SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — Everyone wants to get away to paradise.
And with so many places to choose from in the U.S. and around the world, it can be hard to choose.
But Trip Advisor has made it easy for people to choose with its recent rankings of the best places to rent a beach house for the summer.
The online tourism news source named South Padre Island No. 3 on its list.
Wally Jones, South Padre Island’s Convention and Visitors Bureau advisory board chairman, said it’s great the Island has been picked as one of the top places for family and friends to rent a place on the beach.
Long Beach, California, and Miami Beach, Florida, took the first two spots, respectively.
“The Island is one of the best-kept secrets in Texas,” Jones said. “There are just about as many condominiums as there are hotel rooms on the Island.”
He said the value of renting a beach house is much, much greater because beachgoers are able to go buy groceries to prepare food in the kitchen and even send kids to the guest room to play Playstation while parents enjoy a movie in the living room and enjoy their privacy.
Jones is also the manager of Padre Getaways that manages more than 100 rental properties on the Island.
“The interior and side streets literally have hundreds of properties available for rent,” Jones said. “We have some nice upscale properties that are three to four bedrooms with three to four bathrooms.”
He said the ratio of hotel rentals to condo rentals is roughly about 60 percent to 40 percent.
“Theses places are spacious enough and that is what we find very appealing to people,” Jones said. “They can travel with their friends and family but there is still plenty of space to accommodate for some privacy.”
Jones said there are plenty of activities happening every weekend between peak seasons.
“The Island has become known for its waterslide park, horseback riding on the beach, fishing and water sports,” Jones said.
