Enjoy water views and sunrise off Galveston bay from the front porch/balcony! Escape to this beach themed home with many windows for natural light and an open concept floorplan. It is 3 bd 2 bth 1620 sqft 17' off the ground on stilts (no lift) but the house is single story. It sleeps up to 10 with 2 foldaway beds. Middle room includes tv, desk and chair for working/gaming. Spacious backyard with outdoor dining, refrigerator and firepit. Pet friendly.
Property manager
Julie Mathos
Premier Host
Languages
English, French, Italian, Spanish
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
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No firearms, no exceptions.
No illegal drugs or pharmaceuticals without a prescription in your name.
No large gatherings of more than 15 people.
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 and a first aid kit
About the area
Seabrook
Located in Seabrook, this holiday home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. Kemah Boardwalk is worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's popular attractions can visit NASA Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston. Clear Lake Park and Howard L. Ward Park are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and ecotours.
Seabrook, TX
What's nearby
Clear Lake - 4 min drive - 3.1 km
Kemah Boardwalk - 6 min drive - 5.2 km
Kemah Lighthouse District - 6 min drive - 5.3 km
NASA Johnson Space Center - 10 min drive - 9.8 km
Space Center Houston - 14 min drive - 11.2 km
Getting around
Houston, TX (EFD-Ellington Field) - 31 min drive
Restaurants
Aquarium Restaurant - 7 min drive
Landry's Seafood House - 6 min drive
Saltgrass Steak House - 6 min drive
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co - 6 min drive
Tookie's Seafood - 19 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Portofino Seaside Escape pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows pets (limit 4 total).
What time is check-in at Portofino Seaside Escape?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Portofino Seaside Escape?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Portofino Seaside Escape located?
Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from Bayside Park and 2.7 mi (4.4 km) from Kemah Boardwalk. Clear Lake and Kemah School House are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We would definitely stay again! Great communication, very clean! Truly enjoyed our stay!
Crickette L.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
6/10 Okay
Janet M.
2 October 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication
Nice Location
The property was as described. The only downside to our side was the poor communication with the host. We asked to stay an additional night and the house was available but the host could not negotiate with VRBO to let it happen.
For 20 years we spent most weekends on our little houseboat on Clear Lake until 12 years ago the storms finally sent her to that “Big Marina in the Sky”. This was our first time to spend a few days checking out our old hangouts.
Our stay at Portofino was thoroughly enjoyable! Our two Yorkies were comfortable and safe, and the house is convenient to all the Kemah and Seabrook restaurants and activities. While it’s obvious the property sees lots of pets, it was very clean and fresh, and fully stocked with everything.
Our sincere thanks to the owners for a most pleasant walk down memory lane!
Great location and a very nice house for a crew racing sailboats on Galveston Bay. Nice view of the Bay and great access for drone launch and retrieval. Best for a group of four or five since "twin beds" really are a trundle bed and others would have to be on the nice large sofas in the family room. Hot tub was great after sailing!
This was a fantastic property. A little crazy right now with the construction, but honestly better than staying in Kemah where it seemed to be worse. I loved the house and the location. My only complaint is that the house smelled of pets and a bit of pet urine. They tried to cover it up by using an infuser, but since I'm allergic to the chemicals in those things, I had to turn it off. Since they allowed my pets because they have pets, I hate to complain about pet smell, but I figure someone without pets should know. The property was overall clean. I think if they got rid of the carpets, that would probably resolve the issue.
This was our babymoon/last family trip of 3 plus late celebration of my daughter’s 13th birthday. We love Kemah, and make a day trip to Galveston every time. We loved the location of this house. It was absolutely perfect! We also discovered a beach really close by, El Jardin. It was perfect for families. This house had it all. My daughter enjoyed the hot tub in the evenings, and the view is so nice, too. Extremely clean. Super nice neighborhood. The house just had all the comforts of home.
There’s nothing lacking in this property. It’s beautiful, stocked with anything you might need, great location. Even comparing this to other Vrbo’s in the US and Europe, this exceeds our expectations.
Janice L.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
6/10 Okay
Krista K.
18 October 2022
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Decent stay
Our stay was good but with perfect 5 star ratings and price we paid when I booked - I was a little disappointed. The house had night amenities for anything you would need but the bedding felt older and was pilling, and beds had a slight odor like someone had sweat in them night after night. It was hard to get a good nights sleep. The location was great, close to everything, and great view of the water but was off put by the bedding and beds.
we absolutely loved our stay here! we travel a lot as a family of 5, and this was definitely one of our favorite vrbo's! we were in houston mostly to see nasa, so the location was perfect! wonderful kitchen to cook in, loved having the hot tub, and loved the front porch!
owner was great to communicate with--air conditioning wasn't working quite perfectly in the morning and she responded IMMEDIATELY and it was fixed in no time at all! super impressive!
thanks so much for hosting! we would highly recommend!
