Before my recent cruise out of Galveston, TX, my daughter and I needed one night at a hotel near the cruise port. I’ve stayed in Galveston before and haven’t been impressed with any hotels so far. So, I decided to splurge and use my travel credit from my Capital One Venture X card on a night at Harbor House Hotel and Marina at Pier 21.
Harbor House Hotel Location
As the name suggests, the Harbor House Hotel is located at Pier 21 in Galveston. When we pulled up, my daughter said it looked like a haunted hotel.
The on-site marina offers dolphin cruises as well as an extreme speed boat ride.
The dock behind the hotel has great views of the cruse ship channel and the sunset. We saw a ton of jelly fish in the water.
There are two seafood restaurants on either side of the hotel. Plus, the Strand (historic downtown area) is a block away.
Our Carnival ship port was literally steps away next door. The other two cruise ports are a short walk away. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the cruise ports, but we just walked.
Our Room
I reserved a room with two queen beds. It was very spacious.
I loved the nautical porthole mirror.
The beds were comfortable, and the room was quiet.
Hotel Amenities
I didn’t realize when I booked the hotel that it has a free breakfast. There is a very small breakfast room on the 2nd level.
The food offering was very small–cereal, muffins, fruit and yogurt. But, it was enough to tide us over until we ate lunch on the cruise ship.
Parking at the hotel costs $15/night.
There is an island trolley that stops out front. It costs only $1 and takes you around to many places on Galveston including Moody Gardens and the beach.
The hotel doesn’t have a pool, and the beach is not really within walking distance. Room rates vary by date, from the high $100s to the low $400s.
Overall Thoughts
Harbor House Hotel is actually one of the nicer hotels in Galveston, in my opinion. If you’re going on a cruise, the location is perfect. With a free breakfast and several restaurants nearby, you don’t need a car.
However, if you’re going to Galveston primarily to enjoy the beach, you may want to consider a different hotel or an airbnb closer to the beach.
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
The proximity to the Strand Historic District is a definite advantage. Exploring the unique shops, galleries, and restaurants in that area sounds like a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Did you have any favorite spots there?
Did you try either of the seafood restaurants, Fisherman’s Wharf or Katie’s Seafood?
Our family loves The Tremont House, really pretty & updated (tho historic) property, maybe a 10-min walk from the pier. Bookable with Marriott points (Autograph prop), I think it is the nicest, most convenient (just off the Strand) hotel in Galveston.
^Tribute prop
@Pam Nice, I’ll have to check out that hotel.
@CJH Yes, we ate at Katie’s Seafood on this trip, and I’ve eaten at Fisherman’s Wharf a few times before. Both are good. Katie’s brags that all of their fish are fresh from their own boats.
I agree with your review on this. Many of the hotels on Galveston are beat up with crappy parking, etc. I think the Harbor house is the best choice if you aren’t driving into the cruise because it is next door. If driving in I still prefer to get a beach hotel to enjoy that area but most all of the beach hotels are beat up pre-cruise/spring break properties.
@DaninMCI Do you have a favorite beach hotel in Galveston?
Holtel Galvez or the Hilton Island Resort but really none are awesome.