Full-Service Lodgings with Easy Highway Access

A 19th-century streetlamp, an undulating mid-ceiling, and marble floors seem to bend time in the expansive atrium lobby. Beyond a trim of red flowers, the bi-level indoor fountain trickles discreetly under limestone arches. Gold-fringed geometric tapestries mounted on the wall above the archways lend a sense of place, reflecting the San Antonio Marriott Northwest's southwestern charm. After an evocative stroll through the lobby, visitors ascend to a king or double room, where pillow-top mattresses and cotton-rich linens swaddle dreamers in crisp cocoons. The Marriott outfits its private bathrooms with shower-tub combinations roomy enough to accommodate calisthenic squeegee routines lathered by ambrosial Bath & Body Works amenities. For sunbathing and water lounging, the Marriott's outdoor sundeck summons swimmers with a heated pool surrounded by cream-colored lounge chairs. Teal umbrellas canopy round tables where patrons can enjoy casual continental fare from the nearby River City Cantina and relish views of the San Antonio skyline.

Indoors, Red Rim Bistro ushers guests into a contemporary dining room through a pair of black wrought-iron gates. Under a grid of knotted-wood ceiling beams, diners savor Texas-style comfort fare on red-backed benches while stained-glass windows impart polychromatic elegance.

San Antonio: Bustling Culture on Historic River Banks

San Antonio's famed River Walk unwinds 10 miles southwest of the Marriott, lacing a network of bridges and pathways along the downtown banks of the city's river. Pedestrian trails wend past lively restaurants and boutique shops, regaling visitors with an electric tour of the city's social and cultural epicenter. As passersby admire public art installations that ornament the downtown stretch in vibrant hues, boat-cruise guides escort passengers along the river and rattle off local history peppered with comical interjections. Included with this Groupon, two tickets to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema grant access to a widely acclaimed, upgraded movie-watching experience at the Park North location. Narrow tables along seating rows accommodate mid-show munching from a menu of pizza ($9.99+) and casual American fare. Alongside a full wine list ($5.50+), an extensive set of more than 60 draft and bottled beer selections features local breweries alongside mainstream staples ($3.50).

Visitors can immerse also themselves in the living cultural history of this Texas metropolis, starting at the Alamo, the most-visited tourist site in the state. The first of five historic Spanish mission churches clustered around the headwaters of the San Antonio River, this Texas Revolution battle site exhibits Davy Crockett's buckskin vest, a flintlock rifle, and a period knife.