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Galveston Beach, Texas pier at sunrise
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  • DestinationsUnited StatesTexasGalveston

    10 Dreamy Galveston Vacation Rentals On The Texas Gulf

    William Stupp
    August 08, 2022

    Galveston is Texas’s most popular beach getaway destination and one of the best places to enjoy the magic wrought by the mixing of the Gulf’s warm waters with the calls of its avian population. Fifty miles southeast of Houston’s city center, Galveston is a barrier island with sandy beaches on one side and an intercoastal bay rich in marine life. 

    Videos by TravelAwaits

    Heavenly beaches aside, Galveston is famous for its piers, naval bases (and, these days, naval museum), and beautiful houses, a few of which appear on the list below.

    Once famous as a den of vice populated by gamblers, rogues, and smugglers, today the island is a family-friendly destination offering all manner of enjoyable activities for visitors of all ages. Some come for the thrill of driving on the beaches, others prefer a day out fishing or a quiet afternoon on the sand.

    Accessibility Note: Given the threat of hurricanes, most houses on the island are built on stilts atop a garage or storage areas, so guests will need to climb a set of stairs to access their waterfront refuges.

    To facilitate your next beach holiday, here is a list of 10 Vrbo vacation rentals in Galveston.

    Be Here Now$1,442/nightly avg

    The name given to this beachfront estate is most appropriate, as even the most cursory look at the grounds and structure will prove. Who would want to be anywhere else? Located near the eastern tip of Galveston Island, the home is adjacent to the local beach walkover, a piece of carpentry as ornate as the house itself.

    The house rental is part of a private community and guests earn access to the communal pool. It is just minutes from grocery stores and restaurants, including Porch Cafe and many others in the island’s Strand District.

    Seen from the inside, the home looks just as grand as the ocean does from the property’s gorgeous wrap-around balconies. Highlights include opulent bathrooms and creative accouterments like ionic column coffee tables and a stylistically diverse set of chandeliers. The home has a number of living rooms, workspaces, and children’s rooms, so there really is something (and some place) for everyone.

    Dreaming of Galveston – your dream vacation awaits you
    26 reviews
    Private vacation home
    12 Guests
    5 Bedrooms
    6 Bathrooms
    Top guest reviews
    The house was absolutely stunning! Tons of room for 4 couples. The views of the beach were great. We spent every night on the porch watching the waves. My business partners and I spend a weekend in Galveston every August for the Sandcastle event at East Beach. I think we found the perfect rental. It’s very convenient to the event. Would absolutely book this house again.
    We love this property. This is our second time to stay here. We have a large range of ages, from littles to older adults. This property fits all our needs. First, it is gorgeous – really feels like we are pampering ourselves. Plenty of space for everyone to be together and have separate space when needed. Elevator for someone who needs this assistance in our group. We love being right on the beach. So close to amenities in Galveston. We will be back!
    Everyone enjoyed the shared spaces but also having enough room to enjoy privacy as well. Very laid-back feel at this place
    Very clean and very well equipped. Confusion on what bedrooms were on what floor. Worked out ok but with an infant (and or children ) it would be better for that to have been made clear. Also, bring mosquito repellent!
    We very much enjoyed our stay. Easy access to the beach and amazing views from every angle. All of the bedding and mattress’s were definitely 5 star hotel grade. everyone slept very well. We will book the house again. We highly recommend this property and the owners were more than accomadating. We give the property a 5 star rating. Book with confidence.
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    from USD 1,442
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    Water’s Edge — Designer Home In Pirate’s Beach$1,065/nightly avg

    A unique home enhances any vacation. The oceanfront Water’s Edge is one such beach house with the power to improve your trip even to as fine a destination as Galveston. Striking from inside and out, it is a luxury five-bedroom (each has ocean views) property sleeping up to 15 and includes a modern hot tub overlooking the beach.

    Pirate’s Beach is an excellent neighborhood, the perfect distance from the more crowded areas to the east. It also borders the island’s laudable state park. Another great benefit of staying at Water’s Edge is the private beach — only residents and those staying locally are permitted to enjoy its sand and surf.

