We have annual passes to Sea World and decided to take a quick trip this past weekend. I looked around for hotels in close proximity to Sea World and there aren't really many to choose from. In fact, there really isn't much of anything in that whole area. But anyway, I was able to get a decent rate at this property and selected it over a newer Holiday Inn that is even closer to Sea World because the Holiday Inn had many reviews complaining of auto-burglary.
About an hour out of San Antonio we called the hotel to confirm our reservation and ask if we could check in late (we decided to go straight to the park). The font desk confirmed the reservation and said he would make a note on the reservation.
After a long day at the park we headed to the hotel to check in. It's in a decent location but a little tricky to get to when coming FROM Sea World. Though there are probably better ways than our GPS took us.
When we checked in the front desk clerk told me that he had to give up our Double Queen room. This makes no sense to me. 1) I had a reservation. 2). I called to confirm 3) I asked for late check in which was confirmed for about 630-700 (we were there at 645 4) They had my phone number on file and could have called to inform me of this long before i arrived. So, my face was visibly unhappy and the young desk clerk was not pleased to be left to be the bearer of the bad news. I asked what my options were and he said he THOUGHT he could put me in a double double (which in our experience doesn't make for a happy family) but definitely could put me in a king "suite". I am guessing the dbl dbl would have been pulled from someone else's reservation but it was too small anyway, so I asked about the King and he told me that there was a pullout couch. I said well if someone is sleeping on a pullout couch, I am going to need a discount. He called his manager and they discounted the room by $30. This was an excellent recovery but I think they could have been PRACTIVE and called me prior or offered me a discount without me having to ask.
On to the property. It was fairly full I'd say. Lot's of families.
The lobby was clean and orderly but I think there should have been more than 1 person on staff.
The room was clean but not spotless. There was a, eh hem, "hair" left in the shower. The bathroom tile must not have been super clean as it blackened the white bath mat/towel we placed on the floor. The bathroom is actually 2 rooms. A small "potty" room with a sink and a slightly larger room with a shower (no tub) and a sink. Not having a tub was a HUGE hassle with two little ones. My wife says had she known that before I checked in we would have gone elsewhere. Neither bathroom has a vent and so the shower room smells "stale" -- perhaps mildewy.
The bed was clean but nothing to write home about. The couch was nice but the pullout portion was not, at all. Way too thin of a mattress. So, for space's sake I slept on the couch and let my wife and kids have the king bed. There were no sheets for the pullout in the room. I had to go downstairs and get them. I also had to go downstairs to get the extra towels and pillows we requested when we made the reservation online. I guess whoever got our room got those as well.
There were 2 disturbing notes it the room. 1) Stating that the San Antonio Police Dept suggests not leaving anything of value in the car. While this is a good general rule to follow in any city it is clear that San Antonio is having trouble with criminals praying on travelers. 2) was from the hotel suggesting that you not order from any pizza parlor that leaves a flyer under the door as they have been known to have poor service and require a credit card when ordering and then may not bring your food.
The King bed and the couch are separated by a partition/desk area that is a decent workspace but blocks the A/C from reaching that side of the room where the thermostat is. So, for me to be comfortable my wife and kids would have froze as the bed is RIGHT NEXT TO the A/C unit. In the end I was warmer than desired.
The TV was OK but no station guide to be found and the picture flat out stunk on several channels.
The free WI-FI was fast and easy to "setup".
We took a quick trip down to the pool. It was small and indoors. The chlorine/chemical fumes were intoxicating. They need more ventilation in there. There was not one towel to be found. I had to go back to the overworked front desk clerk for some. The floor of the pool room was glazed tiles and absolutely covered with water. Not smart, at all. The water was a little cloudy and so we didn't feel the pool was clean and didn't stay long. The pool also has these odd shower like jets coming from the ceiling over the shallow end, making the pool almost useless for little ones. Disappointing overall. Why a pool is indoors in SAN ANTONIO, TX is beyond me.
The room included a breakfast buffet. Breads, fruit, yogurt, muffins, cereals, juices, coffee, ham, sausage, eggs, waffles. The food was OK, at best. The place was crowded and the staff had a hard time keeping the bar stocked and clean. My wife said the waffles were tasteless. I would not have paid extra for this breakfast. That is for sure.
Overall, since it was a one night stay it was OK. Had I been going for 3 or more nights I think I would have checked out after the first and gone elsewhere. If TripAvdisor offered a 2.5 star option, I'd have chosen that as we feel the hotel was poor in some areas and average in others.
hotel reviews