The Galvestonian
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1401 East Beach Drive, Galveston, Galveston Island, TX 77550-3323
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Full view
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Room & Suite (280)
Pool & Beach (103)
About
#3 of 55 in Galveston
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.7
Service
4.6
Value
4.4
The Galvestonian is designed for pleasure and relaxation. For outdoor fun, the large heated swimming pool, which features a hot-tub Jacuzzi, is elevated on a deck which runs almost the entire length of the building. This affords the privacy you deserve, plus a spectacular view of the Gulf of Mexico. The spacious poolside cabana is quiet, shaded area for enjoying pool side refreshments. For tennis buffs, there are two lighted courts. And, of course, there are miles of beach a few steps down from the pool deck. You can stroll along the water's edge, build sand castles or simply relax on the sand and let the sun's golden rays warm your body.East Beach is the most exclusive beach in Texas. Only 50 minutes from Hobby Airport and only three minutes from downtown Galveston. East Beach is a hideaway which will allow you to escape life's pressures.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Outdoor dining area
Beach
Bicycle rental
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Wifi
Hot tub
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Tennis court
Business Center with Internet Access
BBQ facilities
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Sun terrace
Sun umbrellas
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
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Room features
Air conditioning
Additional bathroom
Dining area
Private balcony
Coffee / tea maker
Kitchenette
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Seating area
Telephone
Wardrobe / closet
Clothes rack
Iron
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Dishwasher
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Kitchenware
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Charming
Location
Full view
Contact
1401 East Beach Drive, Galveston, Galveston Island, TX 77550-3323
Getting there
Rental CarsSee rental cars from $93/day
471Reviews25Q+A100Room tips
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The Galvestonian has many positive qualities Quiet clean beach and large and very large , clean swimming pool, friendly staff and very modern, clean condos. The short coming is the lack of any type of drinking area (inside and outside ) for coffee, non-alcoholic beverages, nor any snack or sandwich area. . Another problem is taking children's stuff to the beach. In order to take your child 's wagon/stroller and other beach stuff for children , you have to go to the lower level under the condo complex .....and you need a staff member to guide you, very inconvenient.
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Date of stay: June 2021
Helpful
This trip started off with a girls weekend and the 5 of us had a super fun time! Then when the girlfriends left, my husband came to join me for another 3 nights. We felt like the property was very well kept - common areas were all pristinely clean and maintained nicely, and we appreciated that you have to come through the lobby (with the 24 hour manned front desk) and have your key card to enter the elevators. When you walk into the unit, the floor to ceiling glass on the gulf side (they all have gulf side views when you walk in) will blow you away! So SO gorgeous to open the door and see the wide beach and the ocean with absolutely nothing obstructing your view! The pool and hot tub were wonderful, and the pool deck chairs were even comfortable...which isn't always the case at a condo. The staff were all super friendly and helpful when we interacted with any of them, as were the other guests and owners that we encountered at the pool, or in elevators, etc... The beach - wow! It is nice and wide and clean, and this is one of the handful of places you can stay in Galveston that is actually right ON the beach. Walk over the dune and you are toes in the sand. Re: the other folks dissing the resort b/c they don't allow you jam too many into one room, or listen to music at the pool, which forces everyone else at the pool to listen to your music too haha - I think those folks are a little bitter and off base. The Galvestonian is a well appointed and well run property, so if you want a "Girls Gone Wild" atmosphere or plan to pack ten people in one room to save some money, this isn't the place. LOL We all felt relaxed & had so much fun, and we loved that it was 5 minutes to everything in the Strand area, but off the beaten path where you can get away and enjoy your time at the beach or pool. Bring your family, come with girlfriends, or as a couples getaway. One tip: the units are all individually owned, so look at pics to choose one that looks right for your needs. They are all furnished differently, but are uniformly cleaned before your arrival by the Galvestonian housekeeping staff so that is a plus.…
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Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Higher floors will have premium view. Some have "standing" & some have...
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Helpful
This is still a nice property however the management now has too many rules including not allowing guest to stay after check out time and use the pool. Was told that I had to immediately leave property. Management actually had security present that watched to make sure I left. I'm elderly, unclear exactly what threat I presented. Also they insist on making you wear arm bans that can not be removed except by scissors. Very stupid, will never stay again.
