Public transport on vacation in San Antonio (Mission: rent, transfer to)

[Fletchwitch]

Hi there. I'm posting this thread in several forums. We'll be coming to San Antonio later in the year. Is it possible to have a holiday there without hiring a car? How's the public transport? We don't know where we'll be staying yet.
Cheers

[ged_782]

Would you be flying to San Antonio? If so, there is a regular bus route that runs between the airport and downtown (route #5). The regular fare is $1.10 per person, or $1.25 each if you need a transfer to a connecting route.

Since you don't know yet where you will be staying, the best advice I can give you is to visit VIA Transit's website at www.viainfo.net.

Hope this helps.

[Fletchwitch]

Originally Posted by ged_782

Would you be flying to San Antonio? If so, there is a regular bus route that runs between the airport and downtown (route #5). The regular fare is $1.10 per person, or $1.25 each if you need a transfer to a connecting route.

Since you don't know yet where you will be staying, the best advice I can give you is to visit VIA Transit's website at www.viainfo.net.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, I'll check it out

[Bo]

I've done vacations to DC and LA without a car, so I can appreciate the convenience of doing that. Those places both have subways.

Unless it's a very leisurely and extended holiday... on the order of a couple of weeks or a very short trip of a day or two, you should rent a car in San Antonio. Taking the bus between tourist destinations outside of downtown would require a fair amount of waiting at bus stops. I can't imagine that waiting at bus stops would in any way increase your enjoyment of the visit. If you're only in town for a day or two, you might as well limit your focus to downtown and the Riverwalk and maybe take one of the tourist bus tours or trolley tours to see sights.

[wCat]

If you are staying in the general downtown area, check the VIA website for the streetcar/trolley routes. There are two routes that go in opposite loops around town. It's very inexpensive and you can get to just about any location by hopping trolleys. The river also has water taxi's that can take you to any destination along the river banks.

And of course there are downtown taxi's.

If you want to venture outside of downtown, there are several city tour companies that have daily tours to the Hill Country or surrounding attractions....or even greater city tours to the museums, zoo, shopping etc.

It definitely can be done with some pre planning!

[Fletchwitch]

Thanks for the info, all. I may go with a combination of the two. The streetcars sound fun!

[wCat]

Looks like they've increased the streetcar service! Great news for you! There are four car lines now. Here's a link to the map:

VIA Metropolitan Transit

[TX_AGGIE13]

I would advise against trying to take on any major Texas city without a vehicle.....just my opinion.

[Chaka]

Depends entirely on what you plan to do. If you're planning to spend your time in and around downtown, no car is necessary and can be a hindrance. You can easily walk or take a trolley to the Missions, and there's good bus service to the zoo/Botanic Gardens/Japanese Tea Garden/Brackenridge Park.

If you plan to go to Fiesta Texas, Sea World, tour the Hill Country, you'll prefer a car - bus service to either of the parks will eat up a big chunk of your day (unless they've put in an express - check the VIA website).