South of the Border Motor Inn

Randi Marshall

2024-05

I stayed twice recently. The first room I was in smelled musty and the beds were older, but still comfortable. The second room did not smell musty and the beds were newer and very comfortable. In both cases rooms were spotless, with good pillows and plenty of towels.As a woman traveling alone I felt safe

Donald Ross

2024-05

It's old but it's clean. Ample parking is provided under a car port for each room. Don't look for anything fancy, however, we did appreciate the clean carpet-less flooring as we do require the pet accommodation. The room smelled of bleach on the floor, which is much preferred over carpeting by us. In fact, I'd rather not have carpeting with or without a dog, it's mostly impossible for housekeeping to clean that stuff. There are a few restaurants within walking distance. An indoor pool is available for guests also. I would suggest requesting a room with a window as the non-window room made us both a bit nervous due to only one exit point.Walkability: Walk everywhere

Pit Bull Mama

2024-01

We love it here! My family has been staying here often for several years. The staff at the front desk is always extremely helpful and kind. They are pet friendly and make you feel at home here.SOB is friendly to veterans and military as well as their families. We really appreciate this!Security patrols the whole place keeping an eye out. There is lots of room to walk around and look at all of the neat attractions. Several places to eat, including a fancy steakhouse.For the price it can’t be beat! Rooms are spacious, but basic. Some have refrigerators and coffee pots but others do not. You would have to ask when you check in.Two nice pools are available to you.Rooms: Spacious and cleanThey have a vintage feel to themNearby activities: Shopping, photo opportunities, kids games, dog walking, reptile lagoonSafety: 24 hour security rides around to lookOutFood & drinks: Steakhouse, Mexican food and snack foods available

Ricardo Alcaraz

2024-04

We got to spend the night at South Of The Border for our first time ever and we have to that we definitely enjoyed our experience.The check in staff was friendly and helpful. The room was small with no modern conveniences but we didn't need anything like that we were happy to have a place to rest for the night.It was quiet over night so we got our good night's sleep.We look forward to coming back again.

Mr Cowart's Daughter

2024-05

Always stop here when driving I95. I look for Blenheim ginger ale. Never spent a night. I love the Mexican Shop. Actually I like all the shops. Always buy some trinket/souvenirs.

Jennifer Ann Warner

2024-03

So, we have driven past S.O.B for years and never had the opportunity to visit or stay, well that changed last night. We couldn't resist the lights and lore of this famous roadside landmark.I reserved online for a standard King room, approximately $107 with 50% down with deposit. When I received my email confirmation, it said that "check in time is 3pm" and "after 7pm, the reservation will be released", so I called the desk to inform them we wouldn't be arriving until 8:30pm or so. When we arrived, the reservation was still there. We paid the balance at check-in. The room was a decent size, clean with tile floor (no carpet). Only one side of the bed had an accessible outlet for charging phones. And a mattress upgrade wouldn't be a bad idea, IMHO The Sombrero restaurant was open until 11pm. Very clean, good hot food, and very friendly staff. After dinner, we went into Polanco's Bar, which was also open until 11pm. Tasty margaritas and friendly bartender. In the morning, we returned to the Sombrero for breakfast, again, good hot food and friendly wait staff. Next stop was Reptile Lagoon, because that was on our travel list (to see alligators). There's a lot to see in there, and for only $8/adult, you can't beat the price.

Suzie Burns

2024-03

Everything was very clean, staff was friendly and the food was very good.Kinda got stuck here because we had the rig and were just too tired to drive any further, but we ended up being pleasantly surprised. Dinner at the steak house was excellent (really didn't expect that), breakfast at a different restaurant was very good and was 20% off for booking a room.The rooms were just fine. They even came with their own little car ports. They each have 2 doors. 1 to the car port and 1 to the pool. I wouldn't call it fancy, (it's not supposed to be), but it was clean, the food was great and we had so much fun! (All the statues in various places made for fun pictures.) We will 100% be back on future trips.

James James

2024-02

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Shawnie Webb

2024-03

Rooms were spacious but creepy, dark and wet feeling. Clean but oddly uncomfortable. Front desk was polite. No cdl discounts despite being right next to truck stop. $107 for a room. Just not worth the money. This poor place is just a “has been”. They have soooo many rules posted for everything that it seems like it would take the fun out of the place. Would not return.

