Daniel_Williams

Hello all,

In the past I've made bids using Priceline for "downtown Jacksonville" and "downtown Fort Lauderdale",managing both times to get hotels that I could manage the way I travel (I use public transit, walk, bike, don't drive). These cities are not exactly what I would call "carless-friendly places", but I managed to make bids that gave me excellent prices in a good location. If I make a bid in "downtown San Antonio" would there be a chance I'd be within say a walkable distance of the Alamo/Riverwalk? If there's a chance I could end up out of walking range, I wouldn't want to risk it and would just book with a hotel direclty. Any experience with Priceline bids for San Antonio?

Thanks in advance, Daniel

AAFrequentFlyer

Yes, you can bid for San Antonio Riverwalk hotels and if you are succesfull you will be within walking area.

http://www.priceline.com/hotels/star...09%2F15%2F2014

Daniel_Williams

Thank you, AAFrequentFlyer.

I'll give Priceline a go then, specifying "San Antonio Riverwalk".

Best wishes, Daniel

Dukey1

Daniel, let's get real here, OK? If you save a BUNCH of money on a San Antonio hotel that isn't within walking distance is it really going to kill you to take a taxi to the Riverwalk?

Please, and with the greatest of respect, I can appreciate the desire to save money but using the resources at hand and making your experience a joy rather than a hassle is important, also.

NeoPatrick

Dukey, some people travel differently than others. I can see being near the Riverwalk and leaving your hotel three or four times during the day and evening to enjoy it, but returning to the hotel for various reasons during the day. Maybe he wants to jog along it before breakfast, go back and shower, then go to breakfast there. Then later go to lunch there. Take a nap at the hotel or at least change clothes and return purchases. Back to the Riverwalk for a drink in the afternoon. If it's hot maybe back to take a shower and change before going to dinner on the Riverwalk in the evening. In fact the last time I stayed there I did just that sort of thing for several days! It was wonderful. Taking taxis round trip 3 or 4 or more times a day does NOT make for "your experience a joy" as you say.

OO

Be forewarned, the Riverwalk goes or a long way, and some of the hotels are far more convenient to everything there is to do than others! Hyatt Place and Holiday Inn are both Riverwalk hotels but a LOOONG way apart.

NeoPatrick

OO, was just thinking of you. We just booked Riverwalk Hyatt for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day -- like I did when you were there in 2009/2010. Don't think I'll get the same grand treatment your GM husband gave me!

Daniel_Williams

Dukey-- I'm just fact-finding here. Can Priceline assure me a hotel within walking distance of the Riverwalk/Alamo or not? If the answer were yes, I'd use Priceline. If the answer were no or perhaps, I wouldn't use Priceline and would pay more if need be. Walking distance of Alamo/Riverwalk is a non-negotiable for this trip. Neopatrick's post is an excellent illustration of why I might have asked the question.

Neopatrick-- Thank you! You definitely hit one key aspect of my travel style (I do like to nap!). Your last trip to San Antonio indeed does sound wonderful (and deliciously relaxing)!

OO-- Thanks for the heads-up!

Seamus

Daniel - rather depends on what you consider walking distance, and perhaps what time of year. Since the Riverwalk is a touristic landmark many properties play a bit fast and loose with geography to include it in their name. Looking at the Priceline opaque bidding map, if you go for a 4* in the Riverwalk area you should be OK.
While public transportation in SA is generally pretty abysmal for tourists there is a circulating trolley circuit in the downtown area. http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.co...olitan-transit
Also, since you like to bike, there is a municipal bike rental program called B Cycle with many locations in that area https://sanantonio.bcycle.com/

OO

Ohh Patrick! As soon as I read you were coming, and when, I thought "Alamo Bowl", then went racing off to check this year's date--it's Jan 2!! Now in the past that Hyatt has always been host hotel for one of the teams, and they come in a couple days early with fans in tow. IF I were you, I'd check to see if they will be host again this year. It might not bother you as New Years is a pretty raucous time anyway, and the hotel normally has a big New Years party, but you might want to check on the team status if you think that might be an issue.

I'll be sorry to miss you, but we will be happily back in FL by then, with a quieter NYE watching fireworks across Boca Ciega Bay from our balcony vantage point. We had to do so many of those parties during his hotel career, there is now no greater pleasure than sitting home that night with a nice bottle of champagne!!

Seamus

Patrick, if we are in town and you are not otherwise committed, would love to ring in the New Year with you - and our respective SOs (well, your husband, my SO) can meet our "internet friends."

NeoPatrick

Seamus, that would be great. But honestly our plane doesn't get in until after 9 PM New Year's Eve, so by the time we get a rental car and get to Hyatt Riverplace (I expect a mess of traffic), I'm not even sure what we will be able to do by midnight. Then we'll be in town New Year's Day before driving to Houston on Friday the 2nd to spend the weekend with my brother, his two daughters and their families.
But New Year's Day is open if you wanted to meet for brunch or lunch or something. Sounds good to me.

Seamus

Yikes, good luck getting downtown - count on using valet parking for sure. Not sure what we will be doing this year, will contact you offline as we get closer to the date.

Daniel_Williams

Thanks to all. I went with Priceline in the end and got La Quinta Inn Convention Center, which is especially good as I'll be arriving via Amtrak late and the hotel is only a few hundred yards from the train station... (Just a question: I noticed that I-37 separates the train station and the hotel; I'm hoping one can walk under the interstate via an underpass?).

Seamus

It's an easy walk, Daniel, with sidewalks all the way including under the freeway. When you arrive at Amtrak walk down Hoefgen to E. Commerce, cross to the other side and go left. Walk under the bridge then, at the Denny's, go right onto Elm and you will see the La Quinta ahead of you.

Daniel_Williams

Thank you, Seamus! Things indeed seems to have worked out well for this trip.