When my friends Jessica and Ismail invited me on vacation to JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, I jumped at the chance. As a spa enthusiast, it’s long been on my bucket list for having one of the best spas in Texas but it’s probably the most famous for its epic water park that’s complimentary for resort guests. You heard me! Here are all the reasons why you should add JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa to your dream travel list.

The Room

My room (#5384 if you’re wondering) came with a king-sized bed and a fantastic view of the water park. Beautifully appointed with modern touches and a massive TV, I especially enjoyed the amount of counter space in the bathroom and the fact that there was both a tub and a large shower. Watch my room tour here:

The Water Park

The pool situation at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa blew me away. It looked great online but it really exceeded my expectations. The fact that you get access to the water park for no additional charge is a huge reason to stay at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. You never have to leave the resort! There are water slides, a huge pool, multiple hot tubs, an adults-only pool, cabanas, and a lazy river surrounding the entire water park. You can lounge in the sun or the shade and order food and drinks at the pool bar. The drinks are quite expensive but I loved both my strawberry daiquiri and piña colada with a rum float. 

The Food

The food at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa was great but the breakfast was outstanding. I can’t stop thinking about it! Even the “basic” continental breakfast had an incredible array of housemade pastries. I wish I could have brought back a dozen maple scones! The chocolate croissants are not to be missed either. The full buffet included hot dishes such as scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and breakfast potatoes, a delicious omelet bar, and even a breakfast taco bar. You know you’re in Texas when you see carnitas and salsa verde on the breakfast buffet! Even the coffee was delicious and I’m rarely impressed with resort coffee.

We ate at Cibolo Moon for dinner twice because, sadly, the steakhouse had a buyout the night we were going to dine there but we weren’t too disappointed because Cibolo Moon was delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed an old fashioned and filet mignon with mashed potatoes and crispy onions, the burnt ends with blue cheese served with flour tortillas (a hearty appetizer to be sure!), and the housemade biscuits with jalapeño strawberry jam. Jessica’s mole and Ismail’s ribeye with chipotle butter were also amazing.

I really have to highlight one dish in particular. The smoked chili queso is so good that dare I say it might be the best queso in Texas. Come for the queso, stay for the water park.

You can also order food poolside at the spa and my smoked salmon BLT was amazing. I’m still thinking about the lemon caper aioli. Delicious! 

The Spa

Speaking of the spa, I could not have been more impressed with Lantana Spa. I didn’t want to leave! There’s a steam room, sauna, aromatherapy room, and huge private pool available for spa guests. I booked the signature treatment, The Spirit of Curanderos Spa Journey, and felt like a new woman by the time I left.  Read all about my spa experience here.

The Amenities

Another huge perk of staying at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is the golf course. There’s even a view of the course from the adult’s only infinity pool! There’s also an arcade for kids, Top Golf, and a game room full of billiards, shuffle board, ping pong, and more. You even get two complimentary glasses of wine upon check in and trust me when I say, the house cabernet sauvignon is fantastic!

Final Thoughts

One thing I really appreciated about the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa was how beautifully landscaped the property is. I’m the kind of person who loves long walks to nowhere in particular and around every corner, there’s a delightful new scene for you to enjoy. The gardeners at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa clearly choose plants that attract butterflies and bees; the flowers were full of monarchs and bumblebees! 

The property itself has so much to love, from sweeping views of the Texas hill country to perks like free parking and complimentary welcome drinks. You feel that warm Texas hospitality from the moment you set foot on the property. This is the perfect family destination with so much for kids to enjoy, but also a wonderful spot for a girls trip  with a must-visit spa. I really cannot say enough good things about JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa – especially as the perfect weekend getaway from Dallas!