Hotel Galvez

[margord]

We are staying at the Hotel Galvez for 3 night prior to our March 31st cruise on the Grand. Can anyone tell me about the hotel. Are we going to like it? Anything in particular we should know ahead of time? I did find out they have a free shuttle to the port that we need to sign up for when we get to the hotel. Anything else?

 

Marilee

[clearlakecruisers]

Beautiful, old, historic hotel right on the seawall. Bet you will love it!

[margord]

Thanks so much. I am hoping we will love it.

 

Marilee

[nonna5]

You will love the Galvez. As said it is a beautiful hotel on the Seawall. As it is a historic hotel the rooms are a little smaller than newer hotels but we really love the history. If you can ask for a room with a ocean view. Also do not forget to eat at Gaido's - it has been in Galveston for many many years and the food is wonderful.

[margord]

You will love the Galvez. As said it is a beautiful hotel on the Seawall. As it is a historic hotel the rooms are a little smaller than newer hotels but we really love the history. If you can ask for a room with a ocean view. Also do not forget to eat at Gaido's - it has been in Galveston for many many years and the food is wonderful.

 

Thanks, I love old historic hotels. As long as they are kept up. What kind of restaurant is Gaido's and where is it located? How far from the hotel?

[hughdm]

Seafood. Mapquest shows it to be 1.3 miles from the Galvez. They are very popular and don't take reservations. Here is a link to the Galvez that has a picture:

 

http://www.galveston.com/hotelgalvez/

[margord]

Seafood. Mapquest shows it to be 1.3 miles from the Galvez. They are very popular and don't take reservations. Here is a link to the Galvez that has a picture:

 

http://www.galveston.com/hotelgalvez/

 

It does look beautiful. Thanks so much.

[GCurry]

The "Queen of the Gulf" 1911, currently owned by George Mitchell, Texas Billionaire, and operated by Wyndham Historic Hotels. They also operate the Tremont and probably Harbor House since George owns them both.

 

http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/GLSHG/history/main.wnt

 

I notice the history doesn't name, names but the performers Phil Harris and Alice Fay were playing the Balinese Room across the Seawall, and were married in Sam Macio's Penthouse in the Galvez. Sam was the local Mafia Don in Galveston. I believe FDR stayed there as well.

 

"The fish that's on your plate today

Slept last night in Galveston Bay!"

And so would you if you messed with the Macios!!

 

Family owned, Gaido's is all about gulf seafood.

http://www.galveston.com/gaidosrestaurant/

[gomomgo]

Hi Margold

We are staying at the Galvez the Friday before the cruise, too. We will be coming in to IAH at 5:30 Fri, so probably won't be there until late that night. Hope you enjoy your stay there. I've seen that we can pre-register at the hotel which will in theory save time at check-in. Maybe we'll see you on the shuttle in the morning.

Cheryl

[cruznurse]

Hi, we are staying at the Galvez as well before our cruise and I see it mentioned that we can do our check in at the hotel. Has anyone done this? Does it save any time? Does anyone also have any info on their free shuttle to the port and back? What time does it start and how to you get back to the hotel after the cruise?

[newnana]

Hi, we just returned yesterday from our cruise on the Grand Princess 03/03-03/10 and we stayed two nights prior at Hotel Galvez. We LOVED the place. We heard it was free parking, too. However, it isn't exactly free but is still well worth it. They charged us $12 for the first night for valet parking (you can come and go as you please) and $12 charge for keeping our car during the cruise and taking us to the pier and picking us up. $24 total but well worth it. We totally loved staying there and would be happy to answer any questions you have.

[margord]

Hi Margold

We are staying at the Galvez the Friday before the cruise, too. We will be coming in to IAH at 5:30 Fri, so probably won't be there until late that night. Hope you enjoy your stay there. I've seen that we can pre-register at the hotel which will in theory save time at check-in. Maybe we'll see you on the shuttle in the morning.

Cheryl

 

I wonder what time you will arrive at the hotel? If not tto late I could give you our cell number and you could call and met us in the lobby. Or maybe in the morning. What do you think? You can E-mail me at:

 

Mar_Gord@hotmail.com

 

Marilee

[margord]

Hi, we just returned yesterday from our cruise on the Grand Princess 03/03-03/10 and we stayed two nights prior at Hotel Galvez. We LOVED the place. We heard it was free parking, too. However, it isn't exactly free but is still well worth it. They charged us $12 for the first night for valet parking (you can come and go as you please) and $12 charge for keeping our car during the cruise and taking us to the pier and picking us up. $24 total but well worth it. We totally loved staying there and would be happy to answer any questions you have.

