Local Deals for Houston

Nestled in the scenic hills near Austin on 4,000 sprawling acres, Barton Creek Resort & Spa has received a AAA 4-Diamond rating for the last 16 years. Plan a summer getaway here with an exclusive Travelzoo deal that saves nearly 60% on summer rates.

For $99, get behind the wheel of an exotic sports car and live out the dream of driving a Lamborghini or Ferrari at high speeds on a closed course. Recent Travelzoo subscribers who used this deal call it a "once in a lifetime experience." This thrilling opportunity from Imagine Lifestyles includes three laps around an autocross course at Gulf Greyhound Park in La Marque and regularly costs $500 per driver.

With a Euro-Asian menu described as "delicious and innovative" (Houston Press) and "cutting edge" (29-95.com), it's easy to see why one of Blu's six OpenTable Diners' Choice Awards is for Best Food. For $39, regularly $73, two can dine at this acclaimed restaurant in Sugar Land Town Square.

The Drama Desk- and Tony Award-winning play "The Elephant Man" opens this week at Houston's Alley Theatre. With this Local Deal, tickets to see the powerful true story of a man struggling with his deformity are up to 35% off.

Find out why Examiner.com says “Houstonians don’t have to venture that far for a taste of Argentina” by dining at Tango & Malbec, which earns a 4.5-star OpenTable rating from more than 150 reviews.  For $19, regularly $43, explore South American cuisine with this brunch for two ($35 for four), where “tango is everywhere in this red-drenched restaurant" (Houston Chronicle).

Wen Chic Salon and Spa, an Aveda concept salon at Grand Lakes in Katy, earns a 4-star rating on Yelp. The last time we featured this spa, Travelzoo subscribers said visits were "relaxing and luxurious" (one person said she had the "best facial ever!") and 94% of users had a positive experience. For $39, regularly $80, unwind with a 60-minute massage or facial featuring Aveda's natural skin care products.

Lila Downs, known for her smoky voice and magnetic performances and winner of a 2013 Grammy Award, is heading to Houston for one night only. With this exclusive Travelzoo offer, tickets to see the Mexican-born singer and composer perform live are half off.

With the NBA playoffs around the corner, the Houston Rockets are battling for postseason positioning. With this exclusive Local Deal, Travelzoo subscribers can catch the action at the Toyota Center starting at just $20.

Watch the boats sail by from a lakeside retreat between Houston and Galveston for $99 per night, including weekends. This exclusively negotiated Travelzoo deal knocks more than 40% off regular rates at South Shore Harbour Resort, which sits on the south bank of Clear Lake in League City.

The Houston Chronicle praises the "irresistible" cuisine at Bistro Alex, located inside the 2012 Conde Nast Gold List-ranked Hotel Sorella CityCentre, saying the cuisine has a "voluptuous, old-school New Orleans feel." Two people can savor a three-course dinner with this exclusive Local Deal for $49, regularly $102.

Saddle up for a four-hour horseback riding excursion at Cypress Trails in Humble, just 25 minutes north of the city. For $49 per person, take a guided trail ride tour and stop for lunch any day of the week, regularly $110.

Even with temperatures climbing close to 70 degrees, you can still take family or friends ice skating outdoors in Houston. With this exclusive Local Deal, two people will receive admission and skate rental to The Ice at Discovery Green along with two drinks for $14, regularly $28.

Cirque du Soleil just released a special Valentine's Day offer that saves up to $20 per ticket for March performances of "Quidam." See a show The Oregonian calls "a masterpiece" with your sweetheart starting at $40.

For only $49, Travelzoo subscribers can soar above Houston with a FAA Certified Flight Instructor from The Flight School in Cypress, less than 30 miles from downtown Houston. The 40-45 minute flight, which has been discounted more than 50%, allows participants to get hands-on experience using the cockpit controls and provides a sense of what it's like to fly an airplane.

Travelzoo subscribers can snag tickets to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, including the acclaimed dinosaur displays and the Cockrell Butterfly Center, for $15 per person, regularly $33 for adults and $27 for children. Good any day the museum is open, this deal includes special exhibit access to "Gems of the Medici" and "Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History."

The Houston Chronicle calls Flora & Muse "charming," and CultureMap says this "completely fabulous" eatery with a continental-style bar and baroque details is "like a Parisian bistro." For $39 (regularly $82), two diners can linger over a three-course dinner. Or, bring a group of four for $75 (regularly $164).

Hailed as "exquisite" with a coveted 29 rating of "extraordinary to perfection" from Zagat, Charivari in Midtown has also won a Best of Citysearch award for French Dining. For $65, enjoy a special three-course dining experience, including two appetizers, two entrees and two desserts from the menu, which changes daily to provide only the freshest, seasonal ingredients. A meal like this is normally as much as $148.

Soak in the sun, then let the rolling waves lull you to sleep at a 4-star beachfront South Padre Island hotel for 50% off current pricing. For $99 per night, Sunday-Thursday, kick back in a studio room at the Peninsula Island Resort & Spa and receive a $50 spa credit. Or stay two nights, Sunday-Wednesday arrivals, for $179. This offer includes dates in April and May, when temperatures average in the 80s.

Selected last year as the number one day spa in Houston by CityVoter, Josephine's Day Spa is also recognized by Salon Today magazine as one of the Top 200 spas in the entire nation. Now, Travelzoo subscribers can experience all the spa has to offer with an exclusive package with a massage and facial for $89, regularly $200.

TexasOutside.com praises The Club at La Torretta as "a fun track with a good layout that will test your skills" at a "fantastic" resort; since the multimillion-dollar renovation turned the former Del Lago course into The Club at La Torretta, GolfTexas says the greens and fairways look "better than ever." With this deal, two can golf for $85, regularly $164.

See the performance The Boston Globe called "intimate and charged" when Houston Ballet hosts Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. Tickets are 50% off for this performance, part of the ballet's Cullen Series celebrating the contemporary dance world.

Escape to the 4-star Nottoway Plantation & Resort, boasting “everything you want in a dazzling Old South mansion” according to Frommer’s, for more than 40% off regular rates. This exclusively negotiated $169 getaway for two includes more than $150 in extras for weekday stays through Sept. 15.

The Houston Press calls Nelore Churrascaria its favorite South American rotisserie restaurant, and the Houston Chronicle says the endless selection of fire-grilled meats is "juicy, flavorful and gorgeously glazed." For $39, two people can savor an all-you-can-eat dinner in Montrose, regularly $76.

For $49, choose from seven spa packages at Pure Zen Therapy on Westheimer Road in Uptown, regularly as much as $110. The spa earns 5-star ratings from reviewers on Citysearch.

For 85 years, the Harlem Globetrotters have enthralled fans with their extraordinary blend of athleticism and comedy. Now the legendary team is making its way to Houston, and select tickets have been discounted up to 50%.