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Looking for hints, tips, suggestions and advice, please – flights into Houston 26/8, returning from Dallas on 13/9, booked in First with a Companion voucher.
First three nights hotel booked.
– wife and I both have Avis Presidents Club membership through AmEx Plat
– we have a good few hundred thousand MR pointsI’m thinking of booking two hire car periods back to back, to qualify for double upgrades during the period, but would welcome advice on how to maximise this (to get the biggest/ most comfortable vehicle).
All we’ve got, so far as a list goes, (in no particular order) is:
Space Centre
Blue Lagoon/Caverns
Alamo
River walk (San Antonio)
Austin
Bats under the Bridge
AT&T Stadium
Couple of beach days (Galveston/Corpus Christi?)
Grassy Knoll/ Book store
Dude ranch
Getting a decent Stetson/cowboy hat
Fort Worth/Stock YardsSadly, too late for the Dallas Cowboy’s preseason games and their first game of the season is now in Cleveland 😕
I’d be most grateful to be bombarded with suggestions, hints and tips for things to see, things to avoid, places to stay & eat and general advice from the broad spectrum of wise and experienced members of this forum.
Thanks
I was surprised at the cost of road Tolls in Houston In 10 days i racked up $155 – $130 in tolls and $5 a day in car hire admin (thankfully capped at $25)
Tolls on many roads are variable (ie charge a lot more in rush hours)Good museums & zoo in Houston, I was disappointed by music bars in Austin just very loud
I have a Chase account so used ATMs to draw out cash as needed; several places offered a discount for cash and I always prefer to leave cash tip rather than add it onto card bill
Several of the best BBQs in Austin queues start to form 2 hours before they open so not for me but try https://www.raysbbqshack.com/menu in Houston
Try foodtrucks in AustinIf you are driving between Austin/San Antonio and Houston stop off at Lulling for a real Texas Oil town and great cheap BBQ we are talking foam plastic plates, plastic forks with huge amounts of fabulous meat
For the space centre I’d suggest booking a ticket that includes the mission control tour (you can’t book that on site so have to have it booked as part of your admission in advance).
Close to both Austin and San Antonio is Texas Hill Country. Would definitely recommend Fredericksburg. Good also for getting acquainted with Texas wine. For high quality hat, check out ML Leddy’s in FW Stockyards (bring your credit card though!) Bureau of Printing and Engraving in Fort Worth well worth a visit.
We visited San Antonio years ago, it’s a lovely city.
We stayed with an old family friend who took us to a fair in her small town – the top raffle prize was a shotgun 🤦🏻♀️😂.The Alamo is a must for anyone who watched Westerns as a child, but be aware there’s not that much there; I recall a small museum with artefacts bearing labels such as “Spoon of the type which may have been used by Davy Crockett”.
If you get the chance to go out of the cities, the night sky is incredible. Crossing the Rio Grande at Piedras Negras (?) was an experience – our friend used to pop over to Mexico to get her prescription meds and see what she could find in the markets. She was a very wealthy landowner by that time, but never forgot her thrifty English wartime upbringing.
It will be very hot in August! I remember sunbathing by the pool in late October.
You will hear more Spanish than English in many areas.
I have a love/hate relationship with Texas. My daughter was born there 29 years ago and I haven’t been for closevto ten years now. I knew when the signs on stores and restaurant doors “ No Firearms” stopped freaking me out, that it was time to come home.
Stay away from South Antonio.
Would you enjoy a rodeo? A real one not designed for tourists. If yes, go to Tejas Rodeo in Bulverde, just north of San Antonio.Wimberley is nice for a day out from San Antone. River tubing is good fun too.
I’d say the State Capitol building is worth a visit. Home of the amazing Wendy Davis’ legendary filibuster.
@ChasP if you go regularly buy your own Ezpass, just don’t forget to take it off the windscreen like I did in Orlando, get all the way in to the terminal building and then have to go find your car in a deserted parking garage.
The rental companies always charge the highest cash/plate rate plus the admin fee. If you’d had a tag you’d likely have paid half that $155.
