Tips for Traveling to Houston on Business

If your career takes you to Houston, Texas for a conference, meeting, sales initiative or other purpose, you'll need to know where to stay and how to maneuver about the city. Houston is a great place to travel on business because there's plenty to see and do; traffic is often a problem but you can avoid it if you stick to back roads. When traveling to Houston on business, follow these tips for a successful experience.

Avoid Major Freeways

Road construction in Houston seems to be a constant, and combined with commuter traffic, the major freeways can be a detriment to your traveling experience. Interstate 10, Highway 59, Highway 290 and Beltway 8 are the most difficult to navigate at any point in time, but particularly in the evenings. You are better off using Mapquest to find back roads to your destination since Houston doesn't have many reliable means of mass transportation.

Eat Out West

Finding a table at any restaurant in downtown Houston can be difficult between the hours of 5pm and 8pm, so you might want to head west for your meals. Memorial, Katy, Mission Bend and even northwest Houston will provide more opportunities for a quick bite and often have better food, anyway. Some of the most popular restaurants include Red Lobster, T.G.I. Friday's, Casa Ole, Chili's, Pappasito's, Landry's and Papadeux's.

Stay at the Airport

If you are flying through Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), you might be better off staying at the airport's Marriott Hotel than finding another establishment. Many people traveling to Houston on business find that the north part of Houston is easiest to access while navigating the city, and you won't have any trouble getting to the airport on time for your return trip. After you land, you can take the airport train from any terminal in the airport to the Marriott, and you'll find that its restaurant is quite good for an after-flight meal.

Avoid Gas Downtown

When traveling to Houston on business, consider the gas prices for your rental car. The gas stations downtown will have their prices set at least $0.10 above what you will find outside the city, so venture west or south to find gasoline. If this isn't an option, you can find cheaper gas at the stations attached to grocery stores and Wal-Mart downtown.

Arrive Early

I've been to many conferences with people traveling to Houston on business, and they all say that they should have arrived earlier than they did. Because conferences fill up quickly, the stragglers often find themselves with nowhere to sit and the traffic congestion is formidable. It is best to arrive at any destination in Houston about twenty minutes early to avoid the street and foot traffic that always ensues.

Find Alternate Parking

When visiting any of the major centers in downtown Houston, you'll have the option to park in front of the building or to find a nearby lot. You can save up to $30 per day by finding one of the smaller lots, and even though you might have to walk a few blocks, you'll thank me for this piece of advice. Some of the lots only charge $2 to $5 per day for parking, which can really cushion the wallet.

Traveling to Houston on business can be an enjoyable experience as long as you follow the preceding tips. You'll find that there is always something to do in the evenings