Bathtub needed replaced.

No coffee pot in the rooms. You can buy it at the front desk tho. There’s a restaurant connected, but they are not open often because they are the same people that clean the rooms. The owners. So if their cleaning, restaurant is closed.

No coffee pot in the rooms. You can buy it at the front desk tho. There’s a restaurant connected, but they are not open often because they are the same people that clean the rooms. The owners. So if their cleaning, restaurant is closed.

They were lacking help in the housekeeping area. Only one lady to clean all the rooms. Restaurant hardly ever open because management was busy trying to clean rooms.

They were lacking help in the housekeeping area. Only one lady to clean all the rooms. Restaurant hardly ever open because management was busy trying to clean rooms.

Small family owned motel. Every time I’m there, it is clean. No smell of pets or smoke. Friendly owners & housekeeping. I feel safe there.

The staff is wonderful. The breakfast is great.

I've visited the High Island Bird Sanctuary every year for the last five years. The rooms are clean and well maintained. Improvements are made every year. It is an ideal location to visit all the local birding scenes.

I've visited the High Island Bird Sanctuary every year for the last five years. The rooms are clean and well maintained. Improvements are made every year. It is an ideal location to visit all the local birding scenes.

The Gulfway is an older motel and restaurant, but it was ideal for what we wanted. We were in High Island for the migrating birds, and it was within easy walking distance (5 to 8 minutes) to most of the amazing refuge properties in the town. And less than a 10 minute drive to the others. The rooms were clean, and while old style, they were simple and comfortable. The restaurant, operated by the hotel owners’ family, served excellent Chinese dishes and really good sushi, and they also make a great hamburger! And their breakfast was very good, too: freshly cooked eggs and sausage, hot oatmeal, yogurt, fresh fruit and cold cereal, too. Good rooms, good food, reasonable price, with nice people, and close to the birds! Two thumbs up!

The Gulfway is an older motel and restaurant, but it was ideal for what we wanted. We were in High Island for the migrating birds, and it was within easy walking distance (5 to 8 minutes) to most of the amazing refuge properties in the town. And less than a 10 minute drive to the others. The rooms were clean, and while old style, they were simple and comfortable. The restaurant, operated by the hotel owners’ family, served excellent Chinese dishes and really good sushi, and they also make a great hamburger! And their breakfast was very good, too: freshly cooked eggs and sausage, hot oatmeal, yogurt, fresh fruit and cold cereal, too. Good rooms, good food, reasonable price, with nice people, and close to the birds! Two thumbs up!

Friendly family owned motel. Clean, and close to two excellent birding sites.

Friendly family owned motel. Clean, and close to two excellent birding sites.

conveniant

conveniant

The property was junky and cluttered.The room had a musty smell when we entered. There were dead bugs on the window sills. Restaurant was closed but they gave coffee on request in the morning. Staff were nice.Bed was good.

The property was junky and cluttered.The room had a musty smell when we entered. There were dead bugs on the window sills. Restaurant was closed but they gave coffee on request in the morning. Staff were nice.Bed was good.

Spotlessly clean, friendly, helpful managers and very close to excellent birding hotspots. The restaurant food was good, Asian/American, but hours were variable. Earlier breakfast service would help birders.

As bird watchers, this motel could not be more convenient for visiting the bird sanctuaries located in High Island. The room was clean and quiet, and we felt safe during the intense thunderstorm that passed through in the early morning. We appreciated the on-site restaurant, and the food was good. Yes, a work-in-progress as others have stated; it is clear that the family is striving to improve the property. Everyone was helpful and kind. We would stay there again, and for more than one night to be able to explore the area more.

Spotlessly clean, friendly, helpful managers and very close to excellent birding hotspots. The restaurant food was good, Asian/American, but hours were variable. Earlier breakfast service would help birders.

As bird watchers, this motel could not be more convenient for visiting the bird sanctuaries located in High Island. The room was clean and quiet, and we felt safe during the intense thunderstorm that passed through in the early morning. We appreciated the on-site restaurant, and the food was good. Yes, a work-in-progress as others have stated; it is clear that the family is striving to improve the property. Everyone was helpful and kind. We would stay there again, and for more than one night to be able to explore the area more.

I like the location and very friendly service.

I like the location and very friendly service.

Stayed here due to location to the birding areas. I read the reviews about the trash around the office and it was still there. Old parts, machines, etc should be cleaned up. I was given a room across from the office and the road noise was loud.You will need ear plugs to sleep there. The lady that checked me in was very nice and I love the towells. No coffee machines in the room or no coffee in the office.

Stayed here due to location to the birding areas. I read the reviews about the trash around the office and it was still there. Old parts, machines, etc should be cleaned up. I was given a room across from the office and the road noise was loud.You will need ear plugs to sleep there. The lady that checked me in was very nice and I love the towells. No coffee machines in the room or no coffee in the office.

This is a tough review to write, because I WILL almost certainly stay at the Gulfway again. But I am being candid here so others will have a clear picture. The Gulfway is *not* a great experience. The walls and the towels are paper-thin, the windows only semi-functioning and there are zero amenities. I stayed Weds-Sun and while Weds-Thurs nights were pretty quiet, Fri-Sat saw a full-on tailgating party in the parking lot, complete with open fire BBQs and boom boxes. My response was to close the windows and run the A/C for white noise, which worked fine but might not be everyone's cup of tea. The plug-in air freshner in my room was beyond overpowering - like, nauseatingly strong. I imagine this was to smother some lingering odor that was somehow even worse than the air freshner. HOWEVER, I will say that if you have a very high tolerance for budget travel - and I mean youth-hostel-in-China-in-the-90s high tolerance - then the Gulfway is hands-down the absolute best location/value for birding in and around High Island. Walking distance to Smith Oaks, Eubanks, Boy Scout Woods and several other mini-preserves. 10 minutes to Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. The property manager, Jean, is fantastic and super helpful on every level - I genuinely liked the people who run this place and I wish they had more help and resources to upgrade it. So don't pass over the Gulfway if you have a high tolerance for low budget travel. Just go in open-eyed and don't be surprised.

This is a tough review to write, because I WILL almost certainly stay at the Gulfway again. But I am being candid here so others will have a clear picture. The Gulfway is *not* a great experience. The walls and the towels are paper-thin, the windows only semi-functioning and there are zero amenities. I stayed Weds-Sun and while Weds-Thurs nights were pretty quiet, Fri-Sat saw a full-on tailgating party in the parking lot, complete with open fire BBQs and boom boxes. My response was to close the windows and run the A/C for white noise, which worked fine but might not be everyone's cup of tea. The plug-in air freshner in my room was beyond overpowering - like, nauseatingly strong. I imagine this was to smother some lingering odor that was somehow even worse than the air freshner. HOWEVER, I will say that if you have a very high tolerance for budget travel - and I mean youth-hostel-in-China-in-the-90s high tolerance - then the Gulfway is hands-down the absolute best location/value for birding in and around High Island. Walking distance to Smith Oaks, Eubanks, Boy Scout Woods and several other mini-preserves. 10 minutes to Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. The property manager, Jean, is fantastic and super helpful on every level - I genuinely liked the people who run this place and I wish they had more help and resources to upgrade it. So don't pass over the Gulfway if you have a high tolerance for low budget travel. Just go in open-eyed and don't be surprised.

Very old but very clean. Pool was down. But it is off season. 100% Customer service. Will be back.

Very old but very clean. Pool was down. But it is off season. 100% Customer service. Will be back.

The owners are very attentive and kind.

The owners are very attentive and kind.

Nice