Beautiful Family Weekend At The San Luis Resort Galveston, TX

Lately, I have been traveling a bit more for work. Which I absolutely love but I sometimes feel a bit of mommy guilt when I leave my family for several days. Does anyone else feel this way with work trips?

To make up for all my recent work trips, I decided I wanted to plan a weekend family trip. Seems fairly easy and straightforward, right?? Not really. Maybe some of you can relate to this but planning for a family of 5, is a bit more challenging with older kids. Between work, school, and school sports, our schedules are all over the place. Also, another challenge of mine is that I have 2 teens and a tween. There is a 5-6 year age difference between the older two and youngest. So sometimes accommodating them with age-appropriate activities can be tricky too.

With all that said, I was on a mission to plan something fun that didn’t require flying and wasn’t more than a 2hour drive for us. I googled family resorts in Houston, TX and that’s when The San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center came up in my search. It offered everything I was looking for in a beautiful family weekend getaway. Also, full disclosure: An additional bonus to planning a trip here was I also was able to partner up with them for this trip. In exchange, I would share my experience with you.

Where is the San Luis Resort in Texas?

The San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center is a year-round ocean-front resort on Galveston Island. It’s about 80 miles south of Houston, TX. The property is 32-acres and offers so much to do. This is why it makes for a great spot for weddings, meetings, family trips, and romantic getaways.

The hotel offers guest rooms, suites, and villas. If you are looking for something super romantic and secluded I would highly recommend the villas for a couple’s getaway. You can view room options, HERE.

The San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center has also been a recipient of the AAA Four-Diamond Award® since 1999. It was also the resort that American Idol 2012 auditions were held in. Ryan Seacrest and J.Lo stayed on the property.

What to do at San Luis in Galveston?

The San Luis Resort Spa

Spa San Luis offers a variety of different spa treatments. Aromatic facials, massages, pedicures, body treatments, and hydrotherapies. They do offer in-room or poolside massages but since Covid, they haven’t been able to offer that. But if you are staying at the resort you may want to double-check in case that has changed since my visit. They do offer spa products for sale, a fitness center, and a full-service salon. The Spa staff does a great job helping to cater to your particular needs. They also have seasonal features available. I ended up getting the Honey Butter Restoration. It included a full body scrub, then I showered before my massage. I left with my skin feeling incredible. So soft! If you need more Spa info click HERE.

Pool/ Cabana

The outdoor pool area had a ton of lounge chairs and also private cabanas that can be reserved and rented through the front desk. Each cabana has a personal mini-fridge, ceiling fan, flat-screen TV, and it was nice to have an additional shade under the sun. The poolside waitstaff was great with making ordering drinks and food off the chef-curated menu super easy. The swim-up bar was so fun too.

For added privacy, The Cove brings four secluded cabanas with access to the resort’s private plunge pool which a smaller pool from the main one. Exclusively available for guests 21 and older. For more Cove info, click HERE.

Shopping

If you forgot to pack something or just looking to wear something new the resort has two on-site luxury boutiques. Aqua features one-of-a-kind designer accessories, swimwear, athleisure, and resort wear for women. Style & Trend carries a collection of high-end apparel and accessories for the whole family. John bought a shirt from Style& Trend that he wore to our Steakhouse dinner.

Beach

Galveston Island has 32 miles of Gulf Coast beaches. You can access the beach directly across from the resort but there are also numerous areas to access as well. Beaches are open to the public. There are facilities and concessions at the main public beaches as well as the state and county parks. The water temps are a bit chilly during the winter months. The water is typically much warmer from May through September.

San Luis Resort Dining

The Steakhouse

We heard so much about The Steakhouse that we had to try it ourselves. John and our teen son ordered the 40ounce steak! And guess what? They finished the whole thing LOL. I ordered the 8oz filet that was cooked to perfection. The Steakhouse is known for its award-winning menu featuring the finest prime beef, fresh seafood (crabcakes, scallops, salmon, tuna, etc), along an extensive wine collection. They also offer soups, salads, and chef’s specialties items. More info HERE.

Grotto

We didn’t get to try this Italian restaurant during our stay which I was bummed about. It’s known for serving up many “Old World” dishes like Trio Tomato Pappardelle, Snapper Sicilian, and did I mention they make some of their pasta in-house?! It was recommended that the next time we visit to be sure to try the Grotto’s famous Peach Bellini. More info HERE.

Blake’s Bistro

My kids LOVED eating here. Especially every morning. They offered a HUGE breakfast buffet. Everything from fresh fruit, cereals, omelets, pancakes, and a meat carving station. They also serve lunch and dinner as well (items like salads, Tex-Mex plates, burgers, etc). More info HERE.

Cup + Cone

This grab-and-go counter is right next to Blake’s Bistro. It offers sweet treats like homemade gelato, pastries, an assortment of gourmet chocolate, and Starbucks coffee. It’s a perfect stop during the day when you are looking a yummy cup of coffee or delicious treat.

Island Attractions

Pleasure Pier

Pleasure Pier was an absoulte hit with our family. It felt like something you would see in a movie. The waterfront entertainment includes all sorts of rides, games, food venues and retail shop. What I really loved about this attraction is that it felt super manageable with 3 kids. There was a little bit of everything for every age and comfort level. Price information for day passes can be found HERE. Children under 2 are free, but they will need to have a wristband.  

Rainforest Cafe

I have to been to several different Rainforest Cafe’s in the last decade BUT none of them had the Rainforest adventure ride. The Rainforest Cafe location in Galveston is the ONLY location that offers this fun 8min ride for families. It was a fun thing to do as a family and it was less than $10 a person to experience. After our ride we just had to try their Volcano dessert. John got one of their signature margaritis. It even had a light up cup!

More attractions HERE. or if you need more Galveston Island info click HERE.

If you are looking for a place to host a corporate meeting, beachfront wedding, a romantic getaway weekend for two, or a family vacation. The San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center will accommodate your needs perfectly.