- A safe, comfortable space for you & your guests to sleep/play/relax while soaking in the healing energy of the coast.
- A convenient location with plenty to do and see nearby - live music & restaurants, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, The Galveston Strand, Moody Gardens and tons more.
- A place that has everything that will make your retreat from the world more enjoyable, i.e. yard games, beach gear, and kid-friendly amenities so you can pack less (and forget even less.)
Book Your Stay
You won’t be disappointed!
What our guests are saying...
Why is it called 'Don't Be Jelly'?
Jellyfish represent flexibility, openness, and peace of mind, which is just how you will experience your days here. The street slang for jellyfish, however, means “spineless or without boundaries”. Hence the name Don’t Be Jelly.Â
Don’t Be Jelly is a family-friendly vacation home, and also hosts Hope For The Journey EMDR counseling retreats where individuals, couples, and families can let go of what’s holding them back and heal.
Whether you are looking for pleasure or healing, Don’t Be Jelly is the perfect place to reset and bring joy into your life.
Meet Your Hosts
Hi! We’re Tony and Traci Pirri from Austin, Texas. Over the past several years, we have developed a love for Galveston, Texas. The quirky history of the island, the friendliness of the people, and the beauty of the beach never disappoint.Â
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We started looking for a beach house on Galveston Island several years ago with dreams of using it for EMDR Intensive Retreats. Traci owns Hope For The Journey, a counseling practice that specializes in healing trauma, particularly sexual trauma. The idea of being able to provide top notch trauma healing within walking distance of the beach was very exciting! After a multi-year search, the perfect option finally popped up and so Don’t Be Jelly was born!Â
We hope you love the house as much as we do!Â
~Tony and Traci
Take The Tour
Check out Don’t Be Jelly and all it has to offer for your stay!
Our Policies
The Basics
- Check-in: 4:00 PM
- Checkout: 10:00 AM
- Self check-in with keypad
- Suitable for Children of All Ages
- No smoking or vaping
- No pets
- No parties or events
FAQ's
We do our best to provide everything you might possibly need to stay as a family so please do your best to be respectful to our provisions, accessories and home!
- Minimum booking age of 25.
- A security deposit of $500, along with a signed rental agreement, is required prior to check-in.
- Max occupancy of the home is 6 adults/3 kids + 1 infant to give you the most comfortable visit.
- No pet policy as we host those with extreme allergies. A $250 fee will be applied if a pet is discovered on the property and either the pet will need to be removed or the guests will need to leave without refund for remainder of stay.
- Please respect the neighborhood’s quiet hours after 10 pm.
- No parties or gatherings of any kind. The home cannot be used for professional photography or video of any sort.
- No smoking in or around the property.
Please enjoy the use of our charcoal grill. If extra charcoal is available in the storage room under the house, you are welcome to use it. However, please understand that charcoal is not provided, so be prepared to purchase your own, if needed.
Should you have extras at the end of your stay, consider paying it forward for the next guest and leaving it in the storage room.Â
We accept direct bookings along with booking on third party platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO. All payments are through online processors, no cash or check will be accepted. These platforms are for personal stays only.
If you are looking to book the property to host your own retreat or would like to participate in an EMDR Intensive Retreat, please reach out to us for more information on how to do so.Â
Free cancellation within 72 hours of booking. If the guest cancels the reservation more than 72 hours after the initial booking, the initial deposit minus a $50 administrative charge may be refunded ONLY if premises are re-rented by HOST for the same period at same rental amount. If re-rented for lesser amount, the difference between this lease rent and the lesser re-rent shall not be refunded.
Should your stay be interrupted by a named Tropical Storm or Hurricane that results in a suggested or mandatory evacuation, you will be given the option of rescheduling for the amount of days impacted OR the cost for the dates impacted minus a $50 administrative charge will be refunded in full.
Cleaning Fee: $225
State and County Hotel & Occupancy Taxes: Vary depending on nightly rate and length of stay
Security Deposit: a $500 hold will take place 2-3 days before your stay and will be unlocked 7 days after your stay.
Our cleaners do an EXCELLENT job cleaning all 1500 sq. feet of the property from head to toe. They are so good that they are in high demand and clean mulitple homes per day. For this reason, we unfortunately cannot offer late check out.Â
We can, however, sometimes accommodate you dropping off your baggage early or early check ins. Just reach out with your request. If we can accommodate you, we will. We know you want to get to the beach and spend as much time there as possible. 😜