First time in Galveston

[gmadianem]

We are booked on a cruise with Royal C. Jan. 2012. First time leaving out of Galveston. We will fly in the day before. Looking for suggestions on transport to the cruise port and for a hotel the night before.

[housusan]

Not sure where you are from but if you can fly into Hobby Airport instead of Bush IAH it is much closer to Galveston. There is a shuttle fromthere

[picture]

We sailed out of Galveston in March and stayed @ Harbor House.

 

Great Hotel and near the pier and the Olympic Resturant is great for lunch or dinner

and right below the hotel.

cost was $119.00 per night perfect hotel and you could see the ships sail in port around 5 a.m.

[helicopter]

I agree with Harbor House:), we always stay there. Harbour House is also two short blocks to the Strand area.

[7Flags]

Yup! Harbor House! Have a leisurely morning and then WALK to the ship! Can't beat it.

[ssb]

You can walk 2-3 blocks to terminals

from Harbor House and Tremont Hotels.

Or drop off bags and group and then one go back to hotel, park

and walk back to terminal to meet others.

Owned by same

[SoonerOne]

We have also stayed at the Harbor House and it is wonderful and is perfect for that pre-cruise stay. It's amazing to watch your cruise ship sail right past your window!:) We just did it once, a little pricey for us (we paid $178), the price changes all the time depending on what's going on in Galveston, but I would highly recommend that you try the HH at least once. Fishermen's Wharf and Willie G's restaraunts are right next door for that seafood fix. We now stay in Texas City at the Best Western Mainland Inn and Suites right off the freeway and only a 15 minute drive to the terminal...$79 a night. Try and fly into Hobby instead of Bush, Hobby is MUCH closer.....

[ssb]

We have also stayed at the Harbor House and it is wonderful and is perfect for that pre-cruise stay. It's amazing to watch your cruise ship sail right past your window!:) We just did it once, a little pricey for us (we paid $178), the price changes all the time depending on what's going on in Galveston, but I would highly recommend that you try the HH at least once. Fishermen's Wharf and Willie G's restaraunts are right next door for that seafood fix. We now stay in Texas City at the Best Western Mainland Inn and Suites right off the freeway and only a 15 minute drive to the terminal...$79 a night. Try and fly into Hobby instead of Bush, Hobby is MUCH closer.....

 

Harbor House is wonderful and is recommended.

There is also an open air terrace on top of Tremont Hotel

with view of city and of port to watch ship coming in.

Tremont is 2 blocks from terminal like the Harbor House

but with a different view. Tremont is not on water but directly across street from terminal. Both are excellant choices for viewing

and are two of better hotels.

 

Hotel pricing in Galveston is relative to seasonal and special event

supply and demand!

 

There is alot to do in Galveston

 

Main areas to stay

 

On the Gulf (seawall)(many)

On the Bay (Moody Gardens)

Downtown Historic District by Port - (Harbor House and Tremont)

On highway coming into town

 

see INTERNET maps for visual

of Greater Houston Metro

and to get bearings of island

galveston.com ....interact and discover.... maps

 

 

Houston Map PDF

Download Houston-area map in PDF Format:

Houston Metro

 

 

Galveston Island Map PDF

Download Galveston-area map in PDF Format (note: this is a large, 11' wide, print-quality map, so please be patient):

Galveston (B&W)

Galveston (Color Hi-Resolution)

 

In my opinion

San Luis, Hilton, Moody Gardens, Tremont, Galvez and Harbor House

are the better hotels.

Many other nice ones obviously!

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

With a couple of days only

There is plenty to do in Galveston/Kemah/Nasa area

 

There are special events in Galveston area almost every weekend in Galveston area

 

galveston.com (what to do)(calendar of events) you’re calendar dates

Sign up on Galveston.com for email of weekly events

galvestonhistory.org ---------Galveston Historical Foundation

moodygardens.org ------ just look at site

www.thegrand.com/calendar – 1894 Grand Opera House

 

 

 

 

 

