TownePlace Suites Galveston Island

Towne Place Suites is housed in a condo-style, three-story building. The interior is bright and welcoming, with bold-red accents and patterns on the carpet, and window benches. There's a small seating area in the lobby in front of the free coffee and tea dispensers, along with a display of drinks and snacks. The breakfast room is just beyond the entrance, with a self-serve buffet of breakfast fare and a seating area of comfortable four-top tables of blonde wood. Overall, the look -- with its wall-to-wall carpet, light-wood furnishings, and recessed lighting -- is purely a chain-hotel aesthetic, but it's not unpleasant. The freeform pool, paired with shaded benches under a stripped awning, is one of the hotel's most attractive spots to linger; it's shared with the sister hotel next door.

Situated on the western portion of Galveston Island, the Marriott-owned TownePlace Suites sits behind the Marriott Courtyard, across the street from a rocky beach. On the other side is undeveloped land. There aren't many businesses within easy walking distance of the hotel besides a Go Kart and Fun Center, which are down the road. Moody Gardens is a six-minute drive from the hotel, while downtown Galveston is within a 10-minute drive. Jamaica Beach is about a 15-minute drive in one direction, and Steward Beach is the same distance in the opposite direction. This hotel is about an hour's drive to downtown Houston, and an hour and 15-minute drive to George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Rooms range from studios to two-bedroom suites. All are spacious and designed for extended stays. Kitchenettes have stainless steel refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, two-burner stove tops, coffeemakers, sinks, utensils, and dishes. The one- and two-bedroom suites have four-burner stoves with ovens. All rooms have four-top wooden dining tables, at least one plush armchair, Marriott-standard mattresses, a couple of generically cheerful wall prints, and small vases with fresh flowers. There's at least one large flat-screen TV in every room, and free Wi-Fi throughout. Although the hotel is across the street from the ocean, not many rooms have waterfront views -- most look out on the grassy open space behind the hotel. Average-size bathrooms have attractive granite countertops, shower/tub combos, and Paul Mitchell hair products.

Guests are greeted to coffee and tea dispensers in the lobby, as well as a wall displaying drinks and snacks. The free continental breakfast, served in the lobby's breakfast room, includes juice, cereal, fresh fruit, and oatmeal. A computer and printer in the corner is for guests' use. A small fitness room with a pair of treadmills, a stationary bike, weight bench, and free weights is open 24 hours a day. The hotel shares its beautiful outdoor pool -- flanked by palm trees with a rustic rock feature on one end -- with the sister Courtyard hotel next door. Outdoor parking and Wi-Fi are both free. There's also coin-operated laundry machines and a shop selling snacks and drinks. Pets are allowed for an extra fee.