San Antonio on a Budget

This is not really a story about what to see and do in San Antonio. It is an attempt to get you around this sprawling metropolis without destroying your budget. As with most major cities, San Antonio offers plenty of easy ways to pay top dollar for things that won't really enhance your experience. Get a Rand McNally San Antonio Street Map.Summers tend to be very hot and rather crowded. There are also large crowds around NBA playoff time (the Spurs have had much post-season success lately) and during the Alamo Bowl football game in late December. In April, the city stages Fiesta (Mardi-Gras San Antonio style). Late fall and spring are excellent choices. Winter, although at times too chilly for a Riverwalk tour, is rarely frigid and frequently a good choice for seeing the city without waiting in long lines.San Antonio International is served by Southwest, which frequently offers very reasonable fares. The airport is located north of the city. Cab rides between the airport and downtown average about $22, and up to four people are permitted to share such a ride.San Antonio's mass transit system, called Via, uses street cars and buses. A one-day pass for unlimited rides is available for $3.75 USD/person. Unless you're coming here for a specific meeting in one place, it's probably a good idea to shop for a car rental. Interstate 10 (I-10) is your east-west link between Houston and El Paso. Interstate 35 (I-35) is the north-south link between Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin to the north and the Mexican border to the south. Interstate 37 takes you to the Gulf coast.For some visitors, the search for a hotel room here is limited to the convention center/Riverwalk area because of a meeting or a desire to be near the city's most famous attractions. They often pay a premium to stay in the middle of it all. Be warned: Some hotels that put "Riverwalk" in their names are actually beyond walking distance from that area. Prices are usually lower in the outlying locations. For example, if you have transportation, it's sometimes better to stay on the northwest side, 10 or more miles from downtown, but closer to the airport and attractions such as Sea World and the Fiesta Texas theme park.The obvious choice of most visitors is Mexican food, and authentic dishes are available throughout the city in many price ranges. Don't just think Mexican here. Good sources for checking out restaurants include Go Texas from About.com and the online dining guide of the San Antonio Express News.You wouldn't go to Paris without searching out the Eiffel Tower, and you can't visit San Antonio without a peak at the Alamo. No matter how busy your schedule, reserve a few minutes to see this historic monument. If you have kids in tow (and even if you don't), it's a good idea to watch the IMAX movie about what happened here before you explore. The movie is shown in the Rivercenter Mall, which is accessible from the Riverwalk and is a short walk from the Alamo.

Take a Mission tour The Alamo is the best-known of San Antonio's missions, but there are many more with colorful histories that you can explore. There is no admission charge.

Sidetrip I: Texas Hill Country This is the part of Texas that might not fit your preconceptions: Waterfalls, forests and hills. The area makes a nice one-day getaway, and the prices are often modest for admission to state parks or to the LBJ Ranch near Johnson City, about an hour north of San Antonio.

Sidetrip II: Austin A bumper sticker proclaims "Keep Austin Weird" and it could be a struggle given the numbers of perfectly normal people who are moving here every day. Austin has a well-known film and music scene, and cheap accommodations can be found at the University of Texas or at several local hostels.

Discounts for Fiesta Texas Print tickets or passes for the Six Flags park before you leave home and save money.

Riverwalk restaurants offer great views but are frequently expensive. There are good budget choices a short walk from the Alamo and the Convention Center. One example is Schilo's German Deli at 424 East Commerce, where you can order their renowned split-pea soup and a sandwich for under $7. Be prepared to wait in line. More lines and good budget dining can be found at Mi Tierra, a famous Mexican restaurant at Santa Rosa and Commerce. They serve breakfast all day and are open 24 hours. It's a bit of a hike in warm weather from the Riverwalk, so take the Trolley for $1.