San Antonio is a great city and very tourist friendly. Discovered that is was much less expensive to take a taxi instead of a shuttle to the hotel. There were five in our party and the trip to the hotel was less than $30. The shuttle would have been $16 per person!!! We stayed at the Marriott Riverwalk. It is in a great location but other than that, it was a disappointment. The property is in need of a total renovation. The lobby, rooms, public areas, and outdoor spaces are tired and worn. From the decor to the furnishings, everything looked like it belongs in a 1 * hotel. On a positive note, the bedding and pillows were quite comfortable. We ate at the following restaurants:

Texas Republic-Drinks and appetizers. Nothing special. Don't waste your time.

Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery-A true cultural experience with good margaritas and average food.

Maria Mia-Was a bust. The refried beans were burnt, which in turn made the burritos and enchiladas taste horrible. Service was poor. Our server was in training and has a ways to go!!

Luciano Italian-Wasn't good. In fact one person in our party said the lasagna was so bad he sent it back. The rest of our meals were ok. Service was good.

Boudro's-Good food. The place is small, crowded, and loud. Service was good. We went for lunch and made it back to our meeting within an hour.

Little Rhein Steakhouse was excellent but pricey. The salads, steaks, salmon, and sides were all absolutely delicious. We would return for another meal.

The "Q" at the Hyatt Regency was a nice lunch spot. Their pasta bar is made to order and was delicious. You choose the pasta, ingredients and sauce and it is cooked in front of you. The meal included a variety of salads, desserts, vegetables, bread, and soup. The sandwiches ordered by several in our party were reported to be very good. Service was outstanding.

Getting around town: Use the elevators to get to the Riverwalk. Study the map and take the elevator that puts you on the side of the river where the shop or restaurant you are going to is located. Also, check for access at the street level. It saves a few steps. Use the trolley system. It is convenient and inexpensive and the routes are set up well and include many of the tourist areas.