Pets allowed

Facilities

Meeting rooms
Full-service spa
Fitness facilities
Front entrance ramp
Health or beauty spa nearby
Proposal/romance packages available
Express check-out
Free WiFi
24-hour front desk
Terrace
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Friendly staff
Spacious rooms
Excellent food
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Parking problems
Room maintenance concerns

Categories

Cleanliness
7.88
There were mentions of a smell of wetness and mold/mildew in one review, which negatively impacted sentiment about cleanliness.
Service
9.35
Staff was described as nice, friendly, and exceptional. Many guests praised the service, contributing positively to this category.
Location
9.39
Reviews frequently noted the hotel's great location, especially near the River Walk and attractions, indicating a strong positive sentiment.
Room Quality
8.34
Rooms were spacious and nice, but some reviews mentioned issues like a weak flushing toilet and difficulty with the AC.
Amenities
8.87
Guests appreciated amenities like the outdoor area and pool, though there were some remarks about lacking maintenance.
Value for Money
8.33
Some guests mentioned the parking situation as negative, impacting perceived value for money.
Food and Beverage
9.38
Food at the Ambler restaurant received specific praise for being amazing, indicating high satisfaction.
Overall Experience
8.85
The overall experience was generally positive despite some issues mentioned, resulting in an overall good perception.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 12:13

Property Description

Welcome to Hotel Contessa, your luxurious oasis in the vibrant heart of San Antonio!

Indulgent Spa Experience
Pamper yourself with a visit to our exquisite spa, offering a variety of rejuvenating massages, body treatments, and facials designed to revitalize your senses and ensure your relaxation.

Culinary Delights
Savor mouthwatering American cuisine at Ambler Texas Kitchen. Whether you prefer dining alfresco or enjoying room service, our offerings promise a delectable culinary journey complemented by a bar/lounge perfect for evening relaxation.

Premier Amenities
Dive into the outdoor pool or unwind in the hot tub after a workout in our 24-hour fitness center. With complimentary Wi-Fi, spacious meeting rooms, and professional concierge services, every guest's need is met effortlessly.

Book your unforgettable stay at Hotel Contessa today and embrace the ultimate comfort!

Important information:

  • The seasonal pool will be open from March to December.
  • Pool access available from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
  • Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • Children 17 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.
  • The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
  • The property allows pets in specific rooms only and has other pet restrictions (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section). Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.
  • Contactless check-out is available.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: SAT

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Maximum number of pets per room 2

  • Pets

    Service animals are exempt from fees/restrictions

  • Children and extra beds

    No rollaway/extra beds available

  • Noise policy

    Noise-free rooms not guaranteed

  • Check-in & Check-out

    Contactless check-out is available

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

8.8
Based on 455 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.88
Service: 9.35
Location: 9.39
Room Quality: 8.34
Amenities: 8.87
Value for Money: 8.33
Food and Beverage: 9.38
Overall Experience: 8.85
J
Jesper • couple • nl
8
Great hotel on a spot location at the riverwalk!
Pros:

Ruime kamer en direct aan de riverwalk

Cons:

Dure vallet parking terwijl hotel ook al redelijk prijzig was!

2026-06-20 • via Nuitee
W
Wei Ta • solo_traveller • sg
2
Ignored, Passed Around, and Deeply Disappointed
Pros:

The location is really good. The room was spacious and quiet.

Cons:

Firstly, I booked a room from June 11 to June 17. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to check out two days early.

Before leaving, I contacted the front desk to ask if the final two nights could be cancelled and refunded. The front desk staff told me to contact Booking.com directly. Booking.com then informed me that the decision was entirely up to Hotel Contessa. I reached out to the hotel multiple times through messages and email and received absolutely no response. Nothing. They simply ignored my requests and passed me around in circles. It was a frustrating and unacceptable experience.

Beyond the refund issue, I honestly find this hotel extremely overrated.

As a Singaporean Chinese visitor, I genuinely felt that I was treated differently by some members of the staff. The attitude towards me was cold, impatient, and dismissive. What made it worse was watching the same staff suddenly become warm, cheerful, and welcoming toward other guests. As a lifelong San Antonio Spurs fan who travelled halfway across the world to visit the city, it was disappointing to feel unwelcome while others appeared to receive entirely different treatment. Whether intentional or not, that was certainly how it felt.

The hotel itself is also showing its age. The toilet in my room was loose and literally shifted when you sat on it. Housekeeping was not automatically provided and had to be requested. The pillows were old, worn out, and had a noticeable smell, with the filling clumped together and hardened from years of use. Overall, this was one of the most disappointing hotel experiences I have had. Ironically, had Hotel Contessa simply responded to my requests and handled the refund situation professionally, I would probably have rated it a 5/10 despite the hotel's many shortcomings. Instead, the complete lack of communication, and apparent disregard for a paying guest dragged my experience down even further. San Antonio was the highlight of my trip. Hotel Contessa was not.

