Galveston HELP!

[melika091900]

never sailed from galveston, flying into Houston hobby

for a cruise in March...

so ive been reading the boards, hearing mostly about staying near the airport the day before, and getting transportation the to the pier,

is this the easiest?and what transportation is avail? do they have shuttles you can just get on at the airport? or do you have to book in advance? how far is it ?

pricing?

suggestions?

any hotel suggestions would be great too! looking for nothing extravagent, just somewhere to rest our head..

kinda getting nervous to sail from here it seems like its a big headache, getting to and from the airport to the pier, we sailed from New orleans,SF,LA,san diego, never had issues, ,

any thoughts are appreciated.

thanks

[houstoncruisers2001]

You have asked a lot of questions and you're going to get a lot of different answers.

 

Some will say to stay near Hobby, others will say stay in Galveston. Some will say take a shuttle, others will say take a private limo. Some will stay at the Econo Lodge, others will stay stay at the Ritz.

 

There is no one good way to get from either Houston airport to the cruise terminal. Is it a big headache? I don't think so, it's only about a 30-40 minute trip and you still have plenty of time to figure it out.

 

How many are in your party? What time of day are you flying in? A ton of luggage? These would all many a difference.

[melika091900]

You have asked a lot of questions and you're going to get a lot of different answers.

 

Some will say to stay near Hobby, others will say stay in Galveston. Some will say take a shuttle, others will say take a private limo. Some will stay at the Econo Lodge, others will stay stay at the Ritz.

 

There is no one good way to get from either Houston airport to the cruise terminal. Is it a big headache? I don't think so, it's only about a 30-40 minute trip and you still have plenty of time to figure it out.

 

How many are in your party? What time of day are you flying in? A ton of luggage? These would all many a difference.

 

 

its only me and hubby.. flying in on saturday night or friday night, not sure yet, cruise leaves on a sunday,

trying to figure whats cheaper flight wise,

but most likely fly in on sat...

 

sorry so many questions, I was jus reading everything on here, it had me confused... :O)

[ssb]

There is a lot to do in Galveston

 

Main areas to stay

 

On the Gulf (seawall)(many motels and hotels)

On the Bay (Moody Gardens Hotel))

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

On highway coming into town(few)

----------------------

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

See

galveston.com (what to do)(calendar of events) your vacation calendar dates

Sign up on Galveston.com for email of weekly events

see also:

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

moodygardens.com ------ just look at site !!!!!!

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

 

 

Clearlake

Nasa Space Center

Kemah board walk - kemahboardwalk.com

 

Galveston:

Beaches Beaches Beaches

Old town Galveston *- Strand To Post Office Street

(lots of shopping, ice cream, old army surplus store, nautical shop, fine restaurants)

 

Wineries and wine festivals

Restaurants overlooking gulf and on port

Two first class convention centers

Many live theater venues

Many live music venues

Free concert nights - old town Galveston *- on strand

Free film nights -old town Galveston *- on strand

Free band nights-“family/kids” oriented-summer outdoor Tuesdays 24th & Sealy

1894 grand opera house * (a must seetour, and/or performances of many types)

Chess park

Artist festivals

Museums

Antique stores and art Galleries

Horse drawn carriage rides

Swimming in Gulf

Fine restaurants

Night scene

Galveston Historical Foundation properties*

Many Historical and Victorian homes

Galveston has second largest preservation membership in United States

Bishops palace (wonderful)

Moody mansion(wonderful)

Ashton villa (wonderful)

Moody gardens *(lots and lots and lots to do) (massive, fun and family oriented)

Schlitterbahn water park

Restored tall ship schooner Elissa www.tsm-elissa.org (wonderful)

1900 storm and pirate jean lafite documentary films at port

Maritime museum- www.tsm-elissa.org

Airplane museum (Lone Star Flight Museum)- http://www.lsfm.org/

Railroad museum - http://www.galvestonrrmuseum.com

Oil drilling rig museum - www.oceanstaroec.com

Sea wolf park – WWII submarine and destroyer - www.cavalla.org

Large souvenir shop over gulf water - Murdochs

Walks and shelling on the beach

Cruise ships (RCCL, Carnival, Princess, Disney)

