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Beautiful Bayfront Retreat with Unbeatable Bay and Gulf Views

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A two-story house with a balcony and a staircase leading to the second floor.
A wooden deck with a table and benches overlooking a calm body of water.
A modern kitchen with white cabinets, a dining area with a wooden table and chairs, and a living room with a white sofa.
A living room with a fireplace, a television mounted above it, and a bookshelf with decorative items.
A modern living room with a sofa, armchairs, a coffee table, and a dining area with chairs and a table.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Soak and unwind
    Relax in the top-rated spa pool, celebrated for ultimate comfort.
  • Firepit available
    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Crystal Beach
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool on site
  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Bolivar Peninsula, TX
  • Place, Gilchrist Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Crystal Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Port Bolivar Beaches
    ‪38 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Living Room-Sofa sleepers

2 Double Futons

Mater Suite

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Hall bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beautiful Bayfront Retreat with Unbeatable Bay and Gulf Views

The previous owner is a retired seafaring Commander who dropped anchor on Bolivar and rebuilt this modern retreat after Hurricane Ike destroyed their original beach home. The 360 degree ocean and bay water views remind him of his time at sea in the wheelhouse. We hope you enjoy those beautiful views as well.

Sunrises over the Gulf of Mexico from your front porch and Sunsets over Rollover and Galveston Bays from the back porch or the lighted private pier are magnificent. There are redfish, trout, flounder, and crabs to be caught from the 150’ pier. Yachts, sailboats, kayaks, commercial tugs and barges frequent the Intracoastal Waterway just a few hundred yards off this private pier. It is only a short walk out the front of the house to the beach for surf fishing or to Rollover Pass for some of Texas’s best saltwater fishing.

After swimming, sunbathing or shelling on the beach out front, use the outdoor shower and hit the spa/hot tub and deck area back at the retreat. Watch the sunset over the water and distant palms on one of the multiple decks.

The free Ferry to Galveston Island is only a 20 minute drive away where you can enjoy the Pleasure Pier, Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn, The Strand, multiple restaurants, and other activities. The Commander’s Retreat is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, yet just a short drive if you want to hit Houston, Beaumont, or the casinos in Lake Charles which are just over 2 hours away.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Contact the host for questions
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Pet fee required when bringing a pet
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2363568vb
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 20
Note from host: Contact the host for questions
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 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

About the area

Port Bolivar

Located in Port Bolivar, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Fort Travis Seashore Park and Pink Dolphin Monument are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Hooks Woods Bird Sanctuary and Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary. With kayaking, power boating and sailing nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water.
View more Holiday homes in Port BolivarOpens in a new window
Map
Bolivar Peninsula, TX

What's nearby

  • Gilchrist Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Crystal Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • High Island Beach - 10 min drive - 10.3 km
  • Port Bolivar Beaches - 38 min drive - 37.5 km
  • Fort Travis Seashore Park - 39 min drive - 38.2 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Beach Dreams - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Jayla’s Bar & Grill - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Mamma Mia’s Italian Bistro - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful Bayfront Retreat with Unbeatable Bay and Gulf Views pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at Beautiful Bayfront Retreat with Unbeatable Bay and Gulf Views?

As of 12 August 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautiful Bayfront Retreat with Unbeatable Bay and Gulf Views on 23 August 2026 start from NZ$1,438, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Beautiful Bayfront Retreat with Unbeatable Bay and Gulf Views?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful Bayfront Retreat with Unbeatable Bay and Gulf Views?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful Bayfront Retreat with Unbeatable Bay and Gulf Views?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful Bayfront Retreat with Unbeatable Bay and Gulf Views located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Gilchrist Beach and Crystal Beach. High Island Beach and Hooks Woods Bird Sanctuary are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 65 out of 75 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 75 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 75 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 75 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 75 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Barbara C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place! The hot tub was awesome, the view was awesome, the fishing pier was awesome! We stayed here for Fourth of July weekend and it was fabulous! Plenty of seating and very spacious! The couches were comfortable - so many vacation rentals do not have comfortable seating, so that is one of my litmus tests lol - the place was clean and it was a fantastic getaway for us and our kids and grandkids. The price is unbeatable for what you get here - book it!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Kenzie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing house! The host was super sweet and helpful! Only complaint we had some the sinks and baths/showers had a draining problem so doing dishes was a task with having to wait for the water to drain before we could wash more, and showers had to be quick so the tub didn’t feel up other than that would 100% stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Dalton F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was a great place to stay. We loved the private pier to fish off of and were able to catch a lot of fish. The kitchen was great and we enjoyed some family dinners together. Plenty of seating inside and outside for your family. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Vickie H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Had plumbing issues
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jocelyn W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great property for in and out birding expeditions. The pier is a lovely spot for evening. Back deck with a great view of the ocean. House clean and well appointed.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Roberta G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We try to get to CommandersRetreat every year so it was nice to spend a few days this past week/ weekend. It is a beautiful home… I say that because it's not just a beautiful house. It really does feel like home to us. We had a Home on Margaret Street that blew away with hurricane Ike so we like to get back to the real feeling of our Gilchrist/Bolivar loving private pier and beautiful views. And lots of crabs! Hope to see you again soon that's for sure. Jonathan was amazing, the rooms were clean and the kitchen as usual is wonderful and stayed very busy.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Shelly B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great beach property! Fishing and crabbing off the dock was so much fun! Love that it was a private dock. Very clean property. Hot tub was a nice bonus! Bedrooms and bathrooms were very clean. Everything that we were hoping for and more! We will definitely be back!!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Laura S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was the second time we’ve stayed here and his was just as great as the last time. The place is the perfect size and laid out well for good privacy and nice big shared space. The views of the bay are lovely, so peaceful, and the closeness to the beach is just fine. It was too windy to swim at the beach, plus there was a health warning of medium bacteria ( Texas Beaches website says it is only unsafe to swim when the level is high, not medium, but we weren’t inclined to give it a chance.) But we really enjoyed sitting in the hot tub each night.. quite refreshing. Really really love staying here!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Philip G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Was a great time!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ryan V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Host was very welcoming with a pre-check in call. Accommodation was great.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Hot tub didn’t have a cover and struggled to stay warm. It was cooler when we were there. Beautiful property and the owner resolved any concerns in a timely manner. Had a slight miscue on check in but he more than made that right. We’ll very likely be back to this property.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location for bay and gulf views