2026-06-19 • via Nuitee
J
justin • family_with_children • us
10
2026-06-18 • via Nuitee
A
Anvesh • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

Clean and accessible

Cons:

Though i asked for a good view they gave me a room with no view, other than some trees

2026-06-16 • via Nuitee
C
Cecilia • couple • us
6
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Parking on property is expensive

2026-06-16 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • extended_group • us
8
2026-06-15 • via Nuitee
B
Barrie • extended_group • us
10
Upscale stay and great location on the Riverwalk.
Pros:

The room was comfortable and stylish, and the staff was great, attending to all our needs.

Cons:

NA

2026-06-15 • via Nuitee
T
Tommy • couple • us
10
2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
S
Steve • solo_traveller • us
10
An excellent stay
Pros:

Rooms were clean. Staff was nice. Hotel as a whole was a very clean and nice looking place. Definitely using it from now on when in San Antonio.

2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
C
Christopher • couple • us
10
2026-06-13 • via Nuitee
D
donnachristman • Family • Granbury, Texas
6
Probably won’t return.
Pros:

It is sad to leave this review as I’ve always looked forward to staying at this hotel when in San Antonio. My mother had passed away and I needed a couple nights to just get away. We arrived much earlier than expected and I called to see if there was any chance with getting an early check-in. Upon contacting the hotel I was told no, however after being put on a brief hold, I was told I could for a $40.00 fee. I really didn’t care, as I needed to get in a room to relax and take my mind off the last several days. Upon arrival, a wonderful person named Eddie met us and was a breath of fresh air. We checked in and he escorted us to our room. He opened the door and as I entered, I see……shoes…..luggage….towels and said, A….. someone is in this room!! We slowly backed out, Eddie contacted the front desk and asked that we get a room that is unoccupied (made me laugh) and we were given a new room. The evening was one of just wanting to relax and that we did. The next day, we spent the majority of the day on the Riverwalk and arrived back in our room around 3:00. Our room had yet to be cleaned, so we noticed housekeeping was a few doors away, so we went downstairs to the setting area and waited until 4:30. Figuring our room was cleaned, we go back, only to find it still not cleaned. However, housekeeping was one door away! At 5:15, I looked out and she was gone. I happened to see a couple ladies and asked when we could expect our room to be serviced. She looked confused and asked if we had the no service on our door and I said no, we had been waiting most of the afternoon. She looked on her phone, confused and said, they are still here, I said thank you. About 15 minutes later a young lady showed up at our door to clean and she was NOT happy!!(obvious by not answering us when saying, thank you). We are now waiting in the setting area at 5:30 waiting to go to our room so we can dress for dinner. Also, I have to mention that the ice-maker on our floor has been broken the whole time, so to get ice, I had to go to the 7th floor when I needed it. I probably need the exercise!! The outside seating was just dirty!! I consider this hotel to be a (upper class) hotel and……..I just feel disappointed in all that happened. I always loved staying here and I understand things happen, but….sad it all happened during this trip.

2026-06-10 • via Tripadvisor
K
KayYanna • couple • us
7
Pros:

It was right along the river. Wasn’t far from many things in the city. Perfect locations.

2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
K
Kimberly • couple • us
5
Pros:

I liked the room.

Cons:

Very pricey.
Breakfast was expensive.

2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
L
Laura • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
A
Alicia • couple • us
10
2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
L
Laura • couple • us
10
2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
D
D1452IEpatm • Couples • Littleton, Colorado
6
Fees galore
Pros:

We have stayed at the Hotel Contessa at least 3 times. It is a lovely hotel and has a very convenient location. We had several issues with our last stay. This hotel nickels and dimes you for everything. Parking is $59.00/day plus tax. They charge you a $20.00 amenity fee. Then there is a tax on the amenity fee. But the real irritant is that they are now charging you a credit surcharge of 3%. Seriously, who doesn't pay a hotel bill with a credit card?

I have tried contacting the hotel three times via different email addresses including one on their own website that was going to the front desk. I have not had one response.

2026-06-07 • via Tripadvisor
R
Rae • couple • au
10
Great location and value for money
Pros:

Great value for money. Great location on the river walk with friendly staff, awesome breakfast menu, and nice suites.

Cons:

The valet parking looked a little bit expensive so we just self parked at a 24 hour parking lot a couple blocks away which worked just fine

2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
S
Stacey • couple • us
9
2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
M
Michelle • couple • se
10
2026-06-07 • via Nuitee