Villas You Could Live In Meet Immersive Experiences at This San Antonio Hyatt
San Antonio is an action-packed city filled with historic Spanish missions, a buzzy and beautiful River Walk, a slew of museums, a handful of amusement parks, and at least one resort that’s designed to keep you coming back time and again: the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch.
The Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch isn’t your average hotel. It’s a residential-style resort set on 39 acres with oversized rooms and immersive experiences like wine tasting, resin-art crafting, and cooking classes. It’s also a timeshare that allows owners to have a voice in deciding on the property’s upgrades (such as the pickleball court that’ll be installed later this year) and one of the highest performing properties in the 22 residential-style Hyatt Vacation Club portfolio.
Even the timeshare purchase model at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch is fresh. Instead of buying a particular unit, owners can now purchase points to use at the San Antonio property, other Hyatt Vacation Clubs, and even properties around the world that share reciprocity with the Hyatt Vacation Club brand.
Of course, you don’t have to be a timeshare owner to book a stay. However you choose to experience the property, just be sure to make your reservations early — the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch is popular and often fully booked.
Accommodations at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch
Photo: Michelle Steinhardt
The Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch honors its cattle-ranch roots through its design and decor while taking advantage of the views of the award-winning Hyatt Hill Country Golf Course surrounding it. Having recently undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation, the resort’s guest rooms and grounds have been refreshed to usher in a modern ranch style. Guests can choose from a variety of room types, including studios and one-, two-, or three-bedroom villas. Rates range from around $175 to $400-plus per night, depending on the season, availability, and room type.
During my recent visit, I stayed in a one-bedroom villa, which had a fully equipped kitchen with a coffee maker, stove, fridge and freezer, microwave, cookware and dishware, and dishwasher. The room also had a cozy living area complete with a dining room table large enough for six guests, a bright overhead chandelier, and a private balcony overlooking the property.
Photo: Michelle Steinhardt
My villa had a warm and inviting atmosphere. I was able to relax in the living room and watch a show on the new Smart TV before heading to sleep in my bedroom’s king-sized bed. (For families, the living room would be the perfect place to have a movie night or play board games before heading off to your separate bedrooms for the night.) I also appreciated my villa’s large windows and doors that flooded the space with natural light, as well as the spacious bathroom with a double vanity sink and a separate shower and bathtub.
The best perk, depending on who you ask: villas come with a washer and dryer. It’s touches like these that make the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch feel like a home away from home (and also explains why the property is consistently sold out).
Amenities at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch
Photo: Michelle Steinhardt
There’s a lot to do in San Antonio, but there’s plenty to do at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch without ever leaving the property. One highlight is the Windmill Pool, a resort-style pool area featuring a large indoor-outdoor pool that’s heated to 80-plus degrees Fahrenheit all year, three hot tubs, and lounge chairs for sunbathing or eating lunch poolside.
There are two slides for the young and young at heart (although you have to be at least 48 inches tall to use them). I was surprised by the speed and force of the slides; I moved quickly through the twists and turns, sometimes in the dark, before shooting out into the water.
Photo: Michelle Steinhardt
For something more relaxing, the resort also has an 800-foot-long Rattlesnake Lazy River, which guests like to cruise down with a drink in hand. On a safety note, know that the resort doesn’t have lifeguards, and younger kids have to be accompanied by an adult in the pool area. The same goes for Camp Armadillo, a place for kids to explore exciting activities such as on-site scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, movies, painting, toys, and games. Outside of the designated kids camp and on-property game room, there are all sorts of games scattered around the property that kids and alike will enjoy, including life-size chess, checkers, and Connect 4.
There’s no shortage of places to stay active at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch. Beyond the pool area, there’s a fully equipped fitness center, yoga classes several times a week, on-site nature trails, and 27 holes at the nearby Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club.
Photo: Michelle Steinhardt
Of course, all those amenities are balanced out by more relaxing ones, from a sauna and steam room, to barbecue grills and picnic tables for family cookouts, to swinging chairs where you can read. Firepits are also lit nightly, and guests can purchase s’mores-making kits.
Experiences at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch
Photo: Michelle Steinhardt
Among the features that sets the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch apart from other accommodations is its “Inspired Activities & Experiences” programming. I tried several hands-on experiences during my stay, including a Texas Wine Tasting experience and three different cooking lessons: It’s Guac O’Clock, the Art of Margarita Making, and the Art of Tortilla Making. I also participated in a Resin Art class during which I made a souvenir in the shape of Texas.
While I stuck with the activities that are more adult-friendly, there are plenty of activities for kids, such as pumpkin painting, popcorn and candy apple bars, a DIY Trick-or-Treat Tote session, and the 3 Witches of Wild Oak Ranch experience. As you probably guessed, I stayed at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch during the fall when everyone was excited about Halloween but the activities rotate depending on the season and the holidays.
Note that some of the activities mentioned above, plus activities like candle making and bath salt potions, have a nominal fee.
Dining at the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch
Photo: Michelle Steinhardt
One perk of the resort’s livable villas is the dining freedom it gives you. Having a functional kitchen means that you can head to a local grocery store to stock your fridge (or have groceries delivered via Instacart while you’re off enjoying the resort’s amenities) and prepare whatever meals you’re craving whenever you want them.
