Visiting your student: Hotel and other recommendations by corpsman moms for the San Antonio area; directions and a map of Ft. Sam Houston

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Headed to San Antonio for a visit or to graduation?  I've compiled these recommendations from moms' postings; click the links to view.

pdf:  HM "A" School Hotel Recommendations (San Antonio area)

pdf:  Map of Fort Sam Houston

Directions to Fort Sam Houston:  Directions to Ft Sam Houston/Walters Gate

Link to IHG Army Hotels Sam Houston House & Foulois House (Bldg B-48 & B-107).  Bobbi H adds that "building 1384 is closest to the their barracks" and this link has more options:    http://www.ihg.com/armyhotels/hotels/us/en/reservation

Open the pdf above to read recommendations that have been made in our group since A School move to FSH in 2011.  After your visit, please add your recommendations below!  If you have a question, post in the Comments page on the HM A School home page and then add whatever you learn here, so this Discussion stays on-topic and easy for others to browse though - thanks!   :)

Car rental:  if you bank with USAA you can get discounts on car rentals.  Log in, go to "Our Products" then to "Travel Deals" (it's under "Shopping and Discounts" on the right side of the page).  Read the deals and click on one of the car rental companies to book.  FYI, sailors who are under 25 can get the underage fees waived by doing this too.

[johnr]

thank for the information planning going out to vist

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

It would be great if those who visit San Antonio would add sightseeing and area activities to this list too :)

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

From ProudTexasSailorMom on 7/26/13:   I can tell you about a couple of my favorite restaurants in San Antonio.  Mi Teirra's is a huge mexican restaurant a few blocks from the River Walk.  It has a Mexican Bakery in the front, great food & beverages.  It's moderately priced and opened 24 hrs. a day.  Budro's on the River Walk has a variety of foods, specializing in Texas & Southwest dishes (burgers, steaks, seafood).  They are famous for their homemade guacamole that they actually make right at your table (YUMMY!!). They are pretty pricey but certainly worth it.  Both have websites with menus so you might be able to check prices.  There are a ton of walk up places to eat along the River Walk that are delicious too.  Have fun and don't forget the Alamo - lol

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

From Nick's Mom from RI on 7/26/13:   I just stayed on base at Powless Guest House! Was perfect, close to everything, had a kitchenette, free breakfast for $87 a night! Log onto ING Army hotels to make a reservation.   I'm a navy mom too so you are able to book it, it's unofficial business that you check when making the reservation or call. I had a very recently renovated room, was very clean! Bfast was eggs, bacon, muffins, all kinds if toast, waffle maker, yogurt, etc. I had a rental car and they have free parking! It's on the small base where the medical center is, like 1 mile from mail post! Was very easy and VERY reasonable! I was suppose to have a 2 queen bed suite with kitchenette but a wounded warriors family needed the extra bed do I agreed to change it to a one bed suite, no big deal! I did Priceline for my rental car and got it for $25 a day via Avis.  

we ate both nights on the Riverwalk - cool place to see and eat! We ate at Lone Star Cafe - very reasonable, steaks were great. We also ate at Saltgrass Steak House, superb steaks and grilled chicken, melted in your mouth And warm homemade bread! Little more $ but so worth it! There are tons of places to eat up and down Riverwalk!

[AmyBeth1991]

Thank you for the info about the Powless House. I was just able to get one of the last two rooms for our son's graduation in May. 

[Britt<3Corpsman Wife]

I miss Mi Tierra:-( that was one of our favorite places to eat when we lived there. Great atmosphere!!! It really shows the authenticity of San Antonio!

I really wish there was a billet in SA because we would be taking it! We loved it there!

[Marty]

Last weekend we stayed at the SpringHill Marriott. It was good. The room was small compared to other Marriott's I have stayed in, but it was very clean. If I go there again, I'll ask for better pillows. The best things: very good bufftet breakfast with several warm dishes; the rooms was very quiet - amazing considering it's on a main streets; the outdoor pool was very nice.

All the hotels in the downtown will charge about $20.00 a day for valet parking. But you can come and go as often as you want.

We ate on the riverwalk at Luciano's - it was outstanding. We also took the river cruise after dark. It was lovely and a good bargain. Remember to ask for military discounts for your sailor- most places have them.

AT thanksgiving we are trying the Hyatt.

[Kat72]

What company was the river walk after dark cruise?  I think I would like to do a dinner cruise or something but not sure which company to check into or book.

[Marty]

On sight seeing: North of the city center, about 20 miles, you get into the hill country - very pretty. We drove up to but did not have time to visit Guadeloupe river State Park. We'll go there next time, and also continue on another 40 miles to the LBJ ranch. My sister tells me its well worth the visit. As for the Fort itself, the museum were closed by the time we figured out how to get on the base (ie which gate to go through). Hopefully next time we will also visit the medical museum which was recommended elsewhere on this site. Also on my list in the downtown area is  the cathedral that dates from the late 1700s, amazing; and a longer walk through the Villita district (sp?).

[Britt<3Corpsman Wife]

Marty- I lived in SA for about 7 months and there is so much to do there were probably didn't see half of it. And we got out of the house every weekend to do something. If you are e planning on being in SA for Thanksgiving, I believe they do the Christmas lights lighting on the riverwalk and a parade that Friday night. It might be with googling.

We were going to go last year. I had cooked thanksgiving dinner for about 20 sailors and airmen so I was too exhausted to go!

[MorningGlory]

I second ProudTexasSailorMom's recommendation for Mi Tierra. We went there when my daughter graduated and loved every minute of it! I'll try to post a picture. It's in San Antonio's historic Market Square which is so much fun all on its own!

[Britt<3Corpsman Wife]

And one of the rooms you can eat in. They are over the top decorated. They even have mariachis that come around and offer to play for you.

We stopped in San Antonio during our road trip. Our hotel just happened to be across the street from Mi Tierra.