Friday the 22nd
We arrived in town yesterday afternoon. Needing a place to stay, we pulled into The Tropicana Riverwalk Hotel. Debby went in to check out the cost and was in there for a very long time. When she came out, she was very excited about the good deal she made! She wheeled a deal, for sure!
The desk clerk was busy and Debby was patiently waiting, when the Manager came over and asked if she had been helped. She said she had not, so he asked how he could help her? She told him how she had found The Tropicana on line and the website said a room cost was $125 but that in addition to the AAA discount, booking on line for "tonight" would result in an additional 25% discount. The problem was, the Internet in New Braunfels was slow and would not allow her to make the reservation. He asked a few questions like why we are in San Antonio. She told him she had taken off a year of teaching to travel for 10 months following my retirement. He thought that was so cool!
He wanted to help her and gave her the "Manager's Special", which, as Manager, he could do! Debby wanted a river view unit, so he excused himself to go up and check on a particular unit that he had in mind. He returned shortly and told Debby that our room was ready and we could go ahead and check in. She asked, "How much?" He said $99; includes a breakfast buffet and parking. She took it and paid the man, thanking him several times.
We decided to go check out The Alamo for now but would return later with our luggage. When we returned, we picked up our keys and took the elevator to the second floor. Unlocking the door we discovered this to be a corner Suite with a river view from the bedroom. We had a couch, sofa chair, desk, widescreen TV in two rooms, large bedroom with King bed, very nice shower and kitchenette.
I decided to check out "our deal". Doing the math, the Suite normally costs $174.00/night with tax. Breakfasts are normally $9/each and parking costs $18/day. So it looks to me like Debby's deal for a $210 value cost us $99. Good job, Deb!! That's a NICE upgrade and a NICE $111 savings!
The hotel is a 1970's era building that has a lot of history. The people who work here are very nice and helpful. The hotel is unique. We give it two thumbs up!
The Alamo was awesome to see and read about. Nearly everyone knows about the history of Texas, but standing inside The Alamo and hearing about the history has a different feeling. Every man who took up arms to defend The Alamo, was put to the sword by the Mexican Army. Santa Ana thought that wiping out the defenders at The Mission Alamo would stop the rebellion. The result was just the opposite, however. It rallied the Texans and they, eventually, defeated Santa Ana.
We took a walk down the River Walk and headed for Casa Rio., a riverside Mexican restaurant that was suggested to me by my Vietnam friend, "D-ring". It was very good, even though we had an audience of begging Ducks, birds and Pigeons. We sat watching the River Taxis, Tour Boats, maintenance craft and river Police cruise the manicured river. The area is quite beautiful and well kept. It is very clean and feels very safe to be there.
After lunch we purchased tickets for the River Cruise Tour. It was very entertaining! Our witty boat captain had done this tour many many times before, for sure!! The people who sat next to us on the boat were from Albany, NY. They would be going back home Sunday. When we left them, I encouragingly said, "Good luck with all that ice and snow!"
We headed back to our hotel room and relaxed a while. Later we went downstairs and sat outside on the patio with our Latte and Mocha and enjoyed the warm 79 degree weather. With all the ice and snow falling on much of the country, we are blessed to be here in the warm.
Life is good!
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