any reviews of San Antonio's new Hotel Contessa?
Dec 4th, 2005, 02:26 PM
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any reviews of San Antonio's new Hotel Contessa?
Several of you were kind enough to answer my many San Antonio questions before my daughter and I traveled there this summer for her dance competition. Can't believe it, but it looks as though we're impulsively heading there again in 2005 for the Alamo Bowl (the bowl bids haven't even been announced yet but we already have hotel rooms--Cornhusker fans will follow their team anywhere!).
Anyhow, I stumbled on a very new Riverwalk hotel called Hotel Contessa. Tripadvisor has two very favorable reviews and that's it, since it's only been open for one month. Their hotel website makes the place sound wonderful but I of course had to check with Fodorites first.
This will be a family trip with our two teens along so the idea of the two separate rooms was very appealing. The bedroom has two double beds and the living room has a pull-out sofa. As a grand opening special, we're paying $179 a night--very cheap compared to everything else. Wow, they really get ya for the bowl game--the Marriott's are both almost $300 per night and the Emily Morgan (my second choice) is $200 per night. The Hotel Contessa is evidently next door to the Westin--have been trying to mentally place it in terms of Alamo proximity but am having trouble.
Anyone familiar with this place?
Anyhow, I stumbled on a very new Riverwalk hotel called Hotel Contessa. Tripadvisor has two very favorable reviews and that's it, since it's only been open for one month. Their hotel website makes the place sound wonderful but I of course had to check with Fodorites first.
This will be a family trip with our two teens along so the idea of the two separate rooms was very appealing. The bedroom has two double beds and the living room has a pull-out sofa. As a grand opening special, we're paying $179 a night--very cheap compared to everything else. Wow, they really get ya for the bowl game--the Marriott's are both almost $300 per night and the Emily Morgan (my second choice) is $200 per night. The Hotel Contessa is evidently next door to the Westin--have been trying to mentally place it in terms of Alamo proximity but am having trouble.
Anyone familiar with this place?
Dec 5th, 2005, 04:10 AM
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Hi Tess, vaguely I remember reading an article in the business section of the local paper re: the Hotel Contessa. If memory serves correctly there are high hopes for this hotel. I believe it is a high end, all suite hotel. Check it out and get back with us! 
Jan 1st, 2006, 05:17 PM
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Back from San Antonio--here's my review of the Hotel Contessa:
The hotel is built atrium style with the lobby bar open to the floors above. The noise didn't bother us at all (although we did hear lots of GO BIG RED from down below until the wee hours of the morning after the bowl game ) The bar had numerous tables with comfortable seating--it looked like a great place to relax and linger. We didn't eat in the restaurant but noticed that they had tables both inside and out on the Riverwalk. On the way to the airport, our taxi driver told us that the hotel has a super breakfast brunch. We'll sample that next trip.
Our suite was a nifty combo of Mediterranean, contemporary and traditional. Don't ask me how but it worked and worked well. The sitting area had a round table with two chairs, plus an easy chair and a couch that folded out into a double bed. It also had a tv. The bathroom had a tub/shower combo and a gorgeous granite-topped vanity. Toiletries were Gilchrist and Soames--very nice! One odd thing--the double doors that opened to the bathroom had no lock--thought that was odd.
The bedroom had a separate door and its own television. The beds were comfortable but there were two things about them that I didn't like (I'm trying to give you all the bad along with the good)--they were doubles instead of queens and the mattress pads were 'free floating' and didn't hook onto the mattress. So of course we woke up every morning with the sheets and the mattress pads bunched up every which way. Someone wasn't thinking when that buying decision was made! No turn down service.
The pool area is on the roof (above the 12th floor) and is small but nice with a pool and a jacuzzi. There was no drink service that I could see--maybe that will come next summer.
Observations: The Hotel Contessa reminds me of a new house the first few months after moving in. Clean and fresh but awaiting the 'final' touches that make it homey and give it a distinctive stamp. I love the location and thought the people working there went way above the call of duty in terms of friendliness and professionalism. I would absolutely stay here again.
