Planning a trip to San Antonio

Neighborhoods in Brief

Although it lies at the southern edge of the Texas Hill Country, San Antonio itself is mostly flat. Streets are jumbled, especially in the old parts of town, while a number of the thoroughfares leading in and out of town wind along old Spanish trails or 19th-century wagon trails.

MAIN ARTERIES & STREETS: Most of the major roads in Texas meet in San Antonio, where they form a rough wheel-and-spoke pattern. There are two loops: I-410 circles around the main part of the city, while Hwy. 1604 forms an even larger circle outside of that, with a 13-mile radius. You may hear locals referring to something as being “in the loop”—that doesn’t mean it’s privy to insider information, but rather, that it lies within the circumference of I-410 (or as locals call it, Loop 410), and is therefore in central San Antonio. The spokes of the wheel are formed by highways I-35, I-10, I-37, U.S. 281, U.S. 90, and U.S. 87, although occasionally two or three of these merge together on their ways in or out of town.

Within the city, Broadway Street, McCullough Avenue, San Pedro Avenue, and Blanco Road are all major thoroughfares leading north from downtown into the most popular shopping and restaurant areas of town. Fredericksburg Road goes northwest out to the Medical Center from just northwest of downtown. St. Mary’s Street, which turns into Roosevelt Avenue, and South Presa Street, work as arteries to the south.

LOCATING AN ADDRESS: Few locals are aware that there’s any method to the madness of finding downtown addresses, but in fact, directions are based on the layout of the first Spanish settlements—back when the San Fernando cathedral was at the center of town. Market Street is the north-south divider, and Flores separates east from west. Thus, South St. Mary’s becomes North St. Mary’s when it crosses Market, with addresses starting from zero at Market going in both directions. North of downtown, San Pedro is the east-west dividing line, although not every street sign reflects this fact.

There are few clear-cut rules like this in Loop land, but on its northernmost stretch, Loop 410 divides into east and west at Broadway, and at Bandera Road, it splits into Loop 410 north and south. Keep going far enough south, and I-35 marks yet another boundary between east and west. Knowing this will help you a little in locating an address, and explains why, when you go in a circle around town, you’ll notice that the directions marked on overhead signs have suddenly completely shifted.

Neighborhoods in Brief

Like other Sunbelt cities, San Antonio has a relatively compact downtown nucleus, encircled by old neighborhoods and commercial areas, which then give way to wide stretches of suburbia. The older areas described here, from downtown through Alamo Heights, are all “in the loop” (I-410). The Medical Center area in the Northwest lies just outside it, and the rest of the Northwest, as well as North Central, is now expanding even beyond Loop 1604.

We’ve used the designations most locals use to refer to the neighborhoods, though they’re not necessarily reflected on maps. For example, though the Pearl Brewery is technically in the area called Tobin Hill, few locals use that neighborhood’s name anymore. Rather, they just say “I’m going to the Pearl” or “it’s just north of the Pearl.” Similarly, areas that are commonly used as reference points might overlap two neighborhoods. For example, the Broadway Cultural Corridor—which is a Chamber of Commerce-type designation, but one that’s often used—straddles both the Monte Vista and Alamo Heights neighborhoods.

Bottom line: You’re in the sprawling Southwest, which doesn’t do neighborhoods like East Coast cities do.

DOWNTOWN

Site of San Antonio’s original Spanish settlements, this vibrant tourist hub includes the Alamo, Market Square, La Villita, the San Fernando Cathedral . . . really, almost all the major historic sights. It’s also home to the newer River Walk, the convention center, theaters, and the hotels, restaurants, and shops that rose in their wake. The 23-story Frost Bank tower is seen by many as a sign of downtown’s rebound as a banking and business center. The area lags in residential development, and many homeless still roam the streets, but mixed-use housing is promised as part of the ongoing Hemisfair Park development. The area is bounded by I-37 to the east, I-35 to the north and west, and U.S. 90 (which merges with I-10) to the south. Note: The Alamodome and the adjacent Sunset Station, a restored 1902 train depot, along with the AT&T Center, home to the Spurs, are generally considered to be downtown, even though they are east of I-35.

KING WILLIAM

The city’s first suburb, this historic district directly south of downtown alongside the San Antonio River was settled in the mid- to late 1800s by wealthy German merchants who built some of the most beautiful mansions in town. It began to be gentrified in the 1970s, and, at this point, you’d never guess it had ever been allowed to deteriorate. A few of the area’s impeccably restored homes are open to the public—the Guenther House, the Steves Homestead Museum, and Villa Finale—and others have become bed-and-breakfasts. It can be a good, quiet base for exploring downtown and Southtown, but it has few restaurants or large hotels.

SOUTHTOWN

Alamo Street marks the border between King William and adjoining Southtown, which is often considered King William’s business district. Depressed for years, it became trendy by the start of the 21st century, when its Main Street was refurbished and the Blue Star Arts complex opened; the 2019 completion of the Ruby City contemporary art museum adds to its artistic clout. It’s now a hot neighborhood, where rising real estate values have almost driven out older Hispanic businesses in favor of hip restaurants and shops (although many of those properties are still owned by Hispanic landlords, who carry plenty of political weight in this city).

SOUTHSIDE

Home to four of the five historic missions, the city’s earliest settlements, the old, largely Hispanic southeast section of town begins where Southtown ends (there’s no agreed-upon boundary, but it’s roughly a few blocks south of the Blue Star Arts complex). Once a string of quiet working-class neighborhoods, it’s begun to be developed as the Mission Reach section of the River Walk draws increasing numbers of visitors. The area near the decommissioned Brooks Air Force Base is developing especially fast; other recent conversion projects include the remodeled South Park Mall and the Mission Marquee Plaza, formerly the Mission Drive-In Theater.

PEARL/BROADWAY CULTURAL CORRIDOR

Directly north of downtown, the older Tobin Hill neighborhood has regained new life with the development of the wildly popular Pearl culinary and entertainment campus, which is where most locals go for fun these days rather than to downtown. The old St. Mary’s Strip entertainment drag has been revived by proximity to the Pearl as well. This part of town is full of cranes and scaffolding these days, evidence that it’s become a hot place to live as well as play. At the north end of the Museum Reach section of the River Walk, the Pearl is also adjacent to the Broadway Cultural Corridor, so named because of the attractions clustered here—the San Antonio Museum of Art, the San Antonio Botanical Garden, the Witte Museum, and the DoSeum. If you take it to its northernmost point, you'll be in Alamo Heights.

