How many people have visited San Antonio, Texas? It’s not usually one of the top cities mentioned when lists of popular American tourist destinations are compiled. But the fact is that San Antonio has much to offer, from history, to entertainment, to breweries and beyond. Central to the San Antonio entertainment scene is the River Walk in downtown and one of the best places of lodging next to this famed walkway is Hotel Valencia, a boutique hotel that just completed a $10 million dollar renovation.
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Location, Location, Location
Hotel Valencia is located at 150 E. Houston Street in Downtown San Antonio. The hotel is situated right on the banks of the San Antonio River Walk, with direct access to the walkway that has helped make San Antonio famous. With 213 rooms, Hotel Valencia is a nice size hotel with amenities that include a courtyard, fitness room, meeting space, restaurant, bar, and more. The boutique look and feel in the rooms is obvious and it’s a great choice for those who want a hotel that exceeds the ordinary without costing an arm and a leg.
The attractiveness of the Hotel Valencia property makes it a popular choice for weddings, too, and the hotel even sells special wedding packages. Some may choose to get married on the River Walk itself, while others may choose to set up a wedding in the hotel’s own courtyard. It’s just one of the many extras you get when you stay at this hotel, and the location is tough to beat.
Food and Drink
Comfortable rooms, efficient check in, and other services are important for any hotel, but one of the top considerations when I rank a hotel is the food and drink. At Hotel Valencia, guests are treated to an on- site restaurant, Dorrego’s, which happens to be the only Argentinian- inspired eatery in San Antonio. They serve all of the main meals of the day and offer complimentary continental breakfast for all paid guests. We liked the breakfast, because not only is the food excellent, it is also super convenient. You just walk up to the bar, help yourself to the food, then make your way to an inside table or to the outdoor patio. And the dinners are truly memorable. One of my kids ordered the Smoked Short Rib Ravioli and found it out of this world, not to mention quite filling.
With beverages, Hotel Valencia guests are covered with a full service bar and specialty cocktails. I am happy to report that they also serve a nice selection of craft beer, with an emphasis on local brew. I noticed taps for Freetail Brewing, Southleigh Brewing, Busted Sandal Brewing, and others, including a few nationally known brands to round things out. I’m always happy when I get the chance to sample some local brew and I made sure to grab a pint of beer from Busted Sandal Brewing and Southleigh Brewing before my stay was through.
Pack your Bags, Start Walking
Hotel Valencia is a very cool hotel and the recent renovations have made a good thing that much better. I have stayed at this property in the past and remember liking the experience, so when I heard that they sunk another $10 million into the property, I was highly motivated to visit again. It was already nice before, so I was anxious to discover what they did to move the hotel to an even higher level.
I noticed many changes when I stayed at Hotel Valencia and I could easily see how they put the renovations to use. Most obvious to me are the changes to the restaurant and bar. Of course, these are things I tend to notice more than anything when I visit a hotel, but they really make a noticeable difference here. The restaurant and bar still maintain their elegance, like before, but there is a more relaxed, less stuffy look and feel. In other words, the first- class atmosphere is still in place, but with less pretention and more approachability than in the past.
Hotel Valencia’s location is easily one of the top reasons to visit this place of lodging. If you are familiar at all with the San Antonio River Walk, then you know that it is shaped like a horseshoe and some sections can get extremely crowded, and quite loud. The cool thing about Hotel Valencia is that you are on the River Walk, yes, but you’re situated on the northwest edge. This means you still get the easy access to the walk way but you’re away from the crowds, noise, and other excesses. This is perfect for those who love the River Walk, but also value peace and quiet.
Rooms at the Hotel Valencia are comfortable and luxurious and a quick glance around the inside of each room confirms the “boutique” status. Marble bathrooms, stainless steel vanity sinks, complementary bath robes, plantation shutters, 300 thread count Egyptian linens, and other features surround you and let you know that this is no ordinary hotel room. The beds are extremely comfortable and once you fall asleep, you may not want to get up. But you need to get moving- you wouldn’t want to miss the non- stop action on the River Walk, the nearby museums, bars, and restaurants, and the other attractions in this historic city.
Hotel Valencia San Antonio River Walk is an excellent place of lodging with one of the best locations in the city. They have certainly put the $10 million to good use and improved what was already a lovely place of lodging, taking it to new heights. The hotel is only 10 miles from the San Antonio Airport, so it’s easy for travelers to get to and from here. And its direct access to the River Walk makes it ideal for those who can’t get enough of San Antonio and its most popular attraction.
With comfort, amenities, food, and drink, Hotel Valencia is a great place to stay in this great historic city. The Alamo and other downtown attractions are only a short walk away and entertainment is all around you. It’s one of San Antonio’s best hotels, and I’m glad I took the time to rediscover this downtown lodging landmark.
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