Lackland Air Force Base, United States
Convenient location for Air Force families and friends
One of the safer properties in the area
Rooms are quiet; many are large enough to accommodate families
Free hot breakfast, parking, and property-wide Wi-Fi
Two well-maintained outdoor pools
Functional gym with cardio and weight machines
Coin-operated laundry facilities
Generic rooms and common areas need updates and better maintenance
Lingering smells of smoke permeate even non-smoking rooms
Standard rooms lack mini-fridges
Car required to reach most local attractions
Located a six-minute drive to the Air Force Base, this value La Quinta Inn outpost is the go-to option for friends and family of military personnel. Although the hotel is generally regarded as a safe option in the area, its 177 rooms are in sore need of better maintenance. Smoke smells, mildew in the bathrooms, and rickety fixtures aren’t uncommon. The two outdoor pools are in better condition, and freebies like parking, hot breakfast with waffles, a gym, and property-wide Wi-Fi are nice perks. For more modern facilities and better in-room amenities, travelers may prefer Homewood Suites by Hilton Lackland AFB/SeaWorld -- but prices are higher.
Scene
Old, rather run-down chain property catering to military personnel and their families
With an Air Force seal at its entrance and signs welcoming family of the United States Air Force, the hotel is clearly geared towards military personnel and their relatives. Like most La Quinta Inns, it has the feel of a budget hotel with motel-style external hallways. There are also several benches making up a simple outdoor seating area on the outdoor lawn. Several structures comprise the property, which allows guests a certain degree of privacy and quiet, but the rear buildings are positioned far away from amenities like the pool. The buildings are also old and feel run-down in several areas. Everything could use a fresh coat of paint, floors need a good sweeping, and facilities could be updated. Despite the lack of atmosphere or polish, families do find it to both convenient and affordable.
Location
Adjacent to Air Force Base; 16-minute drives to North Star Mall, Alamo Plaza, and San Antonio Zoo
Located off a major road and adjacent to the Lackland Air Force Base, the hotel feels safe in comparison to the surrounding area, and is extremely popular for families of graduating trainees. The base entrance can be reached in two minutes on foot, and its center is a six-minute drive away. There are also restaurants and shops nearby. Other San Antonio attractions aren’t far off but require a car to reach: the Nelson Wolff Stadium is a four-minute drive away, and Ingram Park Mall is an 11-minute drive away. The Alamo Plaza downtown, San Antonio River Walk, North Star Mall, and San Antonio Zoo, can all be reached in 16 minutes by car. San Antonio International Airport is 23 minutes away by car.
Rooms
Generic decor and poorly cleaned; only some have mini-fridges and microwaves
Available in Double, Double Full, King, Executive King, or Suite varieties, rooms here are spacious. Double Rooms can come with sleeper sofas to easily accommodate families. As a whole rooms are quiet. Decor is generic, but pleasant enough, including burnt-orange bed skirts and drapes, wooden dressers, and patterned carpeting. However, like the common areas, rooms could use renovations, as guests have noted issues like bugs, poorly cleaned surfaces, worn towels, and loose doorknobs. There are also reports of lingering smells and ashes of cigarettes from the smoking rooms on lower floors. Guests will find a limited range of amenities in the rooms; all have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, work desks, coffeemakers, ironing equipment, and free Wi-Fi. Only some rooms have mini-fridges and microwaves. Standard bathrooms have large mirrors and sink areas separated from toilet and shower areas, but mildew can be spotted in several places. All come with shower/tub combos with fixed showerheads, basic toiletries, and hairdryers.Most rooms look out onto the parking lot, so views are unexceptional.
Features
Free breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi -- two outdoor pools and a small gym
The hotel doesn’t have a full restaurant, but there’s a basic breakfast room off the lobby, where a free daily spread of cereals, make-your-own-waffles, fruit, juice, and coffee is provided. Plenty of free parking is available at the outdoor lot. Wi-Fi throughout the property is free.Two outdoor pools are a pleasant perk; one is larger than the other, and surrounding seating is minimal, but both pools are well-maintained. The gym is functional but small. It's separated by just a wall from the laundry room, which contains two coin-operated washers and dryers each.