La Cantera Resort and Spa in San Antonio Is a Perfect Couples Getaway

As a tough year comes to a close, welcoming a new one may call for a special celebration. A safe and close-in getaway in the New Year may fit the bill while bringing relief from the cooped-up feeling of pandemic fatigue and spending holidays at home.

Just a 90-minute drive from Austin, La Cantera Resort and Spa is nestled in the Hill Country northwest of San Antonio. This AAA 4-Diamond resort has taken every precaution to assure the health and safety of guests, including greeting new arrivals at the gate with a Covid package that contains masks and hand sanitizer and outlines their standards and requirements. In addition, sanitation stations, extensive cleaning protocols, mask and social-distancing requirements, an electro-misting systems and improved hospital grade HVAC filters are all in place throughout the property.

Now for the fun: La Cantera is family friendly, but also a prime place for couples to spend time without kids, Zoom meetings and stress.

Accommodations

From the King and Queen rooms to the Presidential Suite, all 496 rooms and suites in the main hotel are clean, comfortable and tastefully decorated. Highly recommended for a couples getaway is the exclusive adults-only floor, Seven, which features its own check-in and concierge, a lounge with snacks and drinks and a daily hosted happy hour with wine and hors’ d’oeuvres. The rooms on Seven feature panoramic views, luxurious linens and bath products as well as spacious rainfall showers.

If you seek more privacy, 34 Villas (each named for an iconic Texas ranch) are located down the hill from the resort and spa. Guests at the Villas can enjoy private patios, separate pool and fire pits, check-in, valet and golf carts.

Food & Drink

Breakfast in bed from room service makes a splendid start to any day. However, the SweetFire Kitchen does a superb breakfast with locally sourced ingredients, down-home recipes and house favorites such as Crab Cake Benedict, steak and eggs and chicken and waffles.

Lunch by Topaz, the adult pool, can be served in a private cabana with handcrafted cocktails and Tex-Mex favorites made to order from Primero Cantina.

Dinner at Signature is a must. Inspired by Chef Andrew Weissman, a four-time James Beard nominee, the restaurant serves classic cuisine with a Texas twist. From house-aged sirloins to venison, dove and quail as well as lobster, duck and halibut, deciding what to order will be a challenge. As for craft cocktails and an incredible wine list, knowledgeable bartenders and a sommelier can assist with recommendations. Finish your evening with a nightcap at Sire Bar.

Activities & amenities

Loma de Vida Spa is a little piece of heaven, located on one of the highest points in San Antonio, with a spectacular panoramic view of the Hill Country. Stress evaporates as you enter the tranquility of the 25,000-square foot sanctuary. Book a couple’s massage or an entire day of signature spa services. There’s a private pool and hot tub, sauna and steam, a relaxation deck, indoor vitality pool and a fireplace to enjoy.

Health and safety are paramount. Temperatures are taken as everyone enters the spa and all service providers wear masks and shields.

For golfers, two stellar courses at La Cantera offer 36 holes amid gorgeous scenery. The Resort Course, designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf, hosted a PGA event for 15 years. The Palmer was designed by the legend, Arnold Palmer. There are special “tee for two” offers and discounted rounds available to resort guests.

La Cantera is teeming with outdoor spots – all appropriately socially distanced – for sipping a glass of wine, reading by a fireplace or just relaxing and taking in the sunset. If romance is what you’re looking for, take in the sunset fireside on the Plaza San Saba. To sweeten the moment, pick up a bottle of wine from the SweetFire bar and a s’mores kit from the pool shop.

Whether you and your companion check-in and never leave the room or take advantage of every amenity available, a romantic getaway – especially to ring in 2021 – will be memorable at La Cantera. Here’s are the resort’s New Year’s Eve Specials:

• Signature will offer five-course meals (including an option for vegetarians) with wine pairings
• Book a seating for a night of Latin entertainment at Primero
• SweetFire Kitchen will host a casino-themed dinner
• Live music and a Moet Chandon toast will take place at midnight in the main lobby of the hotel with a socially distanced celebration that includes sparklers for guests on the Plaza San Saba, outdoor terrace

For more information on packages and special holiday events, visit lacanteraresort.com.