A Singular Stay

Superior accommodations and personalized service keep guests of The Villas at San Luis Resort coming back for more.

 luxury vacation is about more than the destination. The accommodations can be equally important, and in some cases, may even enhance the experience to such an extent that guests find it difficult to leave.

At The Villas, for example, a secluded, private oasis on the property of The San Luis Resort, guests receive such thoughtful, personalized treatment that many choose to extend their stays well beyond their original reservations.

“We’re very proud of the fact that 90 percent of our clientele are repeat visitors,” says Villas Coordinator Danielle Stovall. “And nine times out of 10, our guests decide to extend their stays because of the attention that they’re given while they are here. They’re not ready to go home.”

This level of care begins even before they check in. When guests make a reservation, Stovall takes preemptive measures to learn what’s bringing them to the Island so the staff can cater to their needs upon arrival.

“Anyone can give you customer service, but we create an experience, and each one is unique,” she said.

Stovall offers the example of one couple who stayed at The Villas and had planned to go to Aruba for their 15th anniversary. But they couldn’t travel because of COVID. So The Villas staff brought Aruba to them with tropical flowers throughout the room, a steel drum band playing throughout their stay, and even a little cake in the shape of a hut on a beach in Aruba.

Staff have changed their schedules to meet the needs of guests from different time zones, and they have also worked with the chef to create authentic meals, such as Middle Eastern cuisine to remind them of home.

Guests know they are in for something special the moment they set foot on the property: They are greeted with Champagne or a cocktail of their choice at The Villas exclusive check-in desk. They are then directed to their lavish, spacious room, which not only provides easy beach access but the exclusive use of a temperature-controlled pool shared only by guests of the five villas.

The rooms themselves are luxurious, featuring a light color palette, chandeliers, specially designed linens that are monogrammed with guests’ initials, and state-of-the-art amenities including a Bluetooth system that connects to the music on guests’ phones. Each room is prepped with small gifts, including light snacks, Godiva chocolate-dipped Oreos, a beach bag and shirts, and something personalized to make it truly unique.

Guests have access to all of the amenities of the resort, which include a gym, three restaurants, two boutiques and a gift shop, as well as a golf cart to ferry them back and forth. However, if they don’t want to venture out to a resort restaurant or boutique, that’s no problem because everything from dinner to jewelry to clothing can be brought to them, including fresh coffee from the Starbucks at the resort.

“We take care of everything so that they can just sit back and relax,” Stovall says, adding that Villas guests also have access to a private bartender and concierge during their stay.

Other amenities of the property include private cabanas, spa services (with some services offered exclusively to Villas guests), and a 15-minute ride down the seawall at sunset in The Villas’ Bentley. Guests who want to explore Galveston also find that they have priority at local restaurants.

“Everything is personalized and modified to fit each individual guest,” Stovall says. “The level of service here is completely different from what you receive from most hotels: We take it up quite a few notches.”

Where to Shop Around Galveston

Trip Trinkets

Don’t return home without a sweet souvenir or an unexpected treasure from one of these local shops.

destroyed the Island town of Galveston, this resilient community got creative about protecting itself. They built a seawall and in doing so, they also created a thriving recreational venue. The seawall is the longest continuous sidewalk in the United States—perfect for human-powered recreation such as running, biking, skating and more. It’s also a hot spot for shopping, with Seawall Boulevard being home to a host of local shops where you’ll find everything you need for a day at the beach and the keepsakes you’ll want to commemorate your Galveston getaway. Spend a day perusing these troves for the perfect treasures.

Murdochs

Although the building has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times (1900 the great storm, 1909; 1915; 1961, Carla; and 2008, Ike) and several times damaged, Murdochs has persisted as Galveston’s iconic souvenir shop for more than 100 years—but it’s so much more. Of course, this place is overflowing with gifts, collectibles, T-shirts, coral, shells, books and more. And you’ll find anything you need for a day at the beach, from flip-flops to sunglasses, towels to sunscreen. But Murdochs also serves food and drinks, so you might want to sit and relax for a bit. You can enjoy the store’s back deck over the water with stunning views including the nearby Pleasure Pier.

Dolphin World

Dolphin World is truly a one-stopshop for visitors to the island. Not only can you fill up on gas, but you can also rent a golf cart or order pizza, shrimp and burgers to go. You can pick up ice, food and groceries in their convenience store as well as pick up souvenirs for the return trip home. They have everything from t-shirts to caps to shells to body boards, jewelry, collectibles and more. (409) 762-2714

Ohana Surf & Skate

This is not your everyday souvenir shop—this is a mecca for those who live, eat, breathe and sleep the surf and skate life, just like the owner, William “Boog” Cram. He says you’ll get more than just a new board when you shop Ohana: You’ll get an education. “We help you select a board, set it up and build it out with accessories or components,” he says. The shop is strategically located near Pleasure Pier and the city’s skatepark. Ohana carries all the popular brands associated with surf and skate culture such as Volcom, but it also has Ohana-branded products. This is the go-to spot for rentals and lessons (with a reservation). And if you’re visiting for the summer, they offer kids camps for children ages 6 to 15.

Kites Unlimited

If it moves in the wind, Kites Unlimited surely has it. Kites are the store’s bread and butter, with prices that range from $4 to more than $700 and from the size of your hand to 100 feet long. But kites are not all you’ll discover here. The store offers flags, flagpoles, yard decor, wind chimes, wind sculptures, toys, windsocks, ground spinners, doormats and so much more. Stephen Newberry, the store’s owner, is the foremost authority and kite expert on the Gulf Coast and has owned the business for more than 40 years. “When visitors go to Galveston Island,” he says, “they need to do two things: Walk on the beach, and walk on the beach with a kite.”