Which Hotels in Galveston have shuttles to the Cruise?

[sallymomo]

Hi All,
I am going to Galveston in January and was wondering if someone could tell me which hotels provide free overnight parking of rental cars for the duration of your cruise and which ones also provide free shuttle transfers to the port.

Been reading stories about how Enterprise charges a huge drop off fee and We are still deciding if we want to do the rental car with the cruise transfer or just deal with the drop off fee.

Any info regarding this would be huge help. We are trying to find the cheapest option.
Thanks

 

[pannm]

We are doing a rental car too. After doing all of the math, it's just cheaper! We are staying at Holiday Inn Galveston-On the Beach. They have free parking AND a shuttle to the cruise port...it's included in their stay- plus it looks like a fairly nice hotel. It's not a 'cheap' one, but once again, after doing the math- we're saving $$$. The price we paid for the hotel was $143 per night. our cruise is a week long and we would have had to pay over $90 in parking- because the cheaper lot is already booked full when our cruise is!

If you search for HolidayInn Galveston on the beach, you can see on their webpage that it says free parking and shuttle service for Royal Carib. and Carnival. It says NOTHING about offering it for Disney Cruise...but I called and they said it was for ALL cruise ports.

 

[Chee Chick]

We are doing a rental car too. After doing all of the math, it's just cheaper! We are staying at Holiday Inn Galveston-On the Beach. They have free parking AND a shuttle to the cruise port...it's included in their stay- plus it looks like a fairly nice hotel. It's not a 'cheap' one, but once again, after doing the math- we're saving $$$. The price we paid for the hotel was $143 per night. our cruise is a week long and we would have had to pay over $90 in parking- because the cheaper lot is already booked full when our cruise is!

If you search for HolidayInn Galveston on the beach, you can see on their webpage that it says free parking and shuttle service for Royal Carib. and Carnival. It says NOTHING about offering it for Disney Cruise...but I called and they said it was for ALL cruise ports.

I stayed at the Holiday Inn on the Beach the night before our Thanksgiving cruise. I did not really like this hotel and would not stay there again. The hotel did have that 'cheap' feel to it. The room itself was adequate for a one night stay. There is a bar in the hotel that is obviously a popular local hangout. My room was located away from the bar, so we didn't hear the noise. But I saw a post by someone that said they were kept up until late hours in the night due to the music and noise from the bar. The bar patrons filled the parking lot and we had a hard time finding a place to park our car. But my biggest complaint was the shuttle from the port. We waited about an hour and a half on the curb for the shuttle. It was a pretty chilly morning, too. When the first shuttle finally arrived it was filled with people from the Carnival ship. There wasn't enough room for my family and all our luggage. It was really chaotic. The shuttle is shared with the San Luis and the Hilton.

Other hotels with shuttles include (some with fees):
Comfort Inn
Country Inn and Suites
Hotel Galvez
Tremont Hotel
Holiday Inn Sunspree

 

[hudson3709]

Have you consider a town car or limo rental? We found this to be the cheapest option for our trip. We are also staying at the Harbor House, which is aparantly walking distance to the port.

 

[EDelashmit]

The Hilton does, nice hotel too.

 

[Docklobster]

We are going in January too. I think I got our rental for about $70. Cheaper for the 4 of us unless I missed something. We are staying at the Marriott spring hill. No idea how the hotel is. We may shuttle with the rental car.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

Comfort Suites Galveston charges for the shuttle but it still came out cheaper than those that don't charge, they have free parking for the duration of the cruise. We have a 2 Queen with sleeper sofa (great for larger groups, as we have 5) for $99 in Feb. It's $30 roundtrip to shuttle all 5 of us and they have breakfast too. Total $129 for a suite, parking, rountrip shuttle, and breakfast for 5.

 

[NancyIL]

I booked a 2-day one-way rental from Enterprise for about $120 - including taxes. I was told there is no drop-off fee.

 

[sallymomo]

I Keep hearing mixed info about the drop off fee for Enterprise. People have said they were told theres no drop off fee but were charged when they went to drop the car off. I'm sure its a standard policy and they're not charging it to some people and not charging it to others. So I wonder what the real deal is.

