A view of a beach with sand dunes and sparse vegetation in the foreground, calm ocean water, and a partly cloudy sky with pastel colors in the background.

Margaritaville Resort

South Padre Island, TX

We stayed for 2 nights to see if it lived up to the hype we’d been seeing on social media.

View of a partly cloudy sky during sunset over a coastal city with palm trees, cars on a road, and an open grassy area.
View of a sandy beach and ocean under a partly cloudy sky, with some vegetation and a building with propane tanks in the foreground.

What We Didn’t Like

Before I tell you the things we didn’t like as much about our stay, I want to say that we loved our stay overall and would definitely stay there again. With that out of the way, let’s be a little critical…..

The chairs on the balcony sat low enough to the ground that when you sat down you had a gorgeous view of the metal handrail. While I can admire fine metalwork as much as the next person, that wasn’t exactly what I went outside to look at. I understand they can’t put barstools out there, but there has to be a happy medium in there somewhere.

I went to brush my teeth and water trickled out of the faucet, even with the handle turned as far as it would go. I can make that work just to get ready in the morning, but did I say anything to my husband when he went to take a shower? Absolutely not. When he came out of the bathroom he told me the pressure wasn’t great and the temperature fluctuated from warm to scalding to warm and so on. He also said it had a faint smell of fog fluid (from the fogger machines). I did not notice a smell from the faucet, to be clear. His shower experience made us uncomfortable to drink the tap water so we did end up going to a nearby market to pick up some drinking water for the room.

What is there to do on South Padre Island?

Checking in

The check-in process was quick and easy and the person working the desk was very helpful and friendly. Room keys are wristbands which I think is genius for guests planning to go to the beach or use the pool. It was nice for me too since I always seem to lose hotel keys. You are also given a parking pass upon check-in if you plan to self-park. Valet parking is available, but please note that both have a fee. The parking lot is just outside the hotel so we opted to pay for self parking. Whichever option you choose, you are able to load and unload your vehicle in the valet driveway if needed.

A bedroom with a large bed, two nightstands with lamps, and wall decor. There is a large sunset photo above the bed and a quote on the wall that says "If life gives you limes, make margaritas."
A bed with white pillows and a beige pillow that has the words "Changes in ATTITUDE" printed on it. Above the bed, there is a large framed picture of a sunset over a body of water with a bridge on the right side.
A bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower featuring green subway tile walls, a white toilet, a framed colorful sea turtle artwork on the wall, wood-look tile flooring, and a small trash can.

What We Liked and Would We Stay Again?

As I already stated, we loved our overall experience and will definitely stay there again. With the on-site restaurant, coffee shop and small gift shop we had everything we needed right at our fingertips. Other things we noted, but didn’t use were the direct beach access, pool, swim-up bar and spa. There is a long list of amenities you can read on their website as well as check pricing. Keep in mind there are resort fees that may not be included in the nightly rate you find online.

Where should I eat on South Padre Island?
Room with a small refrigerator, a wooden nightstand, a hanging lampshade, a bed, and a wall art of a sunset over the water.
A coffee station with a Keurig coffee maker, two white mugs and two white cups, along with a tray of coffee flavor packets and a small sign reading 'Margaritaville Coffee & Tea' against a teal wall.
Bathroom vanity with a large mirror, teal-colored walls, a framed underwater scene with a sea turtle, and a shower area with blue tile in the background.
View from a balcony showing a black railing with a sign that reads 'For Your Safety, Do Not Lean Against or Sit on Top of Railings.' The sky is partly cloudy with a few clouds and the landscape below includes trees, buildings, and a parking lot.
Hotel room with a bed, a small sofa, a round coffee table, wall art, and curtains.
An empty hotel closet with a safe on the top shelf, wooden hangers on a rod, and a white bathrobe hanging in the middle.

The Room

We booked a regular king room with a partial beach view. Upon entering the room, we were pleasantly surprised! There is a dimmable lamp over each nightstand and both sides have their own outlet and USB charging ports. The television allows HDMI devices to be plugged in so you can bring your own streaming devices. By the bathroom is a small closet with a few hangers, a safe and robes that can be used during your stay. A hutch next to the balcony door holds the coffee maker and a small fridge (free to use). A small workspace and a sitting area were also present as well as a dresser for extra storage. Fun fact, the picture hanging above the bed is an actual picture of the Queen Isabella Causeway that you drive on to get to the island.

The bathroom was spacious with a lot of counter and storage space. A hair dryer and lighted cosmetic mirror were in the bathroom as well as full size shower products in the shower.

Our “partial” beach view was more of a full beach view in my opinion which made for a glorious sunset view. Our balcony had two Adirondack chairs on it with a table in between for lovely outdoor lounging.

4 Star Stay