I had a printout of my confirmation. They did not apologize or try to assure me that they would make it right, they just kept saying that I didn't change my reservation. Then, they tried to force me into a smoking room, saying that I wouldn't notice the difference. I noticed the difference right away. The room was disgusting, with the smell of smoke only slightly overpowered by the massive potpourri they used. The chair by the bed had a cigarrette burn in it, even though I was assured that they removed all the furniture in the room to get rid of the smoke smell. When I got back from my trip, my travel agent called the manager to ask what had happened. The manager was ridiculously rude and accused the agent of lying about changing the reservation, even though the agent had proof that he did in fact change it! I can't imagine a more ridiculous "customer service." From now on, I'm staying somewhere else.

Recommends

SteveRad

Joined 4 years ago

A Good Romantic Getaway. OK.. so maybe I'm biased because we spent our wedding night at the Lancaster, but I really like this hotel. It is small, elegant, and close to all the action downtown. They usually have weekend specials for romantic weekends that are reasonably priced and great to plan with a show or concert. Now that downtown Houston is a happening place, this is a fantastic choice for a romantic weekend getaway without having to fly anywhere. If you are like me, it is hard to check off the "romantic" box with your wife... this one totally works.

Doesn't Recommend

TheBestCritic

Joined 8 years ago

Way over rated.... We selected the Lancaster Hotel for our wedding night based on the reviews from City Search. We booked a Deluxe King room through Expedia and prepaid. When we arrived they only had a Queen room, a bit of a disappointment but we thought we would make the best of it. It was down hill from there. No TV remote in the room, the toilet malfunctioned during the night and would not work, the outlet in the bathroom worked intermittently, the towels were old worn and frayed, the shower head was horrible, there was no plug for the bath tub, and soundproofing in the rooms was that of Holiday Inn. We are both seasoned global travelers spend over fifteen nights a month in hotels throughout the world, so we have goods points of relativity for judging. The room and decor was nice, the TV was Seventies Vintage, and the bathroom in dire need of updating. I would not recommend this hotel, nor will we return. The restaurant looked very nice, but we did not dine there. The location is great, but that did not overcome the negatives. The staff was nonchalant, with minimal regrets for the substandard conditions. Houston has much, much better accommodations to offer in the same price range; I suggest you explore your options before selecting the Lancaster. Oh yeah, if you have a car there is a per day parking charge which is WAY out of line for Houston. They don?t tell you about this when making reservations.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Small luxury hotel charms guests with English manor looks, and status as one of Houston's historic downtown landmarks.. In Short
The Lancaster, now surrounded by Theater District performance halls, was built in 1926 in the neighborhood where the city first took root. Eighteenth-century art and antiques adorn the interior, and rooms are wired for two-line speaker telephones, modem ports and private-line fax machines. Bistro Lancaster specializes in regional American food, such as fettuccine with lobster and black caviar, grilled quail salad, and grilled leg of south Texas antelope.

Recommends

punkprincess_2002

Joined 8 years ago

A grand experience!. Basically, this hotel is very elegant yet cozy. When you first walk in you are greeted with much hospitality and a beautiful reception area. It's a small luxury hotel so do not expect huge stately rooms. The rooms are very stylish and provide a nice romantic rendezvous with one you love. The location is just fantastic! Walk right over to the Bayou Place and enjoy one of the many activities it has to offer. We appreciate good food (the birchermuesli and fresh croissant were most notable) and agreed that the price for the fantastic room service breakfast was just right. The only complaints we had were the pricey mandatory valet and not having all the promised ammenities in our room. Those two small problems aside, we will go back for many years to come!

Recommends

outsidelookingin

Joined 7 years ago

great get away. My wife and I stayed at The Lancaster for our 6th wedding anniversary. Our stay was fantastic. The hotel staff was so much more personable than the other upscale hotels in town. The staff at The Lancaster was extremely courteous, friendly, helpful, and displayed a professional work ethic that you just don't find at other hotels. From the town car that is provided as a service to the guest for transport to places in the city to the complimentary champagne and strawberries left in our room as an anniversary gift to my wife and I. The hotel is romantic, elegant, and a true gem. We will be returning every year to enjoy its hospitality!

Recommends

ezlidblue

Joined 11 years ago

Intimate & Beautiful!. The Lancaster proves the adage re good things coming in small packages. The hotel is very European, making it uniquely American in this cosmopolitan city. Every detail is attended to & it's noticeable the minute you arrive. It's genteel refinements allow you to bask in luxury, and it's staff reflect it's warmth of caring. They appear when needed and disappear just as quickly when your request is granted. I was completely charmed by The Lancaster itself and the people who work there, and I can't imagine staying anywhere else in Houston!

Recommends

royboy713

Joined 11 years ago

Great for Adults. This is a great hotel for downtown business and for attending any of the venues of the Theater District. Short walk to Alley Theater, Jones Hall, Wortham Center, Hobby Center. Friendly staff! Small, but nice, comfortable rooms. Charming lobby -- feels like a welcoming, friendly Living Room! Great for romantic getaway!

Recommends

plbkkb

Joined 11 years ago

Small and romantic. We sent our out of town guests who were in for our wedding here. They said they would come back again and again just for the hotel