St Antonio First Time Visitor - Need Advise (San Antonio, Center: low income, renting)

[lvmycj]

Hello all....we are planning on visiting St Antonio for the first time, sometime next week. We will be travelling with a family from overseas and a 3 year old.

We currently have a reservations at the Hiltons right on the RiverWalk and not too sure if it would be nice and safe to walk around in the evenings.
Also, we would probably visit the Sea World for the dolphin show and not too much into the theme park kind of activities.

We are looking for a resort type of hotel that's driving distance (about 10 - 15 mins) to downtown. Would love to be able to enjoy loads of the nature, etc. Can you please give us some recommendations?

Thanks and look forward to hearing from y'all!!

[skeet09]

The Hilton downtown would be a nice place to stay for your visit if you are looking to stay centrally located.
Start here; they have a visitors thread that may answer all of your questions. http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-a...index-san.html

I don't want to be a spelling police but the city is San Antonio, not St Antonio.

[lvmycj]

Thanks for the infor. After booking the Hilton, we read the so-so reviews and so as other hotels around town which makes us think twice...

Also there are more than 5 companies that offer trolley service, we are getting confused...

Pardon my spelling.....

[djw]

Originally Posted by lvmycj

Thanks for the infor. After booking the Hilton, we read the so-so reviews and so as other hotels around town which makes us think twice...

Also there are more than 5 companies that offer trolley service, we are getting confused...

Pardon my spelling.....

I'll give a plug for the Hyatt Hill Country Resort. San Antonio Resorts- Hyatt Regency Hill Country- San Antonio Texas Resort, Hotel

It's about 15 minutes from downtown and right next to Sea World. Beautiful and natural setting. Riverwalk is very walkable and family friendly. But it gets HOT here...drink lots of water.
As for the trolley...our local pulbic transportation company is VIA check out VIA Metropolitan Transit for their bus AND trolley maps and schedules. You are right, there are many companies, but I think Via has a very good schedule and you can get on/off passes or 2-3 day passes etc.
Enjoy your visit.

[smitty12]

Originally Posted by lvmycj

Thanks for the infor. After booking the Hilton, we read the so-so reviews and so as other hotels around town which makes us think twice...

Also there are more than 5 companies that offer trolley service, we are getting confused...

Pardon my spelling.....

Via Transit is the public streetcar option, probably the cheapest also.

VIA Metropolitan Transit

Everything else is some sort of touring company.

As far as resort's out side of downtown, the Hyatt Hill Country Resort and the Westin La Cantera are probably the two best options.

But unless you really want the anonymous anywhere resort feel, I would recommend staying downtown. The area around the Hilton is very save and tourist friendly. There are other downtown hotels you might want to check out though. The Grand Hyatt (jut opened this year), The Hotel Valencia, The Watermark, Two Marriotts.

[lvmycj]

How about the Homewood Suites Hilton on 432 W Market St...eventhough it's also part of the RiverWalk, I was told this is the "not very nice" part of the RiverWalk. Is it true?

The Grand Hyatt is impressive....

[smitty12]

Originally Posted by lvmycj

How about the Homewood Suites Hilton on 432 W Market St...eventhough it's also part of the RiverWalk, I was told this is the "not very nice" part of the RiverWalk. Is it true?

The Grand Hyatt is impressive....

I would say quiet part of the riverwalk lot less river side business on that part. The Homewood is maybe 1/4 mile from the Hilton along the river just past the Arnson River theater. I would not describe it as unsafe.

The Homewood is across the river from the Tower Life building on this map:

http://thesanantonioriverwalk.com/ma...tMapOnlyq5.pdf

[Herbrocks]

I would say that the downtown area in general is very safe for walking, esp near any of the large hotels/Riverwalk. However, downtown is surrounded by some low income areas on most sides, try to stick closer to the "center".

I think the biggest drawback to downtown is except for the Rivercenter Mall and clubs, everything closes pretty early, but in general you can get to anything without a car. Also, many larger hotels have services that can take you to the theme parks, check them out.

If seeing "nature" is most important to you, you would be better off renting a car and staying in the Hill Country area out of town, closer to lakes and rivers. If not, the SA Botanical Center or the zoo might give you a quick "fix", go early or late to help beat the heat

[lvmycj]

Thank you so much for all the great information. We will very likely reach a decision by tomorrow...one way or another, we are coming to SA....very excited...

[Libra1018]

Please be aware of the weather also. It has been EXTREMELY hot. Summer hit us early and it hit us hard!!

Libra1018