Excellent location for a family stay. Kids loved crabbing from the pier and the adults loved the hot tub.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

b M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The place was very clean and the host was very helpful. The location was convenient and when the tide was high the fishing was good. Me and my fiance had a great time and will definitely be back again next time we vacation at the beach. I highly recommend this cabin!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

John M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay.

This was a cozy place with bay fishing off dock and a quick access to the ocean side for surf fishing.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Chase W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place

Family enjoyed our stay. Nice property and easy beach access.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stacy F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great House!

Everything we needed to enjoy our stay and the house was well kept!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing!!

Awesome host , beautiful cabin. We come back here every year and enjoy our stay everytime!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Troy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

perfect weekend

cabin was perfect for our weekend. clean, wonderful view, easy check-in/check-out.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Logan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Views

Great house, close to beach and Bay. Fishing, beachin' and relaxation. Great stay, we would definitely book this house again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Patricia L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location with privacy

The cabin was set up nice with plenty of room. We loved being a little more secluded and away from the touristy areas.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lorry K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great fishing

The house was in an excellent location and very comfortable for our family. We will be back
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation

Awesome communication before we showed up, and an awesome vacation.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Robert B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

FAMILY FISHING VACATION

We enjoyed our stay. This was our 2nd time renting this house and we hope to rent again next yr. The house was clean and had everything we needed.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Marvin H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Stay!!

Property was very cozy especially since the temps were close to 100 degrees.. fishing from the pier turned out better than i expected caught several fish.. will be back!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Teesha W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome Get away

Beautiful home, hubby was happy with the Reds he caught off the private pier.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

About the host

Hosted by Jonathan Allen

Host profile image
I am a husband to my high school sweetheart, Carrie, and father to our two boys. Carrie and I have been married for 20 years. We grew up in Galveston County and went to school there until we went off to college to attend The University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Since then we have lived in the DFW metroplex and own two small businesses here.

Why they chose this property

Growing up on the Texas coast, I had a love for fishing. Over the last few years before purchasing The Commander's Retreat, I rented it multiple times as a retreat from the busy day to day. I enjoyed waking up with a cup of coffee and watching the sun rise over the beach and ending the day fishing on the pier as the sun sets over the bay. Taking a dip in the gulf on a sunny afternoon and catching Redfish and Flounder right out the back door was an irresistible call back to my childhood.
After having two sons, I wanted to share with them the joys of swimming in the gulf, searching for shells and sea glass on the beach, and kayaking in the bay. I wanted them to experience the satisfaction of sitting on a pier with a fishing pole in one hand and a cold drink in the other.

What makes this property unique

I remember one evening I was fishing as the sun was setting over the gulf. The sky was full of reds, purples, oranges, yellows, and blues. There was a cool breeze blowing and all I could hear was the sounds of the waves hitting the beach and the gentle bay waters hitting against the dock. And, I thought to myself, I would love to own a place like this one day.
Since then I have been blessed enough to be able to buy the very place where I had that thought. I look forward to many years of teaching my boys how to fish and crab from that very dock. I pray that they develop a love for the outdoors and can appreciate some of the simple joys of life like a sunset, fishing, and family.

Languages:

English
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