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Surf Motel – reviews, photos

2612 Gulf Blvd., South Padre Island, TX 78597
Hotel amenities
Surf Motel
2.5 of 5 stars 30 Reviews
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30 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    3
    12
    4
    4
    7
Date Rating
wash dc
2 reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Traveled 1500 miles to get here: Second time staying...”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 November 2011
1
person found this review helpful

If you want your money's worth, then this is the place in SPI.
But if you want to spend more, then there are lots of other choices...

A reviewer below summed up the Surf Motel experience well by saying, "The Surf Motel is one of the last vestages of "the way things used to be." It is the true beach side experience."

I can't agree more.
And I made a reservation weeks ago to make sure I got the same room I had two years ago!

Perhaps it is just a guy's choice, but I do not care much for extravagence, while the atmosphere, amenities and surf are more important. Locals, travellers and tourist are here and are an eclectic mix of a times' past experience. If you prefer new and perfect accomodations, look somewhere else.

Room Tip: Top floor.
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  • Stayed November 2011, travelled solo
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask swimmer9 about Surf Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
1 review
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“Alot Better hotels for even cheaper to stay in...”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 October 2011
3
people found this review helpful

Gross...Never again
Very old and filthy...glad i brought my own shampoo.they dont give you but 2 sm bars of soap..water pressure a joke. I feel ripped off badly. Choose another place.

  • Stayed October 2011
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Ask gstina about Surf Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

Travellers are raving about these South Padre Island hotels

The Inn at South Padre
4 of 5 stars
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Gulf View II
4 of 5 stars
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Hilton Garden Inn South Padre Island
4 of 5 stars
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Travelodge South Padre Island
4 of 5 stars
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Super 8 South Padre Island
4 of 5 stars
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Houma, Louisiana
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
“Great location, rooms need help.”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 December 2010

Stayed for a week. I guess my only complaint is the age and lack of maintainence. Location is awesome, has a great deck in front of every room with outdoor funiture and BBQ pits. Great to hang out, have a beer and visit. There's a Tiki Bar right on the beach with a grill that serves good food, reasonable prices. Big burger and fries for $7. Beer is $3. Lots of locals hang out there to give you the island feel. Staff was as helpful as possible. Hot water took 5 minutes to make its way to the shower. Water pressure was bad. Beds and sheets were comfortable. Had a small kitchen that was convenient. Overall it's a cool place to stay, don't go expecting the Hyatt. Had some trouble with housekeeping, seemed like they work their own schedule and don't do a through job unless you're there to push. I guess it's an island thing. I'd stay there again. Ask for extra towels when you check in.

  • Stayed November 2010, travelled on business
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask dukemon about Surf Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Alvarado, TX
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Laid Back Atmosphere”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 April 2010
1
person found this review helpful

This place is great! If you are looking for a place to just hang out, and not too worried about having the worlds finest, but are looking for a place to kick back with friends, hang outside your room, get to meet other people staying there....This is a great place. We met lots of people, the band members that were playing, danced with other people that were staying there. Right on the beach, you can just get up and walk down off the boardwalk anytime, you are right there. It is a little old and frumpy, but it is like an old pair of shoes, that you love, and keep going back too!!! If you are looking for worlds finest, this is not for you....If you are picky this is not for you....Their is a tiny pool that they clean early mornings, even it is not the lap of luxury...It is what it is...a neat little place on the beach......With a nice little bar that is handy, and a cool shady place to hang out with tables and grills outside the rooms. And even they are not that clean! Let you know up front, Bring your own foil!

  • Stayed July 2007, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask oiculs about Surf Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
McAllen Texas
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“Too dumpy for us”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 July 2009

We had read the reviews, but made a reservation anyway since a friend recommended this place. Like us, she had a daughter and grandchildren here from out of state.
After we paid the non-refundable $850 for two rooms for three nights, we went to the room. I was going to just let them have the money and go somewhere else, but was convinced that it would be wrong to just let them have our money. The room was clean - I never saw any roaches or other bugs - but the bedding was stained and the towels were so thin they wouldn't get us dry. You always have to ask for towels. I did note that the maids were taking off dirty sheets and washing them, they were just very old and stained.
I thought we had a Murphy bed, but it was a old stained matress that had been stored in the closet. We pulled it out so we could hang stuff up, so the matress became the focal part of the room. The toilet was unstable and everything was just ancient. Not quaint and charming, just old, stained, and tired. When I asked for a coffee pot, I got an old one without a lid which quit after two days. One bright point was that the window A/C unit was so loud that it drowned out any noise. Another not so bright point was that the parking lot is very small and most of it is taken up either by construction workers who are building a big condo next door, or else by people going to the beach, since there is public beach access between the condo and the motel.
The worst part was that when you opened our door, the bar ice machine and large bags of trash were right there in front of you. Not a great sight at 7 am. Plus a hose that people used to clean off their sand was right outside our window. If you took a right out of our door and took five steps, you would be with the bartender behind the bar. Luckily, we were there during the week and the bar closed at about 9:30. However, no one cleans the bar area after they close, so food such as half-eaten chicken wings and burgers are left on the tables. Plus the drinks and beer cans are left on the tables.
We were having a drink there one night when the bar closed and as soon as the lights went down, a baby possum mosied up to check out the food. Plus early in the morning we saw stray cats, roaches, and even a coyote, all drawn by the food that's left out.
Our friends had adjoining rooms and one door lock never worked so they had to all go in the same door. My friend told me that one woman who had been at the bar all one afternoon got locked out and couldn't reach anyone with the hotel, so she slept outside her door.
We ended up having a good time because it is right on the beach, but will NEVER stay there again. There are too many other, better hotels around. We checked out the Palms, which is also on the beach. It has been beautifully renovated and has a great looking restaurant and bar. Although it is $50 a night more, it would have been well worth the extra money.

  • Stayed June 2009, travelled with family
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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Ask camel03 about Surf Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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Surf Motel Also Known As

  • Surf Motel South Padre Island
  • Surf Hotel South Padre Island
Address: 2612 Gulf Blvd., South Padre Island, TX 78597

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