Ramada South Padre Island

Given its proximity to the convention center, there’s a fair amount of business travelers who stay at this Ramada. But the primary clientele are budget-conscious tourists who come to enjoy the island life. Travelers should expect an older, motel-style property, one with exterior corridors and no elevators. On the plus side, the modest lobby is cheerful and brightly decorated with large murals of marine life and a wood sculpture of dolphins. The adjacent Su Casa Café is the hotel’s hub. It sees activity all day, but its most hectic time is in the morning with people grabbing breakfast before heading out. Another popular spots is the hotel's outdoor pool, which can get busy and sometimes noisy, especially during Spring Break when college students descend on the island for fun-in-the-sun getaways. But overall the Ramada has a friendly and relatively peaceful ambiance.

The Ramada is located on South Padre Island, well north of the Queen Isabela Causeway where travelers come in from the mainland. It’s mostly surrounded by condo complexes, but a recreational park is on one side and the beach is a short walk on a private access path. It’s a relatively quiet area, and while a few restaurants are short walks away, guests will need a car to experience all the island offers. Business travelers should note that the convention center is a very short drive away.- Three-minute walk to the beach

• Five-minute walk to a few restaurants
• Seven-minute walk to Sea Turtle, Inc.
• Two-minute drive to South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center
• Three-minute drive to South Padre Island Convention Center
• 12-minute drive to Schlitterbahn Beach Resort on the island’s southern tip
• 46-minute drive to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
• 48-minute drive to Brownsville
• 65-minute drive to Rio Grande Valley International Airport

Guest rooms at this Ramada are far from high style, but they're clean, comfortable, and decorated in sunny hues appropriate for the tropical island location. Lemon-yellow walls cast a warm glow over travertine tile floors, and bright white bedding is accented by scarlet bolster pillows and copper bed throws. Matching wood furniture in a blond finish includes headboards and desks with office chairs. Looks aside, rooms are well-equipped, and all have microwaves, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Rooms are also spacious on the whole. Even the Standard Double Queen we saw had ample space for a sleeper sofa and a small table with two chairs. Other larger rooms and suites include extra amenities like whirlpool tubs in their bedroom or kitchenettes with fridges, wet bars, and cooktops. One suite we saw even had a full kitchen with modern appliances that included a dishwasher, range, and full, stainless steel fridge. Bathrooms which also vary in size, are finished in travertine tile framing their shower/tub combos. Some vanities are placed outside the bathrooms, and all are outfitted with hairdryers and a few individual toiletries. The biggest drawback to these rooms appears to be noise. Several past guests complained about thin walls allowing ambient noise to enter their rooms from neighbors or outside. Others complained of noisy air-conditioning units. Views of the surrounding area are entirely unremarkable.

For a budget property, this Ramada has quite a few added-value extras. The most notable could be the restaurant on the premises, Su Casa Café, that offers a free continental breakfast along with the option of ordering a hot, made-to-order breakfast for an extra fee. It also serves lunch and dinner with a focus on tasty, reasonably-priced Mexican food. Another welcome extra is the hotel's heated saltwater pool. It's spacious and paired with an adjacent whirlpool and kiddie pool. The walled-in sundeck offers privacy along with loungers and covered tables. Compared to the pool, the fitness center is a bit of a let-down. It’s in a cramped room that has only three pieces of outdated cardio equipment. Those looking to work out may prefer the outdoor recreation area by the hotel that has basketball and shuffleboard courts. Guests can also find picnic tables next to grills here. A petite business center in the restaurant area has two guest computers and a printer, and business travelers can also book a meeting space with room for up to 125 people. A guest laundry room on site is another welcome feature, particularly for those on longer stays, although it has only one washer/dryer set and a vending machine. Parking and Wi-Fi are free, and pets are welcome with a surcharge.