Queen Isabel Inn — Hotel in Port Isabel

We were planning a visit to my 86 year old parents and my mother identified the Inn not too far from the retirement village where they were spending 2 months. She was struck that the first person she met on the property seemed unfamiliar with the idea of having hotel guests. Fortunately, he directed her to his wife, who confirmed they did have rooms and at a reasonable rate. When my wife called to make reservations, she also had the impression that they were surprised anyone would want to come and stay with them. This made us a little nervous - was this just a front for smuggling contraband into the country? - but the location was great and price reasonable so we made a reservation and vowed to keep our eyes out for criminal elements. ||||We had no reason to worry. The place was well kept, though the rooms had clearly not been updated for sometime. Our one bedroom suite had a full kitchen as well as free wifi and various free movie channels. The decor emphasized the historic nature of the inn; lots of black and white photos of the fishing events that were the original tourist draw. There is a large, clean swimming pool and a grassy lawn leading down to a dock with slips for boats (none there). the person who greeted us when we arrived around 7:45 PM said that there was likely to be an open bar at the pool the next afternoon, but we did not see anyone, guest or employee, at the pool, which is unheated, or the poolside bar, which was shuttered. Once we were safely in our room, the staff member, who had been waiting for us, went home, leaving some contact information in case we needed anything. ||||For the next 2 full days and the third AM, we did not see another guest. On one occasion I saw a person who appeared to be cleaning staff, who I suggested did not need to clean the room or replace the towels (trying to be ecofriendly to make up for flying 1000 miles to get there). She did so anyway sometime while we were out and about. I had asked her to drop off more coffee packets for the in room coffee machine, which she did. She did not pick up the $5 tip we had left with a thank you note. My wife thought this might be because that was how drug money was exchanged and this employee did not want to be implicated. That was the only person I saw, though there was a very old cat who walked stiffly around the place and my wife overheard someone feeding her. ||||The doors to the common area were left open one afternoon so we walked through the first and second floors of that area and found some wedding planning materials and wedding photos in a conference room, and a large dining hall with a kitchen attached. My wife thought this might be an effort to further cover up criminal activity but we found no firearms or evidence of wrong doing. We are forced to the conclusion that this is just a wonderful place to stay that has somehow gotten off the beaten path. I am writing this message to encourage others to take advantage of the opportunity. ||||The inn is just a few blocks from the bridge to Padre Island, which is much more of a tourist hotspot, with a wide range of tourist type amenities, but Port Isabel itself if much more quiet. We are told it is overrun with students at spring break and that folks from the rest of TX come there in the summer to escape the heat. (We were there from Wisconsin to escape the...

Very clean and hospitable environment. The area is quiet and full of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, not to mention its convenient proximity to the island’s bridge in case you want to spend your days at the beach. The resort has a lot to offer and it’s a shame we didn’t get a chance to fully take advantage of the amenities. I recommend staying in one of the cottages if you’re looking for a cozy room to get away with the spouse or significant other on a relaxing weekend. The hosts are very friendly and eager to assist anyone from out of the area, so don’t be shy if you’re from out of state/country. They are more than willing to help you decide how to spend your trip by suggesting local activities and recommendations for local eateries. As a local to the Rio Grande Valley, it was inspiring to discover such a storied location right in my back yard. Don’t let its age fool you. The location is very much up to date despite showing its historical character. If you’re interested in getting to know a piece of RGV history while enjoying some fun in the sun, this is the place for you. Included is a photo my girlfriend took of the sunrise over South Padre Island from the docks at the Queen Isabel. Just an incredible place, hosted by...

Absolutely loved it here! I say yes for 3 days. The owner and staff were top notch hospitality! The view is amazing...right on The water. I went for 3 days of fishing and was so happy I chose here. There is a dock that you can fish from and was able to launch my kayak right in the back at the boat ramp. This put in right at the bridge...perfect spot. The pool and bar was no nice and my room was amazing! It's close to the beach and night life. I traveled alone and felt very safe. The owner called and check up on my travel down to make sure I had no issues. They are great and this has become my number one spot for future fishing trips. I would highly...