Sep 30, 2017, 6:07 pm
Last edit by: krazykanuck
Interest List
I'm totally there
krazykanuck
nomadic.relief
mattp1987 +1 (local resident)
I might be there
Middle_Seat
I'm out
Zorak -- looking unlikely at this point
monitor+1 - work gets in the way
nutwpinut - work gets in the way Double sad because I am local If something on the schedule pops up Sunday night, I can make that.
Schedule
Friday, December 1
(note: first friday downtown)
4:30 pm: Beers at Kuenstler Brewing (302 E Lachapelle, San Antonio, TX 78204) for those arriving early
7:30 pm: Trinity University Christmas Concert (my alma mater, I may attend, others are welcome)
Saturday, December 2
9-9:30ish am: Pearl Farmer's market/breakfast
1:30 pm: Lunch at Two Brothers BBQ (12656 West Ave, San Antonio, TX 78216)
5:00 pm: Dinner/drinks before game?
7:30 pm: SA Rampage Game
Sunday, December 3
(marathon this morning)
11:45 am: Brunch, Southerleigh Brewery at Pearl (krazykanuck has made a reservation for 6)
Hotels
krazykanuck: Hilton Garden Inn SA Airport South
San Antonio has chains and budgets to suit everybody. My personal recommendations...
Hilton
Hilton Palacio del Rio
Emily Morgan Doubletree
These two are my 2 favorite Hilton's in the city. Neither one has an exec lounge, but they both have a great breakfast, and at the Palacio you can have your breakfast on the Riverwalk patio. I usually pick between the two based on price.
Emily Morgan swaps the corporate Hilton look for a Texan style. You can't go wrong with either one.
Hilton San Antonio Airport - I only list because it's typically pretty cheap on the weekends. It's not odd to see rates in the $90-100/nt range. Exec lounge is closed on weekends, but it has a good breakfast. Only a ~$10 uber to downtown from here.
Hyatt
There's a Hyatt Regency downtown (12k pts/nt) and there is a Hyatt Place a few miles up the highway near the Quarry that is 5k pts/nt.
mattp1987 edit: There's also a Grand Hyatt downtown (12k pts/nt) that is currently (as of 3 Oct) showing cheaper cash prices than the Hyatt Regency. I've never stayed there, but it's right next to the Tower of the Americas and has a nice-looking rooftop pool (no idea if it's heated since this is for Dec).
StarMar
This is a bit harder, there are only a few SPG properties downtown and I've never stayed in any of them. The Sheraton Gunter is usually fairly priced and has a club lounge, the Westin is higher priced, and I don't think the St. Anthony is on anybody's list as a Luxury Collection hotel, though frankly it's usually priced close to the Westin. I'd avoid most of the Marriott properties, IIRC they're pretty dated, especially the Rivercenter one.
mattp1987 edit: I've done a staycation at the St. Anthony, and it's quite nice. I got an FHR rate under $200 on a weekend, and we were upgraded from lowest King room to a 1BR suite. Rebelle is a great use of the F+B credit, and room service breakfast was pretty good as well. There's also a Four Points at the airport for 3k pts/night on the weekend which can be a good deal for those who are interested.
I'm totally there
krazykanuck
nomadic.relief
mattp1987 +1 (local resident)
I might be there
Middle_Seat
I'm out
Zorak -- looking unlikely at this point
monitor+1 - work gets in the way
nutwpinut - work gets in the way
Double sad because I am local If something on the schedule pops up Sunday night, I can make that.Schedule
Friday, December 1
(note: first friday downtown)
4:30 pm: Beers at Kuenstler Brewing (302 E Lachapelle, San Antonio, TX 78204) for those arriving early
7:30 pm: Trinity University Christmas Concert (my alma mater, I may attend, others are welcome)
Saturday, December 2
9-9:30ish am: Pearl Farmer's market/breakfast
1:30 pm: Lunch at Two Brothers BBQ (12656 West Ave, San Antonio, TX 78216)
5:00 pm: Dinner/drinks before game?
7:30 pm: SA Rampage Game
Sunday, December 3
(marathon this morning)
11:45 am: Brunch, Southerleigh Brewery at Pearl (krazykanuck has made a reservation for 6)
Hotels
krazykanuck: Hilton Garden Inn SA Airport South
San Antonio has chains and budgets to suit everybody. My personal recommendations...
