Just returned last night from staying at the Best Western Medical Center. We will definitely stay there for our daughter's next appointment. Room included a fridge and microwave, parking was free and a pathetic yet edible breakfast was included. Best of all, they let us keep our car parked there after we had checked out, saving us extra hassle and the $10 we usually pay for parking at Children's Hospital. (Our daughter's appointment was not until 3.) We took the streetcar to the rodeo ($6 to walk around, watch pig races and people fall off the mechanical bull, more if you want to stay for the concert).
Best Western sans discount was $109 quoted, $127 including all the taxes. Hilton is $200ish, maybe a little less, but significantly more than the BW. BW is the cheapest I could find during rodeo season (Holiday Inn Express is completely booked), except for the Rodeway Inn, where we used to stay ($80 including taxes). But the Rodeway's lack of comfortable beds and cleanliness finally got to me...
Thoughts:
1. Book your hotel room now to get the medical discount. Most of the hotels offer them, but some give only a limited number or will not give them during the rodeo.
2. The Holiday Inn is undergoing rennovation. Work begins at 7 AM. They cannot guarantee you will be on a quiet floor.
3. There are no grocery stores in Rice Village. The closest one we have found is the Randall's on Holcombe.
4. We highly recommend Hermann Park. Get off at the north station (Hermann Park/Rice U) to visit the Japanese Garden. Get off at the zoo stop to go to, naturally, the zoo. The Japanese Garden is free while the zoo is expensive but well worth it.
5. I think some museums have free admission days or evenings.
6. I am so not a shopper, but I really like poking about Rice Village. You will see on the other thread my high recommendation for Delmonico's lunch special.
7. Rice Village's Croissant Brioche is a great place to hang out and read newspapers. Also serves reasonable light lunches.
We've been doing this for two years. Good luck.