The Tremont House Review: Grand Hotel Stay in Historic Downtown Galveston, Texas
While I was stepping on the plane to go to Galveston, Texas, Hurricane Florence and the devastating floods it left in its wake were dominating the headlines. It reminded me that only a year before, Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast was severely battered by Hurricane Harvey. I don’t want to downplay the impact these weather events have had on the U.S. coasts, but this is not a story about hurricanes, at least, directly.
When I booked a hotel stay at The Tremont House in Galveston’s historic downtown, I didn’t know about the area’s long history of resilience, recovery and an inevitable return to normalcy — a cycle that seems to repeat itself in this hurricane-prone region. “It’s a testament to the people who live here,” says the front desk clerk during check-in. “We have a need to make this place livable because it’s so gorgeous here.”
Galveston’s Pleasure Pier is located in the same spot the original Pleasure Pier stood from 1943 until 1961, when it was destroyed by Hurricane Carla.
Like most travelers who are looking for a trouble-free vacation, specifically during hurricane season, I was most concerned with knowing I’d have a comfortable stay, a great location and great weather. Luckily, I was able to check off all three boxes while I was at the lovely Wyndham Grand hotel property. Once I knew the forecast looked good during my visit, I could breathe a sigh of relief. As for the there two factors, The Tremont House staff took over and handled the stuff under its control: attention to detail, well-appointed rooms and friendly service.
Wyndham Grand Hotel in Galveston’s Strand Historic District
The Tremont House impresses the moment you see the huge structure spanning an entire downtown block of the historic downtown district. The building itself dates to 1879 when it was built as a storage facility for dry goods that came off the ships docking in the port town. Although The Tremont House’s name has been around since 1839—the same year Galveston was founded—the current iteration of the hotel has only existed in its current location since 1981.
The Tremont House is located at Mechanic Street and 24th. Out front is the Powell Arch, an installation piece from the 1986 Mardi Gras in Galveston, Texas.
The original version of The Tremont House succumbed to a great fire that swept through Galveston in 1865. Then, the rebuilt structure survived a 1900 hurricane that remains one of the deadliest to hit U.S. shores, only to see its glory fade away as the economy slipped into depression.
Despite Mother Nature’s efforts to wipe Galveston off the map time and time again, the islanders persevere. Talk to any one of them and you’ll discover how important the history of their community is to them, probably because they’ve had to struggled to keep it alive. That’s why The Tremont House even exists today. Galveston native George Mitchell and his wife, Cynthia, helped preserve several of the old buildings in the Strand Historic District and they resurrected The Tremont House within one of them.
[ Step into history at The Tremont House. Plan your stay now. ]
Inside The Tremont House in Historic Galveston, Texas
The front entrance to The Tremont House in Galveston, Texas, is not wheelchair friendly, although there is a wheelchair lift to the left of the stairs. But because the lobby is above street level, the hotel doesn’t have as many problems with flooding from heavy rains or hurricanes.
Stepping inside, be prepared to climb a set of stairs into the lobby. Once inside, take a look at the bright and airy atrium filled with tall palm trees and porch furniture. The hotel exudes a modern elegance that’s classy without being pretentious. Jazz music fills the air. It’s piped in during my midweek stay, but on Friday and Saturday nights, hotel guests are treated to live music.
Tucked away in the corner is the Toujouse Bar. The bar itself, made of mahogany, dates to 1888. Although it’s not original to the building, it’s designed to look as if it’s been there since the beginning. Exposed brick walls reveal the bones of the building and really reinforce the historic interest of the building.
The Tremont House has a bright and airy central atrium filled with tall palm trees and porch furniture.
What to expect when booking at The Tremont House
Even the elevator has a a view of the atrium as I ride to the second floor. I’m blown away when I enter my stately guest room with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Mechanic Street and the famous Mardi Gras Arch. Looking around, I feel like I’ve been ushered into my room at a southern plantation home and not a 119-room hotel in downtown Galveston. If I could guess, I would swear the ceiling stretched as high as two stories, but perhaps it’s more like 20 feet. The wallpaper with vertical black stripes makes it look even higher. The décor is traditional but not stodgy. The wood floors are covered by an area rug, an armoire hides the television and two wicker porch chairs would be well suited for a wraparound porch if this really were a mansion.
Guest rooms on the second and third floors of The Tremont House have tall floor-to-ceiling windows that let in natural light. My room had a view of the Mardi Gras Arch.
The bathroom shower had good pressure and was hot when I first turned it on. In an old building like this one, I assumed (wrongly) that it might take some time for the water to warm up. After the shower, I could have wrapped myself with a warm towel that hung from the heated towel bar, but it was not needed during my stay in late September.
[ Imagine yourself at The Tremont House now. ]
Swim or Get a Massage at The Hotel Galvez & Spa
The Tremont House doesn’t have a pool or a spa, but its sister property Hotel Galvez & Spa does. If I had been in Galveston more than just one night, I would have taken advantage of both since The Tremont House extends guest privileges to the other property, which is located across from the beach.
Bring a car to the Tremont House in Galveston, Texas? Here’s a tip:
Although valet was available at The Tremont House, I took advantage of the street parking right in front of the hotel behind the valet sign. Although I didn’t notice right away, there are pay stations in the next block, where you note your license plate and pay $1.50 per hour with cash or credit card. It’s free from 6 p.m. until 9 a.m. the next morning.
Top 4 things to do when you stay at The Tremont House in Galveston:
1. If you’re staying at The Tremont House, you can’t miss the Powell Arch that stands at the corner with 24th Street. The brightly-lit structure, designed for the 1986 Mardi Gras celebrations, continues to bring a year-round carnival-like atmosphere to the street.
The front windows of The Tremont House in Galveston, Texas, overlook the Powell Arch, designed for the 1986 Mardi Gras celebration.
2. Zip E Bikes, located right across the street from The Tremont House, is a great way to see the sights around the island. This was the first time I’ve been on an electric bike and I was amazed how quickly I could get around with almost no effort. Owner Seth Leo walked me through the steps to operate the e-bike and told me about a few points of interest before I set out on my own to explore the historic neighborhoods and ride along the sea wall next to the beach.
Zip E Bikes brings electric bikes to Galveston, Texas. I zipped over to Ashton Villa, a restored historic home at the corner of 24th Street and Broadway.
3. Dine around the Strand Historic District. There’s so many options within walking distance of The Tremont House. I had dinner at Hearsay, a newish gastropub that has two other locations in the Houston area. The menu features more seafood options than its sister locations, but still features a wide variety of innovative cocktails, like the Bacon Maple Manhattan.
Houston-based Hearsay opened a gastropub in Galveston, Texas, in 2018. It’s located in the Strand Historic District, only a couple blocks from The Tremont House. They are known for the cocktails, including Topless in Barbados and the Bacon Maple Bourbon Manhattan.
4. Take in the sunset from The Tremont House’s rooftop bar.
Take in the sunset and have a cocktail on The Tremont House rooftop.
There’s so much more to see and do. The Galveston Chamber of Commerce is located a block over from The Tremont House can help you plan your visit to the Texas Gulf Coast.
Far-flung Travels was hosted by the The Tremont House; however the opinions expressed here are our own.
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