Which Schlitterbahn? San Antonio or Padre Island?

[rascalmom]

We are trying to plan a mini-vacation to one of these parks? Has anyone been to both? Which would you recommend? Can anyone make some recommendations on nice places to stay near either? The vacation choice is for the kids - the hotel choice is for Mom & Dad. Hopefully somewhere "resort-like" with a suite. TIA

 

[Mattsmom]

If you're going for the waterpark, the one by San Antonio is much bigger! If you're looking to do more on your vacation, I would pick based on which place has other activities that interest you.

I can't give hotel advice for San Antonio area. It's a day trip for us. We stayed at the Best Western in South Padre a couple of year ago. It was clean and convienent.

 

[Teris]

Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels is a fantastic place! They have cabins on property you can stay in which are quite nice as well. We love cabin number 444. It's quite big, and it has a little patio that overlooks the comal river, where one of the longer tube rides empties out into. It's brilliant! I highly recommend it! If you stay on their property, you get discounts on your tickets. Plus, you can roam around the parks, and back to your cabin whenever you feel like it during the day. I think it's a great value.

We stay on property at The Bahns,, which is the older part of the park. It's shady, with old oak trees, and the comal river is part of the park.

Schlitterbahn

they have some really big cabins, and some motel room types as well.

Check out cabin 444, 445 and 446.

 

[cynsaun]

San Antonio is beautiful! My husband is actually there on an overnight tonight!

There are several hotels right on the riverwalk...the Shearton and the Marriot just to name a few. Schlitterbahn is actually in New Braunfels and is about 30 minutes away. If you are only going to go to the waterpark for a day, I would suggest staying in San Antonio.

There is also Sea World and Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, which both have waterparks!

Have fun!

 

[Teris]

Another idea, could be to spend one night as Schlitterbahn, and then move to the Hyatt Hill Country Resort,which is amazing, with a lazy river type tubing thing as well as a pool. It's quite close to Sea World. Hyatt Hill Country Resort

This is a very nice place for the adults

 

[rascalmom]

I was wondering if the Hyatt Hill Country was still nice - I stayed there about 12 years ago on a business trip & always wanted to take my family back there. Any one know more about Padre?

 

[Grog]

FYI... they are building a third Schlitterbahn in Galveston, scheduled to open next Summer.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Originally posted by Grog
FYI... they are building a third Schlitterbahn in Galveston, scheduled to open next Summer.

Figures, because DH went there on business this year. Well, maybe we'll just have to return to Houston next year too.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I think the original, in New Braunfels, is the best =) It's not in San Antonio, but San Antonio is a great weekend destination and I would stay there and make the drive, if I were you. It's not that far =)

 

[missypie]

The Hyatt Hill Country is a great resort...there is a lazy river, Disney movies out on the lawn at night, a kids' spa, small fridges in each room. It's right across the street from Sea World, which has a nice waterpark.

Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels is my idea of hell. The crowds are just incredible. It's not so bad if you just want to swim or tube, but be prepared to wait over an hour (and you know what the heat will be like) for the popular slides. Plus the crowd is - how should I say it without being flamed? - a little rough and redneck. It's also so huge that you have to ride a bus across town to get to part of the park.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Our family's been to both (live right by South Padre Island), and I'd definitely agree with the others. New Braunfils is sooo much bigger! And it's beautiful.

 

[Rajah]

I haven't been to Padre Island, but when we were planning a trip (which fell through ) we found that the better one looked like San Antonio. I *love* the SA Schlitterbahn and could highly recommend it.

 

[Rajah]

Originally posted by Grog
FYI... they are building a third Schlitterbahn in Galveston, scheduled to open next Summer.

They are???!!?

COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HappyMommy2]

We love both Schlitterbahns. IMO the one in New Braunfels is more of a "destination" than the PI one--it is larger, and you have Gruene and San Antonio and other surrounding areas to enjoy too. Of course if you are interested in the beach, the PI beach is lots of fun and there are plenty of great places to stay right there.

