Menger Hotel

The location is hard to beat, and the hotel itself is beautiful, with amazing decor and a lot of history. Some staff are enjoyable to talk with because they know the place's story, and on our latest visit someone did fix an issue. But the staff often seem like they're just there to do a job, and I've had better service at Motel 6. For a hotel this old and important, people should be warmer and more welcoming. A little effort could bring the stay close to four stars. I grew up staying at the Menger and wanted my family to have that same experience. I've been back three times in six weeks of trips to San Antonio, roughly every two weeks. As a child, it felt like an adventure, and I wish that feeling were more common now. Before the food incident, I would have rated the hotel three stars despite the poor service and having to book online through another company. Then we got sick after a bad meal. I told a manager and never heard back, and the latest visit still didn't resolve what happened before. That's extremely disappointing. If you want to see a historic hotel, I'd recommend visiting, and honestly it's worth experiencing. But repeated stays have worn me out. Given the choice, I'll stay at the Crockett next time. It's a shame this beautiful place has become so tiring to return to.

The room was great and had an amazing history behind it. I also liked learning about the story behind the hotel bar. The gift shop hours were a letdown, though. It closed early and opened late, so I couldn't get the T-shirt I wanted. The only food available on the dance floor was basic microwave bar food, which was disappointing. The drinks were simple too. I'd read that the margaritas were amazing, so we ordered one each, but I've had much better.

The people, service, amenities, and location have all been top notch. I’m 77 now, and my grandmother first showed me the Menger on trips to SA when I was young. After I got married, I told my wife we'd stay there on our own visits. She wanted to know why, then fell for the older section and its antique furniture when I showed it to her. On one anniversary trip, a woman at check-in heard us mention the occasion and signaled a male employee. He walked us to a large door, said to enjoy our stay, and opened it to reveal the Presidential Suite. My wife thought I'd arranged the surprise, so I kept quiet. After that, we stayed there on every SA trip. No surprise, really. 100% top notch.

The location was perfect for walking to the Alamo, the Riverwalk, the mall, and other attractions. The hotel is beautiful too, with a huge lobby, a cute hall of phone booths, and interesting history displayed along the lobby and hallways. The valet was very nice, though the front desk staff seemed bothered. Comfort was another story. The bed was the most uncomfortable I've ever slept in, and I woke up with back and neck pain every day. The room was about the size of a regular room in a small house. The shower kept leaking no matter how tightly I turned the knobs. Would I stay again? Probably not. I'm still glad I got to experience it. If history or the Alamo is what you're after, book it. If you want comfort, this isn't the place.