Mark Bruno Domina

2024-02

In my opinion, this place is stuck in the 70's. The past 4 times we've stoped here gave us an Erie feeling. It was always empty, I mean the whole place, felt alone no matter what time we stopped there. It was like entering an abandoned town that you just want to hurry up and get out of there quickly. If you like going back in time, this is for you

Thomas Rooney

2024-01

We are there off-season, so I'm sure that's why there were no crowds. The places a little bit dated. However, however, it is absolutely sweet. The shops the gift shops, wonderful merchandise, very authentic stuff. Prices are more than reasonable staff and all the locations are great. I hope this place that's better with a little bit of investments of money. A few different rides and attractions. This place would be a destination point all year round.

Jax C

2024-04

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Nick NYG

2024-03

Cool spot right on I-95. def for the tourists like myself driving through. Was there along time ago as a kid and it had grown in size. Just had to take my children there as we were driving home from Florida.

Joanna Gardner

2024-04

This has been a half way poit when driving to flordia. Everytime we go the bathrooms are horrendous the workers in there complaining about how it's not worth working there which it shows because the hand dryers don't work and honestly has become a place I don't want to stop by anymore. Yeah shops are nice but really hope they update this place soon I remember being a kid and it was full of life but not anymore.

Lars Zachariasen

2024-05

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Neil O'Moore-Klopf

2024-05

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Jim Osborn

2024-01

You get a grin when you mention SOB, but I'll have to say, the rooms are VERY CLEAN. This gets 4 stars but could easily be 5 stars. While the dated baths are quaint, the sink leaves much to be desired. The faucets are very small, so it's hard just to wash your hands. The floors in the room are nice, clean, but being a hotel room, you want some carpeting or a rug for both comfort and warmth. Overall, we stay here all the time on drives to and from Florida. Highly recommend them!

Vincent Wernerspach

2023-12

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Ruth Giesler

2024-04

Easy on and off the highway. Pretty sure everything in the rooms is the same exact furnishings as it was when I was a kid. Rooms are large and bed was clean. Price a little high for what it is.Rooms: Large and clean room. Bathroom door stuck very bad. Tub had jets but they looked pretty corroded so we didn't try them. Beds are on the thin side and very creaky. It was a place to stop for the night.

James Read

2024-03

I visited years ago on the way to Carolina Beach and swore at that time I would never come back. Everything was broken and run down back then, arcade took half the tokens in games that did not work.Here we are 15 years later and my son races MX so we end up at SOBMX for area qualifiers. The track is perfect, Victory sports does a great job on most things. They need to get quicker at sign ups but that is a different ball game. We will be back for the MX part.I had some friends racing and they booked at SOB Motor Inn. I told him that place was a dump but he said go take a look at their page. It showed freshly remodeled rooms with beautiful pictures so against my gut feeling I booked a room also. Upon check in they put us in a room way over on the other side behind the reptile house. The building and room have not seen a remodel for a long time but we were there so we sucked it up and stayed thursday night. Fri am we left the room at 6 am and went to the mx track till around 530 pm. We came back to the room and soon as I flushed the toilet it almost over flowed. I called the front desk and was put on eternal hold. I said the heck with it and went to get a plunger to fix the plumbing myself. That did not work so I called back up to front desk and explained the issue. I was told "We do not have any other rooms, we are booked full". I told them no worries, just send someone to fix this one and was told "We let all of maintenance go home". I said ok then refund me my money and i'll go 23 miles up the road to Lumberton and get a room. She said "the manager is not here and I can not refund you". I replied with then get someone on the phone who can only to be put on eternal hold. I loaded up our stuff and went to the front desk. I had paid for Thur, Fri and Sat night but she said she would only refund me for sat night because check out for fri was 3 pm (we were in the room long enough to use the restroom fri, no other time). I took the refund and will dispute the rest but I do not recommend anyone use this establishment for the motor inn or anything else.

JOAN HALSTEAD

2024-01

Big surprise! In the middle of a beat old amusement park was a very clean, very reasonable motel. Had two doors(main one into the room and second on other side, leading to a huge pool.)The best part was the individual carport right by the front door!Rooms: Very clean. No rugs newer bath/showerWalkability: It was raining when I arrived and left but because of the carport ,I took my suitcase out and directly into room. No stairs! No lobby!

Heileigh Boyne

2024-04

So I live in Virginia and my young kids live with their dad and stepmom I came to visit and stayed at motor inn at sob and I wanted my kids to come spend of time with us and swim and they said no locals were allowed in the rooms nor in pool. I even offered to pay for extra people to stay with me and they said no. This place sucks tail. Never again will I ever come back here nor refer this place. I have never heard of such rules and I have worked at plenty of hotels as a young adult. Not to mention the rooms aren’t even nice.Food & drinks: Great

Bruce Bush

2024-01

I never stayed in the hotel, so I can't leave a review of it. The location is great, the truck stop leaves a lot to be desired. Very limited parking, and nothing to speak of with respect to food. Overall experience is unsatisfactoryFood & drinks: The bar was vacant, I was the only customer. Very small, with a limited amount of alcohol. There were two open restaurants, however I didn't go to either of them.

