Best Luxury Hotels in San Antonio

The 99-room Mokara is one of San Antonio's most stylish hotels, featuring swanky amenities that include a beautiful rooftop pool, a premium spa, and fine dining; all in a prime location right on the River Walk. The rooms at this luxury boutique are bright and sophisticated, with elegant furnishings, luxurious bathrooms, and up-to-date amenities.

The Grand Hyatt San Antonio enjoys a great location in the heart of the city's historic center, within walking distance of the River Walk and the Alamo. Rooms have lovely, modern decor in earth tones, and upscale amenities. Features such as the full-service FedEx business center, modern meeting areas, and spacious work desks in rooms appeal to the business travelers, while a lovely lap pool, spacious sundeck, ultra-modern fitness center, and delicious on-site dining appeal to all types of guests.

Hotel Contessa, located on a quiet stretch of the River Walk, sells itself as San Antonio's "only luxury all-suite hotel," and in many ways it lives up to that claim. The 265 suites range in size from 500 to 800 square feet, and all feature separate living rooms and bedrooms with contemporary, southwestern-inspired decor, two 37-inch flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. The urban chic rooftop pool and Jacuzzi area, the excellent fitness center, and the lovely day spa are nice perks.

Hotel Valencia offers chic sophistication in the heart of downtown, along with comfortable, modern rooms and some nice views of the River Walk. It's a property best suited for adults with a dining- and night-life-centric agenda, or high-end business travelers -- thanks to its modern meeting rooms, and the fact that the River Walk-side restaurant and bar are among the most popular in the city.

Housed in a historic neo-Gothic building with a reputation for paranormal activity, this 177-room boutique has a prime downtown location across from the Alamo and within walking distance of the River Walk entertainment district and Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Highlights include a small heated pool with city views, a cozy library, and large rooms, some of which boast views of the Alamo.

The Marriott Rivercenter is a large, business-oriented hotel that also caters to leisure travelers looking for comfortable accommodations and a solid array of features, including an indoor/outdoor pool and spacious fitness center. The Marriott's other main draw is its excellent location adjacent to the River Walk (though the nearby shopping center dampens the appeal of the area a bit). Decor is what you'd expect of a massive mega-chain -- contemporary but generic (with some particularly busy carpeting in the common spaces). Still, it's a solid four-pearl option in the area.