San Antonio Travel Guide
Where to Stay in San Antonio
Choosing a base in San Antonio — the walk-everywhere historic core, the River Walk hotels, the Pearl district and the Hill Country resorts — with this guide's seven hotels matched to trip types.
San Antonio's hotels cluster in a few distinct areas, and where you stay shapes your trip more than in most cities. Downtown and the River Walk put you on foot to the Alamo and the river; Pearl puts you in the best food neighborhood; and the Hill Country resorts on the north side are destinations in themselves, best for families and golfers with a car. Here is how to choose.
Alamo Plaza and the historic core. Staying near the Alamo means stepping out of the hotel and into history, with the River Walk, the GO RIO barges, Rivercenter and the Tower of the Americas a short walk away. It suits first-timers, history lovers and families who want to walk to everything. The trade-offs are construction from the Alamo Plan, which will continue around the plaza until the new museum opens, and the busier, more commercial atmosphere of the blocks around it. The Menger Hotel, open since 1859 right beside the Alamo, is the historic choice — a Victorian lobby, the famous Menger Bar and the largest outdoor pool downtown — now owned by the State of Texas and still operating as a hotel. A few blocks north, The St. Anthony, opened in 1909 on Travis Park, is the grande dame, with its gilded Peacock Alley and a rooftop infinity pool, and a calmer setting five minutes from the Alamo.
The River Walk. A room on the river is the classic San Antonio stay, with river-level entrances, patios and the barges gliding past. Rates are higher than on the streets above, but the atmosphere justifies it, especially during the holiday-lights season. Omni La Mansion del Rio, a Spanish colonial-style hotel on a quiet bend of the river built around a historic school, is the romantic choice, with balconies over the river and access to the Mokara Spa. Hotel Contessa, an all-suite AAA Four-Diamond hotel near the convention center, suits families and groups who need space. The Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk, in the restored Alamo National Bank tower, is the value pick, with free hot breakfast, a free evening Kickback with food and drinks, and a rooftop pool on the 22nd floor.
Pearl and the Museum Reach. North of downtown, the former Pearl Brewery is now a neighborhood of restaurants, shops, a farmers market and the Culinary Institute of America's campus, all along the quieter Museum Reach of the River Walk. It suits couples, food lovers and repeat visitors who prefer a neighborhood feel to the downtown bustle. Hotel Emma, in the 1894 brewhouse, is the city's most memorable hotel, with industrial machinery in the lobby, a library, a rooftop pool and some of the best dining in Texas on its doorstep. The Alamo is a little over two miles away — a pleasant river walk or a short rideshare.
The Hill Country resorts. On the north side, sprawling resorts offer pools, golf and spas in a landscape of oak-covered hills. They suit families on a theme-park vacation, golf groups and anyone who wants a resort holiday with occasional city outings. The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa covers 600 acres with a nine-acre water park, a lazy river, two TPC championship golf courses and a spa. You will need a car, and resort fees and parking add to the bill, but SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas are much closer than from downtown.
Matching hotels to trips. First-timers on a short stay: the Menger or the St. Anthony, to walk to the Alamo and the river. Couples and special occasions: Hotel Emma at Pearl or a river-view balcony at La Mansion. Families on a budget: the Drury Plaza, with free breakfast and evening food. Families needing space: Hotel Contessa's suites. Theme parks and pools: the JW Marriott Hill Country. History lovers: the Menger, then the St. Anthony.
Other areas. Southtown and the King William district, south of downtown, have historic mansions, bed-and-breakfasts and a growing restaurant scene, and they sit close to the Mission Reach for cyclists. Hotels near the airport and along the highways are cheaper, but you will spend more time and money getting to the sights. Convention-center hotels are convenient but can be busy and expensive during major events.
Getting between areas. The River Walk is the thread that ties the central areas together. From Alamo Plaza to the downtown River Walk hotels is a matter of minutes on foot, and from downtown to Pearl is a pleasant walk of under an hour along the Museum Reach, past the San Antonio Museum of Art. The city's bike-share stations along the river make the Pearl-to-downtown trip and the Mission Reach ride easy, and rideshares are quick and generally affordable for short hops. The Hill Country resorts are the exception: from the north side, plan on a half-hour drive each way to downtown, longer at rush hour, and budget for parking once you arrive. Many families split a trip, spending two nights downtown for the Alamo, the river and the missions, then moving to a resort for pool and theme-park days. That approach also lets you avoid paying for a car on the days you do not need one.
Practical tips. Book early for Fiesta in April, the holiday-lights season and major conventions, when rates climb and rooms sell out. Downtown parking is expensive, often charged nightly for valet only, so consider skipping the car unless you plan day trips. Always choose a hotel with a pool if you visit between May and September. And if you want river views, ask specifically when you book — many River Walk hotels have rooms facing the street or interior courtyards.