San Antonio is a sprawling metropolis and a quaint historic town. You’ll have to navigate both aspects of this Texas city without destroying your travel budget.
When to visit
Summers tend to be very hot and quite crowded. There are also large crowds around NBA playoff time (the Spurs are perennial playoff contenders) and during the Alamo Bowl football game in late December. In April, the city organizes Fiesta (Mardi-Gras San Antonio style). Late fall and spring are great options. Winter, while sometimes too cold for a Riverwalk tour, is rarely cold and is often a good option to see the city without waiting in long lines.
Arriving here
The San Antonio International Airport is served by Southwest, which often offers very reasonable rates. The airport is located north of the city. Taxi rides between the airport and downtown generally cost less than $ 40, and up to four people can share the ride.
Move
San Antonio’s public transportation system, called Via, uses streetcars and buses. A day pass for unlimited travel is available for $ 2.75 USD / person. Unless you are coming here for a specific meeting at a location, it is probably a good idea to buy a rental car. The city serves as a major Texas crossroads for major routes, with Interstate 10 serving as the east-west link between Houston and El Paso. Interstate 35 is the north-south link between Dallas / Fort Worth and Austin north and south to the Mexican border.
Where to stay
For some visitors, the search for a San Antonio hotel room here is limited to the convention center / Riverwalk area. They often pay a premium to stay in the middle of it all. Be careful: some hotels that put “Riverwalk” in their names are not within walking distance of that area. Prices are usually lower in outlying locations. For example, if you have transportation, sometimes it is best to stay on the northwest side, 10 or more miles from downtown, but closer to the airport and attractions like Sea World and Fiesta Texas theme park.
For a four-star hotel under $ 150 a night, try the Sheraton Gunter Hotel San Antonio.
Airbnb.com offers rentals in the Riverwalk area and other key areas such as Lackland AFB and the Six Flags neighborhood. Average nightly rate comes in at just over $ 90 / night. One of the area’s top camping sites is Admiralty RV Resort, which has a five-star rating and about 240 spaces. Daily rates start at approximately $ 50, with discounts available to active duty military personnel and seniors.
Where to eat
The obvious choice for most visitors is Mexican food, and authentic dishes are available throughout the city in many price ranges. Don’t just think of Mexican here. Good sources for visiting restaurants include the San Antonio Express-News online food guide or check out our recommendations below.
Riverwalk restaurants can be pricey, catering to tourists who don’t want to venture into the city for more authentic dining experiences. If you feel like exploring, there are several good budget options just steps from the Alamo and the Convention Center. One example is Schilo’s German Deli at 424 East Commerce, where you can order their famous pea soup and sandwich for around $ 10. Be prepared to wait in line.
More lines and a good inexpensive dinner can be found at Mi Tierra, a famous Mexican restaurant in Santa Rosa and Commerce. They serve breakfast all day and are open 24 hours. It’s a bit of a warm-weather hike from the Riverwalk, so find a pocket change and pay for a Trolley ride.
Remember the alamo
You wouldn’t go to Paris without looking for the Eiffel Tower, and you can’t visit San Antonio without taking a look at the Alamo. No matter how busy your schedule is, set aside a few minutes to see this historic landmark. If you have kids in tow (and even if you don’t), it’s a good idea to watch the IMAX movie about what happened here before exploring. The movie is shown at the Rivercenter Mall, which is accessible from the Riverwalk and is just a short walk from the Alamo.
More attractions
The Alamo is San Antonio’s best-known mission, but there are many more with colorful stories for you to explore. There are generally no admission charges.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the best amusement park in the area. Do yourself a favor and print your admission tickets before heading out to the park. You will save time and money.
The San Antonio Zoo (3903 North St. Mary’s St.) has a strong national reputation, with admission prices under $ 25 / adult but free parking.
This is a city where you can skip the expenses of a guided tour. Some of the best attractions are free and access is relatively easy.
San Antonio Sidetrips
Sidetrip I: Texas Hill Country
This is the part of Texas that might not fit your preconceptions: waterfalls, forests, and hills. The area is a nice day trip, and prices are often modest for admission to state parks or the LBJ Ranch near Johnson City, about an hour north of San Antonio.
Sidetrip II: Austin
A bumper sticker proclaims “Keep Austin Weird” and it could be a struggle given the number of perfectly normal people who move here every day. Austin has a well-known film and music scene, and cheap accommodations can be found near the University of Texas campus or at several local hostels.
