JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa [Master Thread]
#17
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DFW
Programs: Marriott Life Titanium, Hilton Diamond, United Silver, DL, IHG Plat, etc.
Posts: 2,888
As previous posters mention if you're an elite its barely recognized. Minimal upgrades and of course they have the escape clause on breakfast.
I've been there, done that, aint doing it again.
#19
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
I stayed here earlier this year on my first ever trip to Texas. Before going I was looking at the map and it did really seem out in the middle of nowhere, but although it's not walking distance to anything and is in a residential area, there are places to eat and such (mostly chains though I think) within easy driving distance.
One thing that's annoying about isolated properties like these is when they charge ridiculous valet parking fees ($27 I think). Self parking is free but the lot in the front seems to fill up pretty quickly and I think had to valet one night before discovering the next day that there were more spaces in the back by the conference center area (whoops).
Nice property though, it seemed pretty busy when I was there and I didn't experience much check-in waiting time or anything like that. Never ended up checking out the water park stuff.
One thing that's annoying about isolated properties like these is when they charge ridiculous valet parking fees ($27 I think). Self parking is free but the lot in the front seems to fill up pretty quickly and I think had to valet one night before discovering the next day that there were more spaces in the back by the conference center area (whoops).
Nice property though, it seemed pretty busy when I was there and I didn't experience much check-in waiting time or anything like that. Never ended up checking out the water park stuff.
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,095
Saw this in a news item:
"The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is planning a $16 million expansion project including two water slides, a whirlpool, a pool with an artificial sand beach and a 13,000-square-foot pavilion. The project, which is set to begin in September, will wrap up in the spring."
Cheers.
"The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is planning a $16 million expansion project including two water slides, a whirlpool, a pool with an artificial sand beach and a 13,000-square-foot pavilion. The project, which is set to begin in September, will wrap up in the spring."
Cheers.
#21
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: UA GS; Marriott Plat; IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 79
My family and I had a nice time during a weekend at the property a few months ago, but it was fairly crowded. I was given a griffin pin at check in to "help the staff recognize my elite status" but I didn't actually wear it. Is there actually any benefit to this?
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,156
My family and I had a nice time during a weekend at the property a few months ago, but it was fairly crowded. I was given a griffin pin at check in to "help the staff recognize my elite status" but I didn't actually wear it. Is there actually any benefit to this?
I have not ever heard of it being given to someone on a regular hotel stay.
#23
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: BA Bronze, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 85
The griffin pin is sometimes given out to meeting planners and other corporate event staff at the onset of their event. I guess as a shortcut to knowing who is speaking officially for a large event.
I have not ever heard of it being given to someone on a regular hotel stay.
I have not ever heard of it being given to someone on a regular hotel stay.
#24
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,095
Saw this in a news item:
"The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is planning a $16 million expansion project including two water slides, a whirlpool, a pool with an artificial sand beach and a 13,000-square-foot pavilion. The project, which is set to begin in September, will wrap up in the spring."
Cheers.
"The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is planning a $16 million expansion project including two water slides, a whirlpool, a pool with an artificial sand beach and a 13,000-square-foot pavilion. The project, which is set to begin in September, will wrap up in the spring."
Cheers.
"The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is finishing a $16 million expansion that includes two water slides, a pool with an artificial sand beach and 13,000 square feet of meeting space for upscale events.
The expansion, which extends to the east of the resort’s existing 6-acre water park, also includes a whirlpool spa, a fire pit and a half-dozen private cabanas. It has a high-ceilinged, 5,100-square-foot ballroom with a stone fireplace next to a lawn that overlooks part of the TPC San Antonio golf course.
Some parts of the two-acre expansion, such as two 47-foot-tall water slides, will be open by the spring break tourist season, officials said, while the rest is expected to be finished by the end of March."
Cheers.
#25
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 4
I was planning on staying 3 nights at the end of this month. Rooms are going $500 a night with taxes which I think is insane. Can anyone suggest any other way of securing better rates. I just opened Mariott Car which will get me 80,000 points but will not be able to use this immediately. Thanks.
#26
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AAMM & ExPlat, Marriott lifetime Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 23,500
Was part of a large corporate multi day function a few weeks ago. As a Gold I was upgraded to a nice room, breakfast wasn't a concern as corp was covering all meals.
The resort was a nice venue for our meetings, (all ~800 of us). Taxi from airport was ~$45 and that included tip.
Being a "foodie" I was a bit disappointed by the food offerings, but that lays with the team that decided the meals. (I wanted more TexMex offerings). They did serve fantastic homemade salsas with breakfast.
Didn't get to spend any time at the pool or lazy river.
Free parking was readily available for those of us who self parked.
Side note: My hair was a bit shaggy so needed a haircut, upon walking out of the barber shop I noticed Los Balito's Taco Shop (3111 TPC Parkway) which is only a couple miles from the JW property.
Los Balito's served the best versions of cabeza and barbacoa tacos I've ever had, not by a thin margin either, best ever by long shot.
They also had a salsa bar with 6 different kinds of salsa.
Turns out Los Balito's has 4 locations in the San Antonio area. Details on their website, I've listed the website and location I went to below.
Los Balito's
3111 TPC Parkway
Store #101
San Antonio, TX
(open 24/7)
www.losbalitostacoshop.com
-
The resort was a nice venue for our meetings, (all ~800 of us). Taxi from airport was ~$45 and that included tip.
Being a "foodie" I was a bit disappointed by the food offerings, but that lays with the team that decided the meals. (I wanted more TexMex offerings). They did serve fantastic homemade salsas with breakfast.
Didn't get to spend any time at the pool or lazy river.
Free parking was readily available for those of us who self parked.
Side note: My hair was a bit shaggy so needed a haircut, upon walking out of the barber shop I noticed Los Balito's Taco Shop (3111 TPC Parkway) which is only a couple miles from the JW property.
Los Balito's served the best versions of cabeza and barbacoa tacos I've ever had, not by a thin margin either, best ever by long shot.
They also had a salsa bar with 6 different kinds of salsa.
Turns out Los Balito's has 4 locations in the San Antonio area. Details on their website, I've listed the website and location I went to below.
Los Balito's
3111 TPC Parkway
Store #101
San Antonio, TX
(open 24/7)
www.losbalitostacoshop.com
-
#28
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL DM, AA PlatPro, Hilton DM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 1,532
Upgraded to a hospitality suite on checkin (executive suites were full, otherwise they said they would have given me that). This took an ask at checkin though.
There are a few food options around now, including a good Thai place not far.
There are a few food options around now, including a good Thai place not far.
#29
Any recent reviews for weekend leisure stays? Thinking of taking a mini staycation for a weekend in August. We want to make full use of the water park. Is there plenty of shade as it looks like many of the lounge chairs are in full sun. Also do they waive resort fees for Platinums?
Last edited by prncess674; Jun 16, 2017 at 6:57 am