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San Antonio trip report, including review of the Riverwalk's newest hotel

San Antonio trip report, including review of the Riverwalk's newest hotel

Old Dec 31st, 2005, 04:27 PM
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Tess
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San Antonio trip report, including review of the Riverwalk's newest hotel

My family (husband, myself and two teens)returned home last night from our trip to the Alamo Bowl game in San Antonio. Our trip:

Left Denver on an a.m. flight last Monday. Quick, smooth flight. My usual flight combo of 3/4 Xanax paired with a bourbon and coke did the trick and I was a calm and happy flier. It was 80 degrees in SA when we landed early afternoon. Life is good.

Hotels: We stayed free the first two nights at the Holiday Inn Express near the Riverwalk, courtesy of priority club points. The hotel was...okay. Our room was kind of a dark cave but it did have a small living room with an extra tv--always good to have when the kids are along. It also had a fridge and a microwave, which was nice. Free is always a good thing but I wouldn't stay there again otherwise.

The next two nights we stayed at the brand-new (one month old) Hotel Contessa on the Riverwalk (right next door to the Westin). I'm pretty sure that we were the first people to stay in our room, since it still had a bit of construction 'dust' here and there. How cool is that being the first ones to use a new hotel room? The hotel is gorgeous and everything is pristine and fresh. The rooftop pool and jacuzzi area is a neat place to watch the night lights of San Antonio.

Restaurants: The first morning my husband and I walked south to the end of the Riverwalk and had breakfast at the Guenther house (while the kids slept in). You must eat here. Beautiful old house in the King William Historical district with fabulous food and atmosphere. They only serve breakfast and lunch. We walked back to the hotel via King William and were properly awed at the historical mansions along the way. It's less than a mile walk from the heart of the Riverwalk to the King William area--a perfect way to walk off all of the food we insisted on eating--

We had lunch at Casa Rio and Michellina's (sp.) along the Riverwalk--both good. Hard Rock one day--the bill for four of us at lunch was $100. Not worth it. (we adults had a couple of drinks along with the food but that was it). Also ate at Dick's Last Resort on the Riverwalk before the bowl game. The teens LOVED this place--noisy with 'insult' waiters and tons of atmosphere. Surprisingly, the food was good, too! Sampled the $17 margaritas at Rita's one day--absolute monsters and pretty darn tasty. Big disappointment--my daughter and I ate at Rosario's when we were in San Antonio this summer (for a dance competition). I'd ranted to my husband about the great food so we planned on catching lunch at the airport 'branch' on the way home. Be warned--Rosario's is no longer at the airport but we did enjoy lunch at Las Palapas instead (I think that's what it's called).

Fun stuff: The best part, of course, was the Nebraska-Michigan football game at the Alamodome (since Nebraska won ). Couldn't believe the sea of red that was the Husker fans--thousands upon thousands of people wearing red dominated the Riverwalk for days. The Riverwalk merchants and restaurant owners were thrilled to have us there! My 13 year old commented twice about how friendly everyone is in San Antonio--I agree.

Did the obligatory Riverwalk boat cruise one day and learned some interesting trivia. Also dragged the kids to the IMAX Alamo movie then to the Alamo itself. The place never fails to move me. Kids were less impressed and said it would be cool if they were from Texas but since they weren't...okay, we tried. I think part of it was the massive crowds of Husker fans swarming around the Alamo when we were there. It's hard to get a good feel for the place when you're in line with 100 other people.

I'd heard about the ghost hunt tours of the Riverwalk/Alamo area so we did that one night. Pretty entertaining if you go into it with little expectation of actually seeing a ghost. Martin Leal is the tour guide--knowledgeable, funny, funny guy who's an expert on the paranormal (he's been on the Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, etc.). The whole thing took about 2 hours. My kids are now possessed (pun intended) to stay in room 811 at the Emily Morgan hotel next trip--supposedly haunted

Returned home last night on probably the bumpiest flight I've ever experienced. It was so turbulent that the flight attendants couldn't wheel out the drink cart and instead spent the entire two hour flight buckled into their seats. It got so bad that my gotta-be-cool 16 year old son begged me for a Xanax from my stash mid-flight. We were really really glad to touch down in Denver.

