Best way to travel from Houston to Galveston...

[K8theGr8]

Hi!
The Fam and I (total 4 of us) are flying into Houston the day before Port departure in Galveston. I've done a search on the matter and couldn't really find a recent post. But I'm wondering, what is the best way to travel from one of the airports in Houston to our hotel in Galveston? I've heard there's a shuttle but that it costs $50 per person. (Yikes!) I've been told it would be best to rent a car and leave it parked for the duration of our 7-night cruise until we get back...but this just doesn't seem to me like it would be the best option. I know a taxi (for a 45-60 min ride) would be simply outrageous. But are there alternative shuttles? Maybe I just haven't done enough research. I was hoping to get advice from you smart and lovely people first!

 

[bcwife76]

We are sailing out of Galveston next January on the Wonder and I have heard good things about these two shuttle companies so we'll probably use one of them (renting a car does not appeal to us):

http://galvestonexpress.com/

galvestonexpress.com/

sorry I know the links look the same but they are actually two different companies (as far as I can tell!)

 

[Happy100]

What about Lyft or Uber? I have used them in LA to Long Beach cruise terminal roundtrip.

 

[Hundredacre]

Car rental with parking is actually cheaper than the shuttles if you shop for best prices on both.

 

[MUN]

Hi!
The Fam and I (total 4 of us) are flying into Houston the day before Port departure in Galveston. I've done a search on the matter and couldn't really find a recent post. But I'm wondering, what is the best way to travel from one of the airports in Houston to our hotel in Galveston? I've heard there's a shuttle but that it costs $50 per person. (Yikes!) I've been told it would be best to rent a car and leave it parked for the duration of our 7-night cruise until we get back...but this just doesn't seem to me like it would be the best option. I know a taxi (for a 45-60 min ride) would be simply outrageous. But are there alternative shuttles? Maybe I just haven't done enough research. I was hoping to get advice from you smart and lovely people first!

We took a cab. From Hobby to Galveston it was around $100 for our family of 5. On the way back it was closer to $120. One-way car rentals are prohibitive because Enterprise (the only car rental agency on the island) charges a steep drop-off fee.


MUN

 

[TrySomethingNew]

What about Lyft or Uber? I have used them in LA to Long Beach cruise terminal roundtrip.

Was that very expensive? I was in LA in Dec, and needed to get to DL. About 33miles one way. I got estimates from Uber and Lyft, but knew that Uber (and maybe Lyft) will have times they increase fares based on demand, but I could not find further info or cost estimate. The base price was on the higher side (partly due to the distance) so it made me concerned for the cost if they were to apply an up-charge, and I needed to travel at busy (potentially higher demand times). Due to the uncertainty I ended up going with a fixed fee transport company.
Anyway, the convenience of Uber and Lyft is certainly great! Only other word of caution is to make sure that Uber and/or Lyft can pick up/drop off at the airports. They are not allowed at all airports, but their respective sites will tell you what airports they can pickup and drop off at -and where the drivers will meet you.

 

[c todd]

You could look at Super shuttle also. If you decide to go the cab route, call yellow cab and ask if there is a flat rate or zone rate to the port. There may be a zone rate that is much less than the meter and it's fixed so traffic won't effect the rate. Cab drivers don't want passengers to know that and traffic to Galveston has potential to be very bad depending on time of day and if there's an accident.

 

[2prettygirl]

We are using Galveston Express. The rate is $45 for adults and $35 for child, that is round trip price, which isn't bad. We are flying in day before our cruise, shuttle is picking us up at airport, taking us to our hotel in Galveston, then picking us up at the port on debarkation day. We are taking a taxi from hotel to port day of cruise. This was the most affordable thing I could do for our family of 4.

 

[Happy100]

Was that very expensive? I was in LA in Dec, and needed to get to DL. About 33miles one way. I got estimates from Uber and Lyft, but knew that Uber (and maybe Lyft) will have times they increase fares based on demand, but I could not find further info or cost estimate. The base price was on the higher side (partly due to the distance) so it made me concerned for the cost if they were to apply an up-charge, and I needed to travel at busy (potentially higher demand times). Due to the uncertainty I ended up going with a fixed fee transport company.
Anyway, the convenience of Uber and Lyft is certainly great! Only other word of caution is to make sure that Uber and/or Lyft can pick up/drop off at the airports. They are not allowed at all airports, but their respective sites will tell you what airports they can pickup and drop off at -and where the drivers will meet you.

