Texas getaways

6 best Hill Country and San Antonio hotels for a sophisticated getaway

The new Monarch Hotel has opened near the iconic Hemisfair.

Photo courtesy of Monarch Hotel website

The San Antonio area is buzzing with a number of freshly renovated hotels and brand-new accommodations that are beckoning for a weekend getaway. Head south just four hours from Dallas and settle into a romantic Hill Country retreat or check into a hip stay in the heart of Alamo City.

From romantic Hill Country havens to buzzy downtown hotels that have just opened their doors, here are our top picks for a chic San Antonio stay this fall.

The Gunter Hotel
This downtown San Antonio hotel’s multimillion-dollar renovation wasn’t just about adding fancy new furniture; it was about honoring the property’s storied history. Inspired by Robert Johnson's history-making stay in Room 414, the Gunter serves as a love letter to San Antonio’s music heritage. Add elegant rooms and suites, refined American fare at Jots, the city’s first Paris Baguette location, and a street-level speakeasy, and you've got more than enough excuses to book a stay.

The Monarch Hotel
A new kid on the block, this Hemisfair hotel takes flight from the second you step into the lobby. But the snazzy design is second to the dining. Grab a morning pastry at the Nectarie Café, splurge on steaks at Oak & Amber, then have after-dinner drinks underneath the butterfly wing eaves of Alateo. Theme continues outdoors with the property’s La Mariposa sculpture — the perfect backdrop for a vacation selfie.

The InterContinental Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
This underrated property scores high marks with those who seek the buzz of the city core. Located within walking distance of multiple popular restaurants and bars, the hotel itself also has a dining standout with Cavalier, offering a globally-inspired menu of coq au vin, picanha, short rib, lamb shank, and more. The social set will want to check out its frequent wellness events and movie nights and pony up for a suite with access to the posh Club InterContinental.

The Ranch Motel
During the day, this Broadway spot’s pool is home base for the see-and-be-seen crowd, with snacks served by some of Alamo City’s hottest pop-ups. After the sun sets, it feels even more exclusive thanks to a dimly lit upstairs mezcal lounge and showers stocked with Le Labo products.

Schedule a couple's massage at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Villas.Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Villas/ Facebook

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Villas
This Hill Country retreat is located near SeaWorld San Antonio, but don’t waste a minute finding Nemo. Instead, head to the crystal lagoon for some splashy fun, get a massage at the spa, and share some charcuterie at Antlers Lodge. After a full day, sink into the bed outfitted with luxurious linens — part of a massive $100 million renovation.

JW Marriott Hill Country Resort
This secluded hideaway near Stone Oak sprawls out on 600 acres. Every type of weekend warrior will find something to explore — from multiple restaurants for foodies to a 9-acre waterpark for adventurers and a 36-hole golf course. Later in the year, snuggle up and enjoy some frosty holiday activations.

where to stay hotels resorts hill country travel san antonio

Pack Your Patience

DFW declared No. 2 worst airport for flight delays and cancellations

Photo by Izyan Sultanali on Unsplash

DFW International also ranks as the second-worst airport for flight disruptions over the holiday travel season.

Ahead of the busy holiday season, North Texans should budget extra time into their travel plans before flying out of the metro's bustling Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

DFW was just declared the No. 2 worst airport in the nation for flight disruptions by consumer review platform ConsumerAffairs, which analyzed the rates of moderate and severe delays, diversions, and cancellations at the 29 biggest U.S. airports. DFW also appeared as the No. 2 worst airport where holiday travel causes the biggest disruptions.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia led the nation as the No. 1 worst airport overall — the only airport deemed more disruptive than DFW.

Unlike many other airports on the list that experience high cancellation rates, the report revealed DFW's biggest issue is its high volume of flight delays. DFW has the No. 1 highest moderate delay rate out of all the airports examined, with more than a quarter of all flights (25.18 percent) delayed by 15 minutes and up to three hours.

"It’s the kind of delay that eats into your day without necessarily blowing up your whole trip," the report's author wrote.

Nearly two percent of all flights are delayed over three hours, making DFW the fifth worst airport for severe delays. However, the study says there is a silver lining for travelers saddled with severe disruptions.

"DFW offered more scheduled backup flights to the same destination than many of the other airports on this list, giving travelers a decent shot at rebooking if a flight fell through," the report said.

These are the cancellation and diversion rates at DFW, per the report:

Cancellation rate: 2.31 percent
Diversion rate: 0.29 percent
Average same-day flights to the same destination: 3.95
Cancellations that were the last flight of the day to that destination: 24.88 percent

Flying at DFW will be even more stressful during the holidays, as 30 percent of flights will suffer from disruptions during the Thanksgiving and winter holiday travel periods — starting the Tuesday before Thanksgiving through the Monday after, and again from December 18 to January 5.

DFW has the eighth highest holiday disruption rate out of the biggest airports, and the fifth highest holiday severe delay rate. Put some padding on your itinerary, because about 2.5 percent of all flights will be delayed more than three hours during the holidays.

In ConsumerAffairs' separate list of the worst medium-sized airports, Dallas Love Field landed as the 15th worst out of 32 U.S. airports. About 22 percent of all flights at DAL experience moderate delays — the No. 1 highest rate in this category — and 1.07 percent are severely delayed.

Additionally, over 26 percent of all DAL flights will be disrupted during the holiday travel season, and two percent of flights will experience severe delays.

The top 10 worst U.S. airports for delays and cancellations are:

No. 1 – Ronald Reagan Washington National
No. 2 – Dallas Fort Worth International
No. 3 – Newark Liberty International
No. 4 – Miami International
No. 5 – Philadelphia International
No. 6 – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
No. 7 – LaGuardia
No. 8 – Tampa International
No. 9 – Washington Dulles International
No. 10 – George Bush Intercontinental

Surprisingly, Los Angeles International Airport landed as the best major U.S. airport for avoiding travel disruptions. Phoenix Sky Harbor International (No. 2) and Seattle-Tacoma International (No. 3) round out the top three best airports for on-time travel.

The report offers the following suggestions to help anxious travelers avoid flight disruptions: look into travel insurance to protect against delays or cancellations; look for nonstop flights; or book flights with earlier departure times on an airline with multiple departures to your destination.

For flights that do get delayed or cancelled, travelers need to "act fast" to rectify their situation, says Jennifer Rykaczewski, the CEO of nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Affordable Skies.

"In the first 10 minutes, open the airline app, see whether you have already been rebooked and search for acceptable alternatives," Rykaczewski said. "Throughout the process, save any documentation of the delay or cancellation, plus receipts for meals or hotels, in case you need it for an insurance claim later."

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