There are exceptions such as the Chesapeake bay bridge tunnel which was a breathtaking $16 one way, disounts only for daily travellers on that
@ChasP if you go regularly buy your own Ezpass,
….Although its the most widely used system sadly EZPASS doesnt work in Texas
In Florida you can get a Visitors Toll pass but there isnt a Texas equivalent
Its a shame there isnt a universal pass for all of the USA; in most states it doesnt matter too much but Houston has so many toll roads
@ChasP if you go regularly buy your own Ezpass,
….Although its the most widely used system sadly EZPASS doesnt work in Texas
In Florida you can get a Visitors Toll pass but there isnt a Texas equivalent
Ah sorry, I bought a Sunpass in Florida which works in Ezpass locations and actually does work in Texas.
The florida tourist tag was no use to me as you can only use it if you pick up your car at MCO and I picked up my car in Miami.
Its a shame there isnt a universal pass for all of the USA; in most states it doesnt matter too much but Houston has so many toll roads
You don’t need to queue 2 hours for the Franklin Barbecue to get decent BBQ in Austin. Terry Black’s is about 45 minutes, Iron Works is typically no queue and you can make reservations for Lamberts if you want your brisket fancy with a cocktail.
Whilst in San Antonio, hiring e-bikes and cycling the Mission Trail is worth it though it will depend upon the weather as Texas can be brutally hot in August (often over 40 Celsius).
For caverns, Inner Space and Natural Bridge are great and booking an adventure tour is even better. Assuming you don’t mind crawling around in the dark!
I’d also add going to shoot some guns for another Texas experience. You can just walk in to a range and tell them you are a beginner and ask for advice. They will rent you a gun and give you a run through gun safety. Some places also do ‘cowboy’ gun tryouts where you use vintage weapons of various types on outdoor ranges.
You might fit in a Texas Rangers game?
@ChasP if you go regularly buy your own Ezpass,
….Although its the most widely used system sadly EZPASS doesnt work in Texas
In Florida you can get a Visitors Toll pass but there isnt a Texas equivalent
Ah sorry, I bought a Sunpass in Florida which works in Ezpass locations and actually does work in Texas.
The florida tourist tag was no use to me as you can only use it if you pick up your car at MCO and I picked up my car in Miami.
Its a shame there isnt a universal pass for all of the USA; in most states it doesnt matter too much but Houston has so many toll roads
Sunpass works for most of the Dallas/Fort worth tolls but not for Houston Tolls
https://www.sunpass.com/en/common/docs/texas_mapv1.pdfThanks, everyone, for the tips so far!
@davefl – I think you’re a bit of a car hire guru? Any thoughts about the plan to hire once in my name and a second time using my wife’s account? Best way of securing double upgrade?@Sayling sorry but I’m single… that would never occor to me 🙂
And no I’m not, I just recount my experience, such as I’d rather walk than ever rent with Hertz again after multiple apalling rentals.
Car Hire. I’m not sure what you will get with two rental periods, or why this may work for you? Note with a one-way rental like Houston-Dallas you may get a location more interested in moving on something they don’t want to another location. With car rental there is so much in play it’s impossible to really plan or scheme something for upgrades. The reality is most locations have a load of SUVs, and so upgrades are often from a car to an SUV, which is not an upgrade for some people. Most SUVs will not have the luggage curtain, so not ideal if you want to leave luggage in the vehicle whilst you sightsee on a day you’re moving hotels. Insisting on an upgrade at a busy time when vehicles are scarce can result in a take it or leave it.
In terms of status benefits everyone and their dog has status in the US from credit cards. Avis will know the difference between earned status and a credit card gift, and it may not count for you nearly as much as you’re hoping. If you arrive on a busy weekend, big college football or other event just be glad they have a vehicle for you. If the car matters to you, and it seems to, my advice would be rent the level you want and treat anything else offered as win. Don’t assume a big car is comfortable, the US produces some horrible vehicles, and large SUVs are often quite poor to drive, and have surprisingly little leg/knee room in them for the external size, try luxury over size. In my experience getting a BMW, Audi or Mercedes is always a nicer drive than a Chevvy, Ford or Jeep. Likewise a Mazda, Infinity or Genesis will trump a mainstream US brand.
I agree with Dave in regard Hertz, they’d be my company of last resort.