It cost $35 Each way for a van that fit 5 adults. Totally worth it and I think much cheaper then other options. You are correct about the airports, not all are onboard with allowing them to pick up but you can do drop off at any airport. I have never experienced an add on due to peak times so can't comment in that.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

It cost $35 Each way for a van that fit 5 adults. Totally worth it and I think much cheaper then other options. You are correct about the airports, not all are onboard with allowing them to pick up but you can do drop off at any airport. I have never experienced an add on due to peak times so can't comment in that.

Wow! That was a good price! Maybe a shorter distance than the 33miles I had put in-both sites were giving me higher amounts. But Uber and Lyft can be great for convenience!

 

[Happy100]

Wow! That was a good price! Maybe a shorter distance than the 33miles I had put in-both sites were giving me higher amounts. But Uber and Lyft can be great for convenience!

LAX to Long Beach is 25 miles one way approx time it took was 45 to 60 mins each way. We did encounter some traffic.

 

[SonicGuy]

We took a cab. From Hobby to Galveston it was around $100 for our family of 5. On the way back it was closer to $120. One-way car rentals are prohibitive because Enterprise (the only car rental agency on the island) charges a steep drop-off fee.


MUN

Yeah - the drop off fee is over $100. Plus the enterprise lot doesn't have a shuttle back to the terminal - if you do a one way rental.

 

[Happy100]

http://www.galvestoncruisetips.com/...st-got-cheaper-uber-lyft-approved-in-houston/

Looks like you could do Uber.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Problem with taxis or anything that is effected by traffic levels, the stretch from Houston to Galveston can be really really bad depending on day/time. Plus it's under construction. Has been for like 3 years now. Will continue to be for the next year or more. Coming from Hobby can be as long as an hour right now but it's going to be getting longer. From Bush Intercontinental can be hours.

I think people who are suggesting renting a car are saying to park it then drive it back, skipping the drop off surcharge. If you do drive yourself I'd suggest a stop at the Texas City Buc-ee's. It's a Texas thing. The exit is for Holland Rd. My son is thinking its exit 17 or 18. I don't know by numbers. I know by roads.

 

[JenniferAnneRN]

We are using Galveston Express. The rate is $45 for adults and $35 for child, that is round trip price, which isn't bad. We are flying in day before our cruise, shuttle is picking us up at airport, taking us to our hotel in Galveston, then picking us up at the port on debarkation day. We are taking a taxi from hotel to port day of cruise. This was the most affordable thing I could do for our family of 4.

What hotel are you staying at and does it have transportation to the port?

 

[kimkreis]

We stayed at an airport near Hobby that had port transportation (both ways) as part of the rate. Worked great for us.

 

[Ofinn]

We rented a car for 200.00 out of IAH. We stayed at the Hilton in Galveston which offered free parking and free shuttle to port and back to your car. I believe we paid 90.00 plus tax for the room. Hotel was nice. We got into Houston about 2pm on a Thursday. We didn't hit any traffic. The drive was about 90 minutes. I rented the car through Costco. You have to diligently check prices starting at

2 to 3 months out. There is always a sweet spot where prices drop significantly. It's hard to predict when, but its the same for every city I've rented a car from. Good luck. Despite the transportation issues I found it one of the least expensive and easiest ports to cruise out of.

 

[bcwife76]

We rented a car for 200.00 out of IAH. We stayed at the Hilton in Galveston which offered free parking and free shuttle to port and back to your car. I believe we paid 90.00 plus tax for the room. Hotel was nice. We got into Houston about 2pm on a Thursday. We didn't hit any traffic. The drive was about 90 minutes. I rented the car through Costco. You have to diligently check prices starting at

2 to 3 months out. There is always a sweet spot where prices drop significantly. It's hard to predict when, but its the same for every city I've rented a car from. Good luck. Despite the transportation issues I found it one of the least expensive and easiest ports to cruise out of.

This is very helpful information, thank you!!

 

[MUN]

Yeah - the drop off fee is over $100. Plus the enterprise lot doesn't have a shuttle back to the terminal - if you do a one way rental.

The people at Enterprise explained they are not allowed by the Port to drop people off at the Port. Our hotel in Galveston was walking distance to Enterprise. We had a full day in Galveston before the cruise and I walked over there to get a car. However, they do have a shuttle that would pick you up at a hotel and bring you back to their agency if you wanted to rent a car for the day. After we dropped off our rental car the morning of the cruise, we took a cab from Enterprise to the port.

MUN

 

[K8theGr8]

Thank ya'll for all the helpful information! I'll be looking into the cost comparison of Galveston Shuttle vs rental car (parked for the week). If we go Galveston Shuttle, we'll be using the free hotel shuttle to and from the port. We'll be staying at the Holiday Inn Resort close by for the day before and the day after.