The Houston Galleria is an experience. To make that the best experience possible, take a look at what they have learned through the years of visiting this massive Houston shopping destination.
1. Parking
Most people drive to The Galleria. There are multiple parking options at or near the facility and they can be confusing for the uninitiated. There are free spots. There are for-pay spots and valet options for the ultra-fancy. I suggest you try out parking at the Galleria during a non-peak time. That means you might not want to try negotiating the parking situation for the first time the week before Christmas. You'll likely have a bad experience.
Before you go, get familiar with the parking on the mall map and plan your parking near the stores you want to visit, if possible. If you use a maps app like Waze, you can also search for parking by searching "Galleria parking."
Also -- remember where you parked. The parking options and levels are a dizzying prospect. Take a picture of your parked vehicle's location. Get the level you're on and the garage name/color in the photo so you can refer back to your photo if you forget where you parked after your long day at the stores.
2. Have a plan
If you have the entire day to spend at the stores, disregard this guidance. You can be leisurely. Stroll. I remember those days. Vaguely.
If you're like me and need to run at least 300 more errands before the end of the day, know what you want and where you could get it. A list is your friend. Put down the item and the store you have in mind.
3. Know your stores and where they are
If you have stores in mind you want to visit, look at the store map before you go to plan your route. I know that sounds kind of boring, but trust us, the Galleria is massive. The place is 2.4 million square feet of space with 400 stores and restaurants.
Print the store directory here
www.premiumoutlets.c om/outlet/houston/st ores
Just to give you an example -- if you're going to hit up Zara, Neiman Marcus and Coach, you could be walking quite a way - and if you forgot that you need to also go to the Disney Store to pick up something for your niece's birthday, you could be walking even farther and get sucked in by the other stores along the way. Don't get us wrong, the Galleria is all about being caught up in the allure of the consumeristic thing for a while, but this place can be a lot.
Overwhelming even. If you have limitations of time (and don't get us started on budget limitations) keep a route in mind. You won't regret it.
www.click2houston.co m/news/local/2021/06 /18/inside-the-galle ria-this-is-eve