Remember my girls' weekend at Embassy Suites in Hughes Landing last year? Well, the same fun can apply to a family with kids who need a last-minute summer thrill before school starts (that's August 14 for most Woodlands-area public schools). Embassy Suites is situated right here in The Woodlands, and my family LOVES the hotel - it's clean, the suites are spacious, and the lobby is elegant enough for my taste but not pretentious.Call or visit the Embassy Suites website for the best price, but a preliminary online search for this Friday night pulled up rates as low as $149. This price doesn't include tax, but let me tell you what it DOES include:
- Free breakfast (it's a hot, delicious, all-you-can-eat buffet!)
- Free Wifi
- Complimentary Manager's Reception
- Outdoor pool
- Use of the fitness center
- Room accommodations include king or queen beds, sofa beds, refrigerators, flat-screen TVs, and microwaves
- Free Wifi
- Complimentary Manager's Reception
- Outdoor pool
- Use of the fitness center
- Room accommodations include king or queen beds, sofa beds, refrigerators, flat-screen TVs, and microwaves
For a last-minute weekend thrill, check in at 3pm, unpack your bags, then catch a trolley ride at the on-site trolley stop. Where to ride? The library (one of our favorite "chill" spots), The Woodlands Mall (hit the fun stores like Arhaus, Barnes & Noble and Bath & Body Works), followed by Market Street to enjoy the spraygrounds and lawn games with the kids.
Arrive back at the hotel in time for the Manager's Reception that evening. It includes complimentary drinks (bar drinks included!) and appetizers. Last time, we enjoyed chips & dip, veggies, fruit, cheese, jalapeno poppers, and cookies. This reception really helps to curb your appetite before dinnertime. For dinner, visit a family-friendly Hughes Landing restaurant such as California Pizza Kitchen (my family favorite) and order a couple pizzas for the crew to share. The Jamaican Jerk Chicken pizza is worth a try if you like spice!
After the reception & dinner, it's coffee and cake bites at the Starbucks in Hughes Landing, followed by a trip back to the hotel to change into swimsuits. The outdoor pool is basic but intimate, elegant, and clean!
After a swim, you'll be ready for a shower in the hotel room, then a movie on the flat screen TVs. Don't forget to bring your own popcorn to pop in the microwave.
Lights out deary! But don't snooze too long. You won't want to miss the complimentary all-you-can eat breakfast buffet that includes cold items like fruit, cereal, and yogurt, hot items like pancakes, oatmeal, bacon, sausage, eggs, and hash browns, plus made-to-order omelettes and all the wonderful morning bevs like milk, coffee, and a variety of juices.
I love that check-out isn't until noon, which makes it feel like you can take your time getting packed up. And even still, the "vacation" is not quite over. After check-out, head to one of your family's favorite fun places for a couple hours of running around. Need some suggestions? Try Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park in Spring, Bowlero (great if you have older kids), or keep it old school and hit up Chuck E. Cheese's.
Summer will be over soon! You've gotten the family out of the house and into a hotel for a night of fun. You should be proud!
