a shore winner

Crystal Beach sails among top 10 spring break destinations for 2025

Enjoy a margarita while on spring break in Crystal Beach.

Camp Margaritaville RV Resort Crystal Beach/Facebook

It may still be February, it's never too early to start thinking about spring break vacation. Fortunately for locals, Houstonians won't have to travel far to reach Crystal Beach, which was just named one of the top 10 destinations for a beachy spring break in 2025.

Crystal Beach climbed through the ranks to land as the No. 7 best beach in vacation rental company HomeToGo's 2025 Beach Index. The report examined 35 beaches around the country based on seven metrics, including a "hidden gem" popularity score, affordability for accommodations in March and April, and a "local secret score" based on vacationers' average distance traveled to reach each destination.

Avila Beach in California took the crown as the No. 1 best beach for spring break in 2025.

Crystal Beach is located in the middle of Bolivar Peninsula, about 100 miles from downtown Houston. The 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

For travelers that want a resort-style vacation, Camp Margaritaville RV Resort offers a beachside concert venue, a Texas-sized pool with a swim-up bar and 50 private poolside cabanas, large turf playing field, and RV accommodations. The resort also provides access to 27 miles of beaches along the Bolivar Peninsula.

If Houstonians want to check out a potentially less busy coastal area during their vacation, Surfside Beach (No. 11) and Jamaica Beach (No. 17) were the only two other Texas beaches that were included in the report. Both are situated on Galveston Island less than 65 miles southeast from downtown Houston.

HomeToGo says 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. However, the report additionally revealed that Surfside Beach is the most affordable destination out of all 35 beaches, with visitors paying a median $66 nightly rate per person for accommodations.

"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

grab and go and fly

New United Club Fly provides a quick respite for travelers at IAH

Photo by Jef Rouner

Welcome to the United Club Fly at IAH.

A new kind of lounge is now open in Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). United now offers access to United Club Fly, a unique grab-and-go lounge that is designed to give travelers a premium experience even when they're in a rush.

"At United, we really strive to meet diverse travel needs," said Kay Jackson, senior manager of clubs and loungers for United at a press review held on Monday, February 24. "We know not everyone travels in the same way, and we want to offer different United Club products for different travel be needs. Club Fly specifically is one way that we intend to meet the needs of the on-the-go traveler. It is really unique and that is for that traveler that is pressed for time, whether they have a tight connection or just don't have a lot of time in the airport. They can quickly stop in, refuel, recharge, and be on their way."

Club Fly has a bright, Space City feel, with light-colored walls and beveled surfaces at odd angles that make it look ever-so-slightly like a public space from a Star Trek episode. Amenities include a full-service coffee bar staffed by baristas, to-go pre-packed snacks like chips, warm pastries, and a variety of small meals like pre-made sandwiches and salads that can be eaten at the nearby counters or taken into the terminal. Departure times are displayed on the wall to make sure no one misses their flight. Notably, Club Fly does not serve alcohol.

All items in Club Fly are complimentary for United Club members, United Club Infinite cardholders, Star Alliance Gold members, and United customers traveling internationally in a premium cabin. Entry is achieved simply by scanning a boarding pass or United Club card. The area is open from 5:30 am to 8 pm daily.

This is the second United Club Fly location. The first opened at Denver International Airport (DEN) in 2022. This one has a few extra Houston flourishes. In addition to the spacey aesthetic, the coffee bar serves a Galaxy Latte (blueberry acai) that was a hit with all the touring visitors in both hot and cold forms. Freshly-squeezed orange juice was available as a healthy alternative.

"We're certainly very excited with how the space has turned out," said Jackson.

Club Fly continues the overall IAH trend toward streamlining the speed with which travelers pass through the airport. Earlier this year, the airport completed its long-awaited traffic congestion relief plan, including additional open lanes for drop-offs and a new international arrivals terminal. Even during peak hours, getting into and around the airport is now nearly seamless with low waiting times and less overall travel stress. Club Fly's quick recharge philosophy is another way the airport keeps things moving briskly, a necessity as IAH sees more and more travel thanks to increased routes.

Photo by Jef Rouner

Welcome to the United Club Fly at IAH.

george bush intercontinental airport iah united airlines