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Hit the waves in Waco + 9 more Texas travel destinations for May

The summer season at Waco Surf begins May 10.

Photo courtesy of Waco Surf

Summer is nearly upon us, and now is the time to plan those getaways before the heat gets too overwhelming. We've got some brilliant ideas for May, from a Hill Country winery and brewery tour to a pirate-themed festival on the Gulf Coast. If hitting the road seems a bit much, there are ways to kick back in Dallas including checking into two hotels that have just won awards.

Here is our big monthly roundup of top travel tips around the state:

Throughout Texas

Great Wolf Lodge – which has two parks in Dallas and Houston – is taking "It's Gonna be May" to the next level by partnering with *NSYNC members Lance Bass and Joey Fatone for the resort's Summer Camp-In celebration from May 24 through August 25. Special programming will include campfire sing-a-longs, family trivia, and more. For one day only on May 1, guests can save up to 51 percent on their upcoming stays using promo code "BEMAY". Pricing varies by date at each location.

Lance Bass and Joey Fatone at Great Wolf Lodge There are two types of people: Those that want to relax at Great Wolf Lodge, and those that want to float on the lazy river for hours.Photo by Mark Ashman

Waco

North Texans that want to catch a wave this summer will get their chance starting May 10, when Waco Surf's water park opens for its 2025 season. This popular water park boasts a surf lagoon spanning two and a half acres, new mini slides for young swimmers, and new dining options at its three on-site eateries. Water Park day passes start at $39 for adults and are $14 for children, or $99 for a family with two children from 6-16 years old. Surf session pricing varies by date and skill level.

Houston

Houston's chic Hotel Saint Augustine has been raking in award after award over the last month. It was the only Texas hotel to earn acclaim on Esquire's list of the Best New Hotels in the World 2025, and most recently landed on Travel + Leisure's list of the 100 Best New Hotels of the Year. Both national publications noted the hotel's historical details and its sophisticated-yet-approachable feel. Room rates begin at $429 per night.

Gulf Coast

Pirates and buccaneers in Corpus Christi are getting ready to celebrate the Buc Days Festival from May 1-11. The extravaganza will be full of family-friendly activities like the Stripes Carnival, parades, vendor market, a robotics rodeo, and a barbecue competition. Rodeo Corpus Christi will also take place from May 6-10. Single-day gate entry admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, and tickets for the rodeo and concert series can be purchased via Ticketmaster.

Austin

The downtown-based W Austin hotel has finally completed its $40 million renovation, and has unveiled its upgraded premium penthouse suites – the largest in the city. The Penthouse I spans nearly 1,800 square feet and includes two bedrooms with king-sized beds, plus two marble-accented bathrooms with a large tub, where guests can enjoy a bubble bath while soaking up the views of Lady Bird Lake. Curious and cash-flush visitors can now book stays starting at $1,800 per night.

W Austin Penthouse suite W Austin features a 1,798-square-foot penthouse suite, the largest in the city. Photo courtesy of W Austin

The Loren Hotel is offering travelers a sweet deal on its most luxurious accommodations with its new "Spring Suite Room" package for two-night stays. Guests that use the code "SPRINGSUITE" will receive a bottle of chilled sparkling rosé and Matok Bakery treats in their room upon arrival, as well as a chef-prepared picnic. Guests will also have access to premium e-bikes to explore downtown, and a 2025 Lexus convertible to take on a drive through the Hill Country. Nightly rates for the package begin at $453 in May.

San Antonio

The historic Hotel Emma was just named one of the top 10 best hotels in the U.S. in Tripadvisor's annual Travelers' Choice Awards. Tripadvisor praised the hotel's "unique blend of history and luxury," and gave nods to its numerous nearby dining and shopping options at Pearl. Room rates start at $447 per night.

The Hill Country

Charleston Taylor Estate Winery and Black Chapel Brewing Co. will celebrate their grand opening on May 3 in Johnson City, about 240 miles from Dallas. Both venues are located on the same estate at 6212 W. U.S. Highway 290. The winery will host haunted tours, tasting events, and workshops, while the brewery will have an indoor taproom with games and big screens, outdoor seating, and offer access to the rest of the 30-acre property.

The new winery will host cooking classes to pair with its Cabernet wines. Photo courtesy of Charleston Taylor Estate Winery

Dallas-Fort Worth

The award-winning Bowie House hotel in Fort Worth is amping up for pool season with weekday access pool passes and a "Day Escape" package that includes access to the pool terrace, Whinny's poolside restaurant, and a spa treatment at Ash Spa. Pool passes are $75 per person, and prices for the Day Escape package vary. Both experiences are open to the public Monday-Thursday with complimentary valet. Reservations can be made by calling Ash Spa.

Two DFW hotels were recently lauded among Travel + Leisure's list of the "Top 500 Hotels in the World." The Omni PGA Frisco Resort and Hotel Drover in Fort Worth were selected for the 2025 list based on their recognition in the 2024 World's Best Awards, chosen by T+L readers in a worldwide survey. Rates at the Omni PGA begin at $454 per night in May, and $391 per night at the Hotel Drover.

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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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