The 11 Best Luxury Hotels in San Antonio

Above Pearl and Travis Park: Downtown, the pools are mostly up on the roof. Hotel Emma San Antonio has its rooftop pool by the River Walk, with a clay-tiled deck and cabanas, open from 7 am to 10 pm; snacks and frozen cocktails come from Poolside Provisions, a converted 1960s Pearl beer truck. At The St. Anthony San Antonio you swim in the open air on the sixth floor, with city views and cabanas by the water.The St. Anthony San Antonio · DowntownHeated, all year: At the Kimpton Santo San Antonio the heated rooftop pool with private cabanas sits right next to the Tenfold bar, and the Grand Hyatt San Antonio heats its rooftop pool year-round. At the Thompson San Antonio, the fourth-floor Cenote pool deck opens up with cabanas, lounge areas and its own bar.

In the Hill Country: For families, the water is often the reason to book a 5-star hotel in San Antonio outside town. At the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort, the lagoon is joined by a water park with the Ramblin' River lazy river, a tower slide and the FlowRider, a heated surf wave that runs all year. The Signia by Hilton La Cantera San Antonio has five heated pools with cabanas, with the Primero Cantina beside one of them.

Water park and quiet: At the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort, the River Bluff Water Experience covers about nine acres, with a 1,100-foot lazy river, waterslides, a kids' pool and a sandy beach. If you are after calm, there is an adults-only pool with a hot tub.

In town: Beyond its treatment rooms, the Hiatus Spa + Retreat at Hotel Emma San Antonio has a hydrotherapy room with a Vichy shower, a relaxation room and a nail room with zero-gravity chairs; the signature massages Emma No. 1 to 3 (60 to 120 minutes) are also available in your room. The Thompson Spa at the Thompson San Antonio has five treatment rooms, a sauna and a steam room across 5,000 square feet.Thompson San Antonio · DowntownIn the Hill Country: The Windflower spa at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort works with native Hill Country ingredients; its garden holds a lagoon-style spa pool heated year-round, a koi pond and daybed swings, plus a whirlpool, a eucalyptus steam room and a sauna. At the Signia by Hilton La Cantera San Antonio, the Loma de Vida Spa sits on a rise that is among the highest points in San Antonio: with Sky Loft suites for outdoor treatments, treehouse suites, saline pools and yoga.

For a full spa day: The Lantana Spa at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort has its own building, with 30 treatment rooms, a sauna, a private spa pool in the courtyard and the Replenish Spa Bistro for a light lunch.

Rates start at 122 € at The St. Anthony San Antonio and go up to 425 € at Hotel Emma San Antonio. On the River Walk you stay at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk from 193 € and at the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk from 208 €. In the Hill Country, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort start at just over 400 €, while the Signia by Hilton La Cantera San Antonio starts at 241 €. The table shows all eleven hotels by location; for today's rates and availability, see the hotel list further down.

What is included: Most luxury hotels in San Antonio include daily breakfast for two, served as a buffet at Cibolo Moon at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort. Hotel Emma San Antonio, The St. Anthony San Antonio and the Signia by Hilton La Cantera San Antonio give a daily breakfast credit of 30 US dollars for up to two people instead. On top come an upgrade and early check-in or late check-out, each subject to availability; at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio and the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk the benefits apply from two nights.

For hotel credit, nine hotels add 100 US dollars, at the Plaza San Antonio Hotel to be used at the restaurant or the spa. At the Grand Hyatt San Antonio it is 50 US dollars, and at the four Hyatt hotels the upgrade is confirmed at booking, though not from a room to a suite.Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort · Westover HillsPoints and status count at ten of the eleven luxury hotels in San Antonio: World of Hyatt at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort, the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk and the Thompson San Antonio, Marriott Bonvoy at The St. Anthony San Antonio, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and the Plaza San Antonio Hotel, IHG One Rewards at the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk and the Kimpton Santo San Antonio, and I Prefer at Hotel Emma San Antonio.

When it is loveliest: In spring the bluebonnets bloom in the Hill Country, and in April the city celebrates Fiesta San Antonio. Summer is the season for lagoons, water parks and rooftop pools, and for boat rides on the river in the evening. In fall you linger outdoors on the River Walk, and in December the holiday lights glow along the water.

How long to stay: For a 5-star hotel in San Antonio we recommend two to three nights in town, for the Alamo, the missions, Pearl and an evening on the river. If you want to add golf, spa or the lagoon, tack on two nights in the Hill Country.