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November 2023 by Melinda Mathews
Beautiful Hotel and very helpful staff. The room was on the small side, but the hotel was built in 1911 when rooms were much smaller. The ambiance was right in the period it was built. The bathroom was well appointed. The room and a refrigerator. Grounds are very well taken care of. We ate in the restaurant twice and the food was very good. This hotel will spoil you, and it will be hard to step back when going to another hotel.
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November 2023 by T S
The hotel is really beautiful! My room was really cool too except there wasn't a chair to sit on except a desk chair, even though the photos showed one in the room (I was in an ocean front room with king size bed). Personnel at the front desk didn't seem to know what the heck I was talking about when I asked about it. Many of the staff I spoke to seemed to have just started work at the hotel. Still, it's a really beautiful property and definitely worth staying there at least once!Walkability: Right across from the beach, cannot get any closer to it!Food & drinks: Coffee shop in the lobby has amazing drinks. I especially like the coffee with the rose petals on top.
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October 2023 by pamj858
My husband and I went on a quick getaway for our 34 anniversary (planning bigger trip later) - the hotel is very clean and everyone was extremely pleasant. The rooms were very quiet so no “late” nights because of other guests. The hotel is walking distance to the Seawall where we could walk on the jetty. It was a very clear night with rough waters which made for great pics. I had a Swedish spa with Justin which was AMAZING. Definitely make the time to go get one - so relaxing and the perfect pressure. I felt so relaxed afterwards. They had a Ferrari show there which was fun as well to see.
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October 2023 by Sarah Plumlee
Great location, but disappointing room. We had a city view (that's fine with what our trip entailed) with a king-size bed. The bed took up most of the room, so there was not a lot of walk space between the bed and the walls. The bathroom was nice, very modern amenities. However, the toilet paper roll is positioned in a way that is basically pressed against your body when sitting on the toilet. The service was fine, you can tell the staff are trying to be hospitable.
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October 2023 by 629jeanmaries
The Gran Galvez received terrible reviews until Marriott acquired it in fall 2023. I spent three nights at the GG in mid October, for a large family wedding. Paid $920 total for the room. PROS: 1. Great staff, they aim to please. They still are working the kinks out with trainees, but they are to a person warm and welcoming. 2. Wonderful public rooms. Reception, the bar, a (free) coffee station, sitting areas, and the restaurant are straight out of a movie set and all these facilities a few steps from each other in a retro setting. The tall ceilings, beautiful chandeliers and mosaics are photogenic. 3. Free coffee. Don't bother with the Starbucks café behind reception, it's the same coffee. 4. Nice pool area with swim-up bar. 5. I was at a wedding with 170 guests and the GG pulled it off spectacularly (helped by a big check from my cousin, I assume!). 6. Hotel is a three-minute walk from the beach across the street: you don't have to negotiate overpasses or traffic lights. Murdoch's souvenir shop is smack across the street, get your Galveston baseball cap and hermit crab there. WalMart is 3 miles away. 7. Free bikes: ask for bike key at reception, return it before dark. (You can keep the bike the whole day.) 8. The restaurant food is on the high side, but what you'd expect for an Autograph Collection hotel. Sunday brunch is $80. CONS: 1. Rooms are super small. Mine, at a group rate of $299 a night plus tax, was -200 square feet. The refrigerator was hands down the smallest I've ever seen: fits two bottles of wine or two sandwiches, vertically. There is nowhere to sit down except on the beds. Forget entertaining friends and relatives. 2. Bathroom is a non-functional work of art. Marriott seems singularly unaware that most travelers, whether they're seniors or not, do not take baths while they're traveling. The bathtub sides were so high that my younger relatives commented on them and my older kin gave up on trying to get in and out. The sink is a single porcelain slab of water set on an incline toward the drain. There is no drain plug, so if you wear contacts, throw a hand towel over the drain slot. 3. Back to the rooms: Most of my relatives were in rooms facing the parking lot. Some were three times the size of mine but they had huge refrigerators positioned next to vintage posters. I paid extra for an ocean-facing room: the windows need washing. If you are going to the GG for a super special weekend or celebration and money is no object, book the high floor rooms with balconies. I did not see them, but from the outside they look promising!
