Of all the places we chose to visit this summer, we had our hearts set on visiting San Antonio, Texas. I had never been before and Reid had gone once as a kid. I’m not sure what I expected San Antonio to be like but I found it to be beautiful and bustling all at the same time. We arrived on Saturday afternoon and after checking into our hotel we decided we wanted to explore the Alamo that afternoon and jaunt down the river walk that evening.

The Alamo has special meaning to me because as my mom puts it: “I am a daughter of the Texas Revolution.” Basically this means I have ancestors from San Antonio and I should be proud of it (of course I am- I am proud of all my ancestors). Anyways, the Alamo really is a great place to explore and I would recommend it to anyone. How could you even possible consider going to San Antonio and not making a stop at the Alamo? It’s also free to visit and explore thanks to the The Daughters of the Republic of Texas who have been maintaining and preserving this historic site since 1905. While it’s free admission they do appreciate donations.

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Who doesn’t like to stay in a sexy boutique hotel where the accommodations are contemporary, unique and stylish? Unfortunately, it’s not always an option when you are looking for affordability and a place to house your children. Or perhaps you love the idea of modern but prefer the ease of a chain? Choice Hotels new brand Cambria Suites allows you to get the both of best worlds. It’s affordable, convenient yet sleek and modern. It’s a hotel chain where you will feel comfortable bringing your family on vacation or bringing your loved one for a quick romantic getaway. It’s a great choice too for those health conscious travelers because they offer organic and healthy options at their cafes and have healthy freshly prepared snacks to grab.

We were invited to stay at Cambria Suites on our recent trip to San Antonio. We loved the close proximity to the airport- yet it didn’t feel like an airport hotel at all. The room was modern and chic. When I stay at a hotel I really notice the little things. I think little things can make a hotel room feel luxurious over cheap. This hotel nailed it from the Bath & Body Works bathroom products all the way down to the Wolf Gang Puck coffee and organic tea. I’m serious, I know those are small in the large picture but a hotel that pays attention to detail makes a really big difference in your quality of stay. We definitely did not feel we were sleeping at the Super 8 Motel.

I also loved that there was an LCD TV in every room. We had a two-room suite so there was three! That’s one more TV then we have in our house. The rooms were large, spacious and the most important thing- the beds were super comfortable. Look at how it’s decorated, isn’t it fun? There are 15 locations across the country and more in the works. Definitely recommended for my budget-minded traveler friends who still like the life of luxury (that’s me).