As a recent study of hotel booking trends pointed out, us Texans prefer to vacation in Texas. Since our last roundup of the state’s most notable lodgings was in 2004, I thought it was high time to revisit the subject. So I drafted a list of 44 hotels that have opened or undergone significant renovations in the last 8 years. I then winnowed that list down and booked rooms (anonymously) at 24 properties across the state to determine my favorites. Although my full reviews will be available next week (the November issue goes live on TexasMonthly.com on Wednesday and hits newsstands on Thursday), I wanted to go ahead and share my ten favorites (plus the five that nearly made the cut) . . . .
AUSTIN
Hotel Saint Cecilia
112 Academy Drive, 512-852-2400, hotelsaintcecilia.com
AUSTIN
Travaasa Austin
13600 FM 2769, 512-258-7243, travaasa.com/austin
COMFORT
Riven Rock Ranch
390 Hermann Sons Road, 877-726-2490, rivenrockranch.com
DALLAS
The Joule
1530 Main, 214-748-1300, thejouledallas.com
GALVESTON
Hotel Galvez
2024 Seawall Boulevard, 409-765-7721, wyndhamhotelgalvez.com
HOUSTON
Hotel ZaZa
5701 Main, 713-526-1991, hotelzaza.com/houston
MARFA
El Cosmico
802 S. Highland Avenue, 432-729-1950, elcosmico.com
SAN ANTONIO
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa
23808 Resort Parkway, 866-882-4420, jwsanantonio.com
TALPA
Rancho Loma Restaurant + Rest
2969 CR 422, 325-636-4556, rancholoma.com
WASHINGTON
The Inn at Dos Brisas
10000 Champion Drive, 979-277-7750, dosbrisas.com
. . .
THE RUNNERS-UP
From left to right: The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas; Hotel Granduca, Houston; The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell, Round Top; La Posada Milagro, Terlingua; and Hotel Havana, San Antonio.