MONTE VISTA/OLMOS PARK

Further north, above the Pearl, Monte Vista was established at the turn of the 20th century by a conglomeration of wealthy cattlemen, politicos, and generals who moved “on to the hill.” The Monte Vista Historic District, more architecturally eclectic than King William, is the largest historic district in the U.S. and home to Trinity University (est. 1869). A number of the area’s large houses have been split into student apartments, but many others have been restored. North of Monte Vista, high-end Olmos Park was developed in the mid-1920s by oilman/real estate mogul H. C. Thorman. In both neighborhoods you’ll find several bed-and-breakfasts, located on quiet streets within easy reach of downtown, and a number of good dining spots.

ALAMO HEIGHTS

In the 1890s, when construction began in this area northeast of downtown, Alamo Heights was at the far reaches of San Antonio. It’s now a ritzy residential neighborhood, with many fashionable shops and restaurants. Here you’ll find the upscale Alamo Quarry shopping mall, as well as shop-lined Broadway and New Braunfels Avenue. Most of this section of town shares the 78209 zip code—thus the local term “09ers,” shorthand for the area’s affluent residents. The McNay Museum of Art is in this neighborhood, and Brackenridge Park, which contains the San Antonio Zoo and the Japanese Tea Garden.

NORTH CENTRAL/NORTHEAST

San Antonio is inching toward Bulverde and other Hill Country towns via this major northside corridor, between Loop 410 and Loop 1604, east of I-10 and west of I-35; it’s bisected by U.S. 281. This is where you’ll find the San Antonio airport as well as Morgan’s Wonderland and Inspiration Island theme park. Lots of high-end homes have been built in the posh Stone Oaks area, which also has great shopping and restaurants (although too far from the city center to be covered in this book). The down side of all this growth? Terrible traffic at U.S. 281 and Loop 1604, especially in the afternoons.

NORTHWEST

Mostly characterless neighborhoods surround the South Texas Medical Center (always referred to as just the Medical Center), where most of San Antonio’s hospitals and health care facilities are located. But the farther north you go in this prime growth area, which includes Six Flags and Friederich Park, the nicer the housing complexes get. Several high-end resorts and golf courses have cropped up just beyond Loop 1604, along with the Shops at La Cantera (San Antonio’s fanciest retail center) and the RIM mall and entertainment complex.

FAR WEST

Although SeaWorld has been out here since the late 1980s, the former ranches and farms along Loop 1604 between I-10 and Hwy. 90 weren’t developed until comparatively recently. Now the West is booming with mid-price housing developments, strip malls, schools, and businesses. As with other areas on the outskirts of town, road building hasn’t kept pace with growth, so traffic can be a bear—be prepared for congestion.

Tips for Travelers with Disabilities

Disabled travelers will find the same facilities that are present in other major American cities thanks to the federal laws governing accessibility, specifically the Americans with Disabilities Act, which continues to be revised with new standards for design added in 2010, and the Air Carrier Access Act. Local cab companies and mass transit agencies offer service to travelers with disabilities.

Almost all public establishments (including hotels, restaurants, museums, and so on, but not including certain National Historic Landmarks), and at least some modes of public transportation provide accessible entrances and other facilities for those with disabilities.

San Antonio has worked hard to make itself friendlier to wheelchair users. The River Walk Trolley Station, for example, was built with a large elevator to transport people down to the water. Contact the San Antonio Department of Public Works (tel. 210/207-7245, voice and TTY) for additional information, or log on to the website of San Antonio's Disability Access Office (www.sanantonio.gov/ada). At this website you can get maps that show River Walk access points and downtown parking places.

If you're not bringing your own car, several taxis have been equipped with lifts and ramps; Yellow Cab (tel. 210/222-2222) has the most. For more information about their accessible taxis go its website, www.yellowcabsa.com, and click on the wheelchair accessible icon. The downtown trolleys and 100% of the public buses are now accessible. For VIA Trans Disabled Accessibility Information, phone tel. 210/362-2240, or click on the "Accessible Service" section of www.viainfo.net.

If you have any doubt about the accessibility of certain destinations, check out the Weekender section of the San Antonio Express-News, which includes accessibility symbols for restaurants, theaters, galleries, and other venues.

Tips for Senior Travelers

For museums and attractions, you can expect most senior discounts to run between 5% and 15%.

Money

Things in San Antonio tend to be moderately priced, especially for a large city that’s a major tourist hub. You can drop a lot of money here, but you’ll also find plenty of hotel and restaurant bargains. Museums and other indoor attractions won’t break the bank.

It’s always advisable to bring money in a variety of forms on a vacation: a mix of cash, credit cards, and ATM cards. Credit and debit cards are the most widely used form of payment: You must have a credit card (not a debit card) to rent a car, and hotels usually require a credit card imprint as a deposit against expenses. Increasingly, however, people are using smart phones linked to bank accounts instead of credit or debit cards: Apple Pay for iPhones and other devices with iOS platforms (www.apple.com/apple-pay/where-to-use) and Google Pay for Android devices (https://pay.google.com/about/where-to-use).

Frommer’s lists prices in the local currency. The currency conversion rates we list here were correct at press time, but rates fluctuate—before you leave on your trip, consult a currency-exchange website such as www.xe.com to get up-to-the-minute rates.

What Things Cost in San Antonio (in US$)

Ride-share from airport to city center: 24.00

Adult fare day pass on bus San Antonio: 2.75/2.50

Gallon of gas (Texas average): 2.60

Double at St. Anthony Hotel, San Antonio (expensive): 300.00

Double at Holiday Inn Express—San Antonio Riverwalk (inexpensive): 89.00

Dinner for one, without wine, at Bliss in San Antonio (expensive): 65.00

Dinner for one, without beer, at Schilo’s, San Antonio (inexpensive): 12.00

Long-neck beer, bar: 5.00

Soft drink at restaurant: 2.00

Cup of espresso: 3.50

Movie ticket, adult (average): 11.00

Health & Safety

Safety

The crime rate in San Antonio has gone down in recent years, and there's a strong police presence downtown (in fact, both the transit authority and the police department have bicycle patrols); as a result, muggings, pickpocketings, and purse-snatchings in the area are rare. Still, use common sense as you would anywhere else: Walk only in well-lit, well-populated streets. Also, it's generally not a good idea to stroll south of Durango Avenue after dark.