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Date of stay: October 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
6 Helpful votes
Helpful
The Galvestonian is located on east beach, far away from the crowds in Galveston. It is right on the beach, no trying to cross the busy Seawall Blvd. We had a one bedroom condo on the ninth floor. Great view of the gulf, lovely balcony with chairs and table. Soundproofing was great as construction was going on in the next property, complete with a pile driver banging away 8-5 daily. Once inside the room we never heard it. The beds were the worst we have ever experienced, and we have travelled all over the world. They were so soft you sunk down several inches when you got in. One electric outlet in the kitchen would not hold a plug, it kept falling out. Hot water was instantly scalding hot, All in all it was not anything special, especially for $325/night in the off season. …
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Date of stay: November 2021
4 Helpful votes
Helpful
In the past I have always recommended The Galvestonian as the best place to stay in Galveston. After this past stay there, I will tell everyone to stay away from it. The new rules are ridiculous. And most (not all) of the management staff are rude and act almost like they get pleasure from treating people like crap. We typically rent 5-6 condos at a time when we stay there because it is an annual tradition for all our families. The new green wrist band requirement is just asinine. And if the management team catches you without it expect to be grilled and yelled. My young nephew took his off to swim and not 1 but 2 people from management were standing over him after he got out of the pool arguing with him until he put it on. I saw a manager run after a guest who was walking to the lobby without his wrist band on. The guest was trying to explain that he was on his way up to his room to put it on because he forgot it and the manager refused to let him explain and wouldn't let him leave until he got a new wrist band from the front desk. Not having drinks around the pool is just crazy. If you have an issue with people spilling their drinks, require having a lid on them. The pool is huge so it is ridiculous that people can't drink by the pool. Let's talk about pool floats. There has always been a rule about no floats allowed unless they are pool noodles or baby floats. One family in our group had a very young child in her life jacket in the pool. Management refused to let them use the life jacket with the baby float. They had to use one or the other but not both. Someone yelled loudly off one of the balconies. Management accused one of our families in one of the rooms that her boys did it. None of the boys were in the room at the time but management still argued that the noise came from her room. Housecleaning...I understand that most places are short staffed. But going from cleaning your room every day to only cleaning if you stay longer than 3 nights and and with a 24 hour notice is too much. In the past when you ran out of towels, they would send someone up with fresh ones. Most days we had to bring the towels down ourselves if we wanted fresh towels. Also they do not have wash clothes anymore! And good luck getting a clean pillow case too. I had to change sheets on one of the beds (because I didn't know I had to request room service 24 hrs in advance) and was told they had a shortage on pillow cases when I got the new sheets. Sad thing is I could go on and on and on about all the changes because this is only the tip of the iceberg. We still had a lot of fun because we refused to let management ruin our vacation. But The Galvestonian will no longer be our place to stay while in Galveston.…
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip: Look at the pics online before picking a room. None of the rooms are the same since they are...
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6 Helpful votes
Helpful
We just returned from another wonderful visit to the Galvestonian. This time we stayed in unit 603, a two-bedroom. The unit was very nice - we especially like the furniture in this one (and we've stayed in probably 8-10 different units). There were a good number of jelly fish on the beach and in the water, so we spent more time than usual in the beautiful pool. (BTW, this is the first time we've seen jelly fish on this particular beach, so it's not a common issue.) The pool, grounds, lobby area, etc. are very well maintained. Staff is always extremely welcoming and accommodating. We will be back soon!
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Date of stay: September 2021
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Our 2 bedroom condo was very well decorated, light, airy, and good furnishings. Great views from the 6th floor of the beach and grounds. Both bedrooms had comfortable beds. Kitchen was well stocked with coffee machine and cooking utensils. We prepared breakfast and dinner meals and had lunch on the beach. Great staff, pleasant, helpful, always a smile and friendly comment.
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Date of stay: September 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: All rooms have great views of the beach.
