There are a lot of reasons to love San Antonio and Austin, Texas for your next luxury vacation getaway. San Antonio is all about sightseeing, shopping, and fun. Start at the River Walk and take in the treasures along the way of this world-renowned 15-mile urban waterway. Tucked quietly below street level and only steps from the Alamo, the River Walk is the best way to navigate the city. You can’t beat visiting during the 10 days of nonstop fun that is Fiesta, and make sure you shout “show me your shoes”, as it’s part of the Fiesta vernacular…. locals will know what you mean! Austin is known for outstanding food, great live music venues, fantastic quirky culture and friendly locals. Whether watching the bats fly from Congress Avenue Bridge, biking around Lady Bird Lake or taking in the arts culture, Austin has it all. Join your favorite Luxury Travel Consultant as we head back to the Lone Star State to finish up our Texas Triangle Tour!
Hotel Emma
Starting in San Antonio, we head to the very cool Hotel Emma. Once a 19th century Brewhouse, the 146 rooms which include 7 top floor suites, are hip and unconventional with all the comforts you’d expect. You’ll be greeted at check-in with Emma’s signature La Babia Margarita, as you take in the blend of historical elements balanced with funky and chic surrounds. Located in the super trendy and thriving Pearl section of downtown San Antonio, where you’ll not only find The Alamo, but also the twice weekly farmer’s market. Take time to browse the array of independent shops for everything from custom-made guayaberas (Cuban men's summer shirts) to ultra-chic clothing and jewelry. You might want to take one of the hop on/hop off river taxis with a stop right at The Emma, as it meanders down through cypress trees, historical buildings, shops and eateries.
Austin Proper Hotel and Residences
About an hour and a half from San Antonio is Austin, Texas, where our first stop is the Austin Proper Hotel and Residences, centrally located in downtown’s Second Street District, just steps from Lady Bird Lake and the legendary Austin City Limits music venue. Austin Proper offers 244 rooms and suites, a dedicated spa, fitness center with wellness sessions and classes, and a beauty of a rooftop pool, for majestic lake views. The Kelly Wearstler designed rooms and suites are a wonderful mix of textures, patterns and materials to recreate the iconic Austin Craftsman style. Stop into Goldie’s Sunken Bar, an intimate 30-seat lounge with small-batch spirits, craft beer and seasonal lite bites.
Fairmont Austin
Fairmont Austin, is the 37-story luxury hotel, featuring 1,048 richly appointed guest rooms and suites. The Fairmont Gold Experience, with suites located on the 32nd through 35th floors, feature private check-in and lounge, with outstanding views of Austin’s skyline. It is just one block from the ‘must see’ Rainey Street. Here you will find the cutest Craftsman bungalows converted to quirky bars and restaurants, many featuring back patio bar live music performances. Check out Lucille’s Patio Bar in the heart of Rainey Street. The outdoor patio features games, shade and hammocks. This is where you go for local Texas beers on tap, low key music and the best people watching.
Lake Austin Spa Resort
With more than 300 sunny days a year, Austin provides the ideal climate to enjoy some spa time. Located slightly outside of the city, start your retreat journey on a Luxe Water Taxi across Lake Austin to Texas Hill Country, where you will find Lake Austin Spa Resort, a Travel + Leisure Top 10 Destination Spa in the U.S. Positioned along the shores of scenic Lake Austin, the resort presents thoughtfully curated luxury vacation packages. You’ll find the accommodations in one of the 40 exclusive guest rooms to be quaint and comfortable, and your stay will include three gourmet meals, indoor and outdoor activities and classes, and over 100 spa services and treatments to choose from. Although the spa selections are immense, the overall feel of the resort is not. Imagine being invited to your best girlfriend’s lake house, with beautiful lakefront views, and the ability to dine with your robe on! You might be running to or from one of your amazing spa treatments, so what’s a girl to do? Being on the lake places this property in a unique category, as there are few destination spas in the world that are right on the water. We tried everything from stand-up paddle boarding, to bikes on the water, to balance board fitness! We hiked every morning and even squeezed in a scenic pontoon ride around the lake. The culinary offerings are fresh and delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed making homemade ravioli with the chef and savoring our activity afterwards. With its slowed down pace, including walks in the garden and yoga on the deck overlooking the lake, you still feel entitled to some hammock time, and that’s just the way it should be!
Miraval Austin
Our final stop is the spa resort at Miraval Austin, a luxury property that focuses on well-being and purpose. Located on 220 acres in the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, Miraval offers transformational opportunities for change via meditation, fitness, outdoor adventure, hiking, yoga, equine, farm activities, and culinary experiences. All of these are to assist you on your own individual journey for a more balanced life. Miraval is comprised of 107 rooms and suites designed with a stream lined zen feel, with in-room meditation and pillows, Tibetan singing bowls, and cell-phone sleeping bags. It is a unique reminder in today’s busy world to step back and digitally detox for a bit. You will work with their team to customize your daily schedule from a wide array of immersive activities and spa therapies. You will be able to choose from Wellbeing, Outdoor Adventure, Equine, Culinary & Nutrition, Yoga & Fitness and Sustainable Living. It is all about challenging your “perception of ability” and rewriting your narrative about “how deep you can go; how much you can grow and how fully you can thrive”. With guidance from the team of experts, healers and teachers, you will create your own journey, with activities like cardio-drumming, Astro Forecast, A challenge course, or Quantum Leap (25-foot bungee drop). These activities meant to pull you out of your comfort zone, are designed to be more than physical. The ethos behind Miraval Austin is to provide you with enduring tools to find your path for change and then have the tools to sustain them. On the subject of sustainability, Miraval’s honeybees are a key component. There is a strong commitment to educating and sustaining this most important pollinator, giving guests a hands-on experience to see, feel and taste. Miraval has also raised the bar with Cypress Creek Farm. The ecosystems provide a diversity of plants and produce that are fresh and organic, connecting you to the unusual terrain and soul of the soil they sprout from. You are able to experience this first hand through chicken keeping, mushroom forging or a comprehensive farm tour experience.
WIT has very close relationships with these properties, so we can extend exclusive perks and special amenities to our clients. Typically, you will receive complimentary breakfast for two daily, $100 or more resort credit to be utilized during your stay, room upgrade, either at the time of booking or arrival, and early checkin-in/late checkout, both subject to availability.
At Well Inspired Travels, we love being luxury travel consultants and creating the ultimate experiences for you. So, pack your digital bags and follow us as we uncover exceptional luxury and wellness focused vacations. Check-in regularly for our top five-star travel ideas and tips, and as always, we continue to stay strong WIT you!