Crime -- San Antonio is a safe city. Violent crime occurs less frequently than in the average American city. In fact, of the 32 largest cities in the U.S., San Antonio ranked the eighth safest according to a firm that sorts through crime data for the United States. Still, you will want to avoid tempting fate by keeping off the low-traffic areas of the River Walk at night, and staying close to groups of other people. You also need to protect yourself from the opportunistic thief, especially purse-snatchers in the downtown area. Take care not to leave your possessions unattended on a chair at a restaurant or bar, and when walking around the downtown area at night, keep them tucked under your arm.

The other most common areas for visitors, the Monte Vista and King William neighborhoods, are usually safe to stroll around in late at night, but the same cannot be said for the area south of King William, which closes down early and doesn't have many pedestrians at night.

Staying Connected

Mobile Phones

To have the use of a cellphone while visiting San Antonio, the easiest thing to do is buy a cheap prepaid cellphone. These are for sale in various outlets, but the cheapest and easiest way to get a phone is probably through the local H-E-B grocery stores. This chain has entered into business with a local company called Pocket Wireless (www.pocket.com), which has other independent outlets. Go to the website for locations, or go to www.heb.com to use a store locator.

Internet & Wi-Fi

If you have your own computer, access points for the Internet abound in San Antonio. Most likely you'll be able to use the hotel or bed-and-breakfast where you'll be staying. If you are seeking to avoid a charge for the service, you can go to a public library. The downtown branch (tel. 210/207-2500) is at 600 Soledad St., at the corner of Navarro, in the northern section of downtown. It offers laptops for use in the library, which make use of the free Wi-Fi. Most coffee shops in downtown San Antonio offer free Internet access.

Getting There

By Plane

The two-terminal San Antonio International Airport (SAT), 8 miles north of downtown, is compact and easy to navigate.

After being a construction zone for several years, the airport completed new rental car and short-term public parking facilities at the end of 2017. For the most up-to-date information on new construction; added features, including a cell-phone waiting area; parking availability at the airport lots; and even the time it’s likely to take you to get through TSA checking (Terminal A only), log on to www.sanantonio.gov/SAT. There’s also a 24/7 information line, tel. 210/207-3433.

Getting into Town from the Airport — Loop 410 and U.S. 281 S. intersect just outside the airport. If you’re renting a car here, it should take about 15 to 20 minutes to drive downtown via U.S. 281 S. Most hotels within a mile or two provide free shuttle service to and from the airport (check when you make your reservation). If you’re staying downtown, however, you’ll most likely have to pay your own way.

VIA Metropolitan Transit’s bus no. 5 is the cheapest ($1.30) way to get downtown, but also the slowest; it’ll take from 35 to 40 minutes. Pick it up at the far west end of Terminal B. SuperShuttle (www.supershuttle.com/locations/sanantonio-sat; tel. 800/258-3826), with a booth outside each of the terminals, offers shared van service from the airport to downtown hotels for $18 per person one way, $34 round-trip. If you download the mobile app, you can often get a discount. The drawback of this service is that you often share your ride with several others, who may be dropped off before you. You don’t have to book in advance for pickups at the airport, but you must make an online reservation or phone 24 hours ahead to arrange a pickup when departing.

A series of ride-share stations line the lower level of Terminal A. Uber.com and Lyft.com are among the approved vendors; the police give extra vetting to the drivers in those companies who want to pick up passengers at the airport. Expect to pay about $24 to go from the airport to downtown.

There’s also a taxi queue in front of each terminal, past all the ride-share stations. If you don’t want to hassle with trying to find your Lyft or Uber driver among the waiting crowds when you arrive, it may be easier to take a cab, if more expensive: You’ll pay approximately $35 to get downtown.

By Bus

San Antonio’s bustling Greyhound station, 500 N. St. Mary’s St. (www.greyhound.com; tel. 210/270-5868), is located downtown about 2 blocks from the River Walk. The station, open 24 hours, is within walking distance of a number of hotels, and many public streetcar and bus lines run nearby.

By Car

If you're visiting from abroad and plan to rent a car in the United States, keep in mind that foreign driver's licenses are usually recognized in the U.S., but you should get an international one if your home license is not in English.

If you plan to rent a car in the United States, you probably won't need the services of an additional automobile organization. If you're planning to buy or borrow a car, automobile-association membership is recommended. AAA (American Automobile Association; tel. 800/222-4357; www.aaa.com) is the country's largest auto club and supplies its members with maps, insurance, and, most important, emergency road service.

As has been said of Rome, all roads lead to San Antonio. The city is fed by four interstates (I-35, I-10, I-37, and I-410), five U.S. highways (U.S. 281, U.S. 90, U.S. 87, U.S. 181, and U.S. 81), and five state highways (Hwy. 16, Hwy. 13, Hwy. 211, Hwy. 151, and Hwy. 1604). In San Antonio, I-410 and Hwy. 1604, which circle the city, are referred to as Loop 410 and Loop 1604. All freeways lead into the central business district; as noted before, U.S. 281 and Loop 410 are closest to the airport.

San Antonio is about a 4-hour drive from Dallas, a 3-hour drive from Houston, and an hour and a half from Austin.

The most cost-effective, convenient, and comfortable way to travel around the United States is by car. The interstate highway system connects cities and towns all over the country; in addition to these high-speed, limited-access roadways, there's an extensive network of federal, state, and local highways and roads.

By Train

San Antonio’s train station is located at 350 Hoefgen St., in St. Paul’s Square, on the east side of downtown near the Alamodome and adjacent to the Sunset Station entertainment complex. Lockers are not available, but Amtrak will hold passengers’ bags in a secure location. Information about the city is available at the main counter. For train schedules and fees, go to Amtrak (www.amtrak.com; tel. 800/USA-RAIL [872-7245]).

Calendar of Events

Please note that the information contained below is always subject to change. For the most up-to-date information on these events, call the number provided, or check with Visit San Antonio (www.visitsanantonio.com; tel. 210-244-2000).

The Fiesta City -- San Antonio's nickname refers to its huge April bash, but it also touches on the city's tendency to party at the drop of a sombrero. It's only natural that a place with strong Southern, Western, and Hispanic roots would know how to have a good time. Elaborately costumed festival queens, wild-and-woolly rodeos, and parades and mariachis are rolled out year-round.

