As I pondered ideas for spring break with the kids, I tried to find something that was not too far of a flight but met the things on my wish list. The list included pool(s), and perhaps one of these nice resorts with a lazy river or waterslide. Well, I got all three when I booked the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas.
Booking
The Hyatt Regency Hill Country is a Hyatt category 4, meaning it is 15,000 Hyatt points per night. Cash prices get expensive quickly. On average, rooms start at $200-$250 for a basic room and increase to $400-$500 for standard suites. Taxes and resort fees tack on about $90 average per night.
When you use points or a free night certificate at Hyatt properties, you avoid paying out of pocket for taxes and fees. My four night stay was $1,250, including all taxes and fees. Instead, I elected to use four of my Hyatt free night certificates, and paid $0 out of pocket! You can earn a yearly free night certificate with a Chase World Of Hyatt Visa (review).
I reached out to the resort ahead of time to check on occupancy for my stay. With Globalist status, I can get upgraded to a standard Hill Country Suite. I wanted to know what to expect since I had the kids with me. I was informed occupancy looked good, and that I would most likely get an upgrade.
Check In
I arrived about 1 PM. The valet was closed, but there was ample self parking. When the hotel is at high occupancy or on weekends, they have check-in at an entry gate. I was provided a pass to put in my window and did not have to stop in the future.
Check in was friendly and easy. The manager greeted us and went over several features of the resort. He admitted the rooms are a bit dated, but the property is starting a remodel. I was given an information sheet with all the activity and dining options for my stay. The hotel also has QR codes you can scan throughout the property. I was also informed that I was upgraded to the Hill Country Suite. I received a good breakdown of all the dining options and my globalist benefits ,which included $25 per person for breakfast.
Room
The room was large and spacious, although a bit dated. I loved having the large space with the kids, who shared the sofa bed. There was a refrigerator as well as a small coffee maker. The living area included a dining room table and a large TV. While there was a lack of usable outlets around the room, there was an outlet center by the coffee maker. It included two plugs and two USB ports. I just unplugged the coffee maker or lamp when not in use. That came in handy for keeping everything charged. The lighting was a bit odd–other than the entry way, all the lights turned on individually at each lamp. There was a nice wrap around balcony with chairs.
The bedroom was large and had a king bed and a large TV. There was a entrance to the deck which wrapped around to the living room. The bathroom was basic, but it had the sink separate from the toilet and shower area. Housekeeping showed up on the first morning much to my surprise. I had forgotten to ask, as I am accustomed to no service during COVID. It was nice to have the room serviced during our stay. You can view full video of room here.
Dining
Breakfast
As mentioned, I received a dining credit each day at breakfast with my Globalist status. The weekday breakfast included a menu with plenty of choices. I could not stop myself from ordering the chiliquiles breakfast bowl multiple times–it was so good. The kids' breakfast meals were $8, which was reasonable. Without status, I might have elected to stocking my small fridge since my kids are not big breakfast eaters. That being said, they were happy with the breakfast, especially the french toast with nutella.
Over the weekend, they had a full breakfast buffet! This included a taco bar and a made to order omelet station. I took a full video of the buffet, which you can view here.
Other Food Options
We ate dinner offsite during our stay, besides one take out meal for my daughter. This was to meet local friends and utilize my Uber Eats credits for the month.
During the day, we ordered food from the pool area bar and restaurant. Prices were reasonable for a resort. The kids usually shared a grilled cheese and fries for $9. The one day I had lunch, it was a chicken wrap for $13 which included a side item. Overall, the food was good and very reasonable for a resort. The bar menu also included beers for $7 and cocktails for $11. There was a bucket special where if you bought five beers you received one free. While ordering could be slow, food and drinks arrive quickly once the order was placed.
Pool
The number one reason I chose this resort was the pool area. You have a main activity pool, toddler pool, lazy river, waterslide and hot tub. The water levels throughout are labeled at three feet, which seemed to be accurate. There were a couple of deeper sections in the lazy river that were marked accordingly.
Pool Areas
There is also a beach area which had sand and even more shallow water for young kids. Want to learn how to surf and ride waves? There is a wave runner surfing area, available for 30 minute rentals with an extra fee. The activity pool leads into the lazy river through a cave area. It also features a basketball hoop. My kids loved the activity pool area.
We spent most of our time playing in and around the pool. My kids loved to float the lazy river, with frequent stops at the waterslide. The pool area (pool & lazy river) has extensive hours throughout the day (8 AM-10PM).
The resort also has an adults only area with a pool and hot tub, which is nice for those traveling without kids. Want see more of the property and pool area? Be sure to check out the highlights on our Instagram page.
Rest of Property
A large selection of bikes are available for daily use around the property. Plenty of trails line the resort and adjoining golf course.
The resort also offers nightly s'mores. Typically, this occurs outside in a large spacious area with fire pits. If weather does not permit, it moves inside to the large fireplaces. In addition, there are nightly movies on the lawn and a playground for the kids.
Final Thoughts
This was a fantastic getaway for my family. The property was a hit with my kids, and we never got bored during our stay. And yet, I feel like I did not even begin to touch on what the resort has to offer. Don't forget to check out our highlights on Instagram for even more pictures of the resort. Have you stayed here or at another Hyatt with great amenities? Come over to our Facebook group and let us know your thoughts.