On the other hand, if your idea of a vacation means never having to wash a dish, there’s J.B.’s Poolside Restaurant. J.B.’s is an American-leaning eatery that’s known for its burgers although there are plenty of options for both kids and adults (including a full bar for the over 21 crowd). For my dinner at J.B.’s, I opted for grilled shrimp with rice and corn to accompany the tortilla I’d made a few minutes earlier. Guests can sit outside on the patio or grab a seat indoors during lunch and dinner service between 11 AM and 8 PM. Breakfast hours vary by season. At the Hyatt Vacation Club at Wild Oak Ranch, there’s also the option to order in-room dining until 8 PM or snack and sip poolside in the resort-style pool area.
As a bonus, there are two more convenient dining options at the neighboring Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa: a more elegant dining room at the Antlers Lodge restaurant that’d be great for date night or a special-occasion meal and the casual Springhouse Cafe.
Things to do in San Antonio
The Alamo
Photo: Michelle Steinhardt
Originally a Spanish mission and later a pivotal setting during the Texas Revolution, the Alamo is arguably San Antonio’s most iconic landmark (although the River Walk might disagree). Visits to the Alamo, which today stands as a museum, might include walking the grounds and surveying the historic mission, taking a guided tour to deep dive into the site’s past, or catching various demonstrations by historically costumed staff (including musket firing).
The Alamo: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
San Antonio River Walk
Photo: Michelle Steinhardt
The River Walk is San Antonio’s bustling waterfront promenade that follows the course of the San Antonio River. A lot of life happens here, thanks to the site’s robust network of shops, restaurants, bars, and historical sites (even the Alamo is just a couple of blocks away). During the day, consider a riverboat tour and save your strolling for the evening when the River Walk is all lit up. Keep an eye out for live music, events, festivals, and other special activities, too.
San Antonio River Walk: Various
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Photo: Michelle Steinhardt
Four historic San Antonio missions belong to this National Park Service site: Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. Together with the Alamo, or Mission Valero, they make up the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage site. Appreciate architecture dating back more than 250 years on free, 45-minute ranger-led tours that depart from the visitors center at Mission San José, the largest of San Antonio’s missions. Guided tours are held daily except for the first Wednesday of the month.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park: Various
San Antonio Museum of Art
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Once the site of a brewery, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) now houses global art and artifacts that together span more than five millennia, from “Art of the Americas pre-1500” and “Art of the Ancient Mediterranean World” to a “Modern & Contemporary” collection. You’ll find pieces from all over the world, but the museum places a strong emphasis on Latin American art owing to the region’s cultural heritage. Best of all, SAMA has a prime riverfront location on the Museum Reach of the River Walk, so it’s easy to weave into a day of central sightseeing.
San Antonio Museum of Art: 200 W Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215
Hopscotch
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San Antonio is a big museum city — from the Alamo and SAMA to the Witte Museum, which specializes in science and natural history — but there’s nothing quite like Hopscotch. Modern, immersive, and a little bit psychedelic, Hopscotch bills itself as an “experiential art gallery” where visitors come to experience interactive art installations by artists from all over — be it numerous creatives from Texas or as far afield as Moscow or Australia.
Hopscotch: 711 Navarro St Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78205
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
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If you’re visiting San Antonio with kids, or happen to be a lifelong amusement-park lover, plan to spend a day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas (about a 15-minute drive from downtown San Antonio). In addition to all the theme park class — thrill and water park rides to kids and family rides, plus dining and entertainment — this Six Flags location has the most comprehensive DC universe of any American amusement park, plus a new high-tech esix gaming campus.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas: 17000 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX 78257
Where to eat in San Antonio
Pullman Market
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Located in San Antonio’s Pearl District, Pullman Market is a one-stop shop for all your culinary needs. To start, it’s a specialty grocer with fresh produce, a quality butcher and fishmonger, and a nice selection of wine and beer among other goods. It also has five places to grab a quick bite — from sandwiches and ceviche to ice cream and coffee — as well as a handful of sit-down restaurants (plus a mezcaleria bar and a dedicated 20-seat dessert outpost).
Pullman Market: 221 Newell Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215
NOLA Brunch & Beignets
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As its name suggests, this is a New Orleans-style brunch spot that claims to put a San Antonio-style twist on its menu. I couldn’t eat here without indulging a little. To mix things up, I started with dessert — pumpkin spice beignets and chocolate chip cookie dough pancakes — enjoying the garden omelet, which was spiced to perfection with a Cajun seasoning.
NOLA Brunch & Beignets: 1101 Broadway Suite 120, San Antonio, TX 78215
Best Quality Daughter
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James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Jennifer Dobbertin helms this Asian-fusion restaurant, which offers a modern twist on dishes like cashew chicken, popcorn chicken, and hush puppies. My favorite dish was the Bang Bang Japchae Salad, a sweet potato noodle salad with bright flavors that highlight seasonal farm-to-table vegetables.
Best Quality Daughter: 602 Avenue A, San Antonio, TX 78215
Casa Catrina
Located along the River Walk, this lively restaurant celebrates traditional Mexican cuisine and culture. The menu is pretty extensive — case in point, nine different types of salsa of varying spice levels — and I found the Día de los Muertos-themed decor to be particularly fitting when I went as there happened to be a Día de los Muertos boat parade in full view while I was having dinner. Try to grab a seat outside on the patio like I did to get a full view of the River Walk and catch a glimpse of the boats decked out in neon below.
