The city of San Antonio and its top-tier hospitality industry have earned special recognition in Travel + Leisure's 2026 World's Best Awards.
Travel + Leisure's annual World's Best Awards are the culmination of readers' choice surveys of the ultimate travel experiences around the globe, which include the top hotels, resorts, travel destinations, and more. The 2026 survey had more than 207,000 responses from T+L readers with over 661,000 votes across 10,088 accommodations, cruise lines, and other properties.
The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa won prestigious acclaim as one of the five best resorts in Texas. The resort sits on a 600-acre property that includes a 1,002-guest room hotel, the Lantana Spa, two private PGA golf courses, a nine-acre waterpark (plus a 1,100-foot lazy river), and so much more.
The expansive retreat also offers six on-site restaurants for guests to enjoy, so travelers don't have to step foot off the property if they want to fully immerse themselves in everything the resort has to offer.
Who wouldn't want to spend an evening watching the sunset from the lazy river? JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa Facebook
The full list of the best resorts in Texas is:
- The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston
- Camp Lucy, Dripping Springs
- Horseshoe Bay Resort, Horseshoe Bay
- Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin
- JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antoni
One top-tier San Antonio hotel was surprisingly left off T+L's list of the best hotels in the U.S. — Hotel Emma. Instead, T+L readers chose to highlight Houston's Lancaster Hotel and Fort Worth's Bowie House, Auberge Collection. Though Hotel Emma was omitted from this year's World's Best Awards, it was recognized on T+L's separate collection of the 500 best hotels in the world in May 2026.
San Antonio was dubbed the 14th best travel destination in the U.S. this year, proving that readers are still obsessed with visiting the Alamo City for its historic landmarks, its restaurant scene, and more.
"In its 31st year, the World’s Best Awards continue to be a reflection of the extraordinary experiences that you, our trusted readers, crave," T+L editors wrote. "This year, we at Travel + Leisure implore you to explore the winners with the same curiosity in which you chose them. While some hotels offer a rich backstory and entrancing interiors, others are brand new to the hospitality scene... As for the top cities, tried-and-true reign supreme with phenomenal attractions, superlative hotels, and electric dining scenes."