Everything was wonderful if I did forget anything they supplied a lot in the house. The owner was nice and replied in a timely matter. Definitely will come back again.
This house was burning short of amazing! The view from the front porch of the house was breathtaking! The only thing I’d say is that the first aid kit needs to be stocked- because there i cut myself while cooking and there were two bandaids, gauze, and some anti itch cream in the kit! The hosts were so quick to fix both things I called about so I’m sure they will stock it before next guests arrive!
Julie's property is ideally located btwn dwntwn Houston and Galveston Island. It has wonderful views of the bay from patio, a relaxing hot tub, and a few beaches within minutes away, as well.
We had a wonderful time at this property! The owner was cleaning it when we wanted to check in early, and he was able to get us in early!! The property had everything we could ever need!!! Will be coming back!!
We came down for my 9 year old daughter to attend Robotics Space Camp for the week. My Mom traveled with us as well - the 3 bedroom house was perfect! We each had our own room - all the beds were fabulous! The house is well stocked and has lovely views from the front porch. We will be back - thank you for another wonderful stay!!!
Beautiful coastal home with ocean views. Perfect place to have family over after my mother's Celebration of Life. Very comfortable, clean and the most amenities ever! Would love to come back to stay again!
We had a seamless experience in renting this property. The house was as described and in a great and easy to find location. The owners were very welcoming in their instructions and very willing to help. We did not need to contact them as the home had everything we needed.
THE GOOD
Overall, closer to 3.75/5. Other reviews accurately illustrate several of the property's excellent amenities. We enjoyed the large kitchen. Covered parking is a plus on sun-filled hot days. Lots of space, though the third bedroom's bed is tiny. Outdoor hose provided to wash sand off. The back yard is likely a great place for Fido to roam/do business. Attractive property as you drive in. You have a partial bay view from 2nd floor (large waterfront houses across the street block much of the view). Mini fridge is provided next to grill. Nice outdoor picnic table with string lighting. Front porch/deck would be great if not for the car noise. The house is close to Kemah Boardwalk (but not walking distance). There is a decent little park around the corner (within walking distance) with covered basketball courts, a public swimming pool and a small disc golf course. Small corner grocery close by. Neighborhood felt safe (a big +). Ample seating in living area. Good TV with cable, several apps for movie viewing.
THE BAD (Owners should address)
The gas grill's propane tank was empty (bummer!). An outdoor, ground floor video camera struck me as odd for a property rental. We could not get the carport gate to operate so we parked outside of it. The Edison bulbs in the kitchen are annoying. The door lock mechanism was a pain and was difficult to operate. Small master shower, but good water pressure.
THE UGLY (Not much owners can do about these)
Until the new highway construction is complete nearby, plan extra time to get to where you're going. I am stunned none of the reviews mention the busy street and resulting noise. Some of it is from cars going too fast, but there does not appear to be a lot of wall insulation either. It was loudest during commuter times (sunrise & sunset). It does fortunately taper off at bedtime. A stilt house sways ... anytime somebody gets up to walk to another room. Odd feeling. Not a perfect location for beaching in Galveston. It's a legit 40-plus minute drive to the island. But you're not paying seawall prices to stay here.
The house is beautiful!
Everything was perfect we felt like home.
Sheyla M.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021
About the host
Hosted by Julie Mathos
We are a family of 3 plus 2 Weimaraner dogs, Riley and Abilene and 2 Blue Russian cats, Tori and Candy. We live on the northwest side of Houston currently but we planned to move to the Seabrook area closer to work. Plans changed and I am now working on the Southwest part of Houston so we have listed our beautiful beach home and condo at the marina as a vacation rental. We have loved hosting people from out of town and really enjoy travelling ourselves.
Why they chose this property
Both properties have a nice water view. I love rivers and mountains but I am originally from the beach and really love the smell and atmosphere of a sweet little fishing village with easy access to Kemah, Baybrook Mall, NASA Galveston and the Medical Center.
What makes this property unique
I have been travelling across the US and overseas since I was 8 years old which makes me uniquely experienced in identifying great locations that are safe and convenient as well as special. Whether you want to stay in or explore the surroundings, you can decide to walk, bike or drive short distances and be fully entertained by nature (trails and sunrise), old town Seabrook or NASA and every modern convenience and store Houston has to offer. It has a vacation feel but a convenient drive to work in Pasadena, Downtown or the Medical Center.
Languages:
English, French, Italian, Spanish
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests