San Antonio Travel Guide: Where to Stay (Part 1)

Disclosure: I received a complimentary stay at The Drury Plaza Hotel on the Riverwalk. All opinions are 100% my own. 

When I think of San Antonio, Texas, historic missions, Tex-Mex cuisine, and the Riverwalk immediately come to mind. There is something magical about "The American Venice" that draws you in and makes you never want to leave. This divine abode in the heart of the city is a winding waterway with bridges, restaurants, lush vegetation, hotels, and wildlife.  

Imagine my excitement when hubby wanted to attend a conference in Austin, Texas. I knew this meant we would have a chance to visit San Antonio for a few days! So, I hopped onto TripAdvisor and started to search for places to stay and, of course, I homed in on hotels in the heart of the city on the Riverwalk. 

After researching hotels, The Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk was tops on my list. Drury Plaza is located on the San Antonio Riverwalk and is walking distance to attractions (Alamo), restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Formerly a national bank, this historic skyscraper features 50-foot ceilings, travertine flooring, amazing architecture, and stained glass windows. Because it is a renovated bank, no two guest rooms are alike and for that matter, this hotel is unlike any other I have seen. You will even find a 1930 Ford from The Drury Family collection situated in the lobby! 

Not only is Drury Plaza rich in history, elegance, and charm, it is the best place to stay on the Riverwalk! Here's why...

CHECK-IN 
From the moment we arrived at Drury Plaza, our experience with the hotel staff was exceptional! The entire staff was accommodating, friendly and welcoming. Even when we arrived a few hours before check-in time, they held our bags so we could have lunch, and called us when our room was ready.  

AMAZING AMENITIES
Complimentary Breakfast Buffet. Whenever searching for hotels, always check the amenities that are included to make your stay more comfortable and enjoyable. Drury Plaza's hotel rate includes an expansive complimentary breakfast buffet.  

Complimentary Kick-back Happy Hour. Oh my goodness! Hubby and I were planning to have dinner on the Riverwalk the evening we were there, but when we stopped for what we thought would be a light appetizer and a drink or two, we ended up skipping dinner. Earlier in the day, we had a filling lunch on the Riverwalk and by 5:30pm, the hefty hors-d'oeuvres were more than plentiful and the quality of the food was a pleasant surprise. The Kick-back menu consisted of a creamy pesto pasta, Asian salad with fixings, chicken tenders, hot dogs, nachos, fresh fruit, and more. There was also a baked potato bar with all the fixings. 

Along with the Kick-back hors-d'oeuvres, hotel guests receive three tickets for alcoholic beverages. There are two bars open on each side of the second-floor seating area. Hubby and I came during the height of the Kick-back Happy Hour and since the line was longer for mixed drinks, we opted to wait in the shorter line for beer & wine only. I'm not a beer connoisseur by any means but hubby and I both enjoyed the local Freetail craft beer. It was a light-bodied beer that tasted delicious and smooth. I'll admit I was perfectly satisfied with my beverage choice until I saw the colorful frou-frou drinks. Ooooh...I wanted a pretty mixed drink, but I never mix my alcohol. {winky face}

And if all the food and beverages above are not enough, don't miss free soft drinks and popcorn on the second floor from 3:00-10:00 p.m.!

Complimentary Wi-Fi. In today's high-tech world, it is hard to believe that some hotels still charge for internet usage. Fortunately, Drury Plaza provides free Wi-Fi and make it easily accessible for their guests. Great Wi-Fi signal/speed, too!

      

Rooftop Pool. The rooftop pool has two hot tubs, a full-sized swimming pool, and spectacular views. Even if you don't plan on swimming or sunning, you should still make it a point to stop by and take in the panoramic view of the city! 

If it is raining or chilly outside, there is also a nice indoor pool located in a separate tower of the building.

GUEST ROOM

We were given a beautiful corner room on the 20th floor with spectacular views of both the north and east downtown skyline. It was a spacious suite with plenty of pillows, a super comfy bed, and meticulously clean! See the video below for a quick walk-through of our room.

This photo was taken from our room just before sunset.

More stunning views from our room.

A video tour of our guest suite.

ACCESS TO THE RIVERWALK

Once you have settled in, there's another sweet surprise on the lower level of the Drury Plaza Hotel. From the hotel lobby, take the winding staircase (or elevators) to the ground level and make a left. This will take you to a set of doors that are the hotel's private gateway to the Riverwalk. 

During our stay, the Fiesta was in full swing and we had the wonderful opportunity to see a Fiesta parade on the Riverwalk! The hotel reserved several seats for their guests and we sat and watched the parade on the River. The parade seemed to go on for hours and since it had been a long day, we left early and retreated back to our comfortable hotel room. Looking down from our hotel room, I could see the beautiful twinkling lights from the floats on the River. Both the parade and skyline view looked so pretty at night. {smile} 

Note: You will need your hotel room keycard to get back inside the hotel from the Riverwalk entrance.

LOCATION

You know the saying...Location. Location. Location. Drury Plaza Hotel is located right in the heart of downtown and within walking distance to many attractions such as The Alamo, the historical San Fernando Cathedral, the Riverwalk restaurants, and more.   

Travel Tip: Use booking engines like TripAdvisor to see what's available at the properties you're interested in, and then visit the hotel's Web site to compare hotel rates. Factor in review ratings, amenities, rates, and location. At the time of this publication, Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk is rated #8 of 358 hotels in San Antonio.

SUMMARY
If you are planning a trip to San Antonio, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND The Drury Plaza Hotel Riverwalk. The location could not be more ideal, the Riverwalk is beautiful, and it feels like a tropical getaway at times. The staff is super-friendly and eager to accommodate their guests. The elegance of this stately establishment, its lovely rooms, and all of the amazing amenities make The Drury Plaza Hotel the best place to stay on the Riverwalk. 

So, what are you waiting for? Call Drury Plaza Hotel at (210) 222-8863 or book online at DruryHotels.com! You will LOVE IT! 

   xoxo,