Louie G. K

2024-04

Wifi range is not good.Price is good. Store, gas, restaurant, entertainment are within walking distance.Overall, I enjoyed my stay.

C. Pala

2024-03

South of the Border, Hamer, SC, is one of those things you have to do, one of those places you have to go even though, its as touristy and campy as it gets. so of course, we went. A round trip of 385 miles for dinner but now, been there, done that.So how was dinner, you ask? Terrible.The particular restaurant we ate at, which I won't name, a Mexican restaurant of course, didn't even serve chips and salsa. IMO then, its can't really be considered a Mexican restaurant. Anyway, the menu was limited, and pricey for the main entrees so, I opted for a bowl of chili 🌶 and a BLT.The chili was not chili, it was thick, tomato pasta sauce with ground hamburger. Seriously, spaghetti sauce. the BLT was better but, about half the portion you'd get at almost any café. the onion rings were decent, though small in portion.My wife had a cheeseburger and fries. She liked the burger, it was thick and appeared to be hand pressed. I think she liked the fries but complained about the portion size. $34 with drinks.Nearby activities: arcade, observation tower, fireworks, camping, a motorcycle track(?)Walkability: everything there is a short walk from wherever you are. looked a little sketchy, in some parking lots.

Lace El

2023-12

My family told me to stop at this place on my way back to Florida and I’m so glad I did. It’s funky and fun, loved it! We shopped for a good hour, so many random things. Everyone left with a free things. Worth the stop!!!

Doug W

2024-04

Stop and enjoy the historic nostalgia of 1950's kitsch but do not spend money on old dilapidated rooms which have not been upgraded SINCE THEN!!!!!Let's start with the POSITIVES: Unmistakable applause for the AMERICAN third generation family who has kept their grandfather's whimsical fantasyland viable for so long and especially surviving the COVID CRISIS!!! Cheers for this attraction which has provided employment for decades to locals and a definite baseline profit to the local power grid providing the electricity for all this wonderful illumination. Oh yes....and jobs to the billboard companies who produce the PEDRO SIGNS we are subjected to for miles and miles along the I-95!!!!But charging today's prices for basically maintained but HORRIBLY OUTDATED rooms which have not had ONE BIT of renovation or updating (other than a flat screen TV) since the 1950's is truly despicable.When I saw the industrial type "carports" which were cute in an old movie in the 1950'a and 60's I was shocked. Walking into ROOM 105 I was even more unsettled. Despite the appearance being absolutely dismal the main lock on the second door to the pool area was not functioning and there are no secondary deadbolts for security meaning my room was wide open!!!Complaining to the RECEPTION they called SECURITY and NOT MAINTENANCE...go figure! Even the security guy couldn't figure THAT one out!!!Demanding a move to another room (ROOM 107) it was not much better. The washroom was horribly dated and worn out and the HVAC unit stopped working in the middle of the night. (If I had not known about the reset button on the plug head I would have been VERYYY COLLD!!!!)The rest of the area is worth a walkabout. The SOMBRERO ROOM bar is nice and a shout out to Michelle B. for some great service and interesting conversation to make this dismal visit more worthwhile.The PEDDLER STEAKHOUSE is worth a visit serving up some good (but a bit pricy) meat. (see a separate review).BOTTOM LINE: This "resort " is surfing on nostalgia and is worth a visit. But if you stay you REALLY have to be living with THAT!!!!Rooms: CAR PORT ROOMS ARE DISGUSTINGLY OUTDATED!!!!Nearby activities: LOTSS of pay-as-you-play kitschy arcade stuff and souvenirs.Walkability: LOTTSSS OF WALKING!!!!!

Tricia Davolos

2024-01

I needed to use the bathroom, I had no idea that this was the exit for south of the border? They were not open so I had to keep looking for a bathroom. I took these pictures because my friend Herb loves this place and I wanted to show him the pictures.

dante wallace

2024-02

Cool little tourist trap with a few family things to do, cool souvenirs and trinkets. I hadn't been there since I was a child about 30+ years ago with my parents, and it was really cool to finally visit again as an adult with my own family.

Nicole Osmond

2024-04

What a cool place with lots of character! Gives fun Retro Vibes. I’m definitely staying here again.Rooms: Rooms were clean and quiet with on-site security.