Ok. WOW. I give five stars to everywhere from dive joints that have perfectly shucked oysters or…read moreamazing onion rings to date nights for a 25th anniversary at $300 for steaks and wine. (We may've spent as much on wine as steaks that night.What?!) Location and experience are everything, right? To start, we stayed in the Bird of Paradise room. Listed on AirBnb as a private king room in an historic mansion at an amazing mid-week price we were expecting a new experience (this was our first shared-home stay on AirBnb). What we rolled up to was even more impressive than we expected. Like, roll up, assess parking and grab your phone to take pictures impressive. Brian's home is truly a gem. Built in 1905, after the great storm of 1900, the stucco-exterior and gleaming wood interior seem to be part Craftsman, part Victorian. The massive stained glass windows are absolutely amazing. Every time we came in and out we were stopped in our tracks by something new to look at. (Oooh, look at the ceiling! Ooooohhhhh, wait, look at THAT ceiling!)(Side note, dammit, I didn't get a picture of the cherubs playfully galavanting across the parlor ceiling!) But enough about that, you get it, it's fab. Our room was comfortable, clean, and comfortably appointed, but as Brian has only somewhat recently bought the house, I expect some further period touches to be added here and there in the guest rooms (of which there appeared to be possibly six). Our bed was gorgeous and fit the room so nicely, as did the sofa, which perfectly matched the pretty fireplace tile. But let me tell you a secret. Though the bathroom for the Bird of Paradise room is private, yours and yours alone, some might be put off by the fact that it's just around a corner from the room. Don't be!!! That bathroom (with what appears to be the original clawfoot tub) is AMAZING. The bathroom itself is Victorian-era-small, but what it lacks in space that shower and bath make up for. That is literally going to be the best shower you've EVER had in your life. Really. Then you'll find yourself soaking in (sweetly supplied) bath-salt-scented water before you know it, because the tub is sheer heaven. I am waxing ecstatic for a reason, y'all. Apparently some of the rooms have Jacuzzi tubs. Color me "meh" about that, you want that clawfoot! So as it's not technically a B&B, but an AirBnB, there were no breakfast options. We had use of a butlers' pantry to store adult beverages & leftovers and such in the fridge (and leftover adult beverages, let's say I am not a fan of the Shiner berry-beer-thing we tried), though sadly we looked for a Keurig when we noticed a box of coffee pods in a cabinet, but found no Keurig or other coffee pot for guest use. Pooooor us, having to hit the Strand for coffee & breakfast. I lived through it. ;) I hope Brian and his family ALL the best in this endeavor, it was such a treat to stay in this stately old lady's warm-wood embrace. (Brian, my daughter is living just behind you and down a few homes on Market, would you like a house manager who LOVES people, loved your home, and loves to bake blueberry muffins? She's a grad student, so available and affordable. lol)

Let's be honest.... The overgrown shrubs and palm trees hit you in the face. when asking the…read morecaretakers to trim. they said it is what it is. After dodging the shrubbery there are 14 stairs to the front door and 22 stairs to the second floor 36 stairs overall and every time you go somewhere you have to navigate 72 exhausting stairs. there is a dumb waiter not offered to the public. the back patios are filled with clutter, trash, and in need of maintenance plus the furniture is broken down. There is 1 full bath with a 1/2 bath for everyone and I took issue with them not replacing the towels and cleaning the shared bath tube. A claw tub with a round shower curtain that sticks to you, the 3 nights we were there. Christmas is the decor year around..a dusty tree filled with lights and ornaments. THE ELECTRIC IS WEAK AND SOMETIMES it charges and other times it doesn't so you have to move around to get power and a lot of times it shuts off. the neighbor you can hear as if they were in the room. when talking to the care takers they say "it is what it is". This is a beautiful old home with absolutely no comforts. No coffee, but a shared coffee maker. Shared kitchen, and If you are an older adult, I would skip this rental.

