7000 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, Texas, United States | (956) 772-7000
Beachfront location next to popular Clayton's Beach Bar
Pleasant rooms and suites with microwaves and minibars
Some rooms offer balconies and/or jetted tubs
Heated oceanfront pool with small adjacent splash pool for kids
Large deck with lounge chairs for sunbathing
Poolside snack hut plus bar with pool table and games
Free hot breakfast with made-to-order omelets
Business center and meeting space for up to 350 guests
Gym with weight-training and cardio equipment
Free Wi-Fi throughout and free on-site parking
Coin-operated laundry facilities for guest use
Dogs welcome for a nightly fee
No restaurant for lunch and dinner
Common spaces are in need of some updates
Fitness center is tiny
La Quinta Inn & Suites South Padre Island is a value beachfront hotel with 147 spacious rooms, a couple of which have jetted tubs and/or balconies with sea views. All are pleasant and have microwaves, minibars, and coffeemakers -- useful as the hotel only serves breakfast (for free). Drinks, a pool table, and board games are available at the bar, while the poolside joint serves up small bites and drinks. The property is within walking distance of many area restaurants, plus next door to popular Clayton's Beach Bar. The ocean-view outdoor pool is particularly pleasant, with ample loungers and a splash pool for kids. Other facilities include a small fitness center and business center, plus free Wi-Fi and parking. Travelers may also want to consider the slightly nicer (and pricier) Hilton Garden Inn South Padre Island, though breakfast there costs extra.
Scene
Budget-friendly chain hotel with simple interiors and pleasant beachfront decks
La Quinta Inn & Suites South Padre Island is a budget chain hotel occupying a four-story building painted in the chain's signature golden-yellow. Interiors are simple and a tad dated, with lots of granite accents, basic tiled floors, and vinyl seating throughout. The lobby is basic, with wood-like floors, a big reception area full of high bar tables with stools, and merchandise from the hotel gift shop spilling into the area where guests check in. Of course, most guests spend their time on-site hanging out poolside at the Lookout bar or at the adjacent sunning deck, which offers unobstructed sea views. The hotel is popular with budget-conscious business and leisure travelers, including lots of families.
Location
In the northern part of South Padre Island, next to Clayton's Beach Bar
The La Quinta Inn & Suites South Padre Beach is located right on the coast on the northern end of the island, making it feel somewhat quieter than hotels in the middle of the hotel sprawl. However, it's next door to Clayton's Beach Bar, a popular spot with music that can be heard from the La Quinta. It's also close to local restaurants, and a handful are within walking distance right along the beach. Similar to other areas of South Padre Island, a car is needed to get around with ease, and potential guests should be aware that any of the walking distances below involve walking across and/or along a busy road without sidewalks.Andy Bowie County Park, the South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center, and Sea Turtle, Inc. are all about four minutes away by foot, while getting to South Padre Island Convention Center takes just a couple of minutes longer. It's an 11-minute drive to Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark, a 12-minute-drive to Port Isabel Lighthouse & Museum, and just under an hour to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Rio Grande Valley International Airport takes just over an hour to reach by car, traffic permitting.
Rooms
Pleasant, clean rooms and suites -- some with ocean views and/or jetted tubs
This hotel offers 147 rooms, many with small balconies offering partial or full sea views. Cream-colored tile floors and patterned curtains in green and red hues make rooms feel a tad old, but decor is overall pleasant and contemporary, especially for a budget hotel. Expect black-and-white photo prints in dark frames, dark-wood headboards with black-and-white accents on the bedding, and brown upholstered seating. Units are outfitted with either two queen beds or one king, and there are several room categories that add a dark faux-leather sleeper sofa. Pillow-top mattresses are available in all units.Amenities are similar across the board and include 32-inch flat-screen TVs with premium cable, coffeemakers, irons and ironing boards, microwaves, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. Some have jetted tubs right in the rooms. Clean, simple bathrooms have beige walls and floors, spacious sink areas with wooden vanities, large mirrors, and shower/tub combos. Basic toiletries and hairdryers are provided.
Features
Lovely outdoor pool with adjacent sundeck and free hot breakfast
This La Quinta offers a good range of amenities. The heated outdoor pool here is particularly pleasant, with ocean views and lots of loungers, and there's a second long splash pool with a fountain feature for kids. A bar, The Lookout, sits in a covered pavilion off to one side. Just beyond the pool is a large patio looking out over the beach with red-brick flooring and tons of lounge chairs, ideal or those who'd rather avoid getting sand in their shoes but still want to sunbathe. There's also a small fitness center with a couple of treadmills and a weight-training machine, plus a bar with basic snacks and drinks. For business travelers, the hotel offers a small business center with a couple of Mac desktop computers, plus meeting space for up to 350 guests. Wi-Fi is free. Other facilities include a shop selling gifts, snacks, and sundries; coin-operated laundry facilities, and free on-site parking. All room rates include a free, well-reviewed breakfast with waffles, coffee, baked goods, and made-to-order omelets, but there's no restaurant for lunch and dinner. Dogs are welcome for a daily fee (weight restrictions apply).
King Suite
Standard Two Queen
7000 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, Texas, United States
(956) 772-7000