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Introduction: Holiday Trip to Galveston Island
Review: Courtyard Marriott Galveston
Review: Cajun Greek
Review: Sunflower Bakery
Review: BLVD Seafood
Review: Pleasure Pier
Review: Jimmy’s on the Pier
Review: Pho Tai
Review: Gypsy Joynt
The Courtyard Marriott on Galveston was nearly the same price as every other hotel on the island, even the ones on Groupon. I decided to stay at the property because I am a Marriott loyalist.
Booking
I booked the standard King room at the hotel for almost $225/night at the regular rate. There were not any special rates being used at the property due to it being peak tourist season on the island. I used my Marriott Rewards credit card to pay for the stay. I was able to earn 23,232 points (10,480 base points, 7,132 credit card points, 3,000 Megabonus points, 2,620 elite bonus points as a Marriott Rewards Gold member). That was quite a few points for an extended weekend stay.
Arrival
The hotel is located on the west side of the island. This meant that I was stuck in traffic for well over 20 minutes for a six mile ride. There was free parking at the property, above and below ground. One thing that I found interesting is that the Courtyard and Townplace Suites shared the same entrance. This created a bit of confusion with some guests. One guest in particular left his car in the Courtyard parking lot and walked to TownPlace Suites.
Check-In
The front desk was to the left when I entered the property.
There were three families in front of me so it was a bit of a wait to check in. The second computer at the front desk was not working at that time. I checked out the lobby while I waited.
It was finally my turn, the agent welcomed me back to Marriott and thanked me for being a Marriott Gold member. I quickly had my keys and made my way to the room.
Room
The room was located on the third floor. After exiting the elevator, I made a quick left towards my room and it was on the right.
Neither one of the keys worked so I made my way back to the lobby for new keys. With new keys in hand, I was finally in the room.
The room was a king room with sofa bed. I found it to be a typical Courtyard set up.
The bathroom was to the right. The one thing that stood out in the bathroom was the seat in the shower. It came in handy after a long day of walking around.
After exiting the bathroom, there was a small refrigerator and coffee station.
The main part of the room contained the bed, sofa bed, closet, desk, and television. The bed faced the window, which I thought was kind of strange. The sunny morning weather served as my alarm clock every day. The bed, while big, was too firm for me. I woke up every day with a stiff back.
The view from the room was unpleasant. On the left side was a swamp land and on the right was an obstructed view of the pool (I did not bother with a picture).
Dining
There were a few options (room service, pool bar, and The Bistro) to eat on the property. The limited menu was more or less the same at all locations. I enjoyed the cobb salad and quinoa bowl that was offered (sadly, I did not get a picture of either dish). I wished that the Courtyards in the United States had onsite restaurants, like the one that I visited in Costa Rica.
The Market, which had snacks and small toiletries, was located to the left of the main entrance. Due to the amount of guests at the property, The Market’s stock was depleted during my stay.
Fitness
The fitness center was located just off of the lobby, on the left. It was a decent size, but felt empty because it did not have much equipment. There were a few cardio machines and some free weights. If there were more than three people in the room, it would feel crowded.
The hotel had a beautiful outdoor pool. There were uncovered lounge chairs (around most of the pool) and some covered seating at the far end of the pool. The pool also had a walk up bar with a small menu.
Final Word
The Courtyard Marriott on Galveston Island served its purpose. I was able to get some decent rest after sightseeing during the day. The staff went above and beyond to ensure every guest enjoyed their staff. If you like being away from the noise and busy streets, this hotel is the place for you. If not, stay on the eastern part of the island. I would visit this property again, but maybe during the offseason.
