Bpries

Going to be in San Antonio/Austin area for 3 nights (two and 1/2 days) first part of September and can't decide whether to stay in San Antonio or Austin. I think we will be there during the "Diez y Seis Events" Has anyone been there during that time? Will it be crazy during that celebration (hordes of people?)
We are 60 somethings--active-- like history, nature, exercise, good food, fun pubs etc.
Want MDH to see the Alamo and do the River Walk (I've done).
Niether of us have been to Austin. And I haven't really researched it too much yet. Getting antsy about making reservations though. Anyone have some advise on how to allot our time and where to hang out hats?

Austin

I'm biased but I like Austin SO much more than SA. You could try the Bob Bullock Museum, Harry Ransom Center, Blanton Museum, Town Lake Hike and Bike Center, more good restaurants and pubs than you can imagine.

Check the UT schedule to see if there is a home game that weekend. You could still do it but would have to make a reservation NOW. Let us know your budget and what you are lookign for in a hotel.

Austin

Town Lake hike and bike TRAIL. Sorry.

Austin

The UT game on the 18th is away. FYI.

Bpries

Thanks Austin: Was sort of inclined that way anyway.

We are on a "not more than $100 or so" budget for Hotels/Motels. If you could give me some hints there that would be great. Know nothing about the area or what would be most expeditious in terms of getting around.
B.

Echnaton

I like both cities. IMO, San Antonio has more to offer than Austin, but if you want to stay just 2 1/2 days, Austin has enough to keep you occupied. Austin has the better nightlife (all kinds of live music).

Bpries

We are going to try to do both cities, but from one location.
Think we can do River walk and the Alamo one day so mdh gets to see those. I've been there. And then one day in Austin.
Anyone have suggestions on decent motels in Austin that are central to getting down to San Antonio and also not far out of the mainstream in Austin?

sf7307

>>

You can do the Riverwalk and the Alamo in 2 hours, actually. An hour for each. I'd add a stop in Gruene (on the way), and maybe a walk in the King William District in San Antonio ( an old neighborhood with beautiful old homes many being rehabbed, settled by Germans I think in the 1800s).

kkukura

We have stayed at the Holiday Inn Austin-Town Lake. It is close to Austin sights and right on the feeder road for I-35 which makes it a quick drive down to San Antonio.

Seamus

Driving I-35 between Austin and San Antonio is no fun. I'd stay in SA one day, then Austin the next. Do you have your flights booked?
Diez y seis is the 16th (of course) but there is always a party going on in SA!

OO

I agree with Seamus--that can be one hard drive. I wouldn't want to be in Austin and have to drive to SA and back in a day, or vice versa. The traffic problems may develop as you approach either city, Austin being the worst, but it flows well midway between the two. Is it possible to get an open jaw flight...say Southwest, fly into one and out of the other?

Staying someplace with character between the two, you might think about Gruene, but it's still almost an hour to Austin and a bit over half an hour to San Antonio...providing they don't close one lane of I-35, north and/or southbound, as they have for the past several weekends and no telling when they will finish whatever it is they are doing...on weekends. I feel so sorry for the traffic backed up for miles heading into town or out of it!!

Both cities are great. I've never gotten tired of the romantic Riverwalk, nor do I tire of Town Lake and the Austin scene. I'd hate to have to choose.

kkukura

I have driven between the two cities often and although there is traffic I never found it unbearable. My daughter attended school north of Austin, in Georgetown, and she and her boyfriend would drive back and forth to SA often to visit family. But, I guess, since I live in Houston, and things are so spread out, I am used to long drives and I enjoy doing them. If I could I would stay in both cities, but if that isn't possible the drive is not that big of a deal.

mah1980

We hated Austin. Didn't think it was very interesting (by way of comparison, we live in Austin). I would opt for San Antonio.

Bpries

Thanks for the input. Never gave any thought to the travel back and forth being a problem.

Thinking maybe we would make better use of our time if we stayed both places? Got an idea for Autstin, but anyone have any suggestions on where to stay (in our price range) in S.A.?
Thanks for all your input.

follow_your_bliss

It is at least an hour and a half between Austin and SA. If you drive back and forth in one day, that is 3 hours of driving, not counting any traffic. Traffic in Austin is usually clear by 9:30am, and starts getting heavy heading back to SA (stop and go in some places) around 3pm.

If your husband is at all interested in history, you cannot do the Alamo in 1 hour. The Rivercenter Imax has a really good short movie on it if your husband is up for it.

I haven't been to any Diez y seis events but looking at the lineup for last year, the events seem centered around cultural arts centers and a couple on the riverwalk. It might be more crowded but it won't be like Fiesta (takes place in April).

I don't have any specific suggestions in your price range but if you post back with a hotel we can give you the pros and cons of its location.

Barblab

Do do the IMAX (in the mall right by the Alamo) before the Alamo as it will give you a good overview of Texas history during that time and help you to understand why Texans are so fiercely proud of this sight as well as their state.

Include a tour of the State Capital in your Austin plans. Another fun thing to do is the Duck Tour which will give you a good overview of the downtown area, as well as fun and funny stories, and end with a splash into Ladybird Lake.

I would encourage you to do Priceline for Austin. We have gotten numerous 4* hotels in the downtown area (including Ladybird Lake too) over the past 10 years at less than $100. Have not tried it for SA but you could look up what the hotels there are going for at betterbidding.com.

Have fun!

Barblab

One last thing -

Mah1980, I don't understand your post???