I live in the Austin area and take my wife, 2 grown sons, 2 DILs, and 3 grandkids every year for vacation at SPI. We have stayed at this hotel since before it was Margaritaville (it was called The Pearl).

Last year, we were there for the grand opening week of Margaritaville Resort, and let's just say, there were some loose ends that needed fixing. They had a fiasco with shower curtains that were too short! You can imagine the watery mess when showering, requiring extra towels from housekeeping to dry the floor.

Fast forward to July 25-29 this year (2024). We returned to Margaritaville Resort, excited to hit the beach, relax and have fun.

This hotel has some strengths:

1. Location - close to the start of the island strip, just exiting off the Queen Isabella Causeway (bridge that connects Port Isabel to South Padre Island). You have a Johnny Rockets and a new, fantastic Mexican eatery called Calacas just a block away, followed by mini-cart rentals, shops, and restaurants nearby.
2. Beach access - The hotel has a very easily accessible, and short boardwalk to the beach. Great access!
3. Swimming Pool - A nice, large swimming pool with a swim-up bar and separate kiddie pool
4. Onsite restaurant called Land Shark

Unfortunately, Margaritaville Resort has a growing list of negative strikes against it, that really got to me this year. I kind of put up with them last year, thinking that it's because of the "grand opening" that there is extra chaos or issues. But a year later, things are actually worse!

CONS:

1. IT IS NOT A RESORT - The experience is sub-par. a) Small hotel with one restaurant b) NO ROOM SERVICE! c) The Joe Merchant's onsite store has very very very few "snack items" to grab-n-go. When you have kids, you need to be able to grab quick snacks to keep the family happy and energetic while enjoying the beach. d) no vents in the bathrooms

2. INCONSISTENT GUEST EXPERIENCES - I was on the 10th floor this year, and the water pressure in the bathroom (shower and sink) was abysmal. I stood there, covered in soap lather, and the water dwindled down to a trickle. Literally, a trickle. A handful of drops coming out of the spout, not enough to even wash the soap off my hands...much less my whole body! The water pressure would slowly (like over 2-3 minutes) start to come back. Other guests on the same floor reported the same issue.

3. BROKEN ELEVATOR - Three elevators, one was out of commission. They got it fixed on day 3 of our stay.

4. EXTREMELY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE - The "towel machine" just outside the doors to the pool was not working. At a "RESORT", you'd expect a staff member or two to be standing there with a table and tons of towels, handing them out to guests. But not at Margaritaville. Instead, they posted a sign on the towel machine saying, "Go to the FRONT DESK for towels"! Can you believe that? You're already outside, usually carrying a beach bag or other items, and now you have to go back inside, walk down the hallway to the front of the hotel, and stand in line, competing for attention with the guests checking in and checking out. Absolutely BONE-HEADED customer disservice. If I was in charge of this company, that hotel manager would be fired on the spot just for this one thing. Because hotels are in the service business. You have ONE JOB. Just ONE. Provide great service! Instead, Margaritaville chose to inconvenience us, the guests, and make things easier on themselves.

5. UNDERSTAFFED RESTAURANT - guests would sit down, wait and wait, never see a server, and after 10 minutes or more, get up and leave. And NOBODY on staff cared or even noticed them leaving. At one meal, our server was so apologetic for the slow service. She told us that she isn't a server at the hotel, but was asked to stand in and take orders.

6. NO SERVICE ELEVATOR - The concierge and service repair guys were frequently seen on the guest elevators. They'd get on at the 8th floor, and get off on the 7th floor...for example

And all this inconvenience for $6,696 (3 rooms, 4 nights)!!!