JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

Character and identity

Spread across more than 600 acres of Texas Hill Country, this is a resort built at the scale of a small town: 1,002 rooms (including 85 suites, all refreshed in 2019), a Pete Dye golf course, 40 event spaces, eight dining concepts, and a sprawling water park with four slides, a lazy river and a man-made beach. The design palette is neutral, with wallpapers and carpets drawing on natural patterns. Lantana Spa, adults-only, takes its cues from Latin American curandero traditions. Service is friendly and well-meaning, if stretched by sheer volume. Standouts on the dining roster include 18 Oaks for an upscale brunch buffet and a cavernous sports bar with a near-football-field-length screen.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The water park and the sheer breadth of on-site activity are what justify the trip; this is a family resort first, and it delivers on that brief at scale. Book a golf-view suite or adjoining rooms if you're travelling with kids, use the pre-arrival concierge to lock in cabanas and tee times, and factor the mandatory resort fee into your budget.