The Most Budget-Friendly Hotels in San Antonio, Texas

The Menger is the oldest operating hotel west of the Mississippi, having opened in 1859, and has since grown into a behemoth with a rustic theme in all its 316 rooms with views over the Alamo. Despite the affordable prices, there are quality touches throughout, such as the palm garden, pool and restaurant, the latter of which used to be a favorite haunt of Oscar Wilde. If you are willing to part ways with a bit more cash, you can get a room with a hot tub and/or a kitchenette.

Of the two Omni hotels in San Antonio, the Colonnade iteration is more family-oriented, sporting two pools and childcare services. Adults can utilize the time away from the kids to enjoy a massage, or the sauna and hydrotherapy pool. As for the rooms, the Southern styling is strong with wood paneling throughout, but the price doesn’t mean the beds are any less plush or the views less impressive. The better rooms have balconies and patios, while the San Antonio air can also be enjoyed in the outdoor pool, which has a café and “float in” movie nights. There’s also an indoor pool with hot tubs, and a restaurant serving Caribbean and American dishes.

The Crockett is almost perfectly situated for anyone hoping to visit the Alamo (clue’s in the name, really). As you might expect, a large proportion of the rooms have views over the aforementioned landmark, as does the bar, which is also popular with the local crowd. There’s a heated outdoor pool with a rock garden, and any guests hankering for a gym can head across the street to the Menger and make free use of the one found there.

The Hotel Havana has stood in San Antonio since 1914. Its popularity had dwindled in more recent years, until being revamped by famed local designer Liz Lambert, who took the impressive old structure and filled it with modern comforts. One of the more appealing additions was the Ocho restaurant, which offers a varied pan-Latin menu at tables perched over the San Antonio River Walk. Speaking of food, there are culinary nods to the location in the mini-fridges, including Mexican Coca-Cola.

In a past life, the Gibbs was a high-rise office run by a bank, just creeping into the jurisdiction of the Alamo compound. Post-conversion, it has become one of the most appealing (and affordable) hotels in the city, especially as it concerns the 1909 Taproom bar, favored by the local crowd. The rooms have marbled surfaces, spa-inspired bathrooms and big windows to take in the views. A taco bar awaits guests at breakfast, and there’s a 24-hour gym.

Attached to the San Antonio iteration of SeaWorld, Tru by Hilton provides links to all the major theme parks in the city, from Six Flags to Legoland. The rooms have a pared-down, modern feel without sacrificing comfort, and there’s an attractive rooftop bar and grill that further testifies to this. There’s also an indoor pool and 24-hour fitness center. Breakfasts are served in the common area, and there’s coffee and tea during the day, if you decide to stick around instead of shooting off to the adjacent attractions.

The O’Brien is more oriented towards business travelers than the other hotels listed here, but that doesn’t mean it’s in any way cold or impersonal. Warmly decorated rooms, dreamy chiropractic mattresses and, for those in the better rooms, balconies and whirlpool tubs, help define this comfortable, accommodating hotel. There are great views over the River Walk, including from the lounge area, which offers both a breakfast buffet and café options, depending on the position of the sun. Guests can be at La Villita Historic Village within minutes.

The Riverwalk Plaza is arguably the trendiest hotel in San Antonio, with quirky Scandi-style furniture, board games available in the lounge and an attractive outdoor pool styled after a palm court. The rooms are modern and spacious with floor-to-ceiling windows fit for a hotel that overlooks the Alamo and the River Walk. There’s a cozy bar area, and breakfast is served daily. To keep kids occupied, there’s even an arcade.