Fishing (piers, wadefishing and charters-offshore & inshore))

Golfing

Skate board park large

Kayaking trails

Surfing and children surf camps

Kite flying on beach

Marine life and children marine care educational camps at Moody Gardens

Marine life and children marine camps at Texas AM University - Sea Camp Programs

Various Running events with major Triathlon event

Sand castle building event

Shopping shopping shopping

Dolphin watching and port water tours

Turtle rescue farm behind San Luis Resort

Carved damaged trees tour from storm

Free ferry ride and a short cruise to Bolivar

Duck tour (amphibious boat)

Galveston.com/ interact and discover/cams

Many major weekly events and festivals not mentioned

as example :

Art Walk (every 5 or so weeks year around)

Dickens on Strand (Dec) ----LARGE - http://www.dickensonthestrand.com

Lone Star Motorcycle Rally (Nov) ---LARGE - www.lonestarrally.com

Mardi Gras Galveston (Feb) ----LARGE - www.lonestarrally.com

October Fest

Beer Fests

Wine Events and Fest

Greek Fest

Epicurean Evening of all restaurants

Shrimp Fest

Yega’s Wild Game Cook Off,

County Fair - LARGE

Children’s Fest

Feather Fest - Large

Old Timey Bathing Beauty Fest

And many many more !!

Trauma 1 Emergency Hospital on Island – Univ. Texas Medical Branch/Sealy Hospital

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 their new bakery across Street....14th - The Best

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

(Family hamburger area and The Spot’s different bars are next door and above

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

Fishermans Wharf ....Port

Willie G's ..... on Port

SeaSide Bistro - Seawall

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 Bakery and Cafe.... 14th

Clarys Seafood - Offitts Bayou

New York Pizza – Seawall - thin crust

 

Others:

Benos... Seawall

Shrimp and Stuff.....39 and O

Strand Street Café -Strand

Millers ....Seawall

Fish Tales ....Seawall

Joe's Crab Shack ....Seawall

Brickhouse……..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 and Factory(The Strand, downtown)

 

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

[melika091900]

OMg thank you for all the info!!!!! :O)

[ssb]

OMg thank you for all the info!!!!! :O)

 

We live in Galveston!

Ask any questions.

[melika091900]

We live in Galveston!

Ask any questions.

 

thank you so much, im sure I will have many many more. LOL

 

do you know any airports close to the airport?

and from what ive read you have to take supershuttle to the pier...

for the cruise.

 

so if we want to stay closer to the pier the night before the cruise. then we just shuttle to the hotel? then taxi to the pier?

[robtx100]

thank you so much, im sure I will have many many more. LOL

 

do you know any airports close to the airport?

and from what ive read you have to take supershuttle to the pier...

for the cruise.

 

so if we want to stay closer to the pier the night before the cruise. then we just shuttle to the hotel? then taxi to the pier?

 

many of Galveston hotels have shuttles to the pier for free. So you could Super Shuttle from Hobby to the hotel in GAL, then hotel shuttle to the ship, then Super Shuttle after the cruise to Hobby. I think you will have to pre-reserve, though.

[ssb]

thank you so much, im sure I will have many many more. LOL

 

do you know any airports close to the airport?

and from what ive read you have to take supershuttle to the pier...

for the cruise.

 

so if we want to stay closer to the pier the night before the cruise. then we just shuttle to the hotel? then taxi to the pier?

 

Everything to stay in is close to the pier on the island!

Find hotel with free shuttle!

 

If I were you

and I was coming in early,

go on Roll Call on cruise critic

look up your cruse line

look up your ship

look up dates of cruise

and try to hook up with others coming to galveston from airports.

Share.

 

Also

Search for Country Inn.

Saw somewhere they have hotel near hobby with transfer to Galveston. They also have hotel in Galvestin!

Call and check out their deal. ??????

 

Hotel pricing on the room rates in Galveston

is relative to seasonal and special events affecting supply and demand.