January

Martin Luther King, Jr., March and Rally and Dreamweek, various venues. Started in 1987, this has become the country’s largest march in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a nearly 3-mile walk through San Antonio’s east side. It’s the centerpiece of activities for DreamWeek San Antonio, a 16-day series of events designed to foster diversity dialogues (www.sanantonio.gov/mlk, tel. 210/207-7084; and www.dreamweek.org). Mid-January.

February

Stock Show and Rodeo,AT&T Center. San Antonio hosts more than 2 weeks of rodeo events, including music, a farmers market, and carnivals. It’s been running since 1949 (www.sarodeo.com; tel. 210/225-5851). Early February.

March

Bud Light St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Are leprechauns responsible for turning the San Antonio River green—and for turning the beer emerald? Irish dance and music fill the Arneson River Theatre from the afternoon on; kid-friendly events include face-painting and gold coin hunting (www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events; tel. 210/227-4262). St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Contemporary Art Month, various venues. More than 400 exhibitions at more than 50 venues make this month a contemporary art lover’s heaven (www.contemporaryartmonth.com; tel. 210/630-0235). Throughout March.

April

Crafts Day/Starving Artist Show, River Walk and La Villita. Nearly 900 artists from throughout Texas sell their works, with proceeds going to benefit the Little Church of La Villita’s program to feed the hungry (www.lavillita.com; tel. 210/226-3593). First weekend in April.

Fiesta San Antonio, various venues. What started as a modest marking of Texas’ independence in 1891 is now a huge 11-day event, with an elaborately costumed royal court, parades, balls, foodfests, sports events, concerts, and art shows (www.fiesta-sa.org; tel. 210/227-5191). Late April (always includes Apr 21, San Jacinto Day).

May

Tejano Conjunto Festival, Rosedale Park and Guadalupe Theater. Sponsored by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, this annual event celebrates south Texas’ lively blend of Mexican and German music (www.guadalupeculturalarts.org; tel. 210/271-3151). Mid-May.

Culinaria Festival, various venues. This multi-day food extravaganza includes wine tastings and seminars, haute cuisine sampling, and food truck grazing (www.culinariasa.org; tel. 210/822-9565). Mid-May.

June

Texas Folklife Festival, UTSA Institute of Texas Cultures. Ethnic foods, dances, crafts demonstrations, and games celebrate the diversity of Texas’ heritage (www.texancultures.com; tel. 210/458-2300). Early June.

Juneteenth, various venues. The anniversary of the 1865 announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation is the occasion for a series of African-American celebrations, including an outdoor jazz concert, gospelfest, parade, picnic, and more (www.juneteenthsanantonio.com; tel. 210/843-7805). June 14 and 15.

San Antonio CineFestival, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. The nation’s oldest and largest Chicano/Latino film festival screens more than 70 films and videos over 4 days (www.guadalupeculturalarts.org; tel. 210/271-3151). Second weekend in July.

August

Restaurant Week, various venues. Special tasting menus and other incentives draw food-lovers to sample the fare at many of the city’s dining spots (www.culinariasa.org; tel. 210/822-9565). Late August.

September

World Heritage Festival, San Antonio Missions. Five days of celebration at San Antonio’s missions include biking and walking tours, art exhibits, picnics, food trucks, and music (www.sanantonio.gov/WorldHeritage; tel. 210/207-2111). First weekend in September.

Diez y Seis, various venues. Mexican independence from Spain is feted at several spots around the city, including La Villita, Market Square, the Arneson River Theatre, Guadalupe Plaza, and the Pearl complex (www.getcreativesanantonio.com). Weekend nearest September 16.

Jazz’SAlive, Travis Park. Bands from around the world come together for a weekend of hot jazz (www.saparksfoundation.org; tel. 210/212-8423). Third weekend in September.

October

Oktoberfest, Beethoven Halle and Garten. San Antonio’s German roots show at this festival with food, dance, oompah bands, and beer (www.beethovenmaennerchor.com; tel. 210/222-1521). Early October.

Mala Luna Music Festival, Nelson Wolff Stadium. Headliners in hip-hop, EDM (electronic dance music), and Latin music join local musicians and artists at this 2-day festival benefitting the Miracle League of San Antonio (www.malalunafestival.com). Halloween weekend.

November

Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony. With trees and bridges illuminated by some 122,000 lights, this floating river parade kicks off the Paseo del Rio Holiday Festival (www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com; tel. 210/227-4262). Day after Thanksgiving.

December

Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, downtown and south. Looping from Market Square past the historic missions and ending up at the Alamodome, this marathon features rocking bands along the route to inspire participants to keep their feet moving (www.runrocknroll.com/en/events/san-antonio). Early December.

Entry Requirements & Customs

Passports

For Residents of Australia: You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For Residents of Canada: Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca). Note: Canadian children who travel must have their own passport. However, if you hold a valid Canadian passport issued before December 11, 2001, that bears the name of your child, the passport remains valid for you and your child until it expires.

For Residents of Ireland: You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and over age 65 must apply for a 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 021/272-525) or at most main post offices.

For Residents of New Zealand: You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office or download it from their website. Contact the Passports Office at tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100, or log on to www.passports.govt.nz.

For Residents of the United Kingdom: To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-year passport for children under age 16), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency, or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410 or search its website at www.ukpa.gov.uk.

Visas

For information about U.S. visas, go to http://travel.state.gov and click on "Visas." Or go to one of the following websites:

Australian citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information from the U.S. Embassy Canberra, Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (tel. 02/6214-5600) or by checking the U.S. Diplomatic Mission's website at http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/consular.

British subjects can obtain up-to-date visa information by calling the U.S. Embassy Visa Information Line (tel. 0891/200-290) or by visiting the "Visas to the U.S." section of the American Embassy London's website at www.usembassy.org.uk.

Irish citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information through the Embassy of the USA Dublin, 42 Elgin Rd., Dublin 4, Ireland (tel. 353/1-668-8777), or by checking the "Consular Services" section of the website at http://dublin.usembassy.gov.

Citizens of New Zealand can obtain up-to-date visa information by contacting the U.S. Embassy New Zealand, 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington (tel. 644/472-2068), or get the information directly from the "For New Zealanders" section of the website at http://wellington.usembassy.gov.

Customs

San Antonio has an international airport with Customs inspectors, but most visitors will have already passed through Customs at another port of entry. The only regularly scheduled international flights into San Antonio originate in Mexico and a couple of Central American countries.

