Hotel San Antonio River Walk

The room was very run down, and the bathroom hadn’t been maintained well. It had an old shower curtain and rusty toilet paper holder. The furniture was grimy and falling apart, the rubber trim where the wall meets the floor was peeling, and there were signs of water damage on the ceiling. We didn’t see roaches or bed bugs, thankfully, and that was the only reason we stayed instead of leaving for another room. Our mini fridge seemed to work, but we had to ask for another roll of toilet paper, and the room wasn’t cleaned during our three-day stay. My boyfriend was charged an extra “third party” fee when he checked in for booking through Expedia. On our last night, people in the next room had a huge fight, yelling and stomping outside their room. I called the front desk to handle it. During the day, a woman sat on the ground outside the lobby smoking. When we passed between the parking lot and the entrance, she said, “oh, I thought you were my boss.” She had what looked like a cordless phone, so maybe she worked the front desk. She seemed to be chain smoking, and the area outside reeked of cigarettes. It was very odd to see someone sitting on the ground like that. We stayed here during the Marathon because it was convenient for walking to the starting line. It’s also close to the river walk, HEB, the Alamo, and restaurants. That’s all the property has going for it. The location was decent for the race, but this place needs a major renovation, with new paint, furniture, bedding, and shower curtains. It’s clear the property isn’t being maintained to keep guests comfortable.

The location worked well for our first visit to San Antonio, with the Zoo and Riverwalk not too far away. At check-in, the staff were friendly, and one of the two non-smoking rooms we booked for three nights was spotless and modern. The other looked worn and damaged. I found cigarette ash inside a drawer and showed a photo to the front desk. The woman there barely reacted, just apologized, so I hoped I wouldn't be charged for smoking. We stayed because we planned to be out most of the day, but on the second night my husband spotted a cockroach in the bathroom. Within a minute we found more by the sink and inside the mini fridge. We checked out right away. The property has potential in a good area, and I hope the new management fixes up the rooms.

The staff were really kind, and the rooms felt clean and safe, though they looked a bit old. For the price and location, it worked well for our three-night stay, and I'd consider it for a weekend or quick trip. I wouldn't want to stay longer than that. One thing that bothered me: although we didn't have a car, we were charged $20 a night for parking. There was no deposit. The front desk woman said bookings through Expedia or similar sites had a parking fee because those sites offer lower prices, or something along those lines.

The people here are what make the place stand out. Staff and the owner are friendly and courteous, and they put guests' care first. I'm staying here short term. Some rooms and shared areas look dated, and the property is showing its age, though upgrades are underway. It's clean, easy to get to, and in a phenomenal spot on the edge of downtown.