San Antonio is one of my favorite cities--graceful, vibrant, historical, friendly--I just love it.

 
Old Dec 31st, 2005, 04:49 PM
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Bravo Tess...very nice trip report! Guenther House is my favorite lunch spot downtown too.

What a game! We had tickets, but it was our DD and SIL's last night in town so we opted out, but did watch on TV. That last play would have made sitting through the whole game worthwhile.

My DH runs the hotel where Nebraska stayed, and they have nothing but good things to say about the team, coaching staff and fans. Interestingly, no team that has stayed in this hotel has ever lost in the Alamo Bowl and you guys did a great job of keeping his record alive, despite the odds and a scare or two.

I'm amazed to see the Riverwalk even more crowded today than it was while the Alamo Bowl crowds were here. Weather has held out with no end to the balmy temps in sight...yet. You were very lucky...2 or 3 weeks earlier and you'd have been wearing your CO parkas!!

Currently I'm sitting in a hotel suite while DH works. 36 years of marriage to him and the hotel business means we have NEVER had a New Years Eve to ourselves, and most of the evening he'll be MIA! Tonight it's an intimate party for 800....

Happy New Year's from San Antonio.

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Old Dec 31st, 2005, 04:52 PM
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Thanks for the report, Tess. SA is a great city, isn't it? I live in Austin which is only 80 miles from SA, so I have visited SA often. But because of the proximity we never stay overnight, SA is always a day trip. I'm beginning to think we should spend the night, in fact, I wish I were there right now ringing in the New Year. Maybe next year.

Also, I'm glad you had a chance to enjoy the warm weather we've had for the last week. Not very Christmas-y, but that's why we like it here in Central Texas. I hope you'll also visit Austin on your next trip to SA.
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Old Dec 31st, 2005, 05:14 PM
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P_M...we could start something new at Fodors maybe...a pajama party GTG. I know just the place. Happy New Year...know you are glad to ring this one out!
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Old Dec 31st, 2005, 05:25 PM
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Tess thanks for the trip report. I was talking this morning about San Antonio as a possible destination in 2006. Your report makes me even more interested. Thanks and Happy New Year.
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Old Dec 31st, 2005, 05:30 PM
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Hey, Malesherbes, I'm there!! But what about those who sleep in the nude?? We must give this idea some serious thought. I hope to see you at another GTG this year.

Happy New Year to all!!
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Old Dec 31st, 2005, 05:48 PM
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I just mentioned to my husband that I bet the Riverwalk is packed tonight--what fun.

Malesherbes, we wanted to stay at the Hyatt but couldn't swing the $300 per night price tag that was Alamobowl week. My husband's brother and family stayed there, though, so we hung out with them throughout before and after the game. Beautiful hotel and what a perfect location!!! My daughter swam in the rooftop pool with her cousin and had a great time.

Wish we were still in SA but it's probably best that we're home--my husband came down with an achy/chills/virus thing this morning so our New Year's Eve is quiet. We had to cancel a get-together we were hosting for a dozen friends tonight--guess we'll be eating party leftovers for a few days!
 
Old Dec 31st, 2005, 07:21 PM
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Sounds like you had a great time. We love San Antonio and visited often when we lived in Texas. We left Arkansas on Tuesday and went to Dallas, where we went to the Nasher Sculpture Garden. On Wednesday we drove to San Antonio, checked into the Brackenridge B&B in the King William District, had lunch at Rosario's, wandered along the Riverwalk, had a drink at Zuni's, went to the Alamo Bowl game, and then back home (no dinner--the game ran WAY too long so we had a hot dog at the game).

The next morning we went shopping in San Marcos at the outlet malls, which keep expanding while most of those are half empty. The stores are more upscale than most outlet malls. I always stop at the Le Creuset store but also went to Neiman's Last Call, Ann Taylor, Pottery Barn outlet, and Coldwater Creek. The place was mobbed with after-Christmas shoppers (many from Mexico) hitting the sales.

Tess, we went to two Nebraska games this year, the other one being the Iowa State game that went into double overtime, so I think we saw the two best games of the year. I grew up in Lincoln and have attended many UN-L games (including when I was on the faculty there) but I still get a thrill seeing all the fans wearing Husker red! Until next year....
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Old Dec 31st, 2005, 07:45 PM
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happytourist,
oh, the outlet mall sounds yummy! We were without a car this trip so were a little limited where we could go. How did you like the B&B?