My preferred company of late in the US has been National, but they don’t always have reasonable prices for one-way rentals, but since Houston and Dallas are both in Texas and close, relative to US, I’d guess that won’t be a problem. National have a scheme whereby you select the vehicle from an aisle, Emerald or Executive (World Elite card will get you Executive Elite for a year I believe) depending on your status level. You rent an Intermediate or Full size, and get access to the aisle. This is a row of cars you can browse and check mileage, condition, etc. before choosing. It can be a lottery, but I’ve mostly had good results where this operates at larger airports. First time you would have to visit the desk, but once they’ve seen your license and credit card it’s a very nice way of having some choice in what you get.
Insurance. You obviously do your own research. But I believe the Amex Plat car insurance is limited to vehicles up to £50K, many large and luxury SUVs will exceed that price point. Others will disagree, but I’d be cautious of relying on Amex car cover, Insurance bought as a package with the car is excellent for peace of mind.
Maybe worth a read https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/car-hire-tips/ FlyerTalk also has excellent forums on various companies, listing vehicle types in class, and recent experience for various locations.
In respect of two consecutive rentals, I was under the impression the double upgrade was not available for periods in excess of 14 days with Avis… which this trip would be
+1 For Terry Black’s bbq in Austin. There was no queue when I went for lunch and they were even giving out a free mini tour of their bbq smokers.
Very off-topic, but some of the best food we ever had was from a truck called Bill’s Texas BBQ Pit in St Thomas in the USVI’s many years ago! It’s the standard we’ve measured BBQ on ever since, lol.
*Still there, apparently – https://thedomesticlifestylist.com/bills-texas-pit-texan-bbq-in-st-thomas-virgin-islands/
Very off-topic, but some of the best food we ever had was from a truck called Bill’s Texas BBQ Pit in St Thomas in the USVI’s many years ago! It’s the standard we’ve measured BBQ on ever since, lol.
*Still there, apparently – https://thedomesticlifestylist.com/bills-texas-pit-texan-bbq-in-st-thomas-virgin-islands/
You get great Texas BBQ at Rudy’s gas station. Good food isn’t always fancy.
Go to Boudro’s on the River in San Antonio – best guacamole I have ever had, made table side so you can request what bits they put in and leave out. I ate a portion for 2! We also found a random raw Cookie dough bar called Scooped which was a laugh.
The Alamo is interesting, and a bit disorientating when you relate the timeline to the Uk (I own a 18th Century listed building which is older so was difficult to get my head around!)
Torchy Taco’s is fun and cheap eats, and on south congress. Gourdoughs had good donuts. There’s also a Very fancy hat store on South congress which will bespoke make the hat for you (at a significant cost but good for a nosey)
Wimberley is cute but expensive. – The Zip line is fun though.
Waco Mammoth National Monument is fabulous.
If you want really off the beaten track have a look at Caddo Lake. We stayed at an air bnb for 2 nights in Jefferson, went on a sunrise boat trip ( take a jumper – it was COLD) and then had the best lunch in Kitts Cornbread Sandwich and Pie bar.
You can get around the tolls in Houston as there are often roads running parallel to the freeways, but its very easy to suddenly you find you on a toll road.
For the space centre, get the app. Go very first thing in the morning. As SOON as you get in, go the the booking area for the two tram trips and get that sorted asap if you want to do the astronaut training facility one as they get booked up every quickly. If you want to do Mission Control that now has to be booked way in advance – Also recommend watching Hidden Figures before you go.If you are keen on bats you are in time for the Bracken Cave flights. Its the largest colonies in the world with 15 million Mexican free tail bats- look on Batcon.org at Experience Bats and then Visit Bracken Cave Preserve. Unbelievably there are still some public flight slots left for when you are there. If you can, do go, we were a bit late last year as they were coming out after dark but still the most amazing experience.
We are returning this year in late July/ August especially for Bracken Cave. I’m going to melt in the heat.
Have fun!
Very off-topic, but some of the best food we ever had was from a truck called Bill’s Texas BBQ Pit in St Thomas in the USVI’s many years ago! It’s the standard we’ve measured BBQ on ever since, lol.
*Still there, apparently – https://thedomesticlifestylist.com/bills-texas-pit-texan-bbq-in-st-thomas-virgin-islands/
You get great Texas BBQ at Rudy’s gas station. Good food isn’t always fancy.
Thank you for this tip too!
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