 

Thanks for the info. Sounds like we mad a good choice.

[margord]

The "Queen of the Gulf" 1911, currently owned by George Mitchell, Texas Billionaire, and operated by Wyndham Historic Hotels. They also operate the Tremont and probably Harbor House since George owns them both.

 

http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/GLSHG/history/main.wnt

 

I notice the history doesn't name, names but the performers Phil Harris and Alice Fay were playing the Balinese Room across the Seawall, and were married in Sam Macio's Penthouse in the Galvez. Sam was the local Mafia Don in Galveston. I believe FDR stayed there as well.

 

"The fish that's on your plate today

Slept last night in Galveston Bay!"

And so would you if you messed with the Macios!!

 

Family owned, Gaido's is all about gulf seafood.

http://www.galveston.com/gaidosrestaurant/

 

Thanks for all the wonderful information.

 

Marilee

[cruisecrazymama]

Love the Galvez! The pool area is beautiful and lush. They have free trolley tickets at the front desk, Just ask for them.

You don't have to do Valet parking. When we were there this past Nov. DH parked the car for the two days in the lot behind the hotel.free of charge. The night before our Rhapsody cruise, DH paid the 12.00 valet fee, and they parked the car in the secured parking garage across the street. How secure is this garage? DD fogot her camera, and a couple other things she wanted, and they wouldn't let DH go get it. They had to go get the car and bring it to him.

If you are flying in,they also have a free shuttle service that will take you to Wal-Mart, resturants, or where ever you want to go. When you are ready to come back give the Valet a call and they will come pick you up.

Our first stay we had a Gulf view room. The last two were Island view. While the island view is not that impressive. it is nice looking out the window on the morning of your cruise and seeing the ships at the pier. Last cruise, Our DD woke up early Sunday morning and got to see the Rhapsody and Conquest come into port. Needless to say she woke us all up at 6:15 am yelling it's here It's here!...:D

I just can't say enough good things about this hotel. You will love it, I'm sure.

[margord]

cruisecrazymama,

 

Thank you so much. You really have given me some grat info. We will have a rental car so it is nice ot know we do not need to use/pay the $12 per day for parking.

 

Marilee

[cruznurse]

cruisecrazymama,

 

Thanks also for the info about the Galvez. My daughter and I are staying there before our Ecstasy cruise 4/2. Question for you though...how does the shuttle to the ship work? I was told to speak to the valet and schedule a time, are there scheduled pick up times at the port and departure times from the hotel? ANy and all information helpful...Thanks :)

[texreno]

The "Queen of the Gulf" 1911, currently owned by George Mitchell, Texas Billionaire, and operated by Wyndham Historic Hotels. They also operate the Tremont and probably Harbor House since George owns them both.

 

http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/GLSHG/history/main.wnt

 

I notice the history doesn't name, names but the performers Phil Harris and Alice Fay were playing the Balinese Room across the Seawall, and were married in Sam Macio's Penthouse in the Galvez. Sam was the local Mafia Don in Galveston. I believe FDR stayed there as well.

 

"The fish that's on your plate today

Slept last night in Galveston Bay!"

And so would you if you messed with the Macios!!

 

Family owned, Gaido's is all about gulf seafood.

http://www.galveston.com/gaidosrestaurant/

 

Gene - Just another but of History on the Macio's. I believe and maybe someone can confirm that Sam Macio was the Uncle or Grand Uncle of Tilman Fertitta, CEO Landry's Restaurants Inc.,. Landry's not only owns Fisherman's Wharf, Willie G's, The Crab House, Chart House, Kemah Boardwalk, Rainforest Café, Cadillac Bar, Babin's, Landry's Seafood, Saltgrass Steak House, The Aquarium Restaurants, San Louie Hotel on the Seawall and several Specialty Restaurants but now owns the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree and it appears the Macio's are again taking control of Galveston. This time on the legal side of the law.

[Host Kat]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_and_Rosario_Maceo

 

My mother was a lifeguard in Galveston, TX back in the 20s & 30s. Her idols were Johnny Weissmuller and Buster Crabbe. Not for their movie or television careers, but for their swimming exploits. Her pictures of the cars, buildings, clothes, hair styles and swim suits of the day are really something.