We had a wonderful stay at the Harbor House Hotel in Galveston before our cruise, and the location…read morecouldn't have been better. Not only were we conveniently close to the cruise port, but we were also able to walk to The Strand and enjoy the local attractions. We picked up our wine for the cruise, treated ourselves to ice cream at La King's Confectionery, and enjoyed some live music. In the morning, we took a short stroll to Starbucks just a block away, enjoying coffee outside in the beautiful morning atmosphere. We then returned to the hotel for breakfast, which was a satisfying continental spread. They had bagels, muffins, cream cheeses, cereals, fresh fruit salad, and even some Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches you could heat up. It was a nice, plentiful breakfast with something for everyone. A special shoutout to Dee at the front desk who made our check-in smooth and welcoming. Watching the cruise ships sail in from our room was such a unique experience, and the overall comfort of the huge king bed and the spacious room really made our stay special. We're so glad we stayed here!

Pros: Easy checkin, near waterfront, dolphins right outside,…read morespacious room, comfortable bed, working mini fridge and microwave, cool pancake machine. Cons: old worn down room, shower water pressure could have been better, small breakfast room, could have a bigger variety for breakfast, no gym, swimming pool is at a hotel across town, parking fee.

My husband and I had the most amazing time staying at Avenue O. We chose this bed and breakfast as…read moreour destination to get married. We wanted to do something special with just us and Avenue O was the perfect choice! Polly and Jeff were absolute pleasures to work with! This historic home was so charming and cozy. I loved how beautifully it was decorated with a coastal theme. I loved all the beachy touches from the artwork, light fixtures, colors, furniture, etc. Everything was so elegant. We stayed in the Seawall Suite which is the largest room. It has a nice balcony as well. It was also decorated beautifully like the rest of the house. It was very cozy and comfortable. We chose to get married in the backyard near the gazebo. It was perfect. It was just my husband and I, Polly, Jeff and Heidi of course. Heidi actually walked me to the gazebo as if she was walking me "down the aisle." It was adorable! She's the Yorkie in the photos. Our ceremony was quick and intimate. Jeff did an excellent job and made us feel at ease as if we were just hanging out with friends. Not only is Polly an amazing decorator, she is also a very talented cook. She even made us a wedding cake! It was very pretty and so delicious!! I believe she said it was an Amaretto buttercream with strawberry filling. It was sooooooooo amazing!! In the morning, she made us an incredible homemade breakfast! It started off with yogurt parfaits and fresh granola. Yum! Then there were mini pumpkin pancakes, fresh potatoes, bacon and scrambled eggs. The bacon was so yum. It tasted like a maple-peppered bacon but I'm not sure what it was. All I know is it was awesome! Our wedding package was so reasonably-priced. We didn't have to do anything except pay and show up. Polly took care of the rest. We just can't say enough about how wonderful our stay was. Polly is so great at taking care of people. She and Jeff were both fantastic hosts. If you're ever in Galveston, I would highly recommend staying with them instead of at a hotel. You won't regret it!!

What an amazing stay! Polly and Jeff are fantastic hosts that really love what they do and it shows…read morein the details. First, the food is divine. Polly hand crafts each of the breakfasts and pairs it with a coffee from a local roaster. Each of the meals starts with a fresh fruit dish that pops with flavor. For main courses, expect to be wowed and never bored as it will be different each morning you stay. Whether you are looking for tips on what to do in the area, looking for a quiet sabbatical, or somewhere to just get away for a weekend, Avenue O is a great place to relax and enjoy your stay. We'll be back for sure!

My wife and I spent Labor Day weekend 2023 at Carr Mansion and we had an amazing stay. We stayed in…read morethe Carriage House behind the main house, and we loved it. Joellyn, the owner, was very hospitable and routinely checked if we needed anything. She offered us drinks on our arrival. My wife liked some cookies that were available, and she provided a package of them for her later that night. Joellyn had breakfast catered by renowned Chef Mary Bass, and it was quite delicious. Delicious breakfast casserole and tamales. It was very close to the Strand and the Seawall, so everything we did was just a short drive. We will definitely be returning to try another room at the Mansion!

It was a lovely second stay. I was in the Merchant Room this time. However, upgrades need to be…read moremade - the towel holder fell off the wall, the fridge needed a deep clean as it was yuck, and one of the light bulbs was out above the bed! Host is kind and pleasant. She made good recommendations for dining and sightseeing, and provided muffins & orange juice for a light morning snack!