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October 2023 by Mike Jones
After many trips to Galveston this is our first stay at the Galvez. Beautiful hotel and room. Fantastic service from all staff especially Tiffany at check in and Cory in the lobby. We will absolutely stay here again.Rooms: Beautiful room with ocean view
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October 2023 by Isabelle Manken
We came from Houston for a quick staycation this weekend for our Anniversary and after seeing some good reviews online we decided to stay at the Galvez Saturday night. The exterior of the hotel is beautiful and the location is great. Aside from that, we were very disappointed in almost every aspect of our stay.It started on an off putting note when we were checking in, we listened to the woman at the front desk check in the man in front of us and explain in detail the hotel grounds, the restaurant, and brunch experience on Sundays. Once he was checked in and we moved forward to check in, we received a rushed explanation of the hotel grounds, where our room was, and nothing about the brunch/restaurant/bar. When I asked about the brunch and making a reservation for my husband she seemed surprise and quickly made the reservation and then sent us on our way.The lobby was also striking but had an unpleasant smell the entire time we were there.We made it up to our room (354) which was beautiful and fully renovated and had a partial ocean view, we left quickly to go watch the sunset at the beach.When we got back and got ready for bed we realized our bathroom sink would not drain. We also looked in the shower and realized there was sand and hair all over the shower floor.I called down to the front desk to let them know and was met with the same woman who had checked us in earlier. When I explained the situation all she said was “So do you want to move rooms?” No attempt at an apology was made. I said yes we’d like to be able to use our bathroom so she sent up a valet to bring us different room keys.The valet apologized for our experience and helped us to our other room, he explained that they’re going through some renovations and have been for over a year now.We arrived at our next room (331) which was right next to the elevator, and realized it was only about half the size of our previous room, not renovated, missing a picture frame on the wall and faced the parking lot. There was also watermarks and smudges all over the bathroom mirror and mirror in the room. Quite the downgrade.We were very disappointed in the service we’d received and the quality/cleanliness of the rooms but at this point just wanted to go to bed.We went to bed for about an hour but we’re woken up every fifteen minutes by the elevator and guests getting off. There was no soundproofing at the bottom of the door, just an empty slot, so sound traveled through EXTREMELY clearly. It sounded like the guests walking through the hall way from the elevator were in our room. I’ll attach photo of what the door/lack of looked like. I also have video from inside our room where you can make out exactly what the people in the hall are saying.We could not fall asleep so we had to call down again, at this point I just wanted to leave and drive home. There was a different woman working the front desk at this time (about midnight) and she immediately found us a room away from the elevator with a better view as well and brought the new keys up herself. This was the best service we received during our stay.The next room (302) was much closer to the quality of our first room and we were able to fall asleep quickly. Although the beds were not comfortable.The next morning we were so disappointed and put off by our stay that we left immediately when we woke and cancelled our brunch reservations.I’ve read some other reviews now of this hotel being like lipstick on a pig and that was our exact impression after our stay. The service, cleanliness and quality was severely lacking. It seems like they reopened before renovations were done and half the hotel is unfinished.Not usually one to write negative reviews but there are absolutely better hotels, Airbnbs and rentals on the island to choose from. ESPECIALLY for the prices the Galvez is charging, it felt like a scam.Just wanted to write this as a caution to anyone looking to stay at this property and hopefully as a wake up call to management on the property.
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October 2023 by Diana ENUFSD
This was an experience for my birthday. I needed the outing because it was will overdue and that break didn't owe me anything. Sad event happened but I was determined not to let it get me DOWN . You will love the atmosphere, cleanliness, room service, pool, drinks, they have a good coffee bar, the breeze since it's directly in front of the beach. It was really nice and I will return.
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October 2023 by Erica Mueller
Wow! My husband surprised me with a night here for our anniversary and I was so impressed with the service and the hotel. Could have spent a full day just touring the grounds and hotel. It is breathtaking. And right on the beach too!
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October 2023 by Kirk Otto
Great location right on the beach overlooking the ocean. We definitely enjoyed our stay there. I wish housekeeping would have come earlier in the day rather than mid-afternoon to clean the roomsNearby activities: Write down the street from the pierWalkability: You can walk anywhere in Galveston quicklyFood & drinks: We were pleasantly surprised with the restaurant as we had some of the best food there
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October 2023 by Karen Pitcock
I stayed at the Grand Galvez about two weeks ago and it was fabulous! The moment I arrived I was greeted warmly by the valet Bobby, and the front desk person (so sorry I forgot her name) was very kind. I was even able to check in a little early with no issue. It was during the week though so not very busy. The service was truly out of this world and the room was spotless and the bed so comfortable. Loved the pool area too! The bar bites menu for dinner was perfect as there were great options so I did not have to spend a lot of money for dinner. I did have a small issue with the package I booked, however when I emailed Rocio, the front desk manager, it was handled quickly.In the past I have stayed at another property on the island, however last time I was there the staff was, for lack of a better word, snooty. It was like I should be grateful they were serving me. Not at the Galvez. Everyone was welcoming and grateful I chose their property. Look forward to coming back soon!
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October 2023 by therose1127
The hotel is first rate in every way. The recent renovation paid every attention to detail. It is glorious! Staff were helpful and friendly. Beds were so comfortable. Marriott’s Autograph Collection it is! A great value for this luxury. Highly recommend.
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October 2023 by donnabS9780CN
My Family has been coming to the Grand Galvez since the late 1930's and I am carrying on the tradition with my children. I moved away to Ft Worth, but still make it to the Grand Galvez at least once a year. I was worried about the renovations, but so thrilled to see they did a fabulous job with many changes. I love the old Hollywood feel as soon as you pull up! I cannot wait to see the new doors that they said will be installed soon. We celebrated my birthday this week and even though the beaches were a little chilly, it was wonderful listening to the waves. I am loving the addition of the 1911 Coffee Bar! I suggest trying The Grand either iced or cold with a kick of cayenne pepper. Our room was wonderful, and the staff was amazing from check in to check out. Hated leaving and heading home! This time I forgot to check the room safe and unfortunately did not realize left my wallet until we got back to Ft Worth. I called and the Manager Rocio Martinez was so helpful and put me at ease letting me know she would get it to me. She went above and beyond taking it to UPS and overnighting to me. The Grand Galvez treats you like Royalty! I cannot wait for my next visit!! The Grand Galvez is my Happy Place! Donna
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October 2023 by Lifewelltraveled2014
The atmosphere is on point. The music inside matches with aesthetic and makes for a great experience. The smell that they infuse the halls and/or lobby with is amazing. The staff members are kind and friendly.
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October 2023 by ryangQ2080AW
Beautiful hotel with wonderful staff. The Sunday Brunch is a must! Tiffany at the front desk was awesome and very nice throughout our stay. Our room overlooks the water and the bathrooms are very updated. Can’t wait till next time.
