Alden-Houston
Landmark downtown hotel gets an update with sleek, modern decor and convenient business traveler amenities.
(832) 539-4530
1117 Prairie St
(at Fannin Street)
Houston,
TX
77002
29.76
-95.361
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Central
Reviews & Ratings for Alden-Houston
20 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 20 reviews
Sam I Am!!!
by ctcowboy
August 24, 2004
We spent a long baseball weekend at the Sam Houston Hotel. The hotel and staff gave us a tremendous hotel experience. All employees in the hotel, bar and restaurant introduced themselves to us and each employee was committed to meeting and exceeding our expectations. In addition to the staff, the room was phenomenal, the restaurant was exceptional and the bar was filled with new friends and great memories. I highly recommend the Sam Houston Hotel!!!
- Pros: Tremendous Staff, Luxurious Rooms, Excellent Restaurant
Nice boutique hotel
by karlasegura
May 10, 2009
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
Not worth the visit
by tgodsey
December 30, 2008
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.
Not impressed
by htowncoog
June 11, 2008
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
not worth the money or time it takes to be served
by fishinfoodie
April 28, 2008
4 of us ate there last week & we all chose the chefs menu with wine pairing ($134 / person). the food was uninspiring & overall we felt we did not receive the food value for the cost. for example, the beef strip steak was stringy. the split pea soup had an unknown crunchy thing in it. for the cheese course, it took over 25 minutes to bring out the cheese & it was just a hunk of blue cheese with 2 pieces of bread. our waiter said dessert was going to be a choice off the dessert menu & then it was time to serve dessert, the waiter said there was only one choice & it was some icky coconut soup. we complained & got a 2nd choice of a chocolate cake - my cake was dry. we eat out ALOT & this meal did not justify the cost & probably should not be on the menu - the chef did not exceed or show his skills much (if at all). would not recommend.
We Didn't Stay
by nolagirlie
January 29, 2008
I am giving the Alden Houston a rating of Average because we didn't actually stay there . . . we were turned off before we got inside.
The Alden is located in a part of Downtown Houston that is heavily populated by homeless people, and in the blocks immediately surrounding the hotel there are no less than 4 or 5 bail bond locations. Upon pulling up to the curb outside the Alden at approximately 2:30PM on a Saturday afternoon, and waiting inside our vehicle for the valet, a homeless woman walked up to our car and started beating on it and shouting jibberish. When the valet came out she left us alone, but we were left rather shaken. Concerned at this point not only about our personal safety but also about our vehicle's safety, we inquired as to where our vehicle would be parked. We were informed that it would be parked in an "unpatrolled but well-lit" open lot behind the building. No, thank you!
I called inside from my cell phone and spoke to the manager, who informed me there was no other parking option. It was at this point that I asked for a refund, even though I had missed the 24 hour required notice. He could have argued with me, but he did not. I was granted a full refund.
Not thrilled
by con_junior
July 17, 2007
My husband took me here for my birthday. The valet service was terrible - they don't know how to open doors for ladies. The valet stood on the sidewalk, stared at me through the window, and waited for me to open the door. Very odd. The front desk service wasn't memorable, and the service in the restaurant was terrible, too. Although the food in 17 is very good, the waiter had no tact and did not check on us, refill our drinks, etc. Overall, the price isn't worth what you get. I will never stay here again, even if it is a preferred hotel. My preference for preferred hotels is the Hotel Derek by the Galleria.
- Pros: The food
- Cons: The price, the staff, the service, very small room
Sweet Retreat
by obviouslyczech
March 21, 2007
I recently stayed at the hotel over the weekend. I was just wanting to take some time away from the same old routine and a friend mentioned that I should have a weekend downtown and stay at the Alden. When I arrived I was simply shocked. Do not judge a book by its cover, I was truely impressed. EVERY agent was extremely helpful and friendly, not snooty or rude. The hotel had that new modern look, the beds were completely wonderful I almost didn't wake up. Oh and you definitely need to check out 17 the resturant there. The waiter suggested that I try the short ribs.... the BEST ever.
Just Check it out!
- Pros: Just about everything
- Cons: Only Valet parking available
low down dirty shame
by ashaw77
March 21, 2007
I have stayed there several times so I have basis for comparison.
It is probably because the staff has turned over 300% in the last 3 years. Their recruiters/human resources people need to be replaced, not their staff.
I had to request LOTION. What hotel does not supply lotion? I was staying multiple nights and asked for enough to hold me over. I got one. I am in the business, those bottles cost less than .25 cents when purchased in bulk.
The room was not clean, hair in the tub every day. Bathroom was horrible. I aksed the Housekeeper in the hall to show me what she cleaned with. OH MY GOD...they dilute it to cut costs!!! She actually told me that. My room was never vaccumed, not for three days. I even dropped thread on the carpet to make sure. It is probably still there.
All-in-all, it was disgusting. I checked out early and moved to a REAL hotel. Don't waste your time or money.
- Pros: Food
- Cons: Everything other than food
Landmark downtown hotel gets an update with sleek, modern decor and convenient business traveler amenities.
by Contributor
February 01, 2006
In Short
Just a couple blocks from the Main Street entertainment district, this '20s-era tower has been transformed into a stylish 97-room boutique hotel. From the pulsing light sculpture in the minimalist lobby to the gray-toned guest rooms, the decor is modern and accommodating. Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal stunning downtown views and the granite and glass bathrooms are pure luxury. In-room amenities include direct dial portable phones, laptop safe, flat-screen TV, Herman Miller chairs and complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access.
- Pros: StylishGreat location
Eh
by houstongroupie
November 11, 2005
I have stayed at the Alden before and have usually enjoyed it. However every time I call the prices continue to increase, and its not THAT good. Every time we go it seems like something is missing. No more turn down service, no more lotion, no more water. Soon it will be just a bed and a tv. 17 is amazing but not worth staying at the hotel for. My husband and I used to do a package that included the hotel stay and dinner and we enjoyed it. Now I would just rather go to dinner at 17 and then sleep at home. The restaurant needs to leave and go somewere else. It seems that the hotel has done nothing but go downhill. When I went to get information for my niece's wedding, I was first transferred to every single imaginable person in that hotel before I finally got someone who could assist me. She was great but once I was ready to send in my deposit she wasn't there any more. Then I got a girl that told me she had a meeting and did not have time to speak with me. I finally got her to call me back and got some additional information. A couple of months later she's gone too. Does anyone actually work there?
- Pros: 17, location to main street
- Cons: gettnig transferred around, lack of consistency