We live in western Nebraska (400 miles from Lincoln) but have had our season tickets since graduating from UNL 20-some years ago. Now that our children are older and involved in sports, etc., it's a little harder to make every home game. We did see the NU game in Boulder in November, though--can't believe this game topped that one, but it did!

Happy New Year to you all!
 
Old Jan 1st, 2006, 07:12 AM
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The Brackenridge B&B was great and I would stay there again. We've also stayed at the Oge House in King Wm and, while it has changed owners, I'm sure it's as nice as it was several years ago. We always stay in the King Wm District while we're in San Antonio because it's within walking district of good restaurants, the Riverwalk, the museums and the Alamodome.
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Old Jan 1st, 2006, 09:48 AM
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Tess, I'm glad you enjoyed a great trip and the Hotel Contessa worked out well! Perhaps you could add a review to your post requesting feedback on the place? Could help another traveler in search. I was in Maryland watching the game on t.v. with my brother and one of his neighbors (one sad Michigan fan)--it was fun to watch the cut ins of the city and commercials advertising San Antonio. Made me want to visit and I live here!
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Old Jan 1st, 2006, 11:46 AM
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Ann Marie,

Good idea--I shall!

A friend taped the game for us and I plan on watching it this afternoon--my throat was sore for two days after the game from yelling/cheering--too much excitement for this girl!!!
 
Old Jan 1st, 2006, 02:49 PM
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Tess and AM...DH has toured the hotel and says it's been very well done and will be terrific for families especially. Its niche will probably be the individual traveler, and especially those traveling with children/teens. Each suite has a sitting room as you enter, where a couch pulls out into a bed, and the main bedroom is further back from that. Other than that, he didn't go into decor much so I'd be curious to hear too. (That must be a Mars/Venus thing!) The demand has been here and they should do well.

Oh...did any of you go into the new Starbucks downtown? We were in today and it was something. Is this a new concept selling CDs in Starbucks, and allowing you to listen to and make your own CDs--.99 a song? Flat screen monitors all along the counter allow you to select and listen to your music, then make your cd if you wish. It must be a new direction for them, and one I hadn't heard about before?
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Old Jan 1st, 2006, 05:16 PM
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My husband 'found' that Starbuck's one morning on our trip. He thought the concept was so neat that he dragged us all in there later to see. What will they think of next--what a great idea.

Here is a more detailed review of the Hotel Contessa (I'll also copy and paste it into my original query about the hotel):

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 (but of course I will try the Hyatt first, now that I know that your husband is the manager, Malesherbes .
 
Old Jan 2nd, 2006, 04:08 AM
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Thanks for the info. No, we haven't been to the new Starbucks. DH and I need to take a trip downtown soon!
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Old Jan 2nd, 2006, 07:30 PM
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I need to ask some SA Fodorites a question:
I will be visiting from NY in 4 days, and I want to buy some sandals. They are obviously out of season here, since it's about 17 degrees out, so where is the best place to buy sandals there, and I mean good ones such as Reef, O'Neill or Hurley - real beach sandals.

Ideas ?
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Old Jan 4th, 2006, 03:46 AM
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North of downtown on IH 10 is a store at Huebner Oaks called All Ashore-- they sell Reefs. Also Whole Earth Provision which is closer to downtown along 281, just south of the airport. Also, check the directory at Rivercenter Mall downtown on Commerce Street--I suspect you'll find something there as well. The weather will be gorgeous when you arrive--predicted highs in the 70's, lows in the 40's. Enjoy a great trip!

http://www.shoprivercenter.com/
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Old Jan 4th, 2006, 03:47 AM
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Whole Earth Provision is located in The Quarry shopping center.
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Old Jan 6th, 2006, 11:07 AM
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Thank you, I will check those out.
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Old Jan 6th, 2006, 11:30 AM
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Good report, as much as I become agitated watching Nebraska win, (I typically turn off the TV when Nebraska is ahead) good for the Huskers. Glad you had a good time.

Welcome back to Nebraska too after your visit, a next door neighbor in western Iowa.



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