It can be very circumstantial!!

 

In March is Spring Break

hotels get booked pretty early

and prices jump and some require 2 nights.

Better start checking now.

[dfmeeks]

I'm also sailing in March. I booked the Harbor House through Priceline & got a good deal of $125 per room. Harbor House is on the harbor (as the name suggests :) ) & 2 blocks from the Carnival pier. The Tremont is also 2 blocks from the pier. Both are Wyndam properties.

SSB is a wealth of info, as you have seen!

[melika091900]

Everything to stay in is close to the pier on the island!

Find hotel with free shuttle!

 

If I were you

and I was coming in early,

go on Roll Call on cruise critic

look up your cruse line

look up your ship

look up dates of cruise

and try to hook up with others coming to galveston from airports.

Share.

 

Also

Search for Country Inn.

Saw somewhere they have hotel near hobby with transfer to Galveston. They also have hotel in Galvestin!

Call and check out their deal. ??????

 

Hotel pricing on the room rates in Galveston

is relative to seasonal and special events affecting supply and demand.

It can be very circumstantial!!

 

In March is Spring Break

hotels get booked pretty early

and prices jump and some require 2 nights.

Better start checking now.

 

 

thank you so much for the info, i think we will be staying 1 day pre cruise and 1 day post since the flights are limited flying back home to the bay area...

gonna check rates now... thank you so much again :O)

[melika091900]

just found some good deals in texas city...

 

how close is it to galveston? and is the town pretty safe?

[melika091900]

o r they have good deals at the inn at the waterpark...

says free shuttle to cruise ship....

 

 

so one more question, if we stay in galveston 1 more night after the cruise ends,

is it better to stay near the airport? or in galveston?

 

im sure we will want to go out for nice dinner or something together after...

[Galveston Cruiser]

just found some good deals in texas city...

 

how close is it to galveston? and is the town pretty safe?

 

Texas City is a refinery town, not much there. About 20 minutes to the port.

[Galveston Cruiser]

o r they have good deals at the inn at the waterpark...

says free shuttle to cruise ship....

 

 

so one more question, if we stay in galveston 1 more night after the cruise ends,

is it better to stay near the airport? or in galveston?

 

im sure we will want to go out for nice dinner or something together after...

 

Which airport, though not much near either one.

You can spend the day downtown, at the beach or Moody Gardens and Galveston has fabulous restaurants, but some are closed on Sunday. What day does the ship dock?

[melika091900]

Which airport, though not much near either one.

You can spend the day downtown, at the beach or Moody Gardens and Galveston has fabulous restaurants, but some are closed on Sunday. What day does the ship dock?

 

 

ship docks on sunday

we are gonna stay that night before we fly home monday ,

flying out of hobby..

 

trying to find shuttle service or something, to getus from airport to hotel, then pierto airport when we return,its giving me a headache LOL

[Katbalou49]

Are you flying Southwest? My cousins are meeting us from the bay area also but a week before you. They are leaving out of Oakland and there were several flights. Southwest goes into Houston Hobby which is the closest airport to Galveston.

[5waldos]

We live in Galveston!

Ask any questions.

 

Is the Inn at the Waterpark ok? At the rate we are paying I'm not expecting upscale, just decent. Although I wish I could figure out from their pictures which of the two pools they picture are theirs- one is amazing, the other- not so much. One lush and a complete pool complex, the other a square with cement around it. Any ideas?

[Galveston Cruiser]

The "amazing" one is at Schlitterbahn. The concrete on is theirs:eek:

[5waldos]

The "amazing" one is at Schlitterbahn. The concrete on is theirs:eek:

 

Thanks- I suspected as much. They certainly don't make that clear on their website. In fact, it would be rather easy to claim false advertising.

[melika091900]

Are you flying Southwest? My cousins are meeting us from the bay area also but a week before you. They are leaving out of Oakland and there were several flights. Southwest goes into Houston Hobby which is the closest airport to Galveston.

 

 

yep! booked on southwest from oakland to hobby!! direct flight! :O)