The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in South Padre Island

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to South Padre Island

Visiting South Padre Island, Texas for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to South Padre Island, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in South Padre Island based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting South Padre Island for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to South Padre Island before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting South Padre Island for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in South Padre Island for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Hilton Garden Inn South Padre Island

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $193 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Beach

Located at 7010 Padre Boulevard, Hilton Garden Inn South Padre Island has great rooms from $193 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.10 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 2.7 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, a game room, and a child pool at this relaxing hotel. We always love being able to prepare simple meals in a hotel room, and the kitchenette here was teriffic.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Child pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Best Western Beachside Inn

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $139 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to South Padre Island
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Best Western Beachside Inn which has nice rooms starting at $139. Offering an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a hot tub, a spa, and free parking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 4500 Padre Blvd. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers laundry facilities, bicycle rental, family rooms, a heated pool, and a multi-lingual staff which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.1 miles from the city center. Having a hot tub at this hotel is also a nice splurge. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Lighthouse Inn South Padre Island

Motel with prices starting at $88 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Beach

We found Lighthouse Inn South Padre Island to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $88. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, parking, pet-friendly rooms, horse riding, and bicycle rental, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.10 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 1701 PADRE BLVD. You'll also find fishing, family rooms, a tour desk, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.5 miles from the center of town. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


The Palms Resort South Padre Island

2-star Resort with prices starting at $120 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Beach

With terrific rooms from $120, The Palms Resort South Padre Island, at 3616 Gulf Blvd provides an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a bar, pet-friendly rooms, and air-conditioning. Its terrific guest rating is 8.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a coffee shop, a 24-hour desk, and an airport shuttle. It's located just 0.5 miles from the city center, too. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Pets allowed
  • Coffee shop


Flamingo Inn

Motel with prices starting at $97 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to South Padre Island
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Beach

Flamingo Inn has a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, pet-friendly rooms, city views, a hot tub, and a spa and wellness center. The great rooms here start at $97 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 3408 Padre Boulevard. Furthermore, it also offers free parking, horse riding, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and family rooms, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 0.5 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites South Padre Island

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $159 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

The great guest rating of Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites South Padre Island is 8.60 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, breakfast, and child care. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $159, and it's located at 6502 Padre Blvd. We also love the laundry services, a free breakfast, free parking, laundry facilities, and a multi-lingual staff which are great for visitors. And since it's just 2.5 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Florence

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $287 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in South Padre Island
  • Beach

A cool place is Florence because it has great rooms that start at $287. It has an outdoor pool, rooms with kitchens, city views, a hot tub, and free parking, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 5570 Gulf Blvd. Only 1.7 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love family rooms, air-conditioning, a microwave, a refrigerator, and balconies at this convenient hotel. Having a kitchen means that you'll be able to cook, which is very convenient when you're on the road.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kitchen
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Escape Condominiums 8

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $237 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

Escape Condominiums 8 offers an outdoor pool, rooms with kitchens, free parking, laundry facilities, and air-conditioning which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $237 (before taxes). It's located at 111 East Campeche St and has earned a guest rating of 8.70/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a microwave, a refrigerator, and balconies which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.4 miles from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kitchen
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Brownsville, Harlingen, and Matamoros.

For more terrific hotel ideas in South Padre Island, make sure you also see Best Beach Hotels in South Padre Island, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in South Padre Island, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in South Padre Island, Best Hotels for One Week in South Padre Island, or Best Hotels for One Night in South Padre Island.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in South Padre Island?

South Padre Island Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$165

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to South Padre Island, Texas. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in South Padre Island, Texas based on data from 8 hotels is an affordable $165. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in South Padre Island.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 3-star hotels: $239
  • 2-star hotels: $121


Budget Your Trip
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. On this website you can also find travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Share This Page

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.