A Guide to a Weekend Trip and Budget-Friendly Hotels in San Antonio
San Antonio is one of the most popular destinations for weekend getaways. Every year I head to this city for a blissful experience with my friends and family.
Since it’s the COVID situation right now, I did not want to take anyone along with me and went on a solo trip to San Antonio. My weekend trip to San Antonio included a lot of eating, walking, and visiting local spots and I followed my ritual of visiting the most sought-after attractions. My favorites being The River Walk, Missions National Park, the Alamo, and SeaWorld and I don’t get enough of these places!
Places that I love to visit the most
Since San Antonio is a walkable city, I manage to cover all major city highlights just over the weekend. My first-day itinerary included a visit to the popular San Antonio RiverWalk and San Antonio Mission.
At San Antonio RiverWalk I have actually seen thousands of people walking in my earlier trips, but the things were different this time. This walkway along the San Antonio River provided me a mesmerizing experience as they weren’t crowded at all.
The San Antonio River is a very relaxing and beautiful place to visit at any time of year. The River is very long and goes through many different areas of the city. My favorite part of the River is the main area, the RiverWalk in downtown San Antonio where there are nanny bars and restaurants and just to sit, relax, and enjoy its beauty.
The next spot that I covered was the Alamo. The Alamo is a Spanish Mission where the Texan independence battle of 1836 was fought. The Alamo tour not only covers the Battle of the Alamo, but it also enlightens about the history of Texas and San Antonio. In case you are a history buff like me, don’t miss visiting this place.
Next up on my San Antonio weekend itinerary was the Main Plaza and Market Street. I’m always charmed by how the historic market street is home to innumerable shops and restaurants. To me, it is always a fun dose, especially live entertainment on weekends. San Antonio Mission, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of my personal favorites. Also, being an art aficionado, I try not to miss Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum, Witte Museum Tower of the Americas, and Cathedral of San Fernando are some of the other popular museums in San Antonio.
The San Antonio River is a beautiful spot to go for a bike ride and a walk. As I am an ardent cyclist, I hired a bike to explore the Mission Trails as well. I always do this when I travel with my friends, so thought of trying the solo thing this time. You can bike to some of the missions, the Riverwalk and other areas along the River Walk Trail that is along the River.
Where to stay…
There are a number of budget-friendly hotels by OYO that I have explored during my last visits. Some of the wallet-friendly accommodation options I have enjoyed are La Quinta Inn & Suites, OYO Hotel San Antonio RiverWalk, Best Western Alamo Suites, and Residence Inn San Antonio Downtown/Alamo Plaza. Staff at OYO Hotels in San Antonio RiverWalk continue to provide a welcoming spot that remains consistent and is close to all. Beds are comfortable. The rooms are quiet, and the TV’s are big. Here, I always feel a home away from home and my stay is always very nice and comfortable.
Ways to save…
In my opinion, the biggest cost of a trip is traveling and hotels. So I like to plan the trip in advance just so that I have shortlisted some budget accommodations. I look for hotels on booking platforms like booking.com, OYO, and Tripadvisor.
This time I didn’t have enough time to plan yet I happily relied on OYO. My previous experiences were so great that I didn’t think twice. I combined the website deals and cashback from last time and booked my stay at OYO Hotel San Antonio RiverWalk. The expense of my entire stay always felt value for money – and this was much better than I ever thought. A good all-rounder hotel for my money plus spotlessly clean rooms here which are crucial during these times.
Overall, my stay at the hotel and peaceful experiences in San Antonio was a great way to unwind and break away from the monotony of daily routine.
