When my mom was in the hospital a couple of months ago, we decided to take a family vacation in Texas. We chose the JW Marriott San Antonio because of its convenient location for everyone and the many activities available for kids. The JW is Marriott’s upscale brand, and the hotel delivers on that promise.
This property is beautiful and well suited for families, couples, business travelers, conferences, relaxation, and golfers. Our trip focused on family leisure, and from arrival to departure the staff provided warm, attentive hospitality.
After checking in, we settled into our rooms and headed to the main lobby bar for the two complimentary welcome drinks included with each room.
For dinner that first night we ate at High Velocity Sports Bar, located toward the back of the hotel. The space is covered in large TVs showing all kinds of sports, and the menu offers familiar crowd-pleasers—salads, burgers, tacos, and wings—along with a full selection of beverages. Shaun and I both ordered the bacon cheeseburger, and my parents chose the fish tacos. Everything was tasty and reasonably priced, with entrees around $14–$15.
The next morning we headed to the hotel’s impressive water park. It features three tube slides, a lazy river, a large main pool, and a kiddie pool with its own slides. There’s also a private adult pool with a large hot tub that provides a quieter, more secluded atmosphere. One feature that stood out was the hydraulic pool lift chairs available at several pools for guests with mobility needs. My mom was able to transfer from her wheelchair into the hot tub using the lift, which made the experience comfortable and stress-free for her and my dad.
That evening Shaun and I ordered pizza from a nearby pizzeria with help from the concierge, who recommended a great local spot.
The following day we spent another full day by the pool, and later my mom and I visited the spa for manicures. It had been a long time since she’d been pampered, so I wanted her to enjoy some special attention. Before dinner we gathered at the hotel’s fire pit for s’mores. We went earlier than dinner because our reservation was late and the s’mores pit closes at 8:00 PM.
For dinner that night we dined at the hotel’s Cibolo Moon restaurant. While walking to our table I glanced at several plates being prepared and the shrimp and grits stood out. I was surprised to choose it over steak or fish, but it proved to be an outstanding choice—the dish was rich, flavorful, and one of the best items I’ve had in a long time. The meal was so good I wanted every last bite. We even returned for the breakfast buffet the next morning.
Here are some family photos from the weekend. My middle sister and her husband weren’t in the pool photos because they missed the moment I took the camera.
My ratings (out of 5 stars):
Hotel ~ 5 Stars
Rooms ~ 4 Stars
Food ~ 5 Stars
Activities ~ 5 Stars
Pool ~ 5 Stars
Price ~ 3 Stars
Note on price: Rates were high due to summertime demand, and there was a $28 daily resort charge. We did not use the discounts tied to that fee, such as spa, restaurant, or golf discounts, so that charge felt harder to justify.
We would definitely return to this hotel, though we’d try to visit during a less expensive time of year.
ENJOY ~ Meagan
Disclosure: I was not paid for this review; I wrote it because we enjoy traveling.