Houston

America’s fourth largest city made its fortune with the black gold beneath its Texan soil, but the former oil boomtown is now packed full of world-class dining, hotels, arts and shopping – with the warm blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico on the doorstep.

Your private jet aircraft charter is likely to touch down at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston International Airport, just 23 miles from Downtown Houston – a 20-minute drive.

The city is packed full of parks, museums and art galleries, including the Museum of Fine Arts and the Menil Chapel which boasts the Rothko Chapel, with its giant, black paintings described by the artist as one of his most important statements.

Younger visitors will be fascinated by the NASA Space Centre (where the famous ‘‘Houston, we have a problem’ message was received) with exhibits and memorabilia from the US space programme and the city zoo, as well as the sands of historic beach town Galveston – less than an hour’s drive away.

If you’d like to enjoy some classic American entertainment, Houston Rodeo is the biggest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world.

Among an array of places to stay is the Post Oak Hotel which has a helipad, if you want to hop straight from the airport to your hotel. The sleek building boasts an outdoor pool to cool off in those hot Texas summers, full spa facilities and is just two miles from the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center.

The boutique Hotel Derek, in the heart of uptown, nods to the state’s oil heritage with its decor – and the name’s a play on the ‘derrick’ drilling rig.

For something with a more European flavour but still in the uptown area, the Hotel Granduca is a blend of classic Italian style and contemporary luxury, tucked away behind ivy-covered walls – with a house Maserati to whisk guests anywhere they want to go.

You could ask the hotel to drop you at Houston’s highest rooftop open air bar, Z on 23, to enjoy sweeping views and an array of the city’s finest craft cocktails and tasty bar snacks.

Houston boasts the second-largest Indochinese population in the US so it would make perfect sense to visit the city’s Chinatown – with restaurants from all over Asia – for some excellent dim sum at Ocean Palace.

Flora, overlooking the picturesque Buffalo Bayou Park, gives diners a taste of Mexico with Houston flair, with dishes including charred octopus and chorizo, yellowtail ceviche and their spin on fajitas.

Or to tuck into some famous Texas barbecue try Tejas Chocolate and BBQ, which boasts a solid menu of classics such as brisket, offerings with a barbecue twist such as smoked turkey sandwich with avocado, as well as speciality chocolates including truffles.

The best time to visit Houston is from February to April, or September to November – avoiding the soaring temperatures and humidity of summer but making the most of the reliable Texan sunshine.
Whether you’re looking for a classic slice of Americana or a metropolitan, diverse, cutting-edge city, you can find what you’re looking for in Houston.

Looking to book a private jet charter to Houston? Whether for business or leisure our specialist private jet brokers can help you find the perfect air charter solution.