What do you need in Houston?
- Layover duration
24-48 hours depending on roster
- Currency
US Dollar (USD)
- Language
English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and many immigrant community languages. Useful phrase: "How y’all doing?"
- Time vs Dubai
GST -9 to -10 hours depending on daylight saving
- Best months
October-April
- Worst months
June-September heat, humidity, and storm risk
- Connectivity
Good · Airalo United States eSIM works well
- VPN
Useful for public Wi-Fi and UAE-region streaming
- Tipping
18-20% is normal in restaurants
- Tap water
Safe to drink
- Plug type
Type A/B US-style
- Halal anchors
Hillcroft and southwest Houston have strong Pakistani, Middle Eastern, and halal options.
IAH / city-sprawl orientation. Use rideshare and cluster stops; do not plan Houston by walking.
- Airport: IAH is rideshare/taxi-first for most short layovers. Public transit is rarely worth the time.
- Distances: Houston is a car city. Cluster stops instead of crossing town repeatedly.
- Rideshare: Compare Uber and Lyft. Surge can turn one extra stop into a bad decision.
- Cash: Cards dominate, but small cash helps at older taquerias, bakeries, or markets.
- Sales tax: Prices usually exclude tax and tip. Add both before deciding if a meal or buy still works.
Use Airalo United States if roaming is weak or expensive. Houston requires maps and rideshare from the start.
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