Yet Another San Antonio Question

Updated on March 08, 2012
T.K. asks from Grand Prairie, TX
6 answers

I'm planning a 3 day getaway to San Antonio sometime in April or May. My son is on college there so that's part of it. The little ones love love love San Antonio. My husband works for Marriott so we get a big dicount on rooms. Here's my question.

Better to go during Fiesta or not? Fiests looks amazing. http://www.fiesta-sa.org/ Concerts, food, parades, a giant flower fight, the Cajun festival in the Sunken Gardens is right up our alley. Zydeco, blues, and crawdads! A carnival and flower parade. Even a military parade. OUr room would be right on the Riverwalk for $59 a night plus $25 to park. But, this would be going to a touristy destination in the height of tourist season on the busiest weekend of the year! Crowds, traffic, lines. yikes

Or, we could go on any other weekend in APril and May and use our season tickets to go to Six Flag FIesta Texas and laze around our hotel pool. $39 a night, free parking and shuttle

Or, we could book a room at the Marriott resort. There's a lzy river to float in inner tubes around the resort, a huge water slide, and a kid area little miniwater park. We would never leave the resort if we did this one. $89 a night, and $20 resort fee.
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So What Happened?

2 fantastic, helpful answers already! Thank you. I'm convinced, Fiesta is out. I heard the word expensive and I was done! I'm not a fan of theme parks either, but my 5 and 6 yr old will automatically want to go to Sea World and I dont have free tickets there! So 6 Flags would help them be less disapointed. Ok, that's one option down and one vote for resort.

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E.L.

answers from San Francisco on

i just spent 6 yrs down there, and we never went to Fiesta, i would have like to gone but not with my kids, and since we had no family there we never left the girls. I would go when Fiesta was over personally, San Antonio is awesome place they have so much to do, Sea World, Six Flags, downtown they have a children's museum and the River walk is beautiful, there is a fun restaurant down at the river walk Rain Forest Cafe it is fun for kids. Also Schlitterbahn (SP?) water park is a short drive in New Braunfels, also in New Braunfels they have an awesome drive thru safari thing, i could go on forever about San Antonio, i really miss it there...
good luck with you decision, but i agree with the previous lady who said it can get dangerous to have kids out there at Fiesta. And very overwhelming.

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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

I love San Antonio. Our favorite place to go is Sea World and the river walk down there. If you have taken your kids to six flags Fiesta Tx is about the same just a few different things. But if you are not wanting to do much other than relax and swim the resort sounds really good.

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A.E.

answers from Dallas on

I am from San Antonio and lived there till I was 19 now I am in Arlington, TX. I am very experienced in the Fiesta matter and my advice is, if you have kids DONT GO. It's super dangerous, super crowded and many underage people drunk and wreckless. Yes, there are a few things during Fiesta that are ok for little ones especially the Night Parade. Cajun Festival is too crowded and crazy. I'd do the Marriott Resort for sure and if you can squeeze in a day at Six Flags, that would be nice. If you want to go to San Antonio the perfect time is during the Riverwalk Parade around Thanksgiving, the Riverwalk is beautiful and the parade on water is breathtaking. On food, if you do the resort I'd still suggest to go out for dinner, so cheap great places are "Chris Madrids (best hamburgers and nachos ever) and "La Jacala" (best mexican). I hope this helps!

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R.S.

answers from San Antonio on

I would choose either option two or three...

Growing up in San Antonio...I have done Fiesta many years, mostly with out of town guests. You really need to know the events you want to attend and then the best times and days of the week if it is a multiple day event. For instance NIOSA (Night in Old San Antonio) is an awesome mix of food, drink, and music...but you have to go on Wednesday night, be at the gate when it opens and be prepared to leave by eight pm at the latest...that's when the crowds become overwhelming and drunks become the most obnoxious. You never ever go on Thursday night (it is college night) need I say more...and Friday is too crowded before you even get in the gates. Now the day parade and party down in the historic district is awesome...the name escapes me at the moment...it is all fun and artsy. So it can be tons of fun...but also very very crowded and HOT.

GO the resort route or Six Flags...

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B.B.

answers from San Antonio on

Personally, I have done the Fiesta thing, and while there are aspects of it that are lots of fun, it just is really overwhelming. The last time we went to a Fiesta event (and we live here) was three years ago, and we stayed approx 45 minutes. Too many people, too expensive, insane amounts of drinking, loud, tons of traffic, and most events, other than the parades, are not set up for being kid friendly.

I would go with option 2. Take advantage of Six Flags before the crazy busy season.

PM me if you have questions or do decide to come during Fiesta. I can steer you towards some of the more kid-friendly events. :)

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A.G.

answers from Dallas on

We also love San Antonio, and go all the time. I don't think any of your options are bad.

We don't really care for theme parks, so we would skip the Six Flags option, but I know most families love theme parks.

Going during Fiesta sounds like a lot of fun, but the crowds may drive you nuts. I tend to get frustrated with crowds.

We went to the Marriott Resort last summer, and it was one of the very best vacations we've ever taken, so that would be my vote! :) It was incredible - great rooms, amazing service, wonderful food, lots to do - perfect vacation for everyone in the family! As much as I love a traditional San Antonio vacation, I didn't even miss our usual stops. We had an incredible time!

Have a great vacation, whatever you decide! :)

*Our boys are 7 and 14, just so you know the ages we had on the vacation.

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