Texas - San Antonio Riverwalk area: where to stay?

We'll only be there 1 night so spa & other amenities are not an issue, just a really nice comfy room. We want to be near restaurants etc. Suggestions?
(Feel free to throw in restaurant suggestions as well)

Sorry I can't go into more detail right now, but if you want to be right on the River Walk, I'd look into:

- The Watermark Hotel and Spa
- Omni "La Mansion" del Rio
- Grand Hyatt

I've also heard good thing about the Valencia, which is a new boutique hotel.

La Mansion sits one of the liveliest parts of the River walk, and architecturally it is stunning. It's a historic building and the restaurants right across from this hotel provided some of the best meals I had there. They were especially good a curing late-night pangs.

The Grand Hyatt is on a quieter part of the River Walk, so you do need to walk a bit (like three minutes) to get to the action, but the hotel entrance is on a main thoroughfare, and there's plenty to see on street-level nearby. It's a brand-new hotel, ultra sleek and definitely superior to most other Hyatts even at the "Grand" level.

Restaurants recs:

-La Reve and Fig Tree are perennial, ultra-expensive standouts.
-Boudro's on the River Walk combines the southwest with the Gulf, and its always crowded (though not disturbingly so) and delicious.
- I also love Acenar; serving new twists on Tex-Mex, it's my favorite restaurant in the city, though it is not on the River Walk.

(Neither, technically, are La Reve or Fig Tree though all three are in close proximity.)

Perhaps later, if I get the chance, I'll add to this list...

Welcome to Flyertalk and the Luxury Hotels Forum, Hollywoodlanded
Your posts have already been helpful.
Obscure2k
Moderator
Luxury Hotels Forum

I have not tried any of the luxury hotels in San Antonio. Closest I got was at the Westin Riverwalk for a quick 1-night stay a few years ago. I was in the middle of a cross-country drive, and the Westin provided a great bang for the buck at the time.

FWIW:
AmEx FHR options include: Hotel Valencia Riverwalk & Watermark Hotel & Spa
Signature options include: The Westin Riverwalk
Virtuoso options include: Watermark Hotel & Spa

I list those just as a reference. Obviously program affiliation should not be the primary reason to stay at a particular property. In other words, I give more weight to Hollywoodlanded's suggestions than the properties I listed above.

I am not a fan of the Valencia; it is dark and somewhat gloomy, with many of the negatives of a W-type hotel and few of the positives. Between it and the Westin, I'd take the Westin, but it too is nothing special.

(I have not stayed at the Watermark but have heard that it is generally considered the best place in SA.)

-La Reve and Fig Tree are perennial, ultra-expensive standouts.


unfortunately la reve is only open 6 more nights. oct 22 23 24 & 29 30 31

http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/restaurant/61581287.html

(was price fixe $85 > $210)

In my haste, I made an error in my first post. I meant to say that Acenar IS on the River Walk, but the non-River Walk entrance on E Houston, leads you into the interior dining room, a real feast for the eyes. It's probably the only restaurant on the River Walk where I might actually prefer to eat inside.

The Fig Tree is above the River Walk's amphitheater in La Villita, which is a historic alcove in the middle of town with mom and pop shops.

The Watermark is an absolutely fantastic hotel, my personal favorite, but The Fairmont, between La Villita and the convention center is probably second.

Wow. Thanks guys. That's exactly the type of info I was looking for. I think for our one and only stay in the area, we would prefer to be right on the Riverwalk.

I've stayed at both the Watermark and the Hyatt, and there's no comparison. As between the two, Watermark by a mile (both for comfort of the room and service).

Hate to drag up an old thread, but...

We did stay at the Watermark for that one night and loved it. Adored it actually. The staff, the bathroom, the bed, the breakfast, everything was just perfect. So much so that we booked it for 4 nghts for a meeting.

Now I do have a question or 2. Since our last stay they are no longer with the Amex FHR program as Omni has taken it over as part of their Mokara brand. I haven't had much experience with Omni so I am curious to hear any reports.