Tips for Families

The San Antonio edition of the free monthly Our Kids magazine includes a calendar that lists daily local activities oriented toward children. You can read it online at http://sanantonio.parenthood.com; order it in advance from 8400 Blanco, Ste. 201, San Antonio, TX 78216 (tel. 210/349-6667); or find it in San Antonio at H-E-B supermarkets, Wal-Mart stores, Hollywood Video, and most major bookstores.

When to Go

Most tourists visit San Antonio in summer, though it’s not the ideal season. The weather is hot, and restaurants and attractions tend to be crowded. That said, there are plenty of places to cool off around town, and hotel rates are slightly lower (conventioneers come in the fall, winter, and spring). Also consider that some of the most popular family-oriented attractions, such as SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, keep far longer hours when school’s out.

In fall and spring, temperatures are comfortable for exploring. If there’s a large convention in town, downtown hotels will have high occupancy rates and, consequently, higher prices. Tip: Check out the “Meeting Professionals” calendar on the Visit San Antonio website to see what meetings are planned for the time you’re planning to visit.

Winter is a slow season for San Antonio hotels, and good deals can be had. December, in particular, is a great time to see San Antonio, if you don’t mind running the risk of cold weather (see below). The River Walk is all lit up with lights, and piñatas are hung everywhere.

San Antonio is the most popular in-state destination for Texans, many of whom come for the weekend. This, too, can raise room rates for hotels on the River Walk, but not necessarily for downtown business hotels or hotels in the vicinity of the airport. Try these options on weekends for discount rates.

Pack for weather contingencies, even in summer. You never know when an unexpected cool front or storm system will blow in. And you can depend on needing a sweater or light jacket when you go out to eat. Air-conditioning in many San Antonio restaurants is cranked up to frigid levels—maybe to compensate for how many warm bodies they pack in, maybe to keep patrons from lingering too long.

From late May through September, expect regular high temperatures and often high humidity.

Fall and spring are prime times to visit; the days are pleasantly warm and, at least in late March or early April, the wildflowers in the nearby Hill Country will be in glorious bloom. Temperate weather combined with lively Christmas celebrations make November and December also good months to visit. Sometimes a “Norther” wind blows in, dropping daytime temperatures to between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit (4°-10°C). January and February can be colder, but not necessarily—it’s a matter of luck.

Holidays

Banks, government offices, post offices, and many stores, restaurants, and museums are closed on the following legal national holidays: January 1 (New Year’s Day), Martin Luther King, Jr., Day (3rd Monday in January), Presidents’ Day (3rd Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), July 4 (Independence Day), Labor Day (1st Monday in September), Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October), Veterans Day/Armistice Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November), and December 25 (Christmas). The Tuesday after the first Monday in November is Election Day, a federal government holiday in presidential-election years (held every 4 years).

Tips for Gay and Lesbian Travelers

San Antonio has a large, but not exceedingly visible, gay and lesbian population. To get info about activities, check out the website www.outinsanantonio.com. It has columns, blogs, and a calendar of events, all of which give one a pretty good idea of what the local gay community is involved in and how to connect with it. Another source of information is QSanAntonio (www.qsanantonio.com). It's mainly a news site with a large business listings section. If you stay at the Painted Lady Inn, a lesbian-owned bed-and-breakfast at 620 Broadway (tel. 210/220-1092), you can also find out all you want to know about the local scene. In addition, the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, 922 San Pedro (tel. 210/228-0201; www.esperanzacenter.org), often screens films or has lectures on topics of interest to gay, lesbian, and transgender travelers.

Escorted & Package Tours

Tourism in San Antonio and Austin hasn't gotten to the point where companies are arranging packaged coach tours of the region, but some companies do offer special-interest tours for a day or half-day to sites in the Hill Country. Gray Line Tours (tel. 800/341-6000; www.grayline.com) offers a daylong bus tour of the Hill Country from San Antonio and another through the same area focusing on Hill Country wineries.

Si Texas Tours (tel. 888/748-3927 or 840/460-4565; www.sitexastours.com), which operates out of the Hill Country town of Bandera, occasionally offers bus tours of the Hill Country, but usually serves as a charter service for groups.

From Austin, Wine Tours of Texas (tel. 877/693-0800 or 512/458-5466; www.winetoursoftexas.com) offers a variety of winery tours through the Texas Hill Country, either half-day or full-day trips. They can accommodate almost any size group. Texas Toast Culinary Tours (www.texastoastculinarytours.com), based in Fort Worth, Texas, will occasionally offer tours to small-town barbecue joints in central Texas around Austin.

Historic Texas Tours (tel. 210/467-2534; www.sanantoniofoodietours.com), based just outside of San Antonio, offers half-day food tours of the city.

Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism

Both San Antonio and Austin are Sunbelt cities organized around the personal automobile. But this doesn't mean that using a rental car is necessarily the best way to explore them. Most of their attractions are located at their cores, which can be explored on foot or by bus. San Antonio's downtown is so attractive and enjoyable it invites walking -- and having a car is, in fact, a liability, not an advantage. And when you need to go slightly farther out, to the Southtown or Monte Vista areas, you can take one of the three trolley bus lines which are color-coded, easy to use, and cost efficient ($1.10). At the visitor center you can pick up a pamphlet with the routes.

Austin's downtown is not quite as attractive as San Antonio's, but it is just as walkable. And if you're not a big walker, any number of buses can get you around downtown and a bit farther south to the SoCo district, or north to the university campus. The city's new light rail line, as it is presently operated, doesn't offer much utility to visitors, but there are plans to build a light rail line between Austin's downtown and the airport. If this project gets approval, it won't be completed until 2015. At present, several buses in Austin Metro's fleet are powered by propane to reduce pollution, and a few more have hybrid power systems. Austin also has an advantage over San Antonio in that it is very bicycle friendly and growing more so each year. There are bike lanes on several downtown streets. From downtown, riders can cross Lady Bird Lake into South Austin very safely. The South First St. Bridge has separate lanes for bikes and pedestrians that are completely removed from car traffic, and next to the South Lamar Bridge is a bridge built solely for runners, walkers, and cyclists. Heading north from downtown, riders can use one of several bike lanes leading into the University of Texas campus. From there, bike lanes lead in all directions, blanketing central Austin.

Austin prides itself on being a green city. In electrical use and generation, Austin leads the country with its conservation programs and investment in wind energy. Austin Energy, the municipal utility company, has won recognition for its work from the utility industry associations and the Department of Energy. The city is generally ranked among America's greenest cities by several organizations, including the Green Guide and Popular Science, who include several energy-usage factors in making their determination.

