Menger Hotel

“17 years of memories at the Menger Hotel and counting”

As lifelong San Antonio residents, we’ve stayed at many hotels around the city, but the Menger Hotel will always be our favorite staycation destination. For us, it isn’t just a hotel—it’s a tradition, a place filled with memories, history, and a little bit of mystery. My husband and I have been co… more

As lifelong San Antonio residents, we’ve stayed at many hotels around the city, but the Menger Hotel will always be our favorite staycation destination. For us, it isn’t just a hotel—it’s a tradition, a place filled with memories, history, and a little bit of mystery. My husband and I have been coming to the Menger every year for the past 17 years. We usually plan our trip around a birthday or our anniversary, and over the years we’ve always stayed in our favorite room, the Lillie Langtry Suite (Room 2015). It has become such a meaningful part of our tradition that it almost feels like coming home each time we visit. This year, after the recent ownership change, we weren’t able to stay in our usual suite. Instead, we stayed in the Sydney Lanier Suite (Room 2025). At first we were disappointed because we had such an attachment to our traditional room, but it ended up being a wonderful surprise. We really enjoyed experiencing a different part of the hotel, and it reminded us that every corner of the Menger has its own unique charm and history. About five years ago, our tradition grew. What started as a special getaway for just the two of us has become an annual summer tradition with our children. Being able to share a place that means so much to us with our kids has been incredibly special. They love history just as much as we do, and they always look forward to hearing the haunted legends and ghost stories surrounding the hotel. Watching them experience the same excitement we felt years ago has made our family tradition even more meaningful. One of the things we love most about the Menger is its atmosphere. The beautiful historic architecture, the peaceful courtyard, the heated pool, and the authentic shops that celebrate San Antonio’s Hispanic culture all make the experience feel unique. Being located right next to the Alamo and within walking distance of Rivercenter Mall makes it even more convenient. There’s simply something magical about walking through the halls of a hotel that has welcomed guests for over a century. Now, if you’re looking for a luxury resort with brand-new amenities, the Menger may not always check every box. The rooms show their age, the showers aren’t always the most modern, and during the Texas summer the air conditioning can struggle to keep the rooms as cool as we’d like, even on the lowest setting. But honestly… those things have never been why we come back. We return year after year because of the ambiance, the history, the incredible staff, and the memories we’ve made here. Those things have always outweighed any minor inconveniences. One thing we did notice this visit—and honestly, it made us a little sad—was that the hotel’s signature scent was gone. If you’ve stayed at the Menger before, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about. That fragrance became part of the experience and instantly made it feel like the Menger. We later found out the scent is CORINTHIAN No. 1859 by Soular Therapy, and we truly hope the hotel considers bringing it back because it was such a memorable part of walking through the lobby. Finally, we’d like to recognize two employees who made this trip incredibly memorable. Priscilla at the front desk was wonderful. She was kind, patient, and genuinely cared when we experienced an issue with some of the room amenities. Her professionalism and willingness to help made us feel valued as returning guests. We also cannot say enough wonderful things about April Morales from Loss Prevention. She went so far above and beyond for our family that she became one of the highlights of our stay. She was always happy to see us, checked in on us throughout our visit, and truly cared about making sure we had a memorable experience. When parts of our vacation didn’t go as planned, April stepped in with kindness, compassion, and genuine hospitality that completely changed the direction of our stay. She reminded us why we’ve continued choosing the Menger for nearly two decades. Thank you, April, for turning the lows of this trip into new memories we’ll always cherish. We sincerely hope we have the opportunity to see you again on our next annual stay. The Menger Hotel isn’t perfect—and honestly, that’s part of its charm. It’s a living piece of San Antonio history filled with stories, traditions, and people who genuinely care about their guests. After 17 years, it still feels like one of our favorite places to escape without ever leaving our hometown. We’ll be back next year… just like we always are.

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