 

I remember many of her tales from back then. The alleged mafia-type Maceo-Fertitta family & the bad as well as good things they did for Galveston Island, the "wild" days of bootlegging, speakeasies, illegal casinos, and especially about her fellow lifeguard Leroy "Dummy" Columbo (b. 1905 - d.1974). He is in the Guinness Book of World Records for saving the most people (907) in his 40 years as a lifeguard. He was deaf, therefore the nick-name.

 

Mother was also an accomplished marathon swimmer and training to be the first woman to swim the English Channel. However, Gertrude Ederle beat her to it in 1926. Mother said it broke her heart, but not her love of swimming in the ocean. Now for me, I never cared for swimming in the ocean that much. (Give me a "cement pond" anytime!) I prefer being on top of the ocean sailing in a cruise ship!!

 

Back during Prohibition, Sam Maceo asked her and "Dummy" to swim out to get barrels of bootleg booze and then swim them back in one at a time. She declined, but "Dummy" didn't. She said she always wondered what her life would have been like if she had ventured off into a "life of crime"! She later became a nurse and retired in the early 70s from University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

 

, my parents met on Galveston's Stewart Beach when my mother was still a lifeguard. He observed her saving a couple of children. They were tangled up in the long thread-like stinging tentacles of a Portuguese man-of-war and almost drowned. She brought them in and performed first aid. My father said to himself, "Now that's the woman I'm gonna marry!" He did, and 14 years later I was born, an only child.

Kat

[texreno]

Hey Kat - Great story. I'm a history buff and enjoy local history the most. While I was not B.O.I. I am a fourth generation Texan and second generation Galveston County resident and have heard many of the same stories.

 

Have you heard the one about what the response given by the old Galveston County Sheriff when he was asked by a Federal Prosecutor, why he had not shutdown the illegal gaming at the old Balinese Ballroom? At the time the Balinese Ballroom was a private club owned by the Sam Macio http://balineseroom.net/starsYesteryear.htm His response was "They wouldn't let me in, I wasn't a member."

 

I'm not sure how much of this is true or if it was the Galveston Chief of Police but it makes for a great story passed down from my older relatives.

[RockyMtnMama]

One other tip is to sign up and become a "Wyndham By Request" member. It is free to be a member, and got us free wine and champaigne, cheese and crackers in our room, free internet, and several other perks.

 

I am currently sitting in the 5th floor corner oceanview room. I think it must be the best view outside the suites on the tiny top two floors!! It is beautiful and I am very pleased with the hotel. We are in room 559 if anyone wants to make a special request. Great room! Oceanview is $20 more, but it is very worth it.

 

We paid $12 parking for the one night, but the cruise stay is free. I think the second charge was for the previous poster's second night in the hotel.

 

We signed up for the shuttle right when we arrived, at the valet station. We did not need to sign up for the return. Today there were times every half hour beginning at 11am. They allow 10 people on each shuttle, and the first one was full as of 5pm yesterday.

 

Dh just informed me that the champaigne and turndown service was part of the "romance package", but I don't think we paid any more for it!

[Host Kat]

You are most welcome!

 

 

Yes, it was Sheriff Frank L. Biaggne per the 07/09/51 article in Time.

 

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,806096,00.html

 

For some more tales, have you seen this?

 

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/index.php?showtopic=1534

Kat

[RockyMtnMama]

One last update... our bill was $14 less than we expected, and I LOVED the breakfast buffet. The service was beyond impeccible (all the staff at this hotel has been fantastic) and I loved all the fresh fruits that you typically never see. The hot foods weren't as good, but they had a chef for made to order eggs, omlets, and waffles. The fresh raspberries, GOOD strawberries, blueberries, mulberries, etc and the fresh squeezed orange juice was my favorite.

[Echo Queen]

We stayed there in March 2007, it was as nice as everyone has said :) a side from the pick up at the pier. Everyone was lined up where we were told but the shuttle would stop anywhere along the drive up area and the passengers just walking up would get the shuttle. So I managed to get a seat on the next shuttle to go back to the hotel so I could come back with our car to pick up the rest of our party.:mad: Well, once I got back to the hotel there were 2 valet guys to get 15 cars.:mad: Waited 20 mins or so before they brought my car. By the time I made it back to the terminal it was pretty much cleaned out.:o I will try Harbour House or Tremont next year.:)

[crusin okie]

We Stayed at Hotel Galvez in January, 2007 and had no complaints. There was some renovation going on in the lobby area but it caused no inconvenience. The bar makes very good bloody mary's and the brunch on Sunday mornings is good but spendy. We're planning to stay there again in October - will appreciate a post regarding your experience.

 

Crusin Okie

Rhapsody of the Seas - January 2007