    Dreaming of Galveston – your dream vacation awaits you
    86 reviews
    Private vacation home
    14 Guests
    5 Bedrooms
    3 Bathrooms
    Top guest reviews
    Everyone loved the house. Views were beautiful especially at sunrise and sunset. Well equipped kitchen. Plenty of room for 14 people. The children loved being right on the beach. We are all hoping to be able to go again.
    Location cannot be best. Literally on the beach. Huge home. Lots of space with everything you need. Special stay.
    House was great and accurately described in the listing. An initial problem with lock code, but host was available on the phone and solved the problem. Great layout for big family. Kitchen great layout. A few more microwave safe serving dishes would be helpful, but overall well stocked kitchen.
    Enjoyed spending Thanksgiving at this beautiful place with my husband and son. We had a great time – the home is very spacious and gorgeous. The hot tub was very enjoyable especially having the ocean just steps away from us! This place is one of our favorite locations. We loved it so much that we look forward to enjoying a future Holiday with my family. Also, Leah is excellent! Thank you!
    My wife and I stayed here, loved it. Very clean, directly on the beach. You can step off the lower deck onto the sand! Loved the hot tub, very romantic. Everything you need is in the house, dollar general and small store across the street from neighborhood just in case. 10 minutes from pleasure pier and all the action, but quiet beach at the house! Love it!!!
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    from USD 1,065
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    Historic Villa On The Seawall$800/nightly avg

    A house with a history, this beach view property is genuinely unique. Built one year before the devastation of the 1915 hurricane, the home has survived every storm since. It is, the owners boast, the only house which stands atop the island’s formidable seawall by virtue of its age and the pedigree of the original builder (a major investor in the island).

    It is located in a great location, central Galveston, half a mile from the famous pier. Sitting on the seawall, it is obviously quite close to the water. The home features a courtyard, a third-story deck for sunbathing, and storied furnishing. There are six queen bedrooms and a number of lofts and nooks and crannies fitted with beds, sleeping spots the youngest of guests tend to love best.

    Dreaming of Galveston – your dream vacation awaits you
    40 reviews
    Private vacation home
    16 Guests
    7 Bedrooms
    7 Bathrooms
    Top guest reviews
    Lori (property manager) was easily accessible throughout the whole process. House was well maintained and accommodating to a large group. Would rent again.
    The property is falling apart. It needs lots of renovation to say the least. Mattresses are probably from 10+ years ago and the bedroom sets are very deteriorated. The location is amazing, but this house needs a lot of work. Bathtubs were clogged, the guesthouse didn’t have AC upstairs, some of the locks don’t work, one of the couches doesn’t have any pillows, among other things. I understand the concept of the old house, but this is a lack of management issue.
    The house was big enough to accommodate my family of 17. The location of property was perfect, right across the street from beach. I knew that the house was old however I didn’t expect to see ceiling with big chuck missing inside and outside on the patio. The two apartments was not clean, we had to clean the bathroom in order to feel comfortable about using it. There was a musty smell when you entered the house for the first 2-3 days that we were there. A lots of the pictures was inappropriate with breasts showing, etc.The atrium was over grown, it could have been a relaxing area otherwise. After getting over the condition of the house we had a wonderful family vacation being with each.
    You just cannot beat this location. Beach views all day! You can rent umbrellas and chairs right in front of the property on the beach, or you can bring your own. In spite of being mid July, it was never too crowded. The owner is very responsive. Parking right on site.
    Location was great! Owners very attentive. They replaced a window unit that was makinglota of noise and not cooling well and had the A/C checked for the central system which made it work better. There were dirty towels on the washing machine when we arrived and the fridge only kept things cool, not good and cold. We ended up using the downstairs apt fridge. The dryer had no hose in the back for the airflow so we couldn’t dry anything. We went to a laundry mat at midnight to wash beach towels and house towels during our stay. But….like I said location and communication could not be beat!
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    from USD 800
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    The Pelican Perch$391/nightly avg

    A vacation home with character, The Pelican Perch is a bright blue three-story marvel. Notable features include the tower, which provides an outdoor space on every floor of the building. Whether or not you are bringing young ones with you, the home affords guests plenty of privacy.

    There are two king rooms, a queen on the floor above, and a kids’ room with two bunk beds on the highest level. Sleeping spots for two more can be arranged in the living room. Pelican Perch is characterized by its bright colors and joyful atmosphere. The home is in an upscale neighborhood a few miles west of Galveston’s center and is a short walk to the beach.

