Sherman's Travel

If you’ve been tasked with visiting San Antonio on business, don’t feel disappointed – after all, you’ll fly into some of the country’s warmest weather, but you’ll also be showing up prior to the dog days of summer. In a nutshell, it’s the perfect time to visit. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into the River City, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings. Read more

Today’s breed of Halloween-themed attractions grows more terrifying every year, making the haunted hayrides of bygone eras look like tea parties in comparison. This year is no exception, as many venues have upped the fright factor with freaky new themes (bloodthirsty humanoid centipedes, anyone?), mazes designed for solo exploration, and more serial killer clowns than you can shake a scythe at.

Nobody seems scared off; in fact, brave souls are flocking to these Halloween attractions in such high numbers that many parks have added a fast-pass ticketing option that allows visitors to bypass the lines. Here are our picks for the scariest Halloween attractions in 2012. Check them out – if you dare. Read more

Planning a trip in the South? Skip the frisky screeners at TSA and take a bus instead, as Megabus expands its operations into Texas and other Southern states with fares as low as $1.

Beginning June 19, customers who book early can secure dollar seats from Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio to locations like Austin and other states like Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana. While prices go up as the traveling date gets closer, Megabus is giving away 10,000 free seats and capping the price of its tickets at $1 during the first week of sales to promote its new service. Read more

Situated along San Antonio’s iconic River Walk, the 338-room Omni La Mansión del Rio boasts an inviting Spanish colonial vibe. Built in 1852, today the hotel encompasses a pretty pool, a popular riverside restaurant, and a killer location close to some of the city’s top sites. With a special booking code from the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, you’ll save 30 to 50 percent off rack rates on Deluxe rooms. The offer is available for stays through January 20.

THE VALUE: While the lowest rates of $99 are available in late December, the best deal can be found in mid-January. Then, the discounted rates are $119/night while standard rates for the same room type start at $229/night – a savings of almost 50 percent.

THE CATCH: The discount is not available for Friday or Saturday stays.

THE DETAILS: Book online using code SAVE.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates and travel deals on flights to San Antonio.

For general trip-planning information, see our San Antonio Travel Guide.

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and in San Antonio, the holiday lights display is no exception. The Alamo City’s Texas-sized light show will be amped up to more than 20 times its numbers in years past, thanks to the city’s move toward more eco-friendly LED lighting. Holiday visitors to San Antonio’s bustling River Walk can expect to “ooh” and “ahh” at no fewer than 1.8 million bulbs this year, with 200 trees wrapped in 10,000 lights apiece, as well as some 20 bridges adorned with streams of colorfully patterned light strings. The switch will be flipped tonight (November 25), with the lights staying aglow through January 1. Read more

In honor of those who serve and protect us the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is offering Salute to Service specials for U.S. military members and civil first responders for only $106 per night. This pricing is available starting Veteran’s Day, November 11 to January 18, 2012.  Opened in January 2010, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa brings a new level of luxury to the legendary Texas Hill Country.  Set on 600 picturesque acres of rolling hills, meandering creeks and Live Oak trees the resort was recently ranked by Travel + Leisure as one of the Top 50 family hotels in the U.S. and Canada for 2011.

For those who like to golf, take advantage of unlimited golf for one person, available for $189 per night. Normal walk up rates are $150 per round and the two courses available with this deal are PGA Tour courses and are available to members and guests only.

THE VALUE: This is the lowest rate offered by JW Marriott San Antonio this year.

THE CATCH: Taxes not included in rates.

THE DETAILS: Active duty and retired members of the military and civil first responders (fire, police, paramedics) are asked to request the Salute to Service rate (rate code: SIU) when they make their reservations at Marriott San Antonio or call 866-882-4420. A military or service I.D. is required at check-in.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, hotels, vacation packages, and more travel deals.

Last week I shared the details of a vacation package I’m giving away in cooperation with the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau. I’m not a big fan of repetition, but it bears repeating that one lucky winner will get two nights at the El Tropicano hotel as well as passes for four to SeaWorld San Antonio, the Witte Museum, the Alamo IMAX Theater, and the Double-Decker Tour of San Antonio.

As of this post the sweepstakes window has officially been thrown open, and you’ll have until midnight on Saturday, July 30 to enter.

As promised, I will now tell you how.

Read more

With all the hubbub about this year marking the 150^th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, it’s all too easy to forget that 2011 is also the 175th anniversary of another pivotal moment in U.S. history, the defeat of American defenders by Mexican troops in the 1836 Battle of the Alamo.

Perhaps you’re not an Alamo aficionado. Or maybe you’ve yet to reflect on the powerful quote, “There was no back door in the Alamo,” attributed to San Antonio Congressman Maury Maverick, or the less powerful quote, “There’s no basement at the Alamo,” attributed to Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.

Whatever your connection to the Alamo – formerly known as the mission San Antonio de Valero – one fun fact remains constant: San Antonio is a family destination that belongs on your radar.

And if you need more incentive to find out I’m right, I’m giving away a vacation package to San Antonio in cooperation with the San Antonio Vacation Experience (SAVE), a partnership of local businesses and the city’s convention and visitors bureau, VisitSanAntonio.com. Even without a free trip it’s worth signing up to receive SAVE coupons for popular San Antonio points of interest.

Getting back to the free trip, just what would you win, you may ask?

Read more

The first few weeks of May, before Memorial Day kicks off the summer travel season, present a sweet spot for domestic travel. You’ll find pleasant spring weather in most of the country, without the crowds and heat that can plague July and August vacations. Take advantage with Frontier’s nationwide fare sale, which is slashing rates on routes between popular destinations, including New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and San Antonio. Tickets drop to as little as $44 each way, including most taxes and fees.

Sample Fares (O/W):

Albuquerque – Denver: $ 44+
Denver – Tucson: $ 49+
Denver – Phoenix: $54+
Des Moines – Milwaukee: $59+
Spokane – Denver: $69+
Los Angeles – Denver: $74+
New York (LGA) – Milwaukee: $84+
Madison – Denver:  $99+
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Kansas City: $109+
San Antonio – Milwaukee: $114+

THE VALUE: One week after the sale, fares on the Albuquerque to Denver route jump to $99 each way – more than double the current price.

THE CATCH: You’ll have to act fast: Tickets must be booked by May 18 for travel through May 25.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on hotels and other travel deals.

In a program called Holiday Photos on the Fly, Southwest Airlines and Microsoft are bringing a little extra holiday cheer to your busy travel schedule: Santa Claus will be set up at 26 U.S. airports to pose for free holiday photos with passengers, young and old. Santa’s helpers from Microsoft will not only provide travelers with a free photo print, but also show customers how to edit and share their pictures. The program will run for the three weekends preceding Christmas in December (Dec. 2-5, Dec. 9-12, and Dec. 17-20) from 8am to 7:30pm. You can seek out Santa at the following Southwest airports: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Boston Logan, Chicago Midway, Dallas Love Field, Denver, El Paso, Fort Lauderdale, Houston Hobby, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Oakland, Ontario, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Antonio, St. Louis, Seattle Tacoma, and Tampa Bay.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on hotels, airfare, packages, and more.