Though San Antonio isn't at quite the same level of greenness as Austin, it excels in one particular area -- water conservation. This came about more through need than initiative, because San Antonio is dependent for its water on the Edwards Aquifer, a finite resource. To control its water usage, San Antonio has built the largest water recycling and distribution system in the nation. It has also put in place several programs to promote private efforts at water conservation.

Fast Facts

Area Code — The telephone area code in San Antonio is 210. The area code for most of the Hill Country towns, including Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and New Braunfels, is 830.

Automobile Organizations — Auto clubs will supply maps, suggested routes, guidebooks, accident and bail-bond insurance, and emergency road service. The American Automobile Association (AAA) is the major auto club in the United States. If you belong to an auto club in your home country, inquire about AAA reciprocity before you leave. You may be able to join AAA even if you're not a member of a reciprocal club; to inquire, call AAA (tel. 800/222-4357). AAA is actually an organization of regional auto clubs, so look under "AAA Automobile Club" in the White Pages of the telephone directory.

Business Hours — Banks are usually open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm. Many banks have 24-hr. ATMs in lobbies or via drive-through windows. Drive-up windows are open 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to noon on Saturday. Office hours are generally weekdays from 9am to 5pm. Shops tend to be open from 9 or 10am until 5:30 or 6pm Monday to Saturday, with shorter hours on Sunday. Most malls are open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm, Sunday from noon to 6pm.

Crime and Safety — The crime rate for both property and violent crime in San Antonio has risen in recent years, so there’s a strong police presence downtown; as a result, muggings, pickpockets, and purse snatchings in the area are rare. Use common sense as you would anywhere else: Walk only on well-lit, well-populated streets.

Dentist — To find a dentist, contact the San Antonio District Dental Society, 14603 Huebner Rd., Ste. 2403 (www.sadds.org; tel. 210/732-1264). Your hotel should be able to provide good referrals, too.

Disabled Travelers — In San Antonio, the Disability Access Office, Municipal Plaza Building, 114 W. Commerce St., 9th fl. (www.sanantonio.gov/DAO; tel. 210/207-7135), is a good resource for travelers with disabilities. Among the resources on its website are a map of places that offer wheelchair access to the River Walk, and details on where to find Audible Pedestrian Signals for the Visually Impaired. Public transportation in San Antonio is not accessible to all, but the VIAtrans Paratransit service (www.viainfo.net/viatrans-paratransit; tel. 210/362-2140) provides shared-ride door-to-door service for those requesting it at least a day in advance. As this service is primarily for residents, an application must be provided and approved in advance. Yellow Cab vehicles for wheelchair users can be booked through the company’s website (www.yellowcabsa.com/wheelchair-taxi-service) or app, or by phoning tel. 210/222-2222 and specifying that you require a wheelchair-accessible taxi.

Doctors — Check your medical insurance plan in advance to see if there are physicians in your network in the city you’re visiting. For a referral in San Antonio, contact the Bexar County Medical Society at 4334 N. Loop 1604 W. (www.bcms.org; tel. 210/301-4391), Monday through Friday 8am–5pm. Another option is Urgent Care facilities—found either through your insurance network, or an online search—if you need to see a physician quickly and don’t want to pay emergency room prices.

Drugstores — CVS (www.cvs.com; tel. 800/746-7287) and Walgreens (www.walgreens.com; tel. 800/925-4733) are the major chains. Most are open late every day; some Walgreens are open 24 hours. There's a CVS downtown at 211 Losoya/River Walk (tel. 210/224-9293). Call tel. 800/925-4733 to find the Walgreens nearest you; punch in the area code and the first three digits of the number you're phoning from and you'll be directed to the closest branch. Most H-E-B grocery stores also have pharmacies.

Electricity — Like Canada, the United States uses 110-120 volts AC (60 cycles), compared to 220-240 volts AC (50 cycles) in most of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. If your small appliances use 220-240 volts, you'll need a 110-volt transformer and a plug adapter with two flat parallel pins to operate them here. Downward converters that change 220-240 volts to 110-120 volts are difficult to find in the United States, so bring one with you.

Embassies & Consulates — All embassies are located in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. Some consulates are located in major U.S. cities, and most nations have a mission to the United Nations in New York City. Call for directory information in Washington, D.C. (tel. 202/555-1212), or log on to www.embassy.org/embassies.

Emergencies — Call tel. 911 for police, the fire department, or an ambulance.

Family Travel — With its three major theme parks and museums galore for kids to enjoy, San Antonio is one of the family friendliest places to visit in the country. A good online resource for up-to-date happenings is https://sanantonio.kidsoutandabout.com. Click here for more suggestions.

Gasoline (Petrol) — Petrol is known as gasoline (or simply "gas") in the United States, and petrol stations are known as both gas stations and service stations. Gasoline costs almost half as much here as it does in Europe (about $2.80 per gallon at press time), and taxes are already included in the printed price. One U.S. gallon equals 3.8 liters or .85 imperial gallons.

Holidays — Banks, government offices, post offices, and many stores, restaurants, and museums are closed on the following legal national holidays: January 1 (New Year's Day), the third Monday in January (Martin Luther King, Jr., Day), the third Monday in February (Presidents' Day), the last Monday in May (Memorial Day), July 4th (Independence Day), the first Monday in September (Labor Day), the second Monday in October (Columbus Day), November 11 (Veterans Day/Armistice Day), the fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day), and December 25 (Christmas). Also, the Tuesday following the first Monday in November is Election Day and is a federal government holiday in presidential-election years (held every 4 years, and next in 2012).

Hospitals — The main downtown hospital in San Antonio is Baptist Medical Center, 111 Dallas St. (www.baptisthealthsystem.com; tel. 210/297-7000). The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, 333 N. Santa Rosa St. (www.chofsa.org; tel. 210/704-2011), is also downtown. Contact the San Antonio Medical Foundation (tel. 210/614-3724) for information about other medical facilities in the city.

Hot Lines — Contact the National Youth Crisis Hot Line at tel. 800/448-4663; Rape Crisis Hot Line at tel. 210/349-7273; Child Abuse Hot Line at tel. 800/252-5400; Bexar County Adult Abuse Hot Line at tel. 800/252-5400; and Poison Control Center at tel. 800/764-7661.

Internet & Wi-Fi — Most hotels, inns, and Airbnbs offer access to Wi-Fi; although there’s often an extra charge in the rooms, where it’s secure, many hotels have (nonsecure) signals in their lobbies. Most coffee shops also offer free Wi-Fi. Public libraries are a great place to plug in to free Wi-Fi networks or even work on a library computer. See the San Antonio Public Library site (www.mysapl.org/Services/Additional-Services/Public-Computers-Wifi).

