San Antonio Hotels

You’ll remember more than the Alamo after you visit this Texas town. San Antonio is a wonderful mixture of modern American lifestyle, Native American culture and rich Spanish influence. Even if you travel here for business, you’ll find yourself feeling like your stay is a vacation.

Now the eighth largest city in the US, San Antonio’s quaint, relaxed atmosphere gives it a much smaller feel. Take a stroll or even a boat ride down the three mile long Paseo del Rio or “River Walk” and drink in the atmosphere that is almost park-like in some areas while bustling with shops and restaurants in others. Locals and visitors alike are welcomed in the city which is steeped in history. Having grown up around Spanish Colonial missions in the 1600’s, five of those missions are still within the city limits and are very much a part of every day life. Their distinctive architecture help lend an almost European feel to San Antonio – or “SA” as the locals call it - and make you feel a world away. Among them, the Alamo where the famous battle for Texas Independence took place. With so much to see, there is still no need to rush. Escape from your hotel and stroll around some of the neighborhoods, such as SA’s first neighborhood, La Vittila. Now the home to an art colony, you can take in the past while watching some of the finest artisans in Texas at work. Or, if you choose, head over to the 433 acre Breckinridge Park right in the heart of the city, where you can also visit the San Antonio Zoo, considered one of the best in the US.

If you don’t want to walk, for just three dollars for a day pass – or 80 cents a ride – you can hop VIA, the local public transportation, which uses open air reproductions of the rail street cars that used to travel SA’s streets a half a century ago. From the centrally located downtown streetcar station at Convention Plaza you can spend all day traveling from site to site. At the end of the day, treat yourself to a spectacular view of the city, by visiting the top of the Tower of the Americas observation deck. VIA’s regular bus service covers a much larger area, including the San Antonio International Airport, which is just eight miles from downtown.