Entire home

Salt Marsh Escape: 6BR Beachside Retreat, Hot Tub & Gorgeous Gulf Views

Waterfront holiday home with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Salt Marsh Escape: 6BR Beachside Retreat, Hot Tub & Gorgeous Gulf Views

Exterior
Outstanding views! The ocean appears closer in real life.
We are so close to the beach that can enjoy ocean views from downstairs too!
Terrace/patio
Living area

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 21185.8 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View map
Gilchrist, TX
  • Place, Crystal Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Port of Galveston Cruise Terminal
    ‪55 min drive‬
  • Place, Galveston Seawall
    ‪56 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 21)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Bunk Beds

Bedroom 5

2 Single Bunk Beds and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Salt Marsh Escape: 6BR Beachside Retreat, Hot Tub & Gorgeous Gulf Views

About the Property
Kick off the New Year at Salt Marsh Escape—a spacious 6-bedroom retreat perfect for group gatherings and family reunions. Located on the quieter side of Bolivar Peninsula in Gilchrist, this home is just steps from the sand. Experience sweeping Gulf and Bay views, relax in your own private hot tub, and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of a near-beachfront location without the beachfront price tag.

The House
This expansive two-story home features a vaulted great room that opens to wraparound decks, offering unobstructed west-facing views for incredible sunsets. With 13 beds across 6 bedrooms, there is plenty of room for 16+ guests to spread out.

Gourmet Kitchen: Cook for the whole group in a fully equipped kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances and a large granite island.

Entertainment: Stay connected with high-speed Wifi and 7 Smart TVs throughout the home, including a 75" screen in the living room.

Kids' Favorite: A lively bunk/game room features strobe lights for a fun, party-like atmosphere for children and teens.

Outdoor Amenities: The ground-level lounge includes a private hot tub (jacuzzi), an outdoor shower, a park-style charcoal grill, and a 55" Smart TV.

Beachside Games: Enjoy cornhole, life-size Connect 4, and other outdoor games provided for your group.

Bedroom & Bathroom Layout
The home is thoughtfully designed to accommodate large groups across three levels:

Ground Level: Lounge area, private hot tub, outdoor shower, and grilling station.

Main Floor: Open-concept kitchen, dining, and living areas; 4 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.

Top Floor: 2 bedrooms including a game loft and 1 full bathroom.

Bed Details: Includes 2 Kings, 2 Queens, 4 Full/Twin bunks, and 1 Twin.

Location & Proximity
Located in the peaceful Gilchrist area on a private street with minimal traffic, you are perfectly positioned for a quiet getaway while remaining just a 5-minute drive from the main restaurants and attractions of Crystal Beach.

Beach Access: We are in "row three," meaning you are just a very short walk from the shoreline—close enough to hear the waves and enjoy the Gulf breeze.

Fishing: Anglers can walk right across the street to some of the peninsula's best local fishing spots.

Policies & Notes
Check-in/Out: Self-check-in starts after 4:00 PM via lockbox; checkout is by 10:00 AM.

Pets: We are a pet-friendly property—bring the whole family along!

Starter Kit: We provide a starter kit of paper goods, soaps, and coffee; please bring extra for longer stays.

Bathrooms: While the home sleeps 21, it has 3 bathrooms; please plan your group's schedule accordingly.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No more than the maximum occupancy stated shall occupy the premises.
Please be respectful of noise after 10 pm.
No parking under the home; please only use the 6 spots available in front of our home. We will charge for any damage to the no parking chains.

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

About the area

Port Bolivar

Located on the waterfront, this holiday home is in Crystal Beach, a neighbourhood in Port Bolivar. Fort Travis Seashore Park and Galveston Seawall are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Crystal Beach and Gilchrist Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Hooks Woods Bird Sanctuary and Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Gilchrist, TX

What's nearby

  • Crystal Beach - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Port of Galveston Cruise Terminal - 55 min drive - 46.6 km
  • Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier - 55 min drive - 47.7 km
  • Galveston Seawall - 56 min drive - 48.0 km
  • Port of Galveston - 56 min drive - 46.9 km

Getting around

  • Houston, TX (EFD-Ellington Field) - 100 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Stingaree Restaurant & Bar - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Ocean Grille - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Dannays Donuts - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Jayla’s Bar & Grill - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Salt Marsh Escape: 6BR Beachside Retreat, Hot Tub & Gorgeous Gulf Views pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much is parking at Salt Marsh Escape: 6BR Beachside Retreat, Hot Tub & Gorgeous Gulf Views?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Salt Marsh Escape: 6BR Beachside Retreat, Hot Tub & Gorgeous Gulf Views?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Salt Marsh Escape: 6BR Beachside Retreat, Hot Tub & Gorgeous Gulf Views?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Salt Marsh Escape: 6BR Beachside Retreat, Hot Tub & Gorgeous Gulf Views located?

This family-friendly Port Bolivar holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Crystal Beach and Gilchrist Beach. High Island Beach and Stingaree Marina are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.6

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. 15 out of 17 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 17 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 17 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 17 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.0/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mike N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house at a great location!Really nice lower patio with lots of tables and chairs.Well stocked with towels, dinnerware and appliances.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

John G.

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

Great place and beach within walking distance

Really enjoyed the whole house and the set up under the house to gather with family
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kalyn H.

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

Great House!

This house was perfect for our group! One of the best we’ve stayed in for our annual, “framily”, beach trip that we’ve been doing for years!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Colleen L.

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

Perfect Weekend Away on Boliver Peninsula

The house was exceptional. Just a few steps from the beach. Excellent communication from host and property management. Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Family beach trip

The property was well-located with easy access to the beach. Almost everything was in working order and good condition.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chad L.

