Growing up in Texas, where summer temperatures hover between the high 90s and low 100s, nothing was more appealing come June than a little sand, saltwater, and seafood. For all that and more, my family headed to Galveston—a seaside city about an hour south of Houston. It was the perfect vacation spot for my family: it wasn’t too far, had something for everyone on the trip, and gave us the beach summer that everyone wanted.
Some of my favorite memories as a kid were formed in Galveston, bouncing between Moody Gardens Attachment Theme Park, where the exhibits were ever-changing; Schlitterbahn Waterpark, where we never missed the Kristal River attraction; and our go-to dinner spot, the Rainforest Cafe, which was right across from the ocean, and yes, is still in business.
Relaxing on the beach with my toes in the sand after scarfing seafood was the perfect end to any day in Galveston, but what always made it better was going home to a lovely beach house—and there are plenty of them available to rent. But finding the perfect Airbnb for your family can be difficult if you’ve never visited before and don’t know where to look.
Lucky for you, I did the hard work and scoped out the best rental properties across the city, perfect for romantic getaways, girls’ trips, or wholesome family vacations like mine. Read on for the 11 best Airbnbs in Galveston.
We’ve selected these listings based on Superhost status, ratings, amenities, location, decor, editor stays, and previous guest reviews.