The Tremont House in a Nutshell:
Downtown's leading hotel and a member of the Historic Hotels of America, The Tremont House has withstood Galveston's devastating hurricanes to become a hub for the revitalized city. Located inside the Strand District, it's within walking distance to the harbor, restaurants, and galleries.
Guest Rooms at The Tremont House:
Guest rooms and suites with twelve-foot ceilings are decorated in black and white, with pin-striped wallpaper and complementary tiles in the bathrooms. Wicker furniture evokes an Old-South ambiance. Bathrobes and slippers, along with free wi-fi, are provided. A widescreen Phillips TV features movies, cable, and Showtime programs. Bathtubs are standard white with in-tub showers.
Dining at The Tremont House:
The informal in-house cafe serves from 6:30 am to 10 pm. A breakfast panini stuffed with applewood smoked bacon, scrambled eggs, sliced avocado, tomato, and smoked gouda got the day off to a great start. And thanks to the hotel's downtown harbor location, there are many other dining choices within walking distance, from Luigi's Italian restaurant (tell the kitchen to go easy on the sauce) to the Olympia Grill at Pier 21, for Greek fare. End the night with cocktails at the lobby's handsome wood-carved bar or ride the elevator up to the romantic open-air rooftop bar where views overlook the city in three directions.
Weddings at The Tremont House:
With some of the largest event spaces in Galveston, The Tremont House can host weddings big and small. Light floods into the Ann Milligan Gray Room thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, and the large Tremont Ballroom can be gussied up in Victorian splendor or any other bridal theme. The horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping around The Strand Historic District are a nice local touch, and they can convey a couple to their Tremont House wedding reception in vintage style. Contemporary couples can host their reception in the casual, wood-planked, open-air Rooftop Bar, recipient of Gulf breezes.
Honeymoons and Romance at The Tremont House:
The Tremont House is managed by Wyndham hotels and offers the brand's "Sweet Escape" Package. It includes overnight accommodations for two adults, a chilled bottle of Domaine Chandon Champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and breakfast for two from either room service or the lobby cafe. Wyndham also offers a "Honeymoon Exclusive" package that gives couples who book five nights at any of its hotels two additional nights at the same property during their stay free.
Activities at The Tremont House:
The Tremont House has a fitness center that's open 24/7 and accessible by keycard. Guests who want to spend time on the other side of the island have signing privileges at sister resort Hotel Galvez, which is located across from the beach. A complimentary shuttle travels between the two. At Hotel Galvez there's a spa and meditation garden, heated outdoor swimming pool with a swim-up bar, and dining at Bernardo's (Sunday brunch is a bountiful feast not to be missed).
Nearby The Tremont House:
The Strand, with its eateries, boutiques, and souvenir shops; Postoffice Street, with its art galleries; and the cruise ship harbor, with its tourist attractions, are all within walking distance. So is the Grand 1894 Opera House, of which Galvestonians are rightfully proud. Things we particularly enjoyed were the old-fashioned sweets shop on The Strand, "The Great Storm" film about the devastating 1900 Galveston hurricane; and the Baywatch Dolphin Tour. Galveston Bay isn't pretty; the water is murky and the perimeter ringed by rusty oil rigs and other eyesores. Yet the dolphins don't mind and it's fun to watch them.
Drawbacks at The Tremont House:
The black-hopsack-upholstered furniture in our Bougainvillea Suite was beyond tired; springs in the chairs and couch are shot. (In other rooms, we did see more updated furniture.) The free in-room wi-fi was undependable. And late at night, light sleepers may hear the circa-1879 building creak.
The Tremont House Info and Reservations:
Romantic couples who want to be downtown (pre- or post-cruise perhaps, or coming to Galveston for an event such as Art Walk or Mardi Gras) will appreciate The Tremont House's convenient location and historic bona fides.
The Tremont House
2300 Ships Mechanic Row
Galveston, Texas 77550
Phone: 409-763-0300
Official Hotel Web Site
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As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations and a meal for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
