Lauded lodging

Stunning San Antonio hotel checks in as Texas’ best in prestigious U.S. News ranking

Unsurprisingly, San Antonio's crown jewel property lands at No. 1 on the list of the best hotels in Texas.

Hotel Emma, arguably the crown jewel of San Antonio’s Pearl district, sits high on U.S. News & World Report’s new list of the best hotels in the country, ranking as the No. 7 top hotel in the U.S. and the No. 1 Texas property.

The 146-room riverfront property, which opened in 2015, repeatedly appears at or near the top of rankings for the state’s best hotels.

“Hotel Emma stands out among travelers for its cool culture. This is largely brought on by the hotel’s history as a former brewery,” says U.S. News, referring to the property’s previous life as the largest brewery in Texas.

“Visitors marvel at the refined industrial elements featured throughout — particularly in the lobby — and are equally impressed with the quality of the accommodations,” U.S. News says in its overview of Hotel Emma. “Guests report rooms to be exceptionally styled and comfortable, thanks to amenities like 48-inch flat-screen TVs, plush beds with Frette linens, and luxury bathrobes. And the food is just as much of a staple here as beer used to be.”

Joining Hotel Emma among U.S. News’ top 25 hotels in Texas are three other San Antonio properties:

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, No. 8.
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa, No. 13.
Mokara Hotel & Spa, No. 19.

Here are the top 25 U.S. News-ranked hotels in Texas:

Hotel Emma, San Antonio.
Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, Austin. Also ranked first among Texas resorts.
The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston.
Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, Irving. Also ranked second among Texas resorts.
The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa. Also ranked third among Texas resorts.
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas. Also ranked fourth among Texas resorts.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas.
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Also ranked fifth among Texas resorts.
Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District.
Hotel ZaZa Houston Memorial City.
Archer Hotel Austin.
The Joule, Dallas.
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa. Also ranked sixth among Texas resorts.
Miraval Austin.
Four Seasons Hotel Houston.
The St. Regis Houston.
Hotel Crescent Court, Dallas.
Hotel ZaZa Dallas.
Mokara Hotel & Spa, San Antonio.
Four Seasons Hotel Austin.
The Lancaster Hotel, Houston.
Hotel Granduca Houston.
Fairmont Austin.
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, near Bastrop. Also ranked seventh among Texas resorts.
HALL Arts Hotel Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton.

“The travel industry has faced many disruptions over the past two years, highlighting the need to support and recognize hotels that continue to maintain excellent standards,” Zach Watson, senior travel editor at U.S. News, says in a news release. “The 2022 Best Hotels rankings offer a dependable guide for travelers to use when organizing their next trip, whether that’s in a few weeks or later in the year.”

vacation rankings texas hotels

Airline News

San Antonio gets nonstop flights to this Washington, DC airport

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

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American Airlines will soon introduce long-awaited nonstop flights between San Antonio (SAT) and Washington, D.C. (DCA). One flight will be scheduled daily, starting in March.

Tickets for the new service will be available on sale starting December 23 through aa.com or American’s mobile app.

The route was tentatively announced in October, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has now formally approved the application by American Airlines.

“This new service will offer convenient nonstop access to our nation’s capital for San Antonians, while helping further connect customers to our comprehensive global network," said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, in a press release. "American thanks the many elected officials and citizens who supported our application, and we look forward to welcoming customers onboard this new service soon.”

Flight 1718, reflecting the year San Antonio was founded, will depart SAT at 6:35 am and arrive in DCA at 10:41 am. Flight 1947, reflecting the year the U.S. Air Force was established, will depart DCA at 7:45 pm and arrive in SAT at 10:43 pm.

“This long-awaited connection to our nation’s capital is a game changer for our community, opening doors to countless opportunities for travel and economic development,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I’m grateful to those who have championed this effort and for the bipartisan support of our representatives in the Senate and House, whose advocacy was instrumental in making these flights a reality. We look forward to the positive impact this nonstop service will have for years to come."

San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh echoed the sentiments about economic development and pointed out some growth already happening in San Antonio. The release also notes that San Antonio is the largest city in Texas lacking nonstop service to DCA and the largest city in the U.S. with a majority Hispanic population without nonstop service to DCA.

“Serving the fastest-growing city in the country, SAT has achieved record-breaking passenger numbers throughout 2024. This nonstop service to and from DCA addresses a need for our military, business, educational and research communities, among others. It also promotes competition and offers more travel options for passengers flying to and from San Antonio, enhancing connectivity as we continue making progress on the airport Terminal Development Program.”

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