Others have already commented on the New Braunfels Schlitterbahn (which we love especially because it is so unique) so I'll say a few things about PI. The PI Schlitterbahn is lovely--everything feels new and nice and there are plenty of great slides and enjoyable areas to just hang out. There are baby slides and very scary slides and everything in between. There's a wonderful lazy river, a big wave pool, a surfing area, and a huge water play area for smaller kids, plus a shaded "squirt" area for babies. The restrooms/changing rooms seem somewhat cramped but are adequate. Lockers are tiny, so if you plan to use lockers bring enough $$ for more than one--seems like they were around $6 each for the day (we were there summer before last so things may have changed by now).
The landscaping at the PI Schlitterbahn is nowhere near as beautiful and lush as that at New Braunfels, of course, but there are shady areas and usually plenty of chairs. PI doesn't seem to be quite as crazy crowd-wise as New Braunfels, which is a plus. The food is pretty good; nothing fancy, but not terribly overpriced IMO. When we were there last you were allowed to bring in coolers with all the food you wanted--just nothing glass, and I'm not sure if they allowed alcohol. We have always brought in a big picnic lunch and plenty of sodas.

I don't think you can go wrong with either Schlitterbahn. It looks like you live in Oklahoma, so I think if I were you I'd do the New Braunfels one just because it is closer, and because it's so unique and special. If you want to add some beach days, though, PI would be great.

Have fun! We can't wait to go back.

 

[Grog]

For those interested, here's an article I found online concerning the Galveston project...

Link

The news is true. After chasing down a few rumors–watching a TV news report and then reading a story in the August 29 Houston Chronicle–we located Jeff Henry, general manager of Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark and co-owner of Schlitterbahn Waterparks. Schlitterbahn Galveston is in the planning stages, with opening scheduled for 2005.

Jeff confirmed that a 25-acre(11 hectare) property adjacent to Moody Gardens and Scholes International Airport is the proposed site of his grandest project to date. For those of you not familiar with Galveston Island, the main entry from the Houston area takes you over a causeway, from which you no doubt will be able to see the park, since Moody Garden’s pyramid is clearly visible. You may even be able to glimpse the park from the Seawall Boulevard, which divides the beach from beach-front accommodations.

He said, “the park will feature several proprietary attractions which have never before been seen by the public.” Remembering watching my brother ride a prototype of the Master Blaster uphill water coaster on a muddy strip behind the NBGS manufacturing plant, I believe him.

The innovative Boogie Bahn (the Flow Rider surfboard attraction) will offer surfers an alternative when the Gulf is calm. The park will use the Rio Aventura Transportainment River System introduced at Schlitterbahn Beach, South Padre Island (SBSPI)--which lets guests float the river around the park, get off at various attractions, ride the slide, and get back into the river. Gone are the days of walking from one end of the park to another–floating is the “in” way to travel. You can bet guests will spend less time in line and more time in the water.

At SBSPI, the Shrimp Haus Restaurant was created to offer hungry island visitors and locals a place to enjoy beach dining without the sand. Shrimp cooked 101 ways tempt the palate, while spectacular views of the waterpark or the Gulf of Mexico sand dunes treat the eyes. Diners do not have to enter the park to partake, and air-conditioned comfort is an option to the romantic, open-air terrace. A restaurant will also be a part of this new location, but expect another twist, not a copy, of the SPI version.

Tourism and other city officials in Galveston are thrilled with the news, especially since the island’s two-flume Jungle Surf park was unable to open this season. The new park will bring in much-appreciated sales tax revenue, in addition to creating up to 1,000 jobs.

“Our High End Concept will be done by the first week in October,” Jeff said. “Preliminary design work is scheduled by November first, with construction beginning in the spring of 2004.”

Jeff and John Schooley have formed Henry-Schooley Associates, a consulting firm which helps park owners marry technology and water with new and appealing attractions and services.

Ever the innovators, the Schlitterbahn family offers the net-surfer a chance to e-ride their attractions or just download wallpaper at www.schlitterbahn.com

And I, for one, can’t wait to see the new rides that Jeff has designed.

 

[Rajah]

Fantastic!! That's great, I can't wait!!

 

[Teris]

Thanks Grog! That is good to hear I am in Houston about 4 times a year, so cant' wait to check it out next year

It's the trees all around you that I really love about the NB location. I havn't been back there in a few years tho, so as far as the crowds there,, I don't recall it being too bad. But like I said, it's been a few years.

We stayed a few days at the Hyatt Hill Country resort last summer, and it was georgeous. We had a two bedroom suite, which was perfect. I honestly spend a full day floating around that lazy river thing. It's the main reason I wanted to stay there