Hilton
Hilton Palacio del Rio
Emily Morgan Doubletree
These two are my 2 favorite Hilton's in the city. Neither one has an exec lounge, but they both have a great breakfast, and at the Palacio you can have your breakfast on the Riverwalk patio. I usually pick between the two based on price.
Emily Morgan swaps the corporate Hilton look for a Texan style. You can't go wrong with either one.
Hilton San Antonio Airport - I only list because it's typically pretty cheap on the weekends. It's not odd to see rates in the $90-100/nt range. Exec lounge is closed on weekends, but it has a good breakfast. Only a ~$10 uber to downtown from here.
Hyatt
There's a Hyatt Regency downtown (12k pts/nt) and there is a Hyatt Place a few miles up the highway near the Quarry that is 5k pts/nt.
mattp1987 edit: There's also a Grand Hyatt downtown (12k pts/nt) that is currently (as of 3 Oct) showing cheaper cash prices than the Hyatt Regency. I've never stayed there, but it's right next to the Tower of the Americas and has a nice-looking rooftop pool (no idea if it's heated since this is for Dec).
StarMar
This is a bit harder, there are only a few SPG properties downtown and I've never stayed in any of them. The Sheraton Gunter is usually fairly priced and has a club lounge, the Westin is higher priced, and I don't think the St. Anthony is on anybody's list as a Luxury Collection hotel, though frankly it's usually priced close to the Westin. I'd avoid most of the Marriott properties, IIRC they're pretty dated, especially the Rivercenter one.
mattp1987 edit: I've done a staycation at the St. Anthony, and it's quite nice. I got an FHR rate under $200 on a weekend, and we were upgraded from lowest King room to a 1BR suite. Rebelle is a great use of the F+B credit, and room service breakfast was pretty good as well. There's also a Four Points at the airport for 3k pts/night on the weekend which can be a good deal for those who are interested.
Interest in SAT DO? Dec 1-3?
May 12, 2017, 6:58 pm
#31
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May 15, 2017, 12:38 pm
#32
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Be aware that SAT is currently a very popular destination for BA Tier Point runners, as it's possible to get 640 points (Oneworld Sapphire) from a round trip from Manchester (England) to SAT routed correctly.
May 15, 2017, 8:29 pm
#35
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Me too. Rampage games are a ton of fun, we used to go a lot in college, especially on $1 hot dog and $1 beer nights, though those were usually week day night promos.
OP, seems like there is definitely enough interest to plan something, so I hope it works out! Please let me know if I (as a semi-recent former SA resident) can be of any help.
OP, seems like there is definitely enough interest to plan something, so I hope it works out! Please let me know if I (as a semi-recent former SA resident) can be of any help.
Last edited by krazykanuck; May 15, 2017 at 8:34 pm
May 16, 2017, 9:59 am
#36
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Since I've never been to a hockey game and have no idea how it works, would the hockey experts be willing to provide a crash course in the rules if I went to the game with them?
May 16, 2017, 11:11 am
#37
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May 16, 2017, 1:54 pm
#38
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Rampage website says the schedule will be released sometime this Summer. The season starts early Oct, so they'll be playing but the question is whether they're at home.
May 17, 2017, 8:16 pm
#40
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I'd vote for something besides December myself- basically a blackout period for personal travel for me. Having done quite a bit of the riverwalk already, it would be interesting to see it with an FT flair. So something Jan-April 
but understand I have only one vote
but understand I have only one vote
May 25, 2017, 10:40 am
#41
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SAT sounds good to me. First weekend in December....
Living 90 miles from Montreal we see lots of hockey 😆
..... so my vote would be for a Spurs game.
count me as very likely.
Living 90 miles from Montreal we see lots of hockey 😆
..... so my vote would be for a Spurs game.
count me as very likely.
May 25, 2017, 12:07 pm
#42
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I'm certainly interested. I like the city and would love an excuse to come back. December works fine for me.
May 25, 2017, 1:23 pm
#43
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May 30, 2017, 7:43 am
#44
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I'll keep an eye on this thread, as I'm interested in attending. My sister, niece and her kids, reside in San Antonio and I usually visit 2-3 times a year. Sometime during the first couple of weeks in December would certainly work.
May 31, 2017, 6:17 am
#45
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Sorry haven't posted in a bit. Still on for 1ST weekend in December. I'll post more once I'M back in the US.