Backyard Retreat w Heated 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.

▶ 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 and backyard to yourself.

▶ Children, Pets & Pool Safety:
The cowboy pool is not surrounded by a fence and does not have a pool alarm. Children and non-swimmers must be closely supervised by an adult whenever they are in or around the pool. Pets are not permitted in the pool and must be supervised around the pool to prevent accidental entry. Cabinets and drawers do not have child locks. Children and pets should be supervised closely throughout their stay.


▶ 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 but please note the home is not beachfront and does 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, mosquitoes and other insects may be present outdoors, especially during warmer weather and around dusk. If you plan to enjoy the outdoor spaces, you may wish to bring your preferred insect repellent. Insects may also occasionally find their way indoors, particularly 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.

• Pool Safety:
Cowboy pool not surrounded a fence and does not have a pool alarm. Children/non-swimmers must be closely supervised by an adult whenever in or around the pools. Pets not permitted in the pools. Pets must be supervised at all times around the pools to prevent accidental entry.

• 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.

• Noise Monitoring Devices:
We have outdoor noise monitoring devices to help us comply with Galveston’s strict Quiet Time Ordinance (10 PM–8 AM). These devices do not record conversations — they only measure noise levels. Please respect our quiet hours and be respectful of our neighbors.

• 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.