Hotel Derek, A Destination Hotel

While service and general atmosphere seem to be slipping lately, the Hotel Derek is still a good value for its location and sophistication.

Standard rooms feature platform beds, mod fixtures, contemporary artwork, and bright orange banquettes set against large windows. The higher up you go, the bigger the rooms and better the views; the one-bedroom Terrace Suites offer two bathrooms, a glass work desk, and a private terrace.

Across the street from Houston's infamous shopping mecca, the Galleria mall, sits Hotel Derek. The name is a play on the 'derrick' oil drilling rig, a nod to the city's black gold roots, which continues on the inside with black granite lobby floors.

After shopping at the Galleria, you can lay your head in high-fashion style. Urban chic or accessible elegance: call it what you like, famous guests such as Faith Hill and Tim McGraw seem to appreciate it.