The hotel is built atrium style with the lobby bar open to the floors above. The noise didn't bother us at all (although we did hear lots of GO BIG RED from down below until the wee hours of the morning after the bowl game
) The bar had numerous tables with comfortable seating--it looked like a great place to relax and linger. We didn't eat in the restaurant but noticed that they had tables both inside and out on the Riverwalk. On the way to the airport, our taxi driver told us that the hotel has a super breakfast brunch. We'll sample that next trip.Our suite was a nifty combo of Mediterranean, contemporary and traditional. Don't ask me how but it worked and worked well. The sitting area had a round table with two chairs, plus an easy chair and a couch that folded out into a double bed. It also had a tv. The bathroom had a tub/shower combo and a gorgeous granite-topped vanity. Toiletries were Gilchrist and Soames--very nice! One odd thing--the double doors that opened to the bathroom had no lock--thought that was odd.
The bedroom had a separate door and its own television. The beds were comfortable but there were two things about them that I didn't like (I'm trying to give you all the bad along with the good)--they were doubles instead of queens and the mattress pads were 'free floating' and didn't hook onto the mattress. So of course we woke up every morning with the sheets and the mattress pads bunched up every which way. Someone wasn't thinking when that buying decision was made! No turn down service.
The pool area is on the roof (above the 12th floor) and is small but nice with a pool and a jacuzzi. There was no drink service that I could see--maybe that will come next summer.
Observations: The Hotel Contessa reminds me of a new house the first few months after moving in. Clean and fresh but awaiting the 'final' touches that make it homey and give it a distinctive stamp. I love the location and thought the people working there went way above the call of duty in terms of friendliness and professionalism. I would absolutely stay here again.
Jan 23rd, 2006, 04:21 PM
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I just got back from San Antonio where I stayed at the Hotel Contessa. It's a lovely hotel, and the staff were warm and helpful. The bar and restaurant are on the Riverwalk level, and seating is available on the Riverwalk, just as it is for other hotels in the area. The Contessa is about two blocks from the convention center and close to the Alamo and great restaurants. It sits between the Westin and the Hilton.
There is a central atrium open from the river level to the roof. Sound does travel in that silo, but the only time it bothered me in the least was Saturday night when there was a grand opening party with a bandstand set up right in the middle of the ground floor. The band only played until 11:00, so it wasn't a problem. All this is to say that noise may be a problem during special events but not most of the time.
The rooms are well-appointed with a contemporary Spanish/Central American look. Wireless Internet is complimentary, and the suite had a couple of nice work spaces, an asset for me since I was on a business-pleasure trip. My room had a king bed that was very comfortable.
The fitness room was on the small side with two treadmills, and elliptical machine, two bikes, and a set of free weights. The rooftop pool was pretty large. There was a hot tub on the roof, also. One hardy family braved the pool in the 50-degreee chill while I was there. Being able to hop into the hot tub probably made it bearable, and of course, the pool was heated. As Tess mentioned, there isn't a pool bar now but maybe this summer.
I would love to stay at the Hotel Contessa again, and it will be my first choice the next time I have a chance to travel to San Antonio.
There is a central atrium open from the river level to the roof. Sound does travel in that silo, but the only time it bothered me in the least was Saturday night when there was a grand opening party with a bandstand set up right in the middle of the ground floor. The band only played until 11:00, so it wasn't a problem. All this is to say that noise may be a problem during special events but not most of the time.
The rooms are well-appointed with a contemporary Spanish/Central American look. Wireless Internet is complimentary, and the suite had a couple of nice work spaces, an asset for me since I was on a business-pleasure trip. My room had a king bed that was very comfortable.
The fitness room was on the small side with two treadmills, and elliptical machine, two bikes, and a set of free weights. The rooftop pool was pretty large. There was a hot tub on the roof, also. One hardy family braved the pool in the 50-degreee chill while I was there. Being able to hop into the hot tub probably made it bearable, and of course, the pool was heated. As Tess mentioned, there isn't a pool bar now but maybe this summer.
I would love to stay at the Hotel Contessa again, and it will be my first choice the next time I have a chance to travel to San Antonio.
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