shore winners

3 Texas beaches surf into top 20 spring break destinations for 2025

Jamaica Beach ranked among the top 20 best spring break destinations nationwide.

visitgalveston.com/

It may still be February, but it's never too early to start thinking about spring break. Now, one beach in Texas has been singled out on a national list (and it's not Padre Island): Crystal Beach, located in the Galveston Bay southeast of Houston, has been named one of the top 10 destinations for a beachy spring break in 2025.

The 2025 Beach Index, compiled by vacation rental company HomeToGo, examined 35 beaches around the country based on metrics such as a "hidden gem" status, affordability for accommodations during the key spring break months of March and April, and a "local secret score" based on vacationers' average distance traveled to reach each destination.

Crystal Beach came in as the No. 7 best beach.

Located on the Bolivar Peninsula, about 70 miles southeast of Houston, Crystal Beach earned high praise for its affordability, clear skies score, and local secret score, earning 9.52 out of 10 possible points in all three categories.

It also earned 9.11 points for the report's "heat score" which measured the average temperatures in March and April (where higher temperatures received higher scores).

This is how Crystal Beach performed in the remaining three metrics:

7.33 – Food and drink score
7.19 – Hidden gem score
5 – Visitor satisfaction score

Facilities at Crystal Beach include Camp Margaritaville RV Resort which opened in 2022 with a beachside concert venue, pool with a swim-up bar, 50 private poolside cabanas, large turf playing field, RV accommodations — and access to 27 miles of beaches along the peninsula.

Get ready for a fun vacation at Crystal Beach. Bolivar Peninsula Tourism and Visitor Center

Five of the top 10 beaches on the list were in Florida, but No. 1 was Avila Beach in California, a sleepy beach town 200 miles south of San Francisco; followed by two beaches in the Carolinas: Kure Beach, North Carolina and Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina.

Two other Texas beaches made the list: Surfside Beach, a tiny beach town about 30 miles south of Galveston that came in at No. 11; and Jamaica Beach, another tiny beach town located right next to Galveston Island State Park, which came in at No. 17.

Surfside Beach came in as the most affordable destination out of all 35 beaches, with visitors paying a median $66 nightly rate per person for accommodations.

According to HomeToGo, spring breakers can expect to pay a median nightly rate of $121 per person for accommodations across all of these coastal areas, but prices will likely fluctuate depending on peak travel periods.

"Spring Break continues to be a highly popular time for beach trips across the United States, and with so many destination options available, we are excited to share our annual Beach Index to help travelers navigate the vacation planning waters," said HomeToGo spokesperson Eleanor Moody. "Whether travelers are after blue-sky breaks, savvy stays, or under-the-radar retreats, we hope this report will help pinpoint ideal trips exactly according to personal preferences."

The top 10 best beaches in America for spring break vacation in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Avila Beach, California
No. 2 – Kure Beach, North Carolina and Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina (tied)
No. 4 – Saint Joe Beach, Florida
No. 5 – Vilano Beach, Florida
No. 6 – Bethany Beach, Delaware
No. 7 – Crystal Beach, Texas
No. 8 – Pensacola Beach, Florida
No. 9 – Miramar Beach, Florida
No. 10 – Navarre Beach, Florida

beach texas vacations spring break spring break destinations rankings lists

Hotel reno

Luxury hotel near DFW Airport unveils major refresh and new dining

Photo courtesy of Ricardo Marriott

House of Toro is the new chophouse at The Ricardo Marriott.

A longtime Westlake luxury hotel is ready to unveil a major renovation and rebrand to the public: The former Marriott Westlake has reopened as The Ricardo Marriott, named for famed Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, the original designer of the hotel and its surrounding Solana Plaza.

According to a release, the 293-room property near DFW Airport recent underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation that included several new dining concepts and social spaces, along with new design elements, guest room refurbishments, and a pool refresh.

Dallas-based Coury Hospitality led the overhaul of the Marriott, Bonvoy Collection hotel.

"The Ricardo Marriott represents an exciting new chapter for this property,” said Andrew Casperson, President of Coury Hospitality, in a statement. “This transformation goes beyond a renovation. It reflects an intentional effort to honor the building’s architectural significance while introducing a renewed identity that is bold, design-driven, and reflective of Westlake’s evolving character.”

The renovations aimed to honor and augment Legorreta's original, 1987 design for the building and its campus, featuring his signature bold geometry and vibrant colors. (Legorreta's other well-known local building is the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, which features similarly striking colors and shapes.)

"Legorreta’s architecture anchors the experience, creating a strong sense of arrival, while refreshed interiors introduce layered materials, contemporary furnishings and curated color that elevate the guest journey," says the release.

The centerpiece of the renovation are the food and beverage offerings:

A new restaurant called House of Toro Chophouse & Patio serves as the hotel’s signature chophouse.
Black Pearl Lounge offers cocktails, light bites, and tableside caviar service.
Solana Lounge & Kitchen provides all-day dining with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Café31 offers Lavazza coffees, fresh pastries, and grab-and-go options.

The hotel also features more than 15,000 square feet of updated meeting and event space, along with outdoor areas and a new-and-improved pool. The spaces are designed to accommodate a range of uses, from corporate meetings to weddings and social events, the release says.

The Ricardo Marriott is now open and welcoming guests, at 1301 Solana Boulevard, Building 3, Westlake.

dfw airport renovation hotels