Legal Aid — If you are "pulled over" for a minor infraction (such as speeding), never attempt to pay the fine directly to a police officer; this could be construed as attempted bribery, a much more serious crime. Pay fines by mail, or directly into the hands of the clerk of the court. If accused of a more serious offense, say and do nothing before consulting a lawyer. Here the burden is on the state to prove a person's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and everyone has the right to remain silent, whether he or she is suspected of a crime or actually arrested. Once arrested, a person can make one telephone call to a party of his or her choice. Call your embassy or consulate.

Libraries — San Antonio's main library is located downtown at 600 Soledad Plaza (tel. 210/207-2500).

Liquor Laws — Texas liquor laws are complicated, with many arcane regulations on the books. What you need to know: In San Antonio, packaged liquor may be sold between 10am and 9pm Monday through Saturday, but not on Sunday, though you can buy beer and wine on Sunday after noon. On Sunday, alcoholic beverages may not be served in bars and restaurants until noon. Last call in Texas is at 2am (some restaurants and bars have licenses that permit them to sell alcohol until later.) The legal age to buy and consume alcohol in Texas is 21, but anyone over age 5 is permitted to drink under a parent’s supervision.

LGBT Travelers — San Antonio has a large, but not exceedingly visible, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population. The top info resources are the San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce (www.salgbtchamber.org; tel. 210/504-9429); and Out In SA (www.outinsa.com), a lifestyle site with comprehensive listings of LGBT-friendly events and activities, along with news, food and nightlife reviews, health and fitness tips, and more. The Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, 922 San Pedro (www.esperanzacenter.org; tel. 210/228-0201), often screens films or has lectures on topics of interest to LGBT travelers. Click here for nightlife suggestions.

Lost Property — Be sure to tell all of your credit card companies the minute you discover your wallet has been lost or stolen and file a report at the nearest police precinct. Your credit card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the loss. Most credit card companies have an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is lost or stolen; they may be able to wire you a cash advance immediately or deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two. Visa's U.S. emergency number is tel. 800/847-2911 or 410/581-9994. American Express cardholders and traveler's check holders should call tel. 800/333-2639. MasterCard holders should call tel. 800/627-8372 or 636/722-7111.

If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks and American Express offices are closed, you can have money wired to you via Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com).

Mail — If you aren't sure what your address will be in the United States, mail can be sent to you in your name, c/o General Delivery, at the main post office of the city or region where you expect to be. (Call tel. 800/275-8777 for information on the nearest post office.) The addressee must pick up mail in person and must produce proof of identity (driver's license, passport, and so on). Most post offices will hold your mail for up to 1 month, and are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Generally found at intersections, mailboxes are blue with a red-and-white stripe and carry the inscription U.S. MAIL. If your mail is addressed to a U.S. destination, don't forget to add the five-digit postal code (or zip code), after the two-letter abbreviation of the state to which the mail is addressed. This is essential for prompt delivery.

Newspapers & Magazines — The San Antonio Express-News (www.mysanantonio.com) is the city’s daily newspaper; San Antonio also has a free alternative weekly, The Current (www.sacurrent.com), which has a skimpy print version but a good online presence.

Police — Call tel. 911 in an emergency, tel. 311 if the call is not urgent. The stranded/disabled motorists line for the Texas Highway Patrol is 800/525-5555.

Postal Services — To find the closest United States Postal Service office to you, go to www.usps.com. UPS (www.ups.com) and FedEx (www.fedex.com) have several offices if you need to send packages.

Senior Travel — Seniors can expect to get $1 or $2 off the price of admission to museums and attractions. Golf resorts in the San Antonio area attract a lot of retirees.

Smoking — Smoking is prohibited in all public buildings and common public areas (that includes hotel lobbies, museums, bars, restaurants, enclosed malls, and so on). It is also prohibited in the following outdoor places in San Antonio: the San Antonio Zoo, all sports arenas and amphitheaters; within 20 feet of public transportation stations and shelters; and in all pavilions and playgrounds in city-owned parks. You need to be 21 years old to purchase cigarettes in San Antonio.

Taxes — The sales tax is 8.25%. In San Antonio, a city surcharge on hotel rooms raises the tax to a whopping 16.75%.

Taxis — Click here for more information.

Time Zone — San Antonio and Austin (and all of the rest of Texas except for the El Paso area) are in the Central Time zone. The continental United States is divided into four time zones: Eastern Standard Time (EST), Central Standard Time (CST), Mountain Standard Time (MST), and Pacific Standard Time (PST). Alaska and Hawaii have their own zones. For example, noon in New York City (EST) is 11am in Chicago (CST), 10am in Denver (MST), 9am in Los Angeles (PST), 8am in Anchorage (AST), and 7am in Honolulu (HST).

Daylight saving time is in effect from 2am on the second Sunday in March through 2am on the first Sunday in November, except in Arizona, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Daylight saving time moves the clock 1 hour ahead of standard time.

Tipping — In the U.S., most service personnel are paid lower wages with the expectation that they’ll make it up in tips. Don’t stiff the people whose job is to make your trip a success. In hotels, tip bellhops $5 and tip the chamber staff $5 per day. Tip the doorman or concierge only if he or she has provided you with some specific service. Tip valet-parking attendants $2–$5 every time you get your car. In restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, tip service staff and bartenders 15 to 20 percent of the check. (American restaurants usually don’t include a service fee in the bill.) Tip cabdrivers 15 to 20 percent of the fare, and tip skycaps at airports at least $2 per bag.

Toilets — You won't find public toilets or "restrooms" on the streets in most U.S. cities, but they can be found in hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, museums, department stores, railway and bus stations, and service stations. Large hotels and fast-food restaurants are probably the best bet for good, clean facilities. If possible, avoid the toilets at parks and beaches, which tend to be dirty; some may be unsafe. Restaurants and bars in resorts or heavily visited areas may reserve their restrooms for patrons. Some establishments display a notice indicating this. You can ignore this sign or, better yet, avoid arguments by paying for a cup of coffee or a soft drink, which will qualify you as a patron.

