Seawall, Galveston

Hotel Lucine

★★★★★

Hotel Lucine is the stylish choice on Galveston's Seawall, and the hotel that made the island feel newly fashionable for weekend escapes from Houston. It occupies the former Treasure Isle Motel at 1002 Seawall Boulevard, at the eastern end of the Seawall, directly across from the beach and the jetty and a short walk from the Pleasure Pier, and its renovation turned a tired roadside property into a 61-room boutique hotel with a relaxed, retro-coastal design. The rooms are compact and stylish, arranged around a courtyard and pool that is open from morning until late evening and heated in winter, which makes the hotel appealing year-round. Food and drink are a big part of the experience. The Fancy, an American restaurant with Gulf views, serves breakfast daily and dinner several nights a week, and it has become a destination for Houston visitors as well as guests. The Den offers light bites and drinks and stays open late on Friday and Saturday nights. The Rooftop bar has wide views over the Gulf and live music on weekends, a memorable place for sunset drinks. The hotel is pet friendly, and check-in and checkout times are flexible when possible. Hotel Lucine is part of the Mr and Mrs Smith collection, which is now part of Hyatt. The drawbacks are those of a converted motel and a busy boulevard: rooms are not large, Seawall traffic can be noisy, and the hotel is lively on weekends, so light sleepers should ask for a quieter room.

Book a room with a Gulf view if you can, and reserve dinner at The Fancy in advance on weekends, when it fills with guests and day visitors. Spend a morning on the beach across the boulevard, an afternoon by the heated pool and the evening on the rooftop for sunset. In summer, weekends sell out early and rates rise; fall and spring offer milder weather and better value.

The location makes it easy to explore the island. The Pleasure Pier and the Seawall promenade are within walking distance, the Strand and the historic downtown are a short drive north, and Bishop's Palace and the East End Historic District are close by. Moody Gardens is about fifteen minutes west along the Seawall. Parking is available, and Galveston is about an hour from Houston, so the hotel works well as a weekend escape or a stop before or after a cruise.

Hotel Lucine suits couples, friends and design-minded travelers who want a lively, stylish beach weekend. Families with young children may prefer a larger resort with more space and facilities, and travelers who want history and walkable dining should consider the Tremont House on the Strand. Compared with the big Seawall chain hotels, Lucine offers character, a restaurant worth a trip and a social atmosphere.