    Dreaming of Galveston – your dream vacation awaits you
    8 reviews
    Private vacation home
    12 Guests
    4 Bedrooms
    3 Bathrooms
    Top guest reviews
    The house is spacious and shows better in person than on photos. A super nice neighborhood and quiet beach.
    Great stay. Listing was as advertised. Beach access was easy.
    Great property. Very clean and nice sized bedrooms. No start up detergent for the washer but otherwise all was great. Close and convenient to the beach and good sized kitchen and balcony areas.
    This was a great spot for two families. Our favorite part was the easy beach access. We also appreciated all of the seating areas for food, games, etc.
    House was nice! Looked larger online. Very close to the beach and short drive to eating places. House could have been a little cleaner. But overall was great and I would recommend this place!
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    from USD 391
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    Penthouse On The Gulf$1,275/nightly avg

    Soar above the fray by staying in this luxurious beachfront condo. A part of the San Luis Resort, guests are granted access to all the facilities amenities, including the spa, fitness studios, and more. But everything you’ll need can also be found within the condo. Enjoy nearby shopping and the resort’s four restaurants, including the highly favored Italian fare found at Grotto.

    The beach is of course just a stone’s throw (and a long drop) from any of the penthouse’s four balconies. Suitable for up to six adults and two children, the condo is spacious and smartly furnished.

    Dreaming of – your dream vacation awaits you
    0 review
    8 Guests
    2 Bedrooms
    2 Bathrooms
    Oops, this listing is currently inactive. Check out these alternative properties in the same location!
    from USD 1,275
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    Beach Cottage Mar A Sol$598/nightly avg

    Newly opened to the public, this Jamaica Beach cottage is another great place from which to enjoy Galveston Island. Located on Jamaica Beach’s large residential marina, it is perfect for boaters and anglers. It comes with four kayaks and two underwater fishing lights. The marina leads out to the bay but Jamaica’s Gulf beach is just 5 minutes away by car (or 25 on foot).

    The home has a pristine backyard and a large deck covering the boat launch below. The home has two queen bedrooms (one of which also has a twin) and a bunk bed room, making it suitable for a family with children.

    Dreaming of Jamaica Beach – your dream vacation awaits you
    3 reviews
    Private vacation home
    6 Guests
    3 Bedrooms
    2 Bathrooms
    Top guest reviews
    We truly enjoyed our stay. The house was clean and beautifully decorated. The kitchen had everything we needed for cooking. The location was enough away from the hustle and bustle of Galveston beaches, yet an easy drive to restaurants and shopping. The owner communicated everything very well and promptly answered all my questions I had before we went. We were very happy with our stay and would definitely rent this property again!
    my only less-than-glowing review is that i don’t think the listing accurately shows how small the house is….particularly the kitchen. cooking a meal for 6 was a bit of a logistics challenge! (also, a bit of a nit, the fire pit was out of gas and we were looking forward to using it)
    This property is a perfect place for a group of 5 to 6 people. The bunk beds are in a separate location on the canal level, which isn’t an issue unless you have little kids. The whole place is clean, well stocked with essentials and well maintained.
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    from USD 598
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    My Little Sunshine$225/nightly avg

    Named for the majestic beauty of sunrises over the Gulf seen from the property’s porch, My Little Sunshine is another great place to enjoy the beaches of Galveston Island. Located on an isolated patch of land 20 miles down from the city, it is ideal for a couple or small group keen to avoid crowds.

    That said, there is a grocery store, a few restaurants, and a marina within a few miles of the property, so you don’t need to drive far to get the essentials. Enjoy direct access to the beach and all the joy that entails. The home is comfortably furnished with a full kitchen and king and queen bedrooms.

    Dreaming of Galveston – your dream vacation awaits you
    84 reviews
    Private vacation home
    2 Bedrooms
    1 Bathroom
    Top guest reviews
    Nice
    It is a cute house with access to the beach. The pictures were misleading to how much brush had grown. I was very concerned about the signs for poisonous snakes. I am thankful for those signs. The beds were either super hard or super soft. This lead to difficulty sleeping. We weren’t expecting how much road noise you could hear in the bedrooms. In the bathroom, we were left a partial roll of toilet paper and no extras in the house. We had to make a run to the gas station to get toilet paper. We enjoyed the deck and the rocking chairs. They were perfect for watching the sunrise and sunset. Overall we enjoyed our time and made a great memory.
    We brought our 4 year old grandson to the beach for his birthday. We enjoyed our stay! I love that we could walk right down to “our beach”. The beach was clean and safe, with very few people on it. The only complaint I have (and it’s pretty minor) is the path leading to the beach is a bit overgrown. Thank you for a wonderful stay! We would definitely stay again!
    Cost of stay was less than area comps. I felt this was reflective to property conditions. Furniture had small black bugs that were crawling from under cushions, no washcloths found. Not enough blankets for number of guests that were scheduled to attend, and path to beach needed to be much wider considering 3 rattlesnakes warning signs posted near a 2′ path. Posted images do not show over growth as we have found between beach and house. upper deck railing with warning signs not to lean, this railing is unsafe. Railing did have slop in it. Had no communication with property manager, issues should of been resolved before booking.
    Set up nicely for views and friendly conversations
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    from USD 225
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    SeaScape$757/nightly avg

