Highlights: The Watermark Hotel & Spa

•The Watermark Hotel and Spa is an intimate hotel hidden on a small street in the heart of downtown San Antonio and right up against the famed Riverwalk

•The lobby’s décor has a sophisticated Wild West feel

•Large guest rooms are decorated with simple tones, and some feature a river view

•Pesca restaurant includes a stone-and-glass oyster bar and vintage wines

•Large meeting spaces and concierge services ready to cater to the needs of business travelers or corporate groups

•Hotel’s Mobil Four-Star-rated spa offers hydrotherapy and other treatments

Amenities: The Watermark Hotel & Spa

• 98 rooms. Pets accepted, some restrictions; fee. Check-in 3 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access. Two restaurants, two bars. Fitness room, fitness classes available, spa. Outdoor pool, whirlpool. Airport transportation available. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: The Watermark Hotel & Spa

Located alongside the famed Riverwalk, the Watermark Hotel and Spa in San Antonio, Texas, is convenient to all the downtown sites and is only a few blocks from the Alamo. Much of the area surrounding the hotel has been turned into a touristy kind of frontier town with the expected shops.

The art scene is exploding in San Antonio, with many museums, galleries, and craft centers nearby. The Mexican Market and city’s old town are within walking distance or, on a really hot day, a two-minute cab ride. Essentially, there isn’t a better location in all of downtown.

Nightlife is one of the main draws to this part of San Antonio. The Watermark Hotel and Spa is central to theater, jazz clubs, and restaurants. As a getaway destination, the hotel has fine dining, a great fitness center, and spa, and outside its doors guests can conveniently explore shopping, nightlife, and cultural activities.

Families will enjoy the hotel’s spacious rooms, and while the hotel has no special programs geared toward kids, it’s located in an area with many kid-friendly activities nearby.

This luxury property is warm, friendly, and elegant. The patina on the dark wooden floors in the lobby says it all: the place truly sparkles. The lobby is small, but not cramped, and it simply feels intimate and its large size feels very Texas.

For many, the Watermark’s Mobil Four-Star spa is the main draw. Plan ahead and make your spa reservations early, as it can be booked far in advance. Couples who enjoy the hotel as a romantic destination often book spa suites -- they can dine, walk hand in hand along the river, or enjoy the spa all from the hotel base.

Business visitors will find themselves in the heart of downtown and close enough to major highways to get to other parts of town, and the airport is only ten minutes away. When they aren’t busy working, business guests can promenade along the Riverwalk, cruise the scene or dine onboard a barge, or sit at the hotel restaurant and watch the passing parade.

(+) Central location near many attractions and a beautiful Riverwalk
(-) No programs geared toward children, but hotel is located near numerous kid-friendly activities

Guest Services: The Watermark Hotel & Spa

The staff at The Watermark Hotel and Spa is young, friendly, multicultural, and multilingual. The reservation agent described the rooms well and accurately, and she did offer to make those all-important spa reservations.

Doormen are pleasant and friendly as they bring your luggage into the lobby, and check-in is swiftly done. The bell staff is personable and often uses your name as they familiarize you with the services. The concierge team is friendly and able to provide maps, dining tips, and shopping suggestions. Although the staff is warm and welcoming, at times it didn’t have the polish expected of a Mobil Four-Star property.

Turndown service is nicely and precisely staged, and I liked coming into my room to a CD playing -- a nice, dramatic touch. I was disappointed that housekeeping overlooked some small details, such as emptying the wastepaper baskets and replenishing bathroom products. I was also disappointed with the delay from housekeeping in delivering my requested amenity. However, when it did arrive, it was wrapped beautifully in a gift bag.

(+) Turndown service is well timed with personal touches
(-) Bathroom amenities not replenished as expected

Guest Rooms: The Watermark Hotel & Spa

The Watermark Hotel and Spa has 98 guest rooms, spread in a T-shape, so only a few are alongside the river and feature a river view. River rooms are not as noisy as you would expect, thanks to double-paned window glass. Those who are fussy about their room’s view should steer clear of the rooms overlooking the courtyard roof and air conditioning units.

The Texas theme in the public areas of the hotel is played down in the guest rooms, so that the most remarkable feature becomes the room size, the height of the ceilings, and the bathroom. The guest rooms and bathrooms are contemporary and quite large. There’s a wrought iron, four-poster bed in each room draped in white linens, and layered and filled with lush pillows. A Down duvet is present to further tempt you into the sleep zone. The furnishings have a modern theme, but are still warm and comfy. The combination of leather, suede, chenille, and brass nail heads provides for a slight Texas feel without being overdone. A lot of light comes in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, which can give you a relaxing, uplifting feeling.

A welcoming amenity of dried fruit and water greets each guest on arrival, and at turndown a CD is playing to welcome you back. The spacious room has a Texas-sized desk with high-speed Internet access. The room is luxurious enough to serve as a romantic and plush getaway.

(+) Large, bright rooms with contemporary décor are welcoming

Facilities & Activities: The Watermark Hotel & Spa

The Mobil Four-Star-rated Watermark Spa is a highlight when staying at the hotel. The Spa features four suites, with its own concierge staff, and many of its treatments are related to hydrotherapy, which makes sense considering the name of the hotel and its location along the river. Often times it’s booked with couples, mother-daughter teams, or girlfriends, so make your reservation early.

The fitness center is located on the eighth floor and features state-of-the-art equipment and individual TV’s for those using cardio machines. Classes are available in the mornings only, with no personal trainers. If you need to use a locker room, you’ll have to go to the locker area near the second-floor spa. Although center staff offered me water, clean towels, and a headset when I arrived, I was disappointed that they were not attentive during my visit.

For sun and relaxation, guests can take advantage of the hotel’s rooftop pool and café. The pool is available year-round, and the café offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The location offers a stunning view of San Antonio.

(+) World-class spa and updated fitness center available for relaxation
(-) Fitness center staff isn’t as attentive as expected

Dining & Lounge: The Watermark Hotel & Spa

You can have tea or drinks in the intimate lobby, even by the fireplace or you can head down one level to the Pesca Restaurant, which is alongside the river with indoor and/or outdoor dining. Often culinary events are held in the restaurant, and the stone-and-glass oyster bar is a big draw. Guests at the Watermark Hotel and Spa are invited to dine across the river at the Mansion del Rio, the hotel’s sister property, and can sign the charges to their room.

For more privacy, guests can take advantage of room service. My room service order was taken expertly, although the attendant didn’t know the daily specials and had to go to get the list. The room service menu is features a number of seafood choices, yet alternative options were somewhat limited. Although the quality of the room service food was good, I was somewhat disappointed with the presentation.

(+) Sophisticated restaurant serves excellent food
(-) Room service presentation not as polished when compared to restaurant dining

Business Services: The Watermark Hotel & Spa

Some guests of The Watermark Hotel and Spa, including business travelers, like to sit in the lobby and work on their computers while sipping iced tea. For a more formal setting, glamorous meeting space is available on the ground and river levels with state-of-the-art technology, including an electronic white board and individual data ports. The Saddlery is the largest space with 1,333 square feet of space, the downstairs boardroom is 347 square feet, and the River Room is 837 square feet. A private dining room is located between the restaurant and the meeting space for meal-meeting combinations.

Desks in each guest room are large enough to spread out and get down to business. A business center isn’t available in the hotel, although guests may use the one in the Mansion del Rio, the sister hotel across the river. Concierge services will provide all business services if needed, such as getting you a laptop or running to Kinko’s for supplies.

(+) Concierge services and large meeting spaces provided