Trip planning - San Antonio

[texline]

We are putting together a trip to San Antonio at the end of April. My wife didn’t want to get in just before dawn (coming eastbound) so to make the time work a bit better, we will fly one segment and arrive via American Airlines. She wants to do the river walk so we narrowed down three hotels on the river. We are still going through the what do we want to see list.

The Texas Eagle bedroom was less than the Sunset Limited, last time it was the opposite. No issues with connecting to the Starlight or anything. I had to call the agent as the website had some problems, keep throwing error messages, and the agent took care of it.

So my questions are: What is the best way between the airport and downtown. The hotels don’t offer shuttles and they just say to call a Taxi. Got to be a better way.

Never been to the Amtrak station there. Train leaves at 2:45 am. They have a good waiting room? It looks close to downtown on the map, is it?

Any good museums with trains?

Thanks in advance!

Tim

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[Devil's Advocate]

What is the best way between the airport and downtown. The hotels dont offer shuttles and they just say to call a Taxi. Got to be a better way.

In my view the best option is probably Lyft or Uber. You'll have to walk a bit farther (to the right) and in the opposite direction of the taxi line (to the left) but our airport isn't that big so it shouldn't be that bad unless you're physically disabled. There is also a bus stop somewhere on the airport property, but so far as I'm aware it's a conventional commuter bus setup for airport employees rather than a shuttle bus setup for tourists with luggage.

Never been to the Amtrak station there. Train leaves at 2:45 am. They have a good waiting room?

It's a waiting room and not much else. The outside looks fine but the inside looks like a bus station. They have a security guard and vending machines and a television with news or infomercials. The toilets were filthy and disgusting the one time I tried to use them. So far as I can tell the station appears to receive very little in the way of routine cleaning and maintenance.

It looks close to downtown on the map, is it? Any good museums with trains?

The station is near downtown and many hotels are reachable on foot as well as the Alamo and Riverwalk. There's a Texas Transportation Museum but it's not downtown and probably not reachable without a car. There is also an old Southern Pacific steam locomotive permanently parked on the remnants of third house track at the Northern end of the covered walkway. Any other questions feel free to ask!

 

[texline]

DA thank you. Any suggestion on touristy things to do are welcome. My wife just wanted to do the Riverwalk and the Alamo which prompted this trip. Texas tourism sent a long list of things to do. The hop on hop off bus seemed like a good idea. The boat tour is a given. I have this “I hope we don’t miss something great” thing at the moment.

What’s the weather like in beginning of May?

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[Lonestar648]

I really enjoyed the Mission trail of all the old missions along the San Antonio River. On a nice day, we enjoyed the Tower Observation Deck. Definetly see the Alamo, but take a moment to see where the actual outer wall of the mission was to understand the size and how the Alamo was only the Church. The hop on and off buses are good because you tour at your own pace, but buses can get full at certain times so a driver may asked you to wait until the next bus.

The Station is next to the Alamo Dome where the tracks run b hind the dome. The station is located north side of the dome. The station waiting area like DA said is very poor and do NOT use the bathrooms. Many people just stand outside. If the SL is on time from NOL it should be in the station by midnight, but before passengers can board, the switching of the 421 cars to the rear 1 must take place. You will need to decide where you want to hang out, whether you stay at the hotel and taxi over (that's what I have done) once you know for sure the SL has arrived on time.

Besides taxi, I think my son used a shuttle service that served basically downtown hotels. Something similar to Supershuttle.

Have a great trip. Let us know what other questions you may have.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

[SIZE=11pt]The Riverwalk, the Alamo, and Mission Trail are the big ones. There's also the San Fernando Cathedral on the way to El Mercado. There's the San Antonio Museum of Art on the way to the Pearl District or Brackenridge Park. There are some interesting restaurants along Broadway. We have some theme parks and golf courses if that's your thing. The McNay Art Museum would go well with a meal in Alamo Heights. Or you could combine a visit to Brackenridge with a miniature train ride and a restaurant on Broadway. Normally I'd suggest taking in a Spurs basketball game but half our starters are on injury leave and it's unlikely we'll be playing any more games by the time you arrive. May is generally hot and muggy.[/SIZE]

 

[ehbowen]

If you need restrooms while waiting at SAS, there's a 24 hour Denny's not too far away to walk. Just don't wait 'til the last second!

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[OlympianHiawatha]

The SAS station waiting room is nothing short of a hybrid between a disaster area and a homeless shelter. Avoid it at all costs. As someone previously mentioned, there is a Denny's close by. For that matter the Riverwalk area is a very easy walk to/from the station. If they still offer it, grab a day Water Taxi pass and enjoy the canals that way.

 

[bratkinson]

I forgot the name of the hotel where the crews stay at SAS. It's in sight of the station, about 2 very short blocks away. I stayed there a couple of years ago and had no problem with a late arrival nor leaving the next morning to CHI at 7 AM or so.

Given that you're flying one way and train the other, I'd suggest you take the train to SAS arriving in the pre-dawn hours (if it's on time), stay at the hotel as long as desired, then fly home. As a senior citizen, I'm leery of walking alone with luggage after 9PM or so. So I simply waited for the train crew to head that way and followed them.

 

[Lonestar648]

The crew stays at the Staybridge, walking distance, 5 minutes. Another block further is the Best Western on Commerce Street. Across the tracks on Commerce is a HI Express. On the station side of the Interstate, the hotels are in the 100's, but on the city side going towards the Riverwalk, the hotels are 200's, 300's and up depending on the season.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I recommend the following in this order: the afore mentioned Best Western and the Holiday Inn by the Station on Commerce, have stayed in both for under $100 a night.

On the way to the Riverwalk on Commerce by Dennys on your right,there is a Hi Rise La Quinta, but is over $100 Most nights but very nice.

For a lower price, a couple of blocks North of the Station on the Station side of I37,the Airport Expressway,there is a Red Roof Inn which is also under $100 and very acceptable.

Use one of the many travel sites to find the best deal and info. I like Kayak,Trip Advisor and Trivago best for this.

 

[texline]

Thank you all for great information! We will finish up the reservations today. We are looking forward to San Antonio.

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[AlamoWye]

These bus routes are a great way to see almost all of the city. For $2.75 you can see an enormous amount of San Antonio's attractions. No worries about parking or traffic or the crazy street patterns from the days of the Spaniards.

http://www.viainfo.net/viva-routes/

Just to let you know in case you are unaware. From April 19 - 29 San Antonio has its HUGE festival (San Antonio Fiesta). Everything is packed and this year more than most since the City is celebrating its 300th anniversary.

 

[Lonestar648]

During Fiesta I found streets closed, plus several parades that people camped out days in advance to watch.