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

Excellent location

The Christmas decorations were a bonus!! The property is in a great location. The house was beautiful and perfect size for our party. We will be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aimee H.

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

Rental experience

The home was beautiful and the property had everything you could possibly need. The property manager was extremely helpful and a delight to deal with. We would book this property again for sure.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cindy L.

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

Awesome

Great vacation place. It was clean and very welcoming. Everyone had a great time. There were 14 of us and it was very comfortable. I would definitely book again. Only 1 drawback. The bbq is small. We bought one big enough to cook for all of us.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

John T.

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

GHS Classmates of 82

Enjoyed our stay. Property was as advertised. Had good communication with property manager. Would have been nice if outdoor television worked. Would also recommend outdoor fans under house.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Erick C.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication
The property was very nice, but the property manager was not. Several areas of the house were not clean when we arrived. We received a message from the owner that we might be unable to check in because the last guest left late and the cleaning team had some problems. We didnt mind that it wasn't pristine. Once we left, we were bombarded with messages about the property's cleanliness. The manager sent us pictures of the dirty areas that were not clean when we arrived. We were starting to reply to the manager to let them know that these areas were not clean, but their texts were getting ugly, so we didn't reply. We also rent out property, so we know it can be challenging to manage, but this was unprofessional.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Greg H.

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

Weekend getaway

Wanted to have a weekend getaway before my daughter gets married. Some of the ladies couldn’t find a babysitter. So we ended up having a two-year-old and two babies. By our surprised it was fully equipped with two high chairs and two play. We will definitely be renting this place again.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erica B.

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

Fun for a full house

Great house and great location! We brought our high school church youth group for a 3 day stay. We were glad to be able to put the boys upstairs and the girls downstairs. The house is well supplied and held our large group well. The pictures in the description are very accurate-no surprises. The host is very quick and helpful with his responses. The house is well thought out with many conveniences for being on the beach - indoor and outdoor laundry machines, outdoor shower and sprayer hose, nice outdoor area under the house. The kids loved being steps from the beach. Everyone had a fun time.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany M.

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

Best Experience EVER

From the beginning my experience was AMAZING!! Erik was in contact with me immediately after my booking. He was so helpful and answered all my questions in regards to directions, shopping and entertainment in the surrounding area. As soon as we arrived, Stevi informed us on how to access the property. She was so awesome!! I do want to knowledge one other person by the name of Liz. She was so accommodating. She actually offered to do some grocery shopping for us if we needed.. HOW AMAZING IS THAT??!!! 5 star accommodating in my book. The home was in Superb condition. I will definitely return to rent again. Thank you all for the Best Experience Ever!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022

4/10 Poor

Crystal E.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Horrible management of this property

Where do I even begin with all the issues we had with the property management company at this beautiful home. I did not receive check in instructions until the day of. We did not receive any check out instructions. We were not provided enough wash clothes. Internet instructions on the website did not work and there was nothing posted on the refrigerator as the listing states. We had 6 vehicles and the advertised information says there is room for 6 vehicles to park. It is also advertise that there are lights and a TV downstairs. The lights did not work, and we couldn’t access the TV because the lock was rusted shut. I contacted Stevie who was very polite and said she would get someone out there. We finally got tired of waiting and went upstairs. Two hours later a gentleman arrived and said he was on the other side of town so he couldn’t get there to help us until now and seemed very annoyed but that the lights were working, and he unlocked the TV. He then proceeded to go downstairs and take pictures of all of our vehicles, and instead of coming back upstairs to talk to us, sent a rude text to me with pictures stating our parking was unacceptable and that we broke the chains that were there to prevent us from parking under the house. We did not break any chains-they probably fell and broke on their own because they were Plastic! Now, several days later, I receive a claim stating that a comforter needed to be replaced. We did not damage anything at this house. Disappointed!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ashley p.

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

Perry/McClaflin Family Vacation

The house was clean, well stocked, and a great place for our family of 16 to spend the week together.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Larry L.

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

Great stay

We had a great time with family and friend. Easily accommodate for my group of 20. Beach 200 feet away and Ms. Stevi was amazing. I really appreciate her. Thank you, we will be back for sure
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard B.

Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

About the host

Hosted by Erik Acuna

Host profile image
Aloha! My wife, Aya and I live in Honolulu where we are raising our two daughters (the boy in the picture is our daughter’s good friend). We enjoy hanging out with friends, going to the beach, paddle boarding, yoga, hiking, and spending time with our kids at home. Both Aya and I are passionate about the healing arts. She is a massage therapist, and I am a mental health therapist. We are delighted that you have chosen our home, and we will do our very best to provide you with an enjoyable, memorable stay!

Why they chose this property

We have chosen Crystal Beach as our vacation spot because of the beautifully constructed homes on Bolivar Peninsula. We also like the outdoor activities available in the area as well as the quiet, more secluded nature of the peninsula as compared to Galveston.

What makes this property unique

Salt Marsh Escape is special because of the protected, unobstructed beach views that can be enjoyed on our spacious decks. We are so close to the beach that you can enjoy ocean views even from the downstairs areas!

This home is a rare 6 bedroom home; there are only a handful of homes with this many rooms on Bolivar Peninsula. Because there are plenty of bedrooms, we are able to accommodate a big group while also providing privacy during your stay.

Not only are the ocean views amazing from this house, but they are more secluded, private views of the beach, as we are located in Gilchrist, off the beaten path (but still only 5 minutes from all the main stores & essentials).

We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service. Not only am I hosting you guys, but I have a hired assistant available by phone and in person to help guests when needs arise.

An additional benefit of our home is that it is brand spanking new, and therefore, all the furniture and amenities are new! You will enjoy a beautiful, immaculate home when you stay at Salt Marsh Escape!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback