Questions about Port Aransas: Affordable hotels/motels? Things to do for families? (Austin: promotional, living in)

[luksky]

We are fairly new to Texas....been living in Austin for a 1 1/2 now. We are originally from the southern coast of Alabama and we have been trying to find the closest clean beach to Austin. Someone suggested Port Aransus.

We have an 8 year old daughter so we are looking for some ideas on things to do while in Port Aransas that are family oriented. Also, if anyone has any suggestions on affordable motels/hotels in the area. We have a 5lb Chihuahua that will be traveling with us. We will only be staying overnight just to check out the area.

Thanks in advace for any suggestions.

[SOM]

Not exactly in Port A, but check out the Texas State Aquarium. Your daughter should love it. Take the ferry over to Aransas Pass (a cool - but brief - experience in itself...get out of the car and look for dolphins!), and it's about a 30 minute drive.

Also, the Aransas Wildlife Refuge is maybe an 45 minutes from Port A. Nice hiking.

If you're just staying overnight, you may want to just spend the day on the beach!

[luksky]

Thanks SOM, that gives me a start.

[Marlow]

You can probably find a cheaper place to stay in CC and then spend the day in Port Aransas. I would just look at some of the chains--Best Western, etc. and see if you can find a good rate. I would NOT stay close to the airport or anywhere on Leopard street. Map whatever motels you find and make sure they're either on Ocean Dr., Shoreline Blvd., or even South Padre Island Drive (SPID), close to the cross streets of Nile, Airline, Staples, Everhart, or Weber. Then, like SOM said, spend the day on the beach, drive around Port A and go to the Aquarium if you have time.

[Alatex]

Like the original poster, I'm from Alabama, and I'm looking forward to visiting the beaches in the Port Aransas area for the first time later this month, as a side trip from visiting my brother in San Marcos.

My brother showed me a link to the Holiday Inn Sunspree that looked pretty nice, but we haven't made any reservations yet. Is it a good place to stay, or does anyone have any better suggestions ?

[txsizzler]

Originally Posted by Marlow

You can probably find a cheaper place to stay in CC and then spend the day in Port Aransas. I would just look at some of the chains--Best Western, etc. and see if you can find a good rate. I would NOT stay close to the airport or anywhere on Leopard street. Map whatever motels you find and make sure they're either on Ocean Dr., Shoreline Blvd., or even South Padre Island Drive (SPID), close to the cross streets of Nile, Airline, Staples, Everhart, or Weber. Then, like SOM said, spend the day on the beach, drive around Port A and go to the Aquarium if you have time.

Darn good advice. Stay away from Leopard locales. I would also check out priceline.com and try to set your rate, as hotels have been struggling for business in this recessive economy. That is what I did when I first came to Corpus when scoping out my job back in early February, and I stayed out on Padre Island at the Holiday Inn Sunspree for 60 bucks a night!


Ian

[luksky]

Leopard locales???? Do tell....

[txsizzler]

The areas on Leopard, east of Rand Morgan to downtown are definately considered a rougher side. There are only a handful of hotels on this route though. Staying along NPID, SPID (358), or along Ocean or Shoreline Drives are good bets. I would also consider Portland, if you are going up to Port A, that way you can jump on the free ferry at Aransas Pass.


Ian

[CalallenMom]

Originally Posted by txsizzler

Darn good advice. Stay away from Leopard locales. I would also check out priceline.com and try to set your rate, as hotels have been struggling for business in this recessive economy. That is what I did when I first came to Corpus when scoping out my job back in early February, and I stayed out on Padre Island at the Holiday Inn Sunspree for 60 bucks a night!


Ian

Good advice -- I'd also like to throw in to google promotional codes, so not only can you lock in your price, but if you find a promo code that'll knock the price down even more.

[Marlow]

Originally Posted by CalallenMom

Good advice -- I'd also like to throw in to google promotional codes, so not only can you lock in your price, but if you find a promo code that'll knock the price down even more.

At the risk of getting off topic, what's a google promotional code?