For a visual tour of Hotel Valencia, please view my image gallery.
The Essentials
Address: 150 East Houston Street (San Antonio)
Phone: (866) 842-0100
Overview of Hotel Valencia
Hotel Valencia is a chic luxury hotel in downtown San Antonio, only an hour from Central Austin. The interior has a modern aesthetic with a scheme of black and red, while the exterior feels classically Mediterranean and utilizes warmer shades. The hotel has been open for just over six years, and in my opinion, truly deserves each of the four diamonds it has earned from AAA.
The hotel is located along the River Walk, though on a quiet part of it; the louder area full of bars and restaurants is conveniently located just two blocks away. The hotel features 213 guestrooms with five suites in addition to several meeting facilities. It has hosted everyone from the Jonas Brothers to Jennifer Lopez to the American Idol judges. Conde Nast Traveler Magazine named it one of the top 100 best new hotels in the world.
The Design and Feel
Hotel Valencia was designed by Dodd Mitchell, whose prior experience was designing movie sets. Amy Trench, the area director of sales and marketing, pointed out to me his conceptual design that emphasizes natural elements. The street level of the lobby has looming palm trees and cascading waterfalls. The outdoor courtyard features a massive fire pit flanked by a tall waterfall on each side. The restaurant has a private dining room that can be cordoned off with a silver beaded curtain that resembles a waterfall, and each guest room contains a large vase filled with massive coconut root palms.
While Trench explained that Hotel Valencia is popular with business travelers, groups, and families, I got the feeling that it was best suited for couples for a romantic getaway. I toured three types of hotel rooms with Trench and was thoroughly impressed with the decor, which she said aimed to embody feeling of being in a home rather than a hotel room (it did).
Rather than using the sharp and modern red and black color scheme found in the hotel hallways, the rooms are decorated with warmer brown tones. The beds all have a leather headboard and are draped with a comfy dark brown faux fur blanket. Each room has a plush, down-filled brown leather chair, which I found to be incredibly comfortable. The rooms have an enormous full-length mirror propped up against a wall and plantation shutters. Some of the guestrooms have a hallway entry with solid wood floors that require you to turn a corner to enter the bedroom, which makes it feel more like an apartment. They also use carpet upon carpet in the rooms to emphasize the home-like atmosphere. Each room’s drawers are right near the bathroom, a convenience that is uncommon in hotels. Rather than having “do not disturb signs,” they have cute red plastic signs that say “not quite yet” in black.
Hotel Amenities
Next to the bed in each room is a cordless, two-line speakerphone, which is unusual for hotels. All of the lamps and even the lights in the bathrooms in the hotel rooms have dimmer switches, which allow you to greatly alter the mood.
Each room is outfitted with a bed made custom for the hotel, Egyptian cotton sheets and high-quality pillows. Every room also has a 42-inch flat panel plasma television in addition to plush robes.
The hotel offers free wi-fi, which is a huge perk for business travelers. There is a fitness room fully stocked with a basket of fresh fruit. It also contains a treatment room should guests like to call in a massage therapist, though many guests prefer to have in-room spa services, which the hotel can help coordinate.
The Restaurant
Inside the hotel is an upscale and acclaimed restaurant, Citrus, which is led by Chef Jeffery Balfour. Citrus serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and overlooks the River Walk. For those who can’t make it downstairs for a meal, they offer room service 24/7. Citrus features modern décor and romantic mood lighting in the evenings.
I ordered the delicious crab cake appetizer, which is their specialty. It comes topped with a slice of guacamole and a spring salad mix. The breading had the perfect consistency, and I loved the rich flavor, which was spiced with jalepeno. I also ordered artichoke-heirloom tomato risotto, which was topped with shredded parmesan cheese. It was rich and flavorful, thought the pasta was a little too al dente for my taste.
For my entrée, I ordered the red snapper. It was a heartier portion than I expected, with two thick and flaky fillets. My dining partner had the duck breast, which was cooked to perfection and served over tasty whipped sweet potatoes, which were flavorful but not overly sweet.
The Bar
Hotel Valencia’s V Bar is the definition of swanky. It is filled with leather chairs and is located right next to a lounge filled with plush couches and pillows. It also is located right next to a patio that overlooks the River Walk. V Bar serves cocktails and light menu items during the afternoon and evening.
When we first passed by the bar at 8 p.m., hardly anyone was there. But by the time we left the restaurant around 10, the bar was packed with well-dressed 20somethings and 30somethings. A DJ was playing music and the patrons were sitting and mingling in the lounge area and bar. I later learned that while the bar is certainly frequented by hotel guests, many of the people that go to V Bar are actually locals who just love the atmosphere.
The Verdict
During my stay, I explored each nook and cranny of Hotel Valencia on my own, was given a full tour by Trench, spoke to many of the staff, and was extremely pleased with every aspect. Hotel Valencia is the definition of a modern luxury hotel and I heartily recommend it to my readers. It took me only an hour to get there from downtown Austin, and its proximity makes it a great place for a weekend or even one-night getaway. It is a short drive, but you feel like you are a world away.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation and a meal for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.