Plantation Suites & Conference

The hotel is a bit of a relic, and its aqua-blue exterior certainly stands out. Although it gets good reviews from guests, a update across the property's common areas and rooms wouldn't be amiss: the bright turquoise exterior, for example, leads into a lobby with lemon-yellow walls and a mix of wood, wicker, and metal furniture. Guests tend to spends their days fishing or at the nearby beach, but while on-site, the outdoor pool and hot tub are popular spots and can get crowded. Thin walls can let it noise, but overall, the property is fairly quiet. Also expect to see owners with their dogs, who are allowed for a fee.

Plantation Suites is located in Port Aransas, a low-key beach town about a 30-minute drive from downtown Corpus Christi, and just under four hours from Houston. The hotel is a 15-minute walk (or four-minute drive) from the beach, and Mustang Island State Park is 20 minutes by car. Padre Island National Seashore is about a 30-minute drive. The University of Texas Marine Science Institute is six minutes by car. Chain eateries like Pizza Hut are just a few minutes' walk away, while popular eateries by the marina like Virginia's and Trout Street are a roughly five-minute drive.

Although most visitors arrive by car, the largest airport nearby is in Corpus Christi, about 44 minutes by car. 

The hotel has 50 suites (for two) and two condos (housing six), most with a cheerful, albeit not sophisticated, lime-green-and-brown color scheme. Expect beige tile floors, wood furniture that's a bit scuffed, dated striped curtains, and beach-themed artwork. Each room has a 32-inch flat-screen cable TV, microwave, mini-fridge, and coffeemaker, while some have a larger kitchenette with a toaster oven. Unfortunately, walls tend to be on the thin side. Families might want to look into requesting a room with a pullout couch, though they're not terribly comfortable. 

Bathrooms are straightforward and come with small hairdryers, soap, and lotion dispensers, as well as inexpensive toiletries on the counters. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos, although there are accessible rooms with large walk-in showers. 

The hotel's continental breakfast is free and consists of two hot items daily, like waffles or biscuits. The website takes pains to mention that real eggs are used, though the coffee doesn't get great reviews from guests. That is the only meal served on-site. Guests can utilize barbecue grills at the property's picnic areas, and visitors catching fish for themselves can use the on-site fish-cleaning house, shrimp boiling pot, and inexpensive electric hookups. 

An outdoor pool and adjacent hot tub are frequented by guests and can get crowded, and while the wooden loungers are attractive, there's only a handful. The hotel has a movie library guests can rent from and a small convenience-store selling sundries, drinks, and frozen food. A conference center houses a 1,500-square-foot meeting space, plus there's a computer with copy and fax services for guests to use in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the property. Parking on-site is free, while pets are allowed for a fee.