Item: Courtyard Houston Intercontinental Airport
Rating: 8
Author: Alexandrine Bertrand

Located near the airport, the Courtyard Houston Intercontinental Airport offers large, comfortable rooms and everything you need to rest during a long layover.

Booking

For a stay at the Courtyard Houston Intercontinental Airport, rates range from USD 125 to 250 or 16,000 to 25,000 points per night (much cheaper than the Marriott directly connected to the terminal).

The ten-minute shuttle ride more than makes up for the savings of nearly USD 65 by choosing the Courtyard.

Arrival

Location

The Courtyard Houston Intercontinental Airport hotel is located less than a ten-minute drive from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). A free shuttle service runs regularly between Terminals A, B, and C every 15 to 20 minutes.

Parking costs USD 10 per day.

If you want to get even closer to the airport, the Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental is directly connected to the terminal via a subway.

Check-in and Lobby

The Courtyard Houston Intercontinental Airport lobby is spacious, with plenty of comfortable seating and a café serving drinks and snacks. A screen displays airport arrivals and departures.

Although check-in is normally at 3pm, I was able to access my room as early as noon by making the advance request on the Marriott Bonvoy app. My Gold Elite status and the hotel’s low occupancy likely made my early check-in request possible.

Bedroom

The room is typical Courtyard, with an emphasis on functionality and comfort. The double Queen room features two large beds.

The room also includes a flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, electronic safe and courtesy tray with a coffee machine.

A small office area features power sockets and USB ports.

Bistro

Breakfast

Breakfast is served in the lobby at the bistro, which combines a café and a bar. The breakfast menu is à la carte, offering a few dish options and various Starbucks coffee selections.

For lunch and dinner, the bistro serves a selection of sandwiches, salads and burgers.

Other Services

Gym

Open at all times, the fitness center is located on the first floor, near the terrace. Here you’ll find training equipment (weights, dumbbells, balls, etc.) and some cardio machines.

Laundry

In a small room, self-service washing machines and dryers are available. A dry-cleaning laundry service is also offered upon request.

Around the Hotel

Being an airport hotel, there are no attractions around. You can take an Uber to downtown Houston, which is about 25 minutes away.

I highly recommend eating at a typical Texas BBQ restaurant, such as Pinkerton’s or Killen’s.

Review : Courtyard Houston Intercontinental Airport | Marriott Bonvoy - Courtyard Houston Airport7

Overall Impression

The Courtyard Houston Intercontinental Airport fulfills its mission of providing convenient, comfortable accommodations for travellers in transit. Its free shuttle and proximity to the airport make it a smart option for an overnight connection or a long layover in Houston.

Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at over 8,000 hotels worldwide is to hold the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card (and/or Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card). You can also earn American Express Membership Rewards points and transfer them to Marriott Bonvoy.

To learn all about earning and redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points for free hotel stays, follow our guides:

Compare

Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card

American Express Marriott Bonvoy

Annual fee: $120
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$600Total$600$100 deferred bonus, excluded from the first-year estimate and not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $600
Welcome offerAfter $3,000 in 3 months: Up to 70,000 points

The Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points with the current offer:

Earn up to 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
Plus, earn 10,000 points after you spend $500 on your Card in your 13th month of Cardmembership.

The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 70,000 point welcome offer is worth about $630, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

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Annual fee

Primary card$120

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,110

2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $500

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $500

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Go further with Marriott Bonvoy

To maximize your stays and points earning, check our complete Marriott Bonvoy program guide and our best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards ranking. For personal use, see the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. For business expenses, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card earns points on every business purchase. And if a points purchase promotion is running, take advantage via our Marriott Bonvoy points purchase guide.

Located near the airport, the Courtyard Houston Intercontinental Airport offers large, comfortable rooms and everything you need to rest during a long layover.

Booking

For a stay at the Courtyard Houston Intercontinental Airport, rates range from USD 125 to 250 or 16,000 to 25,000 points per night (much cheaper than the Marriott directly connected to the terminal).

The ten-minute shuttle ride more than makes up for the savings of nearly USD 65 by choosing the Courtyard.