Holiday Inn Express & Suites Galveston West-Seawall

The front desk staff have always been friendly and helpful, and we’ve stayed here four or five times before a cruise. The location is good, right on the beach, with nice views and a balcony depending on the room. Breakfast is the usual complimentary IHG offering. We eat it and find something that suits us. The hotel and rooms are dated and need attention and remodeling, so next time we’ll stay in League City and drive in. The 30-minute trip isn’t bad, and the savings get you better-quality hotels, unless you want to pay $350 a night on the island.

The building is older, but it’s kept clean and well maintained. The beds were all comfortable, including the pullout, and the breakfast was a standout, with pancakes, eggs, muffins, cinnamon rolls, fruit and plenty of drinks. What really stood out was the staff, from the concierge to maintenance. Everyone was exceptionally friendly and helpful. The location along the seawall is great, with many restaurants and shops within walking distance. I was very impressed.

We were celebrating our 20th anniversary, staying from 12/11 - 12/13. The booking said “One Bedroom King Suite,” but we were first given a double queen room. When we went to the desk, they assigned us a “King Suite,” which was the same room setup with a king bed instead. It may have been a Southwest Hotels listing issue. When I contacted them, they said they had to check with the property about giving any credit. If we’d known that was the room we were booking, we’d have gone elsewhere. The hallways and elevators smelled of Pinesol / Virtuoso cleaner, which could be worse, and the Wi-Fi was spotty. To their credit, management put out extra hotspots, but we still had lots of failed connections. We enjoyed the stay, but the accommodations could’ve been better and didn’t feel up to the Holiday Inn Express standards I expect. I’d recommend it to business or budget travelers, or someone who isn’t picky.

The people were very nice. Breakfast was okay, with bacon, sausage patties and links, scrambled eggs, and two kinds of omelets, some with American cheese and some Western-style. The hotel was just OK otherwise. Our room smelled at first, somewhere between AC odor and bathroom cleaning products. We opened the balcony door to air it out. The cold air in the room left the floor slippery. There isn’t really a lobby, just a small sitting area in front of the desk.