Close to Galveston Seawall and Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, Backyard Retreat w Pool • Steps to Beach! • 2 Kings + Bikes provides a firepit, laundry facilities and more. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Reviews
1010 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
3 bedrooms2 bathrooms97 sq m
Popular amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free Wi-Fi
Add dates for prices
About this property
Backyard Retreat w Pool • Steps to Beach! • 2 Kings + Bikes
Beautifully restored beach bungalow with private backyard retreat featuring a heated/chilled cowboy plunge pool, BBQ, fire pit, and lounge seating. 1/2 block to the beach in the Historic East End, minutes to the Strand, cruise port, and UTMB. Inside: 2 king bedrooms, a fun kids’ bunk room, full kitchen, and washer/dryer. Includes beach gear, 2 bikes for cruising the Seawall, and free street parking with passes. Ideal for families, group trips, and cruise travelers. Floor plan in photos.
▶ You can watch the the property video walk-through for a full tour (click 2nd image in photos).
Welcome to Realt na Mara (“Star of the Sea” in Gaelic). You can save this property to your Wishlist by clicking the heart in the top right corner of the listing.
▶ Bringing a Dog? All pets must be listed in your Vrbo reservation at the time of booking to ensure the correct pet fee is applied.
▶ Large Groups - Need More Space? Some guests have larger groups and prefer to rent both the main home and the separate private guest cottage on the property. The cottage has its own private entrance, cowboy pool, outdoor space and parking spot. If you're reserving only this property (the main home), the backyard, cowboy pool, and outdoor living areas are exclusively yours and there are no shared spaces or amenities with the Cottage.
For larger groups, you can reserve the private cottage as well, or book both homes together for exclusive use of the entire property. When the same group reserves both homes, we'll provide the combination to the locked connecting gate so you can move freely between the two homes.
▶ Sleeping Arrangements (sleeps up to 10) • Primary Bedroom: King bed • Second Bedroom: King bed • Third Bedroom (Bunk Room): Twin-over-full bunks (top: 100lb limit, bottom: 300lb limit) • Living Room: Twin trundle sofa bed • Living Room: Full air mattress
Please review the floor plan in the listing photos to ensure the layout works well for your group.
▶ Cruise Travelers: Guests choose this home to avoid day-of-cruise travel stress, enjoy a night in Galveston, and start (or end) their cruise rested and refreshed.
▶ Why you’ll love it! Only ½ block walk to the beach and Seawall, this beautifully restored bungalow offers the perfect walkable beach location getaway in the historic East End.
▶ Beach Backyard Retreat! Fenced, private backyard designed for relaxing and gathering. It features a temperature-controlled, 10-person large cowboy pool (chilled in summer, heated in cooler months), fire pit, BBQ, and comfortable lounge seating—perfect for unwinding after a day at the beach. Start your mornings with coffee, spend the afternoons cooling off in the pool, and enjoy a BBQ under the shade sail. Wind down fireside as the sun sets and stargaze.
▶ Key Amenities: • Cowboy plunge pool (year-round – chilled summer/heated winter • 2 King bedrooms • Fun kids bunk room • Fully-equipped Kitchen • Fast WiFi (750 Mbps) • Washer/Dryer • Dedicated workspace • Roku Smart TVs • Beach Essentials • Bicycles (2) • Pack n Play & high chair • Pet Friendly • Easy self check-in - flexible arrival time
▶ Cowboy Plunge Pool: Enjoy relaxing in the cowboy pool—perfect for soaking and lounging. While not a traditional hot tub (no jets), it is chilled in summer and heated in cooler months for year-round enjoyment.
▶ Location Highlights: • Beaches & Seawall: 2 min walk • Murdoch's: 4 min walk (0.7 miles) • Bishop's Palace: 2 mins (0.5 miles) • Cruise Ship Terminal: 8 mins (2.2 miles) • Univ Texas Medical Branch (UTMB): 4 mins (1.6 miles) • The Strand shopping, restaurants: 4 mins (1.4 miles) • Pleasure Pier Amusement Park: 3 mins (0.9 miles) • Texas Seaport Museum: 7 mins (1.4 miles) • Moody Gardens Theme Park: 18 mins (6.5 miles) • Schlitterbahn Water Park: 16 mins (6.1 miles)
▶ Local Recommendations: We’re happy to share all our favorite local spots—just ask! We even have gluten free suggestions! A few of our favorites are listed below:
• Saltgrass Steakhouse – 4 min walk (0.1 miles) • Mod Coffeehouse – 4 mins (1.3 miles) • Shykatz Deli – 2 mins (0.4 miles) • The SPOT! – 5 mins (1.5 miles) • Galveston Bagel – 4 mins (1.1 miles) • Sunflower Bakery & Café – 4 mins (1.3 miles)
▶ Guest Access: You'll have the entire bungalow to yourself
▶ Other Details to Note: • Minimum Age to Book: We require the booking guest to be at least 25 years old and actually be staying at the property each night of the reservation.
• Noise We have outdoor noise monitors to help comply with Galveston’s strict Quiet Time Ordinance (10 PM–8 AM). These devices do not record conversations - only measure noise levels. Please respect quiet hours and our neighbors.
