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Hotel and Condo Suggestions for South Padre Island
As a local, people always ask me for advice on what hotels and condos to reserve for Spring Break, which ones have the best party scene, which ones are less tolerant in guest policies, which ones are closer to the events, etc. The best way to help you choose a hotel/condo is by a ranking system that will help you choose what you are looking for. The following ranking results are not scientific. Rather, they reflect polls throughout the Internet, magazines, word-of-mouth, message boards, friends, and my own personal experiences. The results rank from top to bottom, with the top being the best in their respective categories. If you would like to comment on some of these choices, feel free to post a message in our message board. The Tops of Spring Break 2004 Top 5 Hotels | Top 5 Condos | Top 5 Budget Motels Need further help picking a choice? Ask in our Message Board!
* All of the above condos were beachfront properties The island is not the only place for lodging. You can find some brand-new hotels in Port Isabel, a town that connects SPI to the mainland with a two-mile long bridge and a magnificent lighthouse that overlooks the waters. Port Isabel is a small fishing town that is home to local fisherman who sell their catch to local markets and grocery chains for a living and so the party scene is non-existent around here, but prices on beer and other “Spring Break” items are generally a bit cheaper than SPI. The local restaurants are to-die for, especially if you dine with the town’s staple item: shrimp. See our "Where to Eat" link for more details. Don’t want to pay for a hotel or condo? Can’t get the room you want? Maybe you want the TRUE Spring Break feel? Well, then try out “Tent City”! “Tent City” is what Spring Breakers call the rows of tents/campsites set up on the beach line at the northern portion of the Island, away from the development. It is a bit isolated out here, but usually there are quite a few people out camping with you and you’ll have a little city of your own with its own character and you can do the whole campfire/bonfire thing, as well. I’ve personally never done this, but it’s the last resort for those who can’t or don’t want to pay for a hotel/condo on the Island. It’s perfectly legal. Last I heard, some crazy people bought a bath tub, filled it with beer, added small wheels to the bottom, and transported it around Tent City for all to drink. Note: You may be interested in reading an article I wrote a while back about driving on the beaches of South Padre Island.
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Guide Contents
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While South Padre Island is part of the longest island beach in North America, its resort town is spread out only about 3-4 miles, with most of the hotels and condos within a 1-2 mile radius from each other. Most Spring Breakers just walk from one place to the next…and since this is Texas, home of the pickup truck, many truck owners will happily give you and your friends a free lift (especially ladies)! There’s also a free shuttle called “The Wave” that goes around town every couple of minutes. 