I rented the 1302 condo at the Emerald for the Holiday week between Christmas Eve and New Year 2022. This was a wonderful experience. The uninterrupted view from the main family area and the master bedroom is breathtaking. You can see all the beautiful cruise and other ships as they enter and exit the port of Galveston. It also has a nice patio (with a table and 5 chairs) that expands your view to include the old historic part of the Island, cruise ship terminals, Stewart Beach, Bolivar Ferry, and the Gulf. It was also comforting to see that the Island's world-class medical facility, UTMB, is also just a quick 15-minute walk away.
The condo itself is delightful…appropriately decorated with an island theme. The two-bedroom/two-bath layout is very efficient - there is no wasted space. I was staying with my son, but the condo seems ideal for four adults or a small family. It’s a quick and easy walk to be On the BEACH and in the SURF in a matter of minutes.
My favorite “surprise” part was a custom mini office area inside the 2ndary closet ---this hidden “treasure” has a wide desk area, pull-out keyboard area, and comfortable desk chair.
As someone who “works” when I travel –this was a huge and unexpected bonus!! OH, plus there was an extra monitor, so I could use dual monitors! BTW – the WIFI was excellent –stable and as far as I could tell very high speed.
The unit includes FREE access to HULU, NETFLIX, HBO movies, and more ---we did not get to take advantage of all of the TV options as it was football playoff season during our stay.
I judge a place by the bathrooms ---both of which were clean and comfortable….
The primary bath had a big, walk-in shower; the secondary had a deep bathtub shower combo.
As a cook, the kitchen had EVERYTHING I needed and more. The refrigerator is much better than I have at home! (and there was a stackable washer and dryer in the unit).
As I often travel solo, I am concerned about personal safety ---I felt extremely safe here ---there are key- fobs to access all areas, including the garage area.
The COMMONS area is also 5 Star---the 6th-floor amenities area includes a super friendly and helpful concierge staff, access to the beautiful outdoor heated pool (with a great view of the GULF), hot tub, multiple gas grills, and a large patio area. There is also a very large gym; separate game room; theater, and other beautifully decorated common areas.
The location is exceptional --- at the end of Broadway (the main road from the mainland) and intersects Sea Wall Blvd (a 20-mile stretch of unique beaches, restaurants, etc. ).
There is no need for a car as you can walk to the beach and nearby restaurants and because of Emerald's central location, you can Uber to the Strand (where most of the nightlife is) for about the same expense as you might pay for convenient parking.
This property is a quiet property –
Overall, I rate the 1302 condo and the Emerald both 5 stars.