• Property Information: The beach is just steps away from both homes. Please note the homes are not beachfront and do not offer direct ocean views. Enjoy your morning coffee on the front porch with beautiful Gulf sunrises or take a short stroll to the beach to watch from the sand. The fully fenced backyard features a private retreat with a cowboy pool, BBQ, fire pit, and paver patio (no grass). A designated pet relief area with artificial turf is also provided.
• Parking: City permits 2 vehicles to park on the street. Free street parking directly in front of the house (rare perk this close to the beach). Parking passes will be issued upon check in and must be displayed in vehicles at all times. Please remember to return the passes at checkout. Lost or unreturned passes will result in a $1,000 replacement fee charged by the city.
• Historic Homes: This is a lovingly restored circa 1911 property—expect a blend of old-world charm and modern updates. Original floors in main home with a slight “wiggle” reflect the home’s character.
• Beach Access: The homes are only ½ block to the Seawall and Galveston’s beaches.
• Heating/Cooling: Central air conditioning/heating and ceiling fans.
• Coastal Environment As with any coastal location, it is not uncommon for insects to occasionally find their way indoors; especially after heavy rain or weather changes. We perform regular inspections and pest control but you may occasionally spot an insect during your stay.
• Pets: We’re happy to welcome well-behaved dogs! We allow 2 adult dogs. The pet fee is included in the nightly rate when you add your pets to the reservation. Please see our House Rules/Pet Policies and the following so we can continue offering pet-friendly stays: • Dogs only; max 2 (1+ year old, no puppies) • Fully housebroken; please clean up after your dog • No pets on beds or furniture • In crate if left alone at property
• Safety Features: Homes equipped with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers and first aid kits.
• Security Devices: For your security the property is equipped with exterior security cameras (no cameras inside). Tampering with, disabling, or obscuring cameras is prohibited and against Vrbo Policies.
• No EV Charging: Use of extension cords to charge vehicles/devices is prohibited due to safety and insurance requirements. This includes e-bikes, scooters, hoverboards, etc. Public EV charging stations are available nearby.
• Starter Supplies: We provide starter supplies of coffee, tea, laundry detergent and dishwasher pods. For longer stays, guests may need to purchase additional items.
• Late Checkout: Late checkout is not permitted without prior approval. Unauthorized late checkout is subject to a $75 charge per 30-minute period, or portion thereof. Payment of fee does not extend your scheduled checkout time.
• Food and beverages staged in some photos for inspiration only – not provided during your stay. We do provide a starter supply of coffee and tea.
Property amenities
Beach
Beach nearby
Beach loungers
Beach towels
Pool/Spa
Heated pool
Outdoor pool
Private pool
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Parking on site
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Hob
Kitchen island
Lobster/crab pot
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
3 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
2 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Separate dining area
Entertainment
Books
Games
Smart TV
Stereo
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Work spaces
Desk
Desk chair
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
Welcoming dogs only
2 pets total
Suitability/Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
5 steps to reach entrance
Area rugs in public areas
Hardwood flooring in public areas
No lift (single-level property)
Single level property
Tile flooring in public areas
Well-lit path to entrance
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Housekeeping on request
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
Near a hospital
Near the marina
Things to do
Bicycles
Heated pool
Birdwatching nearby
Cycling nearby
Ecotours nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Sailing nearby
Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
Swimming nearby
Theme park nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items and remove leftover food and drinks
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Turn Pool Heater back to TIMER. Replace pool cover.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Rules
▶ No Smoking/Vaping of any kind anywhere on the property, including indoors and outdoors. We have cigarette smoke sensors on the property ($500 fine)
▶ Galveston Quiet Time Ordinance is strict - 10PM-8AM. We have noise monitors that record noise levels (not conversations) to comply with ordinance.
▶ Pets: must be in a crate if left alone at property
▶ Children: must be supervised at all times and may not be left alone at the property
Pets
Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total pets
Note from host: Crated if left alone inside home
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number GVR16278
About the area
Located in San Jacinto, a neighbourhood in Galveston, this holiday home is near theme parks and near the beach. Port of Galveston Cruise Terminal and Port of Galveston are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's popular attractions can visit Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and Galveston Schlitterbahn Waterpark. Travelling with kids? Consider Moody Gardens and Texas Seaport Museum. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking/biking trails. Visit our Galveston travel guide
Does Backyard Retreat w Pool • Steps to Beach! • 2 Kings + Bikes have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.
Is Backyard Retreat w Pool • Steps to Beach! • 2 Kings + Bikes pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).
How much is parking at Backyard Retreat w Pool • Steps to Beach! • 2 Kings + Bikes?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Backyard Retreat w Pool • Steps to Beach! • 2 Kings + Bikes?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Backyard Retreat w Pool • Steps to Beach! • 2 Kings + Bikes?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Backyard Retreat w Pool • Steps to Beach! • 2 Kings + Bikes located?
This family-friendly Galveston holiday home is located near the beach, within 1 mi (2 km) of Seawall Beach, Galveston Seawall and Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. Port of Galveston Cruise Terminal and Port of Galveston are also within 2 miles (3 km).
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Backyard Retreat w Pool • Steps to Beach! • 2 Kings + Bikes Reviews