 

[NancyIL]

I Keep hearing mixed info about the drop off fee for Enterprise. People have said they were told theres no drop off fee but were charged when they went to drop the car off. I'm sure its a standard policy and they're not charging it to some people and not charging it to others. So I wonder what the real deal is.

If the drop-off fee isn't mentioned in the rental confirmation, then it should not be charged. I'm pretty sure a charge like that would have to be disclosed as part of the confirmation.

 

[jlynch924]

We are staying at the La Quinta, which offers a shuttle for $20 (up to four people) to the terminal. Our room was only $69, so all in all, it's a pretty good package. Breakfast is included, too. We are headed out December 29, by the way.

 

[Mommy2Emmy]

We are staying at the La Quinta, which offers a shuttle for $20 (up to four people) to the terminal. Our room was only $69, so all in all, it's a pretty good package. Breakfast is included, too. We are headed out December 29, by the way.

That's where we are booked, also! Would love a review when you get back!

 

[chimpwars]

We are staying at Hotel Galvez the night before. Free shuttle to the port and if we have a rental car it's free for the week we are gone.

Still no idea how we are getting from IAH to the hotel
Enterprise states $100 one way fee! I mentioned others are not charged this, I got no where with them. It was $201 for one way!

I think we will rent a car at this point and keep for the week at the hotel.

 

[NancyIL]

We are staying at Hotel Galvez the night before. Free shuttle to the port and if we have a rental car it's free for the week we are gone.

Still no idea how we are getting from IAH to the hotel
Enterprise states $100 one way fee! I mentioned others are not charged this, I got no where with them. It was $201 for one way!

I think we will rent a car at this point and keep for the week at the hotel.

I am also staying at the Hotel Galvez, and I'm glad to read they have a free shuttle to the port.

I just reread my Enterprise e-mail confirmation, and the total charges for my 2-day rental from Houston Hobby are $120.99. (I wonder if the arrival airport makes a difference in drop-off fees?) If they should try to charge a drop fee when I pick-up the car, my friend and I will cancel the rental car and take a shuttle service to the hotel.

I am on the May 18, 2013 Transatlantic cruise - which is the last DCL cruise from Galveston in the spring. Perhaps we aren't being charged a drop fee because it is much later in the season and there is less demand for cars then.

 

[jlynch924]

That's where we are booked, also! Would love a review when you get back!

Will do!

 

[jlynch924]

That's where we are booked, also! Would love a review when you get back!

We are back from The Magic today. Despite really rough seas on our last sea day (making DD and DH sick), it was a great trip. The LaQuinta was undergoing renovations, and was a little run down on outside, but it was comfortable. The rooms were already renovated... Beds very comfy, new carpets and flooring, room fridge, etc. Breakfast was what you'd expect...waffles (Texas shaped!), cereal, yogurt, eggs, toast, bagels, etc. The shuttle service was great. You sign up at front desk the morning you leave (I think sign up was at 9:30) and the shuttle picks up around 10:30 and drops right at port. When we got off boat this morning, we only waited about five minutes before the shuttle showed up to take us back. We were off the boat, through customs and back to our car by 8:00 am.

Apparently while were gone, the hotel had a water main break, which did quite a bit of damage to outside pool area. We didn't go in lobby, so I'm not sure what it looked like, but they were already repairing it all.

Have a great trip!

 

[sjlnv]

I spoke with my TA about the best way to do this... The Disney Ground transportation is available for $30 a person 1 way. As long as you book the hotel through Disney then they will pick you up the day before the cruise, and then pick you up from the hotel and take you to port also! So it was cheaper to book the transportation and hotel for 3,then to use supper shuttle, rent a car,or use a taxi.

 

[elmo2200]

We just cancelled our ressie for La Quinta and booked Holiday Inn on the beach for $85. They have free cruise parking and shuttle.

 

[Chee Chick]

We just cancelled our ressie for La Quinta and booked Holiday Inn on the beach for $85. They have free cruise parking and shuttle.

Just be prepared that you may possibly be waiting an hour and a half for a shuttle to pick you up at the port to bring you to your car. That is what happened to us. You may want to read my earlier post on the first page of this thread if you haven't already about my experience with this hotel. I do not recommend this place.

 

[tictoc]

The Harbor House is awesome but it is 10 dollars a day to park. Worth it to me for the view of the port.