The San Luis Resort is the perfect spot for a romantic getaway with your sweetheart. This resort has a wide variety of suites and rooms all perfect for relaxing and reconnecting with your sweetie. The resort's elegant design and lush surroundings create the perfect setting to rekindle the flame. Indulge in the full-service Spa San Luis, lounge by the tropical pool with a swim-up bar, or savor culinary delights at one of the on-site restaurants.
I booked our rooms nearly four months in advance, and by the time taxes and fees were added, each room was close to $700 per night. At that price point, the rooms simply don’t reflect the luxury experience the rest of the resort promises.
I’ve stayed at the San Luis several times over the years, including in 2015, and to my surprise, much of the furniture appears to be the same. It already looked tired back then, and unfortunately, it hasn’t improved. I returned last year hoping renovations had taken place, but the rooms remain largely unchanged.
The wear is noticeable, wobbly lamps, rust on lamp bases and bathroom fixtures, mildew around some of the air vents, and peeling furniture. I understand the challenges of maintaining a beachfront property, but these are details guests shouldn’t notice at luxury resort prices.
It feels as though the investment has gone into the stunning lobby, restaurants, pool, and public spaces, while the one place guests come to rest and recharge has been overlooked. A luxury resort should feel luxurious from check-in until you turn out the lights.
What makes it even more surprising is that the same ownership has created world-class properties like The Post Oak Hotel in Houston. They clearly understand luxury hospitality, which is why I hope they bring that same level of care and investment to the San Luis guest rooms.
The San Luis still has the best resort atmosphere, restaurants, and amenities on Galveston Island. But after seeing the beautifully renovated rooms at the Hotel Galvez, I’ll likely continue visiting the San Luis to dine and enjoy the property while choosing the Galvez when it’s time to spend the night.
I booked a penthouse corner suite for a week, planning to get some focused work done on an accreditation project before my husband and kids joined me for beach/pool time. First impression walking in — the lobby smells amazing and the suite itself was beautiful. But a few things really need to be addressed.
The flooding issue: We had a major storm while I was there, and water came through the floor by the door — my entire floor was soaked. Nobody from the hotel came to check on it or help clean it up. I ended up using my own fan to try to dry things out myself, and it left the room smelling off for the rest of my stay. For a resort at this price point, that response time (or lack of one) just isn’t acceptable.
Sizing at the gift shop: I went to buy a swimsuit and found only XS, S, and M available. When I asked about larger sizes, I was told the shop intentionally limits ordering larger sizes. One of the staff members even mentioned she’d been told not to gain weight herself. That’s a pretty concerning policy for a resort serving guests of all sizes, and it needs to change.
Laundry service: Because of the flooding, some of my clothes on the floor got wet and needed washing. I dropped laundry off at 8:30am and was told 1-2 hours — I didn’t get it back until 4:30pm. I wasn’t there to party, I genuinely needed those clothes to work in. On top of the wait, the supervisor I dealt with seemed irritated that I was even asking, which made an already frustrating situation worse.
Getting around: I asked about the golf carts and was told there was nobody to bring one to me or get me where I needed to go. The manager did get valet to help me but man it’s like why do I need a managers help.
Manager conversation: I asked to speak with a manager (a bigger gentleman—himself, I want to say Barry or Dustin) and explained everything above. For what you pay to stay here — supposedly the nicest resort on Galveston — the service just didn’t match the price tag. He was kind and helpful.
The “included” activity: There’s an activity advertised, but it’s actually a paid $25 add-on through the little shop, not something complimentary. NO ONE SAYS THIS!!! The setup for it also felt thrown together — paint everywhere, not well organized for families trying to enjoy it.
Other notes: There’s a parrot kept outside in the lobby as a bit of an attraction, which honestly felt a little sad to see. He don’t look happy
Bottom line: the property smells incredible and looks stunning on the surface, but once you dig a little deeper, there are real gaps in service, responsiveness, and inclusivity that need attention.
I’d hoped for better given the price point and reputation. This is my honest opinion.
During our stay, we encountered several issues. We had requested that our luggage be divided between two rooms, but all items were delivered to one room, and we needed to move them ourselves to another floor. At check-in, we were informed that a discounted rate could not be applied to one of the rooms due to hotel policy, despite the occupant qualifying.
We were also charged a resort fee that included access to amenities such as the outdoor pool and lounge area, which were not available during our stay due to a private event, as well as Wi-Fi service that we experienced as intermittent. We requested a pack-and-play at check-in, but it was not delivered until several hours later and only after a follow-up call.
Food pricing was also higher than expected. For example, we were charged $10 for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with fries for a child, which felt high for what was provided.
At checkout, while managing luggage with toddlers and a disabled member of our party, we did not receive assistance from staff in transporting bags to the shuttle area. We had confirmed a cruise shuttle pickup time of 11:25 am at both check-in and check-out; however, by 11:45 am the shuttle had still not arrived, and it did not show up until closer to 12:00 pm despite multiple calls to the front desk.
Finally, we were told that a manager would follow up regarding these concerns, but we did not receive a call.
Given this experience, I also informed our travel agent so they are aware when making future recommendations.
Based on our experience, we would choose to stay elsewhere in the future.
UPDATE: No one from the hotel has reached out still, and I e-mailed the Landry customer services folks below without a response to date. Unfortunately, in my opinion, they seem to be more than happy to take money without fixing issues with their service.
The room was clean and nice, though dated. The bed wasn't particularly comfortable and there weren't enough outlets by the beds for our phones, but it was a minor issue. The view out of our balcony was incredible, gorgeous sunrise view over the Gulf, only slightly marred by the oil rigs on the horizon.
The shower was amazing, super high water pressure.
The pool and spa areas looked awesome and clean, though we didn't use them.
The pool area is gorgeous, and I especially enjoy renting the round beds to lounge in the sun. The cabanas are also a great option for a more private and relaxing experience. The entire property is beautifully maintained and well-groomed.
A special mention to Jon Paul, who manages The Steakhouse—he is truly outstanding. His active involvement in every aspect of the restaurant is impressive, and I was amazed that he remembered us from years ago. The food at The Steakhouse is some of the best I’ve had in a long time. As a 5-star restaurant in my book, I hold it to high standards, and they never disappoint.
Without a doubt, the next time we’re in Texas, we’ll be staying at the San Luis again!
5222 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77551