    Thirty steps from the sands of Pirate’s Beach, SeaScape is a newly-renovated home ready to provide your family and friends with a rejuvenating beach vacation and gorgeous gulf views. Noting that dogs tend to enjoy beaches just as much as people do, the owners have opened their dog-friendly property up to guests of both species.

    The home has plenty of outdoor space, not only balconies but also the kind of manicured lawn usually seen in more inland suburban areas. The kitchen features brand-new appliances and plentiful prep and meal areas. 

    Dreaming of Galveston – your dream vacation awaits you
    9 reviews
    Private vacation home
    13 Guests
    3 Bedrooms
    4 Bathrooms
    Top guest reviews
    What a great property! The location is amazing and the house was immaculate. They also make sure you have all those little things that you probably forgot at home. I definitely recommend this home.
    The house was exactly as listed and in well-kept condition. Well stocked and set up for a great beach stay. Had a great time between the house and the beach.
    This house has a beautiful view of the beach with a big wrap around porch you can always find a spot in the shade. The house is very well maintained and clean. All the kitchen supplies you could need. We will be renting here again!
    The Seascape house is a perfect vacation house with lots of decks and a perfect location on a wonderful beach. We will definitely be back.
    Very beautiful property. Steps from the water with a great view and wrap around deck that always had shade. Fully stocked kitchen. We had a great time and plan to return
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    from USD 757
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    Beach Therapy$1,143/nightly avg

    Next door to the local community’s beach access point, this family-friendly waterfront property is perfect for those who have no illusions about their trip to Galveston: They’re coming for fun in the sun. It comes stocked with all the supplies you’ll need for a day on the sand so guests need only arrive with the right attitude.

    The home has six bedrooms, most of which have ocean views and access to the property’s large deck area. Enjoy the privilege of being able to focus on the important things. With grocery stores, watersport rental companies, and restaurants like Nate’s all within walking distance, nothing will cause you to stray from your mission of pursuing a strong course of Beach Therapy.

    Dreaming of Galveston – your dream vacation awaits you
    26 reviews
    Private vacation home
    16 Guests
    6 Bedrooms
    3 Bathrooms
    Top guest reviews
    Our family had a great time! Beach Therapy was beautiful and even better than advertised! There was literally everything you could possibly need. We felt so pampered.
    Gorgeous house, right on the beach! Loved loved loved it!
    This house is literally on the beach and has so many amenities! It was clean and decorated super cute, too. They had beach chairs, sand toys, boogie boards, goggles, beach towels, books and more! The host was very easy to get a hold of and helpful, We had such a wonderful time and would definitely stay here again!
    This was the perfect house to celebrate my sister’s birthday with all her friends. The rooms are spacious, the mattresses are SO comfortable, and you can’t beat that view.
    What a great house! We were celebrating 5 high school graduates , a 55th birthday and my parents 60th Wedding Anniversary. This house was everything we wanted. The best location and the owners provide everything you can imagine!
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    from USD 1,143
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    Fisherman’s Fantasy On The Bay$525/nightly avg

    Whether you’re at peace casting a line, paddling a kayak, or watching tourists pour into Galveston Island from afar, Nautical has what you need. Located on the shores of West Bay with views of Tiki Island and the bridge that reaches out from the mainland, the property is ideal for those who enjoy more than just sitting in the sand.

    Make use of the private fishing pier and boat launches for those renting a kayak or larger vessel. Being on the bay, it is also better for birdwatching than Gulf-facing homes. Life on the bay doesn’t preclude beach time on the Gulf, however, as Galveston’s sandy Gulf beaches are reachable within 15 minutes by car.

    Dreaming of Galveston – your dream vacation awaits you
    38 reviews
    Private vacation home
    14 Guests
    3 Bedrooms
    5 Bathrooms
    from USD 525
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    To browse more beautiful beach vacation rentals on the Gulf, check out:

    • 12 Excellent Vacation Rentals In Destin, Florida
    • 10 Beautiful Beach House Rentals On South Padre Island

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