Hate to drag up an old thread, but...


Bumping an old thread. Just made a reservation at the Mokara. Any experience?? Seems to still be run by Omni but I don't see the loyalty program associated with it. Attending a meeting at the Hilton - which at the same meeting in 2008 was dreadful and seems to still be - and this looked like the best of the nearby alternatives (given that the Westin was quite pricey). Any updates?

Bumping an old thread. Just made a reservation at the Mokara. Any experience?? Seems to still be run by Omni but I don't see the loyalty program associated with it. Attending a meeting at the Hilton - which at the same meeting in 2008 was dreadful and seems to still be - and this looked like the best of the nearby alternatives (given that the Westin was quite pricey). Any updates?

The Mokara is fabulous. Lovely, quiet, elegant and worth every penny.

Now that FT (finally) has a Texas Forum, I am moving this thread to our newest Forum.
Obscure2k
Moderator
Luxury Hotels

Stayed at the Westin Riverwalk for six nights.
Can not recommand this place at all. One and only plus is the location right at the Riverwalk. Nice lobby, but rude manager who denied to give me the confirmed BRG rate (sets price for whole stay as rate for one night!). Have to escalate this to BRG.

Receptionist tries to confiscate my CC because they used an old card number and got no authorization.
No complimentary water as a SPG Platinum.
No suite upgrade.
No whirlpool on pool deck.
Rooms need renovation - Look more than an old Sheraton than a Westin.
Avoid - there are better choiced, Even at the Riverwalk!

Ancient thread, but since it's at the top I'll add my $.02

If you are traveling with a family, the Hyatt Place is a great option. Cookie cutter large rooms, living area and HD TV, free parking and a 10 minute walk to the Alamo.

Meant River Walk -- Never been to San Antonio and only there this Sat night.....which hotel? Couple in their 50s.

Any other opinions? I see one postive review of the Grand Hyatt and one negative one of the Westin.

Strange that for an upcoming trip (May 28), these are the prices:

-- Grand Hyatt (Hyatt Daily Rate) $129
-- Hyatt Regency (Hyatt Daily Rate) $139
-- Hyatt Place Riverwalk (Hyatt Daily Rate) $169
-- Westin (equivalent) $219

Is the Grand Hyatt a no-brainer? This is my first trip to San Antonio, will only be there one night, and want to check the basic tourist amenities (e.g., Riverwalk, Alamo, Tex-Mex food).

One night?
I'd stay at the Menger.

Any other opinions? I see one postive review of the Grand Hyatt and one negative one of the Westin.

Strange that for an upcoming trip (May 28), these are the prices:

-- Grand Hyatt (Hyatt Daily Rate) $129
-- Hyatt Regency (Hyatt Daily Rate) $139
-- Hyatt Place Riverwalk (Hyatt Daily Rate) $169
-- Westin (equivalent) $219

Is the Grand Hyatt a no-brainer? This is my first trip to San Antonio, will only be there one night, and want to check the basic tourist amenities (e.g., Riverwalk, Alamo, Tex-Mex food).

Honestly, any hotel near the Riverwalk will suffice. The tourist area isn't that broad. It's so built up these days, you'll miss the Alamo if you blink.

The Grand Hyatt is nice, but I believe that they are valet only for parking. Keep that in mind. It's out of the area, but I cannot recommend Chris Madrid's enough. Get the Macho Nacho Burger: http://www.chrismadrids.com/

...And I'm a contrarian who has spent pleasant nights in the Havana Riverwalk, a little off the beaten track, but "something completely different". It's been a few years, so I've no recent update, but have even enjoyed the now old La Mansion. If I'm in San Antonio, I crave a little local flavor, not cookie cutters, even the luxury sort.

One night?
I'd stay at the Menger.X2. Have a drink in the bar...it's where Teddy Roosevelt recruited the Rough Riders.