Landmark Texas estate checks in on exclusive list of world’s best hotels for 2023

Editor’s note: As 2022 comes to a close, we’re looking back at the stories that defined San Antonio this year, and that includes traveling—in and out of the Alamo City. Some of San Antonio’s best hotels got the recognition they deserved, while locals got exciting new travel options by plane and bus. Here are the top 10 travel headlines of 2022.

1. The stunning San Antonio hotel has been ranked as the best in Texas in the prestigious US News ranking. Hotel Emma, ​​undoubtedly the crown jewel of San Antonio’s Pearl District, stood high on US News & World Report’s list of the best hotels in the country, ranking as hotel no. 7 best in the US and property no. 1 in Texas. The 146-room riverfront property, which opened in 2015, has repeatedly appeared at or near the top of rankings for the state’s best hotels.

2. Swanky San Antonio spot registers as one of the hottest new hotels for 2022. San Antonio’s Thompson Hotel – Riverwalk booked the no. 12 on TripAdvisor’s list of the best new hotels in the US for 2022. The top 25 list comes from the site’s 2022 Travelers’ Choice Awards, in which travelers reviewed the new hotels they experienced in 2021. Travelers raved about Thompson’s design, as well as his home dining and bar.

Thompson suite.

Image courtesy of Thompson San Antonio

3. San Antonio airport launches plan to add more international nonstop flights. A multimillion-dollar fund launched in July hopes to expand international service from San Antonio International Airport (SAT) by offering direct flights to cities in Canada, Europe and beyond. The Air Service Development Fund, launched by greater:SATX (and funded entirely by the private sector) will begin with a $3 million investment, with the aim of creating “marketing and in-kind partnerships” to attract flights addition to the Alamo City.

4. Affordable luxury bus service runs to San Antonio with fares as low as $15. Starting in April, San Antonio became the eighth Texas city served by RedCoach. The San Antonio stop is at 165 Bowie St., near the downtown San Antonio Marriott. San Antonio riders can travel to five Texas locations: Austin, Dallas, Houston, Richardson and Waco. Fares are up to $15 each way.

5. Spirit Airlines flies to San Antonio with 2 new destinations in 2023. Following its long-awaited debut at San Antonio International Airport (SAT), Spirit Airlines celebrated the official launch of service on November 17 with a special announcement. Adding two new destinations to its list of departures, the budget airline will fly from San Antonio to a total of four cities daily, starting in 2023.

6. Enter the new Stranger Things experience at the Texas Mall. An immersive experience based on the Netflix hit Foreign things premiering in May at Grapevine Mills Mall in North Texas. It includes some of the show’s most popular locations, “cool merchandise and rad activities.”

The first Stranger Things store opened in Grapevine Mills on May 25.

Official Facebook/Stranger Things Store

7. Low-cost airline resumes nonstop flights from San Antonio to 2 major US cities. Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines launched nonstop service from San Antonio to two major cities: Atlanta and Philadelphia. Frontier previously offered nonstop service from San Antonio to the two cities, but then dropped both routes.

8. These are the 9 best hotels in San Antonio, says Condé Nast Traveler. Condé Nast Traveler published a list of what it claims are the nine best hotels in San Antonio. In no particular order, they are: Hotel Havana, Thompson San Antonio, Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, The St. Anthony, Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk, La Cantera Resort & Spa, Hotel Emma, ​​JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, and Hotel Menger.

9. 2 happy campers break away to recharge in a small cabin in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Outposts are trendy tiny house “resorts” that allow city folk to escape to nature in a slightly opulent way – to switch off digital devices, relax and recharge our internal batteries – ” peasant without the need to toughen up,” they advertise. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Getaway operates approximately 20 locations across the United States, including three in Texas less than two hours outside of major cities.

10. Texas’ only ski lift bike park takes you to new heights in the Hill Country. At Spider Mountain Bike Park in Burnet, what goes up must come down. Located on Lake Buchanan about two hours north of San Antonio in the Hill Country, the attraction is the only year-round ski lift bike park in the US (in fact, it’s the only place in Texas with a ski lift, period ). )