1909 State Highway 361, Port Aransas, Texas, United States | (586) 210-9239
Budget-friendly property a 15-minute walk from the beach
Cheerful rooms have microwaves, coffeemakers, and flat-screen TVs
Continental breakfast is free for hotel guests
Guest can barbecue at the property's picnic areas
Great fishing facilities: cleaning house, boiling pots, and cheap electrical hookups
Sundries shop selling drinks and frozen food
Movie library for guests to rent films from
Meeting center with computer and copy/fax services
Free Wi-Fi and on-site parking
Pets allowed for a fee
Signs of wear throughout, plus some dated decor
Bedroom walls tend to be on the thin side
No full restaurant or gym
Plantation Suites is a well-priced property about a 15-minute walk from the beach, but it needs a refresh throughout. The 52 rooms have a cheerful lime green and brown color scheme, plus quality amenities that include microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers, but walls are thin. The pool and hot tub are popular hangout spots, and while there's no full restaurant, all rates include a simple breakfast. This is a great place for those whose primary vacation purpose is fishing: there's cleaning facilities on-site for fresh catches, as well as boiling pots, barbecue areas, and cheap electrical hookups. It's worth comparing rates with the nearby Island Hotel, which offers similar amenities and a game room.
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Scene
Budget motel with cheerful decor, but visible wear
The hotel is a bit of a relic, and its aqua-blue exterior certainly stands out. Although it gets good reviews from guests, a update across the property's common areas and rooms wouldn't be amiss: the bright turquoise exterior, for example, leads into a lobby with lemon-yellow walls and a mix of wood, wicker, and metal furniture. Guests tend to spends their days fishing or at the nearby beach, but while on-site, the outdoor pool and hot tub are popular spots and can get crowded. Thin walls can let it noise, but overall, the property is fairly quiet. Also expect to see owners with their dogs, who are allowed for a fee.
Location
Close to beaches and natural attractions
Plantation Suites is located in Port Aransas, a low-key beach town about a 30-minute drive from downtown Corpus Christi, and just under four hours from Houston. The hotel is a 15-minute walk (or four-minute drive) from the beach, and Mustang Island State Park is 20 minutes by car. Padre Island National Seashore is about a 30-minute drive. The University of Texas Marine Science Institute is six minutes by car. Chain eateries like Pizza Hut are just a few minutes' walk away, while popular eateries by the marina like Virginia's and Trout Street are a roughly five-minute drive.Although most visitors arrive by car, the largest airport nearby is in Corpus Christi, about 44 minutes by car.
Rooms
Cheerful rooms with microwaves and mini-fridges
The hotel has 50 suites (for two) and two condos (housing six), most with a cheerful, albeit not sophisticated, lime-green-and-brown color scheme. Expect beige tile floors, wood furniture that's a bit scuffed, dated striped curtains, and beach-themed artwork. Each room has a 32-inch flat-screen cable TV, microwave, mini-fridge, and coffeemaker, while some have a larger kitchenette with a toaster oven. Unfortunately, walls tend to be on the thin side. Families might want to look into requesting a room with a pullout couch, though they're not terribly comfortable. Bathrooms are straightforward and come with small hairdryers, soap, and lotion dispensers, as well as inexpensive toiletries on the counters. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos, although there are accessible rooms with large walk-in showers.
Features
Average breakfast and pool, but facilities for fishermen
The hotel's continental breakfast is free and consists of two hot items daily, like waffles or biscuits. The website takes pains to mention that real eggs are used, though the coffee doesn't get great reviews from guests. That is the only meal served on-site. Guests can utilize barbecue grills at the property's picnic areas, and visitors catching fish for themselves can use the on-site fish-cleaning house, shrimp boiling pot, and inexpensive electric hookups. An outdoor pool and adjacent hot tub are frequented by guests and can get crowded, and while the wooden loungers are attractive, there's only a handful. The hotel has a movie library guests can rent from and a small convenience-store selling sundries, drinks, and frozen food. A conference center houses a 1,500-square-foot meeting space, plus there's a computer with copy and fax services for guests to use in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the property. Parking on-site is free, while pets are allowed for a fee.
