Use Public Transportation While Vacationing in San Antonio

Travel the city with ease using Via Metropolitan Transit -the public transportation system - during your next visit to San Antonio. You can step right off the plane and onto a local bus to reach your hotel. From there you can call a helpful Via customer service rep who will help you map out your destinations during your Lone Star stay. Or you can plan your own route by using Via's user-friendly "personal trip planner" section of their website. Many downtown attractions are within walking distance of one another or can easily be accessed by the trolley system. Or for locations not in the heart of the city, there are convenient bus routes going to all major destinations.

Downtown is the heart of San Antonio for residents and visitors alike. That is why Via has an elaborate streetcar service geared towards the downtown traveler. There are four convenient routes and you can get from Alamo Plaza to any downtown attraction in only 10 minutes. Some routes begin as early as 7 a.m. and run late into the midnight hour. So, you know you'll have reliable public transportation regardless of what time you decide to visit one of the many downtown attractions.

Will your vacation consist mainly of shopping and dining? Then utilize the local transit for shopping in some of the most famous locations in South Texas. The ever popular Rivercenter Mall is the shopping mecca of downtown and houses over 80 stores and more than 20 dining facilities. In Southtown, which is an eclectic art district, you can satisfy almost any craving. They have eateries ranging from Mexican food to Italian to barbeque. Or engage that sweet tooth in over fifty varieties of Mexican candies and pastries in the 24-hour bakery located in Market Square. El Mercado (as it is called by the locals) is a Mexican marketplace that is rivaled in size only by ones found in Mexico.

Perhaps the attractions peaked your interest in San Antonio. Well, hop off of an air-conditioned trolley and take a ride to the historic landmark the Alamo. Then once you've had your fill of rich Texas history, walk or jump back on the trolley and make your way to the next attraction which is HemisFair Park where the 1968 World's Fair was held. This location is now a 15-acre park with a beautiful waterfall and a fun playground for the young at heart. Also, don't forget to take a look at the 750 foot Tower of the Americas which was erected to commemorate the World's Fair.

Of course, there are some attractions beyond the borders of the streetcar routes. But that's where Via's fleet of several hundred buses comes in. Sea World of San Antonio can be reached by bus from almost any hotel in the city. The same is true if your vacation plans include spending the day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Splashtown or the San Antonio zoo. All of these destinations are just a bus ride away.

And the best part is that San Antonio public transportation is economical and convenient. Currently Via has some of the lowest fares in the nation. The rates are well below what you'd pay in other major cities such as Dallas or San Diego. Buses run from 5 a.m. to 12 am and are available seven days a week. And if you want to get right to the fun then you can get on a bus that offers "skip" service. These routes skip stops and drive down major streets so that you can get to your destination quickly. Also, all buses are wheelchair accessible. Via even employs transit police who constantly patrol downtown stops, transit facilities, and various routes as needed to keep the tourist and resident ridership safe.

So there's no need to pay the high cost of renting a car when you vacation in San Antonio. Hop on a bus and see the entire city without worrying about filling up the gas tank or having to get directions. Via's logo is, "Via - we're going places." And that's exactly what you'll do when you use the San Antonio public transportation system. You'll go to all the places you desire during your visit to San Antonio.