So we're finally going at the being of next year. My Budget for the Hotel is around $300. We're just staying for two days. Any advice on where to stay?
The two hotels I would recommend are the Holiday Inn Seaword and the Fairfeld Inn Suites Seaworld. The Fairfield Inn offers free breakfast (bagels, muffins, cereal, etc.). I believe both offer free shuttle to Seaworld. Also, the Hilton San Antonio Hill Country Hotel & Spa. They have smores at night outside. Very nice hotel. They also offer free shuttle to Seaworld.
Hyatt Hill Country is awesome with its lazy river and mini beach as is Hyatt Red Oak Ranch. Also Hilton Hill Country.
Sign up for email specials because they might be over your budget otherwise.
Hyatt Wild Oak Ranch is over the highway from Sea World and it is awesome. Every room is a suite and mini kitchen/bar. WOR has an arcade, gym, family style TV building - all that over looks their huge indoor pool and outdoor pool and their 2 ridiculously HUGE waterslides. And their lazy river is awesome. There is a "beach" on one side with a bar that serves umbrella drinks for the grown ups and slushees for the little ones, and on the other side they have seating/tables and private cabanas (first come first serve) dotted along the river. They have nice landscaped grounds to walk/run/hike. There is also a kid's camp clubhouse where you can drop your kids off for art time or camp time and the parents can go off and do their own thing, as well as a nice play area. There might be one or twofamily friendly things I'm forgetting! On choice nights they have an outdoor family movie night along w/s'mores time in their outdoor fire pit. It is very family friendly. All that activity though...you might have time to enjoy them if you will only be there for 2 days, with most of it spent at SW.
Ifyou want historic, I suggest the Emily Morgan, the Crockett Hotel or the Menger Hotel across from the Alamo. The last time I stayed at the Menger, it was at least $150/night. I've stayed at all 3 and they are all very very nice. Although they are in town and you'll have a 15+ min drive to SW, it might be worth it b/c each hotel has its own place in Texas and San Antonio history.
If you are looking for something non-resort, non-historic, I've never had a problem staying at either Marriott hotels right on the Riverwalk, and thru priceline.com I've probably stayed at each for maybe $100 or less a night.
Don't stay in any hotel near the highway and Marbach (sorry for anyone who lives in that area) but I used to live near there and that place has gone down in value and safety, imo.
hth
There are plenty of areas around Sea World to stay. So, my advice is to do a Priceline auction. It hasn't failed me yet!! I always get screaming deals by doing auctions. You get to choose the area of town that you need your hotel to be in (there will be a detailed map available on the website, before you proceed with the bidding process). Book it in advance (maybe 3-4 wks) because if no one accepts your offer, you have to wait 24 hours before you can do another action (or you can change the area of town you are willing to stay in....which you won't want to do because you want to be near Sea World). Although, maybe you don't want to stay near Sea World. Have you considered staying on the River Walk to enjoy that area in the evening. I think it's only about a 20 minute drive to downtown.
If you haven't ever done a Priceline auction, you do not get to choose the hotel brand you want but you can choose the quality (2, 3, 4 stars). I have never stayed anywhere under 3 stars and, like I said, we have always gotten the nicest places for unreal prices. If you want to get an idea as to what kinds of hotels are in the area you want, what star rating they are and how much they are asking, go through Priceline's non-auction area for research purposes. I usually bid at least half of what these places are asking and go from there. If you have the time, in case bids are rejected, start pretty low.
We stayed at America's Best Value Inn a few years ago. It's not in the greatest part of town, but it was clean and quiet. It's also not far from Sea World or the River Walk. The rooms were a bit dated, but everything was clean and I saw the maids even taking the comforters to be washed (BIG PLUS!)
http://www.americasbestvalueinn.com/bestv.cfm?idp=404&...
There are 2 hotels just outside of Sea World, one is the Fairfield and the other is maybe a Courtyard by Marriott. We stayed at the Fairfield this past summer. The free shuttle to and from Sea WOrld is awesome. Saves you $20 a day in parking. The breakfast leaves a little to be desired (long wait for the waffle maker if it's crowded), but overall worth the money.
not too familiar with prices but try going during the week. should be less expensive than a weekend trip.
I stayed at the Omni hotel once when I visited. There are others also that I have stayed as we visited often, but I cannot remember. A quick online search will give you great choices and prices.
Thats a great budget. I usually go on priceline and bid for the Sea World area and look for 3 star and above. I have been able to usually get $75ish per night with free shuttle to Sea World. That saves a lot on parking.
With that much money you could go for 4 or 5 star and might even be able to get on the Riverwalk. But everything is smaller and more cramped, many hotels dont have pools at all or only indoor because realestate is so precious down there. And you wouldn't get free shuttle to sea world.