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Helpful
I just returned from a three night stay at the Galvestonian in unit 1101. I had three children with me (ages 13, 11, and 9). I looked back through my review history to see when my first stay at the Galvestonian was, and it was July 2009 - over twelve years ago. My family has stayed there at least eight times over the last twelve years, and we have brought many friends and relatives along to join us there over the years. Some things have stayed the same, and some things have changed! Our unit was a 2 BR, 2 BA, and it was immaculately clean and well appointed. It was also a little more updated than some of the units we have stayed in over the years - which can admittedly be a low bar. I would definitely recommend that specific unit if you decide to stay at the Galvestonian. Our friends who joined us for the weekend (at my invitation) rented unit 1106, which was a 1 BR, and it was their first trip to both Galveston AND the Galvestonian. They were taken aback by the lack of cleanliness of their unit, and also noted that it was NOT updated. I think the lesson here is that some of the owners take better care of their condos than others. The landscaping and grounds are just as beautiful as ever, and we greatly appreciated the fact that you do not have to dodge traffic and cross Seawall Boulevard to get to the beach. We also loved having the charcoal grills and outdoor picnic area for our use. As noted in my original review from July 2009, the fitness center (or as it should be named, “fitness ROOM”) is VERY small and not well appointed. It had the exact same equipment as it had back in July 2009 when I first used it. The front desk staff was polite, but the biggest change I noticed from all of our previous visits was the focus on rules, rules, rules - as other reviewers have noted. If you want absolute silence and you don’t mind the fact that they do not allow beverages or food ANYWHERE near the pool, this is the spot for you. I could not figure out why it was okay to have a beverage in the hot tub, but not anywhere around the pool. The check-in clerk explained that THIS rule is so they don’t have to “close the pool if someone spills a drink”. They also do not allow music, and specifically said food is not to be consumed at any table or chair on the pool deck except under the covered area (that I have always thought would be ideal for a snack bar or small cafe). They also require you to wear wristbands now throughout the duration of your stay. I do not mind the wristbands and I understand that they identify paying guests of the property. However, my children and I thought the three pages of “RULES” were a bit much. A number of other guests were noting the same observations, and several people commented that they went on vacation to relax, unwind, and have a few cocktails - not to be policed and scolded. I understand safety restrictions (like no diving into the pool, for instance) but I really do not care if someone spills an occasional Coors light in the pool or if they eat a sandwich in their lounge chair. All inclusive resorts specialize in this type of service, and as many guests this past weekend noted…this is supposed to be a VACATION. I still like the Galvestonian, but I am not sure whether we will return. My bill for the three night stay was $1,400…and I have to think there may be better and more fun options out there for that price. It saddens me that it has changed to the degree that I am not sure whether we will be back.…
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: I would definitely look hard at the photos of each individual unit before selecting one
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3 Helpful votes
Helpful
Wow! New management is horrible! They have ruined our 10 year family tradition coming here with all these stupid new rules! No housekeeping unless you stay 5 night's? No drinks by the pool, but you can have one by the hot tub? What? No kids toys allowed in the pool? No kids jumping in the pool? Wristbands the entire stay and can't take em off? No suttle music by our table? When it only said no "loud" music. I can't believe how many times this lady came out telling people around the pool and the lobby, no this or that. It wasn't relaxing for us or fun for the kids anymore, it was stressful. I'm so sad this has ended it for us and I hope they realize how many people reviewing lately are saying the exact same thing.
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Traveled
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
+1
We finished off our vacation in Texas by staying at The Galvestonian. It was a very peaceful hotel and we enjoyed staying at the property. From what I understand, it's partially condo owners, and partially rented out like a hotel. So, when booking, you choose the room that you want. The front desk staff is very welcoming and friendly. Pool people also nice, and they kept the towels ready for us. The pool area was very relaxing. Plenty of seats available and not many people there. Even when it got a little busier, it was still good since the pool and area is so large. Beach was very quiet. It's a long walk to the beach but it feel secluded and private. It might be nice if the hotel had a restaurant or a snack shop for coffee. Something like that. But overall our stay was nice, and we'll be back on our next time to Galveston.…
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Date of stay: August 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
$352 - $523 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the galvestonian hotel galveston, galvestonian hotel galveston, galvestonian resort galveston
LOCATION
United StatesTexasTexas Gulf CoastGalveston IslandGalveston
NUMBER OF ROOMS
70
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about The Galvestonian
Which popular attractions are close to The Galvestonian?
Nearby attractions include Grand 1894 Opera House (2.5 miles), The Bryan Museum (2.7 miles), and Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum (2.5 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at The Galvestonian?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and a fitness center.
Which room amenities are available at The Galvestonian?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at The Galvestonian?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities and an outdoor dining area during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to The Galvestonian?
Conveniently located restaurants include Gaido's, Rudy & Paco Restaurant & Bar, and La King's Confectionery.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Galvestonian?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness center during their stay.
Are any cleaning services offered at The Galvestonian?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Are there any historical sites close to The Galvestonian?
Many travelers enjoy visiting 1892 Bishop's Palace (2.1 miles), Moody Mansion (3.0 miles), and 1859 Ashton Villa (2.8 miles).
Does The Galvestonian have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.
Is The Galvestonian accessible?
Yes, it offers facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.