Port Parking — Attraction in Galveston

Oh boy, where do I even start with this experience? I'm writing this review because I feel like people need to know what they might be walking into at Port Parking Lot 1 in Galveston. So here's the deal my family and I (that's me, my husband, and our two daughters ages 9 and 10) were heading out on a cruise June 12th. We had our car parked at Port Parking with reservation, and honestly, I was pretty excited about the whole trip. That excitement got crushed pretty quickly though. When we got there around 11:45 AM, it was raining - not just a little drizzle, but actual rain that was getting us all soaked. Now, my husband was loaded down with four bags plus a shoulder bag, so he literally couldn't help the rest of us. My two daughters were clearly struggling with their luggage. I mean, VISIBLY struggling, and I was having my own battle with my bags too. Enter Josh, the porter who I guess was supposed to help passengers get their bags to the shuttle. This guy walked right past my daughters not once, not twice, but THREE times to help other passengers who happened to be white and had way fewer bags than we did. The third time, he literally almost knocked me over rushing to help yet another white lady. It was like we were completely invisible to him. My youngest daughter, who's autistic, kept asking me "Why is he being so mean to us, Mommy?" and honestly, I didn't know what to tell her. It broke my heart because she could clearly see what was happening, and kids notice everything, you know? Fast forward to June 16th when we're coming back from our cruise around 9:35 AM. Guess what? Same thing all over again. Josh is just sitting there in a chair with his coworker, watching our family of four struggle with nine bags, and he doesn't move a muscle. But the second a white person shows up needing help? Up he jumps. Like the song Criss Cross - he JUMPED JUMPED Now here's where the story gets better - Willie. This man saw what was happening and literally SPRINTED from the other side of the garage to help us. I had hurt my foot, and Willie insisted on taking my bags completely and walking them all the way to our car. He was friendly, respectful, and everything a customer service representative should be. He restored a little bit of my faith in humanity that day. The shuttle driver "Cowboy Bob" was also absolutely amazing - kind, informative, and even let my girls stay on the shuttle because it was raining and he didn't want them getting too wet. But here's the thing - one good employee and one great shuttle driver don't make up for the blatant discrimination we experienced from Josh. This wasn't just poor customer service; this was targeted, obvious bias that my children witnessed and were hurt by. What we experienced was unacceptable and honestly, probably illegal. I will never use this parking service again, and I'll be telling everyone I know about this experience. Fix this problem, Port Parking, because this is 2025 and there's no excuse for this kind of treatment. All money and tips are green - and ask Willie or Cowboy Bob - we...

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

My wife and I have used this parking lot/garage twice this year, and both times we were extremely satisfied. The folks that work there are extremely friendly and professional, as they are polite and they make sure to "gently" load and unload the luggage.

The parking structure is likely a warehouse/factory previously, and these folks turned it into a parking garage, which is genius! We chose this parking lot to ensure our vehicle is safe and less likely to be subjected to weather damage. The parking lot/garage has shuttle service and just be sure to book it correctly during the reservation online. Should anyone decided to walk to the terminals, the walk is about 30 minutes away. (I will advise to use the shuttle as the roads are imperfect in the area!)

Special shoutout to Randy and Chad. We had Randy back in March and Chad in November, both drivers are outstanding! Tipping the driver(s) is welcomed but not required.

I saw a couple reviews saying somehow the driver(s) would "force" you to leave a review. We did not have that experience, as they are saying to leave a review if you could. There are many parking lots/garage in the area, it makes sense that a review goes a long way, but by no means is the review forced upon the patrons.

I also recommend to reserve the parking as early as you can, the parking rates does change just like many other places in the area. As much as I wish they would not do this, it is a convenience fee for us as a customer. I would recommend signing up their loyalty program as you get discounts, and earn points toward future parking.

I WILL HIGHLY RECOMMEND Port Parking to anyone who is looking to park...

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE BY JACK CALVIN

We recently used the port parking at 600 Harborside Dr., and our experience was outstanding from start to finish. The booking process was seamless, and the front desk staff were incredibly friendly, even calling us to inform us of their closing time. They assisted with our luggage and provided clear return instructions, ensuring a smooth exit.

Our shuttle driver, Jack Calvin, truly went above and beyond. When our car wouldn’t start, Jack immediately jumped into action. He helped us with a jumper, but even after that, the car was still having issues. Jack patiently waited with us, hoping the car would start. After dropping off another set of passengers, he returned to check on us.

Despite our car rental company, Avis, being unable to provide a solution, our resort would have been to find another travel option with lot of luggage and additional time spent. But Jack didn’t give up. He remembered encountering a similar issue before and suggested a fix. Although we lacked the necessary tools, Jack asked his manager who was making round for the tools and helped us resolve the problem. Thanks to his service, our car started working, and we were able to continue our journey.

Jack’s dedication and willingness to go the extra mile saved our day. He waited with us until everything was sorted, demonstrating exceptional customer service. We are incredibly grateful for his help and wish him all the best. Kudos to port parking for having such wonderful people...