Visitor Information — The main office of the Official San Antonio Visitor Information Center is across the street from the Alamo, 317 Alamo Plaza (www.visitsanantonio.com/location/visitor-information-center; tel. 210/244-2000). Hours are daily 9am–5pm; it’s closed New Year’s Day, April 24, September 30, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Getting Around

Like other Sunbelt cities, San Antonio has a relatively compact downtown nucleus, encircled by old neighborhoods and commercial areas, which then give way to wide stretches of suburbia. Most visitors will have an easy time finding their way around the downtown area. For the rest of the city, they need only a general understanding of the freeway system and the locations of the major attractions that lie outside the center of town. The rest can be gleaned upon arrival. North of downtown, and not very far away, are the airport, several museums, and many of the best dining spots. To the southeast are the old Spanish missions. SeaWorld is on the far west side, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme park is in the far northwest.

I find that the freeways are laid out in a fairly reasonable pattern, and they're easy to use so long as you have a map. But you can avoid the freeways by using the main avenues and streets that crisscross the area. A map would be absolutely essential for this, and you should be aware that there are a few large, enclosed areas of town occupied by military installations, which you have to drive around. San Antonio and the military have a long relationship. Among members of the Army and Air Force, San Antonio is often referred to as Military City, and it is a favorite location for retired military personnel.

By Public Transportation

Bus—VIA Metropolitan Transit Service (www.viainfo.net; tel. 210/362-2020) offers regular bus service for $1.30, with an additional 15¢ charge for transfers. Express buses cost $2.60. You’ll need exact change if you don’t download the VIA goMobile app. You can also pick passes up at a VIA service center. A single day pass is $2.75 for unlimited use; 7-day passes cost $12.

Via has three VIVA routes designed to streamline visits for tourists. The VIVA Culture Route (buses 11, 11a, 11b) travels from downtown to the San Antonio Museum of Art, Japanese Tea Garden, San Antonio Zoo, Witte Museum, Brackenridge Park, and the Botanical Garden; the VIVA Missions (bus 40) goes from downtown to the four historic missions in the south; and the VIVA Centro (bus 301) takes you all around downtown, east side and west side. You can catch all of these VIVA buses at Alamo Plaza. Tip: During large festivals such as Fiesta and the Texas Folklife Festival, VIA offers many Park & Ride lots that allow you to leave your car and take a bus downtown.

RIVER TAXI—GO RIO river-taxi shuttles (www.goriocruises.com; tel. 210/227-4746) stop at locations along the Downtown Reach and Museum Reach sections of the River Walk; they run daily from 10am to 9pm. Tickets ($12 for unlimited rides for one day on either the Downtown Reach or Museum Reach sections, $16 for a dual ticket) are available from boat drivers—just wave from one of the marked stops—or at various hotels along the River Walk.

By Ride-share & Taxi

Uber.com and Lyft.com are both popular in San Antonio. Cabs are available outside the airport, near the Greyhound and Amtrak terminals (only when a train is due, though), and at major downtown hotels, but they’re next to impossible to hail on the street; most of the time, you’ll need to phone for one in advance. The best of the taxi companies in town and also the largest is Yellow Cab (www.yellowcabsa.com; tel. 210/222-2222), which has an excellent record of turning up when promised. There’s also an app for the company, which provides such services as wheelchair-accessible taxis. See this guide for more information about accessibility.

By Bicycle

San Antonio has a public bike-share program, SWell Cycle (formerly San Antonio Bcycle and still part of the Bcycle city network), with bikes available throughout the city at B-stations. Get the details, plus B-station locations and bike routes at https://sanantonio.bcycle.com or download the SWell Cycle app. Purchase passes at B-stations for 30-minute rides ($3). A 24-hour pass is $12, and monthly membership is $18 ($100 for entire year).

San Antonio has a compact downtown that is not generally easy to navigate by car. Many of the streets are narrow and one-way, and it can be tough to find a parking spot. Overnight parking at hotels is expensive. Bottom line: If you’re planning to stay downtown for all or part of your stay, it makes sense not to rent a car, or rent one only when you’re ready to do some touring outside the city. (Downtown San Antonio in particular is a treat for walkers, who can stroll from one tourist attraction to another or amble along a beautifully landscaped river.)

If you’re staying on the outskirts or in an area where parking isn’t a problem, it might be convenient to rent a car at the airport, but remember that airports may tack on facility charges or have higher tax rates than city offices. Also be sure to check if there’s an extra charge for returning your car to a different location.

All the national car rental companies operate in San Antonio and have desks at the airports. Companies include Alamo (www.alamo.com; tel. 800/651-1223), Avis (www.avis.com; tel. 800/352-7900), Budget (www.budget.com; tel. 800/218-7992), Dollar (www.dollar.com; tel. 800/800-5252), Enterprise (www.enterprise.com; tel. 855/266-9289), Hertz (www.hertz.com; tel. 800/654-4173), National (www.nationalcar.com; tel. 800/227-7368), and Thrifty (www.thrifty.com; tel. 800/367-2277). Most car rental agencies have a minimum age requirement—usually age 25. Some also have a maximum age limit. If you’re concerned that these limits might affect you, ask about rental requirements at the time of booking to avoid problems later.

Instead of going to the car rental companies directly, we recommend using AutoSlash.com. This nifty website applies every discount code around to your rental, finding you rates you won’t find elsewhere at all of the usual car rental outlets. But the savings don’t end there: Between the time you make your reservation and pick up your car, the company tracks the rental rate, and if it drops, AutoSlash automatically rebooks you at the lower rate. It’s miraculous.

INSURANCE—Make sure you’re insured. Hasty assumptions about your personal auto insurance or a rental agency’s additional coverage could end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars, even if you are involved in an accident that is clearly the fault of another driver.

If you already have your own car insurance, you are most likely covered in the United States for loss of or damage to a rental car and liability in case of injury to any other party involved in an accident. Be sure to check your policy before you spend extra money (around $15 or more per day) on the collision damage waiver (CDW) offered by all agencies.

If you use a major credit card (especially gold and platinum cards) to pay for the rental, it may provide some coverage as well. Terms vary widely, so call your credit card company directly before you rent, to learn if you can rely on the card for coverage. If you are uninsured, your credit card may provide primary coverage as long as you decline the rental agency’s insurance. If you already have insurance, your credit card may provide secondary coverage, which basically covers your deductible. However, note that credit cards will not cover liability, which is the cost of injury to an outside party and/or damage to an outside party’s vehicle. If you don’t hold an insurance policy, seriously consider buying the rental company’s additional liability insurance, even if you decline the CDW.

Texas Driving Rules