Clearlake

nasa space center

Kemah board walk - kemahboardwalk.com

Galveston:

old town Galveston *- on strand and post office streets(lots of shops and ice cream, old army surplus store, fine restaurants)

wineries

many live theater venues

Concert nights - old town Galveston *- on strand

Film nights -old town Galveston *- on strand

Band nights-family/kids oriented-summer outdoor tuesday nights 24th & Sealy

1894 grand opera house * (a must see tour and/or performance)

museums

antique stores and art Galleries

horse drawn carriage rides

swimming in Gulf

fine restaurants

Galveston historical foundation properties

moody gardens (lots to do) a must

schlitterbahn water park

airplane museum

railroad museum

oil drilling rig museum

large souvenir shop over gulf water

restored tall ship schooner Elisa (wonderful)

1900 storm and pirate jean lafite documentary films at port

walks and shelling on the beach

cruise Ships

fishing (piers and charters)

walking on beach

shopping

dolphin watch and port tour

turtle rescue farm behind San Luis Resort

carved damaged trees tour from storm

kite flying on beach

free ferry ride and cruise

maritime museum

sea wolf park – WWII submarine and destroyer

many historical and Victorian homes

bishops palace (wonderful)

moody mansion (wonderful)

ashton villa (wonderful)

duck tour (amphibious boat)

Galveston.com/ interact and discover/cams

 

Better restaurants in Galveston in my opinion are

 

Sunday Brunch at Galvez Hotel

Rudi and Pacos...*white table cloths... no shorts.....

central american seafood, and steaks.... 20st Post Office Downtown

reservations recommended

Gaidos ...... *legendary and wonderful ..Seawall

Gaidos-Pelican Club-separate kitchen- if you are members

of your local club, it is reciprocal

Olympia Grill *views are great- wonderful greek food, seafood, and

steaks. on Port

Original Mexican .....14th….Great and Oldest

Mosquito Cafe and new bakery across Street....14th The Best

The Spot ------food and cervezas, BEST PEOPLE WATCHING

Family area and bars next door and above

--new third level decks and bars with new and better views of gulf

Fishermans Wharf ....Port

Willie G's ..... ...on Port

Shearns - Moody Gardens views great....white table cloths..sunsets

Saltwater Grill .....Seafood assortments, soups, bisques, gumbos

20th Post Office St Downtown

Sky Bar ..... Sushi and Steaks........ 21st Post Office Downtown

Steak Restaurant in San Luis Hotel ....Seawall

Luigi's ......Italian .....Strand downtown

DiBellas....... Italian …..31st and O..... locals haunt and in old house

Le Croys Cajun... Strand

Sunflower.... 14th

Clarys Seafood - Offits Bayou

 

Others:

New York Pizza - Seawall

Benos... Seawall

Shrimp and Stuff.....39 and O

Millers ....Seawall

Fish Tales ....Seawall

Joe's Crab Shack ....Seawall

Landrys Seafood ....Seawall

Saltgrass Steakhouse ....Seawall

Rainforest Cafe ....Seawall

Gumbos....Post Office

M&M .....24th

Mod Coffeehouse (Postoffice St, downtown)

Lunchbox Cafe (23rd St, downtown, small eatery that serves locally grown food)

Murphy's Pub (22nd St, downtown, TONS of beer on tap, including Texas favorites; )

LaKings Confectionary (The Strand, downtown; the aforementioned ice cream parlor and candy factory)

 

top 10 restaurants list in Galveston in the Houston Press:

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating...n_galvesto.php

 

look on galveston.com/what to do/dining in galveston

[wolfganghowell]

We have done Harbor House a few times but are now addicted to Hotel Galvez. They provide a shuttle to and from the port and the hotel is lovely. Prices vary.

 

I gotta go check out The Spot website. If I understand ssb's post, they added a deck :eek: Definitely our fave spot to have a few beers, stare at the water and get into island mode.

[txskier]

We are booked on a cruise with Royal C. Jan. 2012. First time leaving out of Galveston. We will fly in the day before. Looking for suggestions on transport to the cruise port and for a hotel the night before.

 

Try Galveston Limosine or Super Shuttle

Super Shuttle has decent rates if you are flying into IAH

[ssb]

We have done Harbor House a few times but are now addicted to Hotel Galvez. They provide a shuttle to and from the port and the hotel is lovely. Prices vary.

 

I gotta go check out The Spot website. If I understand ssb's post, they added a deck :eek: Definitely our fave spot to have a few beers, stare at the water and get into island mode.

 

Correct!

The Spot just continues to get bigger and better!!! :D