We will be visiting our daughter at Fort Sam Houston (NE of downtown) and are trying to decide where to stay. Considering Homewood Suites NW but am concerned it may be too far from Fort Sam. Any info?

See: http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1

Keep in mind that the immediate area around Fort Sam is not the best part of town. Is it possible for her to get you a room on the base itself?

Hi Postal, what do you consider to be too far? Homewood Suites NW is on I-10 which I would estimate to be about a 20-25 minute drive max to Ft. Sam which is, on one side, surrounded by the desirable '09 neighborhood as well as the Botanical Gardens and San Antonio Country Club. From the location we enter Ft. Sam it is quite nice with lots of great restaurants nearby. It's one of our favorite parts of town.

What a terrific location that base has, central to everything there is to see and do in San Antonio. You truly could stay anywhere in town and not be too far away--from the Riverwalk downtown to the area you are currently looking. It's one of our favorite parts of town too, and one we wished we'd concentrated more on when house hunting!

AnnMarie has lived here for years, is really up on what's what in town...her word is good! Listen to the expert.

Greetings Malesherbes! So you received my check this month, eh? ;-)

Oui, but Seamus' was late. I believe he is an 09er so would have good info too.

There is no lodging available on Fort Sam itself while we are there. I initially booked the Homewood Suites because it was a suite and very reasonably priced ($96), and then the lodging people at Fort Sam recommended the La Quinta and Comfort Suites at I-35 and Rittiman Road.

Since we'll want to go downtown too, I'm thinking we're just better off staying in the Fort Sam area rather than go NW. So is the area around I35 and Rittiman Road decent? (I know there's a Cracker Barrel there - big plus!)

The area is nothing to write home about, you'll see a lot of commercial buildings and traffic on I-35 but the location is fine and you're so close to Ft. Sam--approx. 3 miles. Check tripadvisor.com for reviews of the hotels. And don't worry about relying on Cracker Barrel, on the other side of the base, in the Alamo Heights area, are a lot of wonderful and one of a kind restaurants.

I had already checked Trip Advisor and the reviews on the Homewood and Comfort Suites were mixed, although one did say her car was vandalized a year ago while parked at the Comfort Suites. There are no reviews of the La Quinta but as it's brand new, that's to be expected.

Right now La Quinta seems to be my best bet. Ann Marie, if you happen to drive through the area in the near future and notice something relatively close to Fort Sam that looks good, please post or write to me at [email protected] Thanks!

I have actually stayed in that LaQuinta before, and it is just fine. It's far enough away that it's not in a bad neighborhood, and it is fairly close to Ft. Sam.

Will do, Postal -- topping for anyone with more info.

Hi Postal, I sent hotel info to your account--please let me know if you didn't receive it.

THANKS, Ann Marie, I got it and am continuing my research!!!