The Gunter Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk

The rooms are lovely and well equipped, and the beds are very comfortable. Mine had a steamer press, fridge, coffee maker, record player, and couch. The shower and toilet share a room with no bath, and the single sink is outside it. The water got warm but not hot, and the doors slam shut, which gets old. Soft-close doors seem to have been missed in the renovation. It’s quieter here, just off the River Walk, and I liked the lobby bar’s good service and reasonably priced drinks. Paris Baguette on site is great too, though I didn’t try the restaurant breakfast. This is a beautiful historic hotel with an elegant lobby and central bar. It used to be a Sheraton, I think, and seems to have inherited some old negative reviews. After major renovations a few months ago, it’s now a Marriott Tribute Hotel. I appreciated that it’s pet friendly. Online check-in and the mobile key didn’t work, so I still had to go to reception. The vinyl library is a cool idea, but the music is loud and the incense overpowering. We waited 20 minutes for someone to show up there, and in the morning nobody was around to take back the records, so we left them at reception. No big deal. Parking costs an outrageous $60. I parked overnight across the street at Travis Plaza Garage for less than $25 using Spot Hero. I’m not sure my Bonvoy status was recognized, though I may have missed it. At $200 a night, I think it’s worth staying, but there are a few kinks to sort out. I’d come back.

The storm left the hotel with a skeleton crew, as leaders stepped in so line employees could stay home safely and avoid dangerous roads. That care for the staff really showed. We felt like honored guests throughout, and the attention given to both staff and guests was remarkable. The people made this stay memorable. The valet team welcomed us warmly despite the cold. Chef Sarah, the Food and Beverage director, greeted us, and Nicholle, the Director of Outlets, gave attentive service at the lobby bar. She told us the story behind the signature cocktail Do Not Disturb and Room 636. The gin drink was delicious, with egg whites and muttled raspberrries, and looked beautiful. Ingrid took great care of us in the restaurant. She cheerfully said she was happy to work because she lives nearby. Her positive attitude made the meal better. Gibby, by the lobby bar, gave us great service, chose tasteful music, and showed us how to use the record player in our room. There are thoughtful touches throughout: the rooms are spacious, beautiful, and very comfortable, with a stunning renovation that balances historic charm and modern luxury. The record library lets you borrow up to three records to play on the player in your room. I also liked having a steamer in a drawer by the restroom instead of a bulky ironing board. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Gunter Hotel. We were blown away by the heartfelt experience and highly recommend it.

The location worked out just right. We went to the Riverwalk every day, and I was glad we weren’t staying directly on it because it might have been too loud. There’s paid parking on site, though I don’t know the price since we didn’t need it. The staff were kind and answered our questions. I had a spacious grande king room, a comfortable bed, and a charming lobby. There are water refill stations and bottles in the room, plus a full-length mirror and a steamer instead of an iron and ironing board. The bathroom was a bit tight, but fine for what I needed. I liked being able to use the record player and borrow from the record library. The lobby bar is a fun start to the evening, and Paris Baguette Bakery connects to the lobby.

I was happy with the room finishes, especially the marble in the bathroom and what looked like the same material at the lobby bar. The fixtures felt high quality and were installed well. My room faced inward, though, with opaque windows looking onto HVAC equipment and a roof. That’s okay for a short stay, but an exterior-facing room would be a much better experience. The shower water got warm enough to be comfortable, though not as hot as some people might want. The thermostat stayed at 69 the whole time even after I set it to 74, which was odd and annoying. My room’s record player didn’t seem to work, but I didn’t try very hard, so I’m not sure if I was missing something obvious. I booked at the last minute for an industry conference and got lucky. This hotel was surprisingly charming and luxurious, in a great location with nice places nearby and easy access to the River Walk. Marriott’s Tribute hotels are becoming some of my favorites, and this one adds to that. The front desk said the hotel had opened in the last few months and was still adding services, but I didn’t notice any problems from that.