Went for High Tea here . The setting is lovely in an old mansion. Our host was also the driver for…read moretheir car service. Interesting conversation . Food was great.. quiche, scones with clotted crème and jam; cucumber sandwiches ( a New England favorite in Galveston no less); assorted sweets and upper class teas. Table was beautifully set; prosecco was an add on but very nice touch. Highly highly recommend . Do this ... it's fun and enjoyable!

Let's talk about hidden gems. The George Manor is definitely one of those in Galveston. We stopped…read morehere to stay before a cruise and that was a great move on our part. This historic bed and breakfast offers a lot on the property. Built hundreds of years ago, The George Manor is a collection of vintage painting, craftsmanship, architecture, and landscaping. The real shining star is the Chef, Michael de Bayer. When I read his bio online, I was already impressed. How could you not be? He's cooked for Tina Turner, Prince, and a number of others that you might recognize. He's one of the most personable chefs I've met and I had a blast talking to him about food, cars, and a bunch of other things. We signed up for the prix fixe dinner service and while we knew it was a 5 course meal, it was a ton of delectable food. Starting with a curry spiced amuse bouche, then a glorious carpaccio and caviar, an über schnitzel with gulf shrimp, red snapper, and two over the top desserts. The shrimp with cassis crème was unique and the Black Forest cake was more than authentic, it was transportational to Germany. Moving to breakfast, Chef Michael makes the BEST bacon. Both the lardon bits from dinner to the strips of breakfast bacon, he's a master for sure. If you're in the area, pay this place a stop and make sure to book dinner, it will be an unforgettable experience.

We are staying at the hotel next to Galveston beach for one night. There me and a friend decided to…read morewalk across the street to this beach. The beach is not very clean. The water is dirty and warm. While walking on the beach yesterday, I did see several people swimming on this beach. The sand here were so compacted. I did see two men fishing nearby.

The beach was clean. Parking was easy and we went during the week so it wasn't overcrowded! If your…read morefrom out of town take note of the flag conditions and where the life guards are. It was just me and my son out there so I made sure we're near a life guard. There are port o pottys out there but not everywhere so be on the lookout for that. Overall, we had fun!

The outside is less than pretty because they're doing upgrades. Only 1 elevator worked most of the…read moretime. BUT the condo was beautiful. Great location. Pools were fabulous. I ordered Amazon stuff and the office holds it for you. Steven in the office was awesome during check in.

This is an older beach vacation condominium that boasts three pools, condos of various sizes, a…read moregym, a pet area and is Seawall beach adjacent. The 500sq condo we stayed in for our family vacation was on the second floor and had a patio that overlooked one of the pools. You could see the beach somewhat and a little retention pond which was nice in the morning and evening. It was tiny but convenient and boasted a full service kitchen, king sized bed, generously sized bathroom, two bunk beds and a pull out couch. Theoretically it could sleep six people, but we were a little tight with two kids, two adults and a dog. It is conveniently located to the Seawall and other drive up beaches, and restaurants/other amenities are not too much farther down the road, though you are away from the hustle and bustle of the more touristy areas - which was what we wanted. It did not break the bank as far as Air BNBs go. BUT... The property is older and not as well kept as you would think, for $700/month HOAs fees (we looked it up online). They have strict parking enforcement and it costs $10/day during your stay, which we found to be a little ridiculous since the parking is nothing special and not any more secure than a Walmart parking lot. There are elevators but they are not conveniently located to the outer units, so lugging our bags and supplies up and down two flights of stairs in the humidity was a bit tiresome. The pools are maintained if not exactly nice, but well chlorinated. Unfortunately we didn't want to get in them due to the fact they are heated (or maybe just hot from the sun) and it didn't feel refreshing in the Texas heat- it felt more like bath water. All in all, it was perfectly fine. The amenities left a little bit to be desired but the unit was clean and quiet, and close to the beach. It met our needs and we enjoyed our stay.

Beautiful, historic B&B with excellent staff! So convenient to the Cruise ports. The breakfast…read moreis amazing! Will continue to stay when in Galveston. I'd recommend requesting a 2nd floor room though. The stairs can be a bit much for 3rd floor. And those rooms are kinda small.

Wonderful B and B in Galveston. Nice rooms comfy beds. Great location with delicious cooked to…read moreorder breakfast. Nicest staff in Texas from all the hard workers to the owner.