Weekend Getaways: Everything’s Bigger in Texas

Photo courtesy of San Antonio Marriott Northwest 

The snow may fly in the North, but winter weather in Texas remains generally fine throughout the year, and there are hotel weekend packages for cultural events or just plain old fun at hotels in the legendary cities across the Lone Star State. Texas promises visitors renowned hospitality, cosmopolitan culture tamed by country sensibility, and multicultural heritage cultures indigenous to colonial, frontier to oil baron boom—not to mention it’s a great place to do some weekend “rustling.’”

Rustle up a Rodeo in San Antonio

Although San Antonio might be most famous for the Riverwalk, Mexican-American Culture, and a little mission called the Alamo, it’s also famous for its Rodeo, which runs from Feb. 9-26. The newly renovated San Antonio Marriott Northwest is offering affordable rates for visitors to the event, as well as a package tailor made for Rodeo-goers.

The Cowboy Rodeo Breakfast packages overnight accommodations, breakfast for two each morning, a bandana-wrapped welcome amenity with two bottles of local bear, plus a special dry snack, and transfers to public transportation for rides into the city for the festivities. Rates start from just $119 per night and are subject to availability.

Rustle up Romance in Big D

The Warwick Melrose Hotel is smack dab in the middle of Dallas’s vibrant Oak Lawn neighborhood, convenient to the dining and nightlife of Uptown and the tony parkland residences of Turtle Creek.

This Valentine’s Day the historic hotel is offering the Behind Closed Doors Package, which includes King Accommodations, a bottle of chilled sparkling wine with fruit and cheese upon arrival, chocolate truffle turndown service, overnight valet parking, 2:00 PM late check-out, and Wi-Fi. Package rates are subject to availability and start at $199. The package is upgradeable to include the Landmark Restaurant’s five-course Valentine’s Day Dinner on Feb. 11 and 14 for $75 per couple or $90 with wine exclusive of tax and gratuity, a significant discount over the publicly available prix fixe price to enjoy specialties such as Dutch Profiteroles or Persian Olive Oil Cake with crystallized rose petals.

Rustle up Sweetness in Austin

The first property to join The Leading Hotels of the World, the Hotel Granduca draws on the Italian inspiration of its sister property by the same name in Houston. Guests can marvel in the gracious style and hospitality of the Italian Renaissance while enjoying vistas of the city and surrounding hill country. The hotel is modeled on the 16^th-Century palazzo of the Granduca of Manfallito.

Through Feb. 28, the hotel is offering The Sweet Life Package, encouraging guests to “Book a suite, and get a sweet.” Suite rates from $249 are a 50 percent savings, and include a chef’s choice house made sweet amenity upon arrival and VIP turndown service each evening with chocolates. For Valentine’s Day rustlers, the Visconti Restaurant & Bar is also offering a three- or five-course prix fixe menu. 

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