I have stayed at other good quality Sheraton's in Houston and recently had a very poor stay at the Sheraton Houston North.

On the Sheraton website this Sheraton Houston looked great and I paid more than I normally do.

The staff was great and the hotel was very clean. Unfortunately the exterior, meeting rooms and bed rooms looked like they have not been upgraded in a decade.

I am sure this was a great hotel years ago, but I would avoid this hotel until the fix this place up.

We live about 2 hours from IAH and spent the night at Sheraton North since we had an early morning flight to San Francisco. Check in was a breeze, front desk staff were most helpful. Some reviews on TripAdvisor had complained about cleanliness. Our room was clean and the bed was most comfortable. Even though close to the airport, the room was quiet. There is a complimentary shuttle to the airport every 20 minutes. I recommend being in the lobby about 10 minutes before you plan to leave. Parking is free--including your out of town travel days. Upon our return, I called the hotel for the shuttle from the baggage claim area. By the time we exited the terminal, the shuttle was waiting for us. Coincidence maybe, but convenient for sure. Since we booked on Priceline, our hotel stay was only a little bit more than we would have paid for parking alone at one of the airport parking lots. The only improvement I can think is if the hotel parking lot had more lighting. However, our car was fine. With shuttles running through the parking lot every 20 minutes, security doesn't appear to be a problem.

Ok, so you 're not supposed to expect too much from an airport hotel and I did not expect much more than a clean, quiet room, and a decent meal, I suppose. Let's start with the dated bathroom dated in desparate need of updating. A patched ceiling where an obvious leak had been repaired without regard to how it would look after it waws painted. A blotchy mirror and old style tissue dispenser inn the counter fascia that was in need of repacing due to some rust, lrounded out the tired bath.

The room was okay, and surprisingly quiet. Windows had not been cleaned on the outside for some time and the remnants of some vulgarities were finger painted on the outside demeaning Houston. The bed was okay but hardly upscale, hard and with 150 count sheets if that.

My room service menu enticed me with a description of a special pizza from the mediterranean restaurant downstairs named Basils. It touted 4 cheeses, tomatoes and basil. I ordered it and found it to be a mirage of my menu description. A run of the mill prefab crust with something sweet burned on the bottom. Cheese was present and accounted for as was a hint of basil, but not a trace of tomato unless you count the sauce.

On to the next mornings breakfast. A walk into Basils to review the buffet. Molding strawberries and few fruit flies were evident. When I sat back down at my table I asked for a menu instead and told the receptionist about the strawberries she thought I was kidding. Finally another waitperson overheard our discussion and told her to pull them form the buffet.

At that point I began to wonder, do I really want to order something form this same restaurant? No, I left and headed out to the airport early. At least you know what you get with an egg McMuffin.

And last to top it off. I found a Sheraton postcard in my desk drawer that I thought I would send to my boy at home letting him know I would be coming home soon. It said no stamp required just bring to the front desk. I handed it to the person on my way out.

No, we never got the postcard at home, just as you would imagine.

My advice is to find a cheaper hotel away from the airport and to pay for a cab. You will probably be more satisfied and the price will be about the same.

The main problem with this hotel is that the vast majority of travellers are passing through and staying for one night, enroute to or from Galveston Cruise Port. A glut of "one-night-only" pre-paid, "booked-through-the-cruise-package" customers does not a happy situation make.

My wife and I booked for one night on our way elsewhere and arrived seperately due to business committments. Her flight was delayed by four hours due to bad weather. She had booked the room under both our names through Expedia. Technically because she had made the reservation herself they wouldn't allow me to check in. Although I had the joint credit card the room was booked under they still weren't budging.

I was told flatly and with some disdain, "This happens all the time" and "There's no way we can let you in."

No offer to deal with my luggage, make temporary arrangements for me, suggestion on where to go and what to do etc... The slightly snotty front desk gal just stood there (They weren't busy due to the storm) and looked blankly over my shoulder.

I phoned Expedia, called head office, stood waving my pre-paid reservation and valid credit card to no avail. Our party had 4 rooms and luckily I was able to bunk in with some relatives. 2 hours later I was allowed to check in after setting up a conference call with my wife and Expedia.

Just apalling customer service. But then who needs it when most of your clientel are tired, jet-lagged, giddy with impending excitement or desperate to get home?

The hotel itself is tired, old and run-down. For some reason they have decided to decorate in truly hideous Miami-Vice meets cactus-chic. Why must hotels and restaurants in South Texas choose a desert theme when they are nowhere near the desert? Last renovated in the late 80's, the hotel's interior matches the mood of the staff.

Definitely not worthy of the Sheraton name. This place has obviously been coasting for years.

If your cruise operator or travel agent tries to shoe-horn you into this hotel - Stand your ground and refuse. Stay at the much nicer Double Tree across the road. You'll thank yourself.