The most popular place to stay in the Rio Grande Valley this year isn’t a hotel

Travelers across the Rio Grande Valley spent more than $366 million on lodging between January and October, according to hotel occupancy tax data analyzed by the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal.

South Padre Island was the most popular destination for overnight stays, and travelers more often preferred to lodge at short-term rentals rather than hotels, particularly at Airbnb and Vrbo sites, according to data from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Vacasa Inc., another international short-term rental company, also had a strong presence on the island.

July was the Rio Grande Valley’s peak travel month, with visitors spending $46 million on hotel rooms and short-term rentals. June followed as the second most popular month, generating $42 million in hotel occupancy tax room receipts. Meanwhile, January was the least popular month, with $25 million in room receipts.

The Courtyard by Marriott on South Padre Island had the highest hotel occupancy receipts, topping $9.8 million.