Favorite Pros:
* easy, quick walk to the beach
* fully tiled
* outdoor shower for rinsing sand
* nearby hot tub
* large bed and large sofa-bed
* well-equipped kitchen
* well-provided cleaning supplies
* overall an excellent condo and location - we would absolutely stay here again
The only notable struggles:
* The address number on the building is different from what the owner/manger provided; at 10 pm at night I was trying to get into the incorrect building as a result. Fortunately, a friend who arrived earlier had already troubleshooted the discrepancy.
* The listing states that 4 adults may stay in the condo, yet only 2 beach towels are provided.
* The door locks are a bit fussy to operate
All of my tips for the condo:
* bring beach towels
* bring a knife if you have opinions about knives and plan to cook
* bring an action plan for drying an accumulation of towels and swim suits
* children younger than 5 may not be tall enough or stable enough at the bar-counter for meals
* The fold out bed is the best place for card games
South Padre Island Tips:
* don't forget aloe, and if you do, go to Dollar General.
* Dollar General has milk for $3/gallon. Blue Marlin has milk for $3.60/gallon. Island Market has milk for $3.75 for a half gallon.
* "Surf's Up" had the least kitchsy and garish collection of towels, swim suits, and souveniers of the 3 shops we visited.
* Island Metro comes around every 30 minutes. The app shows the shuttles' real-time location with a few minute lag. If your party is really good at moving quickly and promptly, the shuttle can be a good way to avoid parking struggles on the weekend.