We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. While we don't cover every company or financial product on
the market, we work hard to share a wide range of offers and objective
editorial perspectives.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us for advertisements that
appear on our site. This compensation helps us provide tools and services -
like free credit score access and monitoring. With the exception of
mortgage, home equity and other home-lending products or services, partner
compensation is one of several factors that may affect which products we
highlight and where they appear on our site. Other factors include your
credit profile, product availability and proprietary website methodologies.
However, these factors do not influence our editors' opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis. Our partners cannot
pay us to guarantee favorable reviews. Here is a list of our partners.
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort Review: A Top-Value Texas Escape
The newly renovated resort features a waterpark, great dining options and activities for almost everyone.
Craig Joseph is a NerdWallet credit cards and travel rewards expert. He has degrees in geology from West Virginia University and oceanography from Oregon State University and has published in academic journals, newspapers and blogs. Craig is passionate about personal finance and wants to enhance the financial literacy of everyone he meets. He'll probably also try to convince you why rocks are cool.
Claire Tsosie is a managing editor for the Travel Rewards team at NerdWallet. She started her career on the credit cards team as a writer, then worked as an editor on New Markets. Her work has been featured by Forbes, USA Today and The Associated Press.
Published in
Updated
How is this page expert verified?
NerdWallet's content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and
relevance. It undergoes a thorough review process involving
writers and editors to ensure the information is as clear and
complete as possible.
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on
NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not
been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas, located on 300 acres in the hills west of San Antonio, Texas, offers a serene, ranch-style setting and an upscale — but not over-the-top — Texan vibe. With a multiyear $100 million renovation completed in March 2026, the resort features refreshed guest rooms and restaurants, five new luxury villas, a new driving range and a 2.2-acre lagoon with kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals.
Room rates starting around $300 per night and increasing to $800 or more during peak season. Those more expensive periods, in particular, offer a great value for points redemptions. The resort is a Category 5 property in the World of Hyatt program.
I was invited to check out the new amenities over a two-night stay in March 2026 during the grand opening of The Big Spring lagoon. Although the hotel covered the cost of my stay and food, all the opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced by the resort.
The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort is located about 17 miles west of San Antonio International Airport. When I visited, a Lyft ride between the airport and the property cost around $30 each way. The resort is relatively isolated and self-contained, so if you plan to venture out into San Antonio, you’ll probably want to consider a rental car. Self-parking at the resort is $25 per night.
Lobby of the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
The resort sits on a ranch that was operated by the same family for over a century beginning in 1887. There are odes to the property’s ranching heritage across the resort, including barns, windmills and wooden fences.
Rooms
The hotel has 522 guest rooms, including standard rooms and suites, all remodeled with a Southwestern flair. Some rooms offer a balcony or patio.
I stayed in a Hill Country balcony suite with one king bed and a separate living room with a full-size sleeper sofa. These rooms are approximately 600 square feet and sleep up to four people. For larger parties, two-bedroom suites are also available.
Living room in the Hill Country balcony suite. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
The bathroom was spacious and well-lit.
Bathroom of the Hill Country suite. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
With ranch-style accents and framed art referencing the state’s history above the headboard, the bedroom felt right at home in Texas.
Bedroom of the Hill Country suite. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
Both the bedroom and the main living area have doors to the balcony. I'll always value the ability to easily get some fresh air, but the balconies were very narrow and didn't offer much of a view. For that reason, I’m not sure I would recommend a balcony room unless it was similar in cost to a standard room or suite.
The resort’s secluded 2,330-square-foot luxury villas are built for families and events. They're a good option if you’re traveling with a party and want to splurge.
Each villa offers a communal living area with a stocked kitchen and four bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, including two king bedrooms and two rooms with double queen beds.
Kitchen in one of the villas. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
Staying in one of the villas also provides access to a private fire pit and screened-in patios, in addition to the saunas, hot tubs and private pool at the Windflower Spa.
Booking with Hyatt points
The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas is a Category 5 hotel in the World of Hyatt program. You’ll spend between 17,000 and 23,000 points per night for a standard room and 32,000 points per night for a Hill Country suite. (After Hyatt updates its award chart in May 2026, that range will shift to 15,000 to 25,000 points per night.)
NerdWallet values Hyatt points at 1.8 cents each. During low-traffic weekdays, base rooms at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort can cost around $300 or 17,000 points. At that price, your points would be worth about 1.8 cents each — right at the base value you want when redeeming Hyatt points. When room prices balloon to over $800 or 23,000 points during peak season, standard rooms will provide an even better value of around 3.5 cents each for your points.
Even better, Hyatt waives resort fees on award stays, so you’ll save an additional $60 per night by using points. Additionally, World of Hyatt suite upgrade awards can also be used to upgrade a base room to the Hill Country suite.
Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
80,000 Bonus Points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Reward earn rates
World of Hyatt Credit Card
• 4 points per $1 at Hyatt hotels and resorts.
• 2 points per $1 on dining, airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, gym memberships, and local transit and commuting.
• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
• 4 points per $1 at Hyatt hotels and resorts.
• 2 points per $1 in your top three spend categories each quarter.
• 2 points per $1 on fitness club and gym memberships.
• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Benefits
World of Hyatt Credit Card
• Earn one free night on each cardmember anniversary to redeem at any Category 1-4 World of Hyatt property.
There are seven options for eating and drinking at the resort, in addition to room service.
Antlers Lodge
Antlers Lodge is the premier dining option at the resort, offering craft cocktails, an extensive wine list and most everything you’d expect from an upscale Texas steakhouse, including a giant chandelier of antlers, of course.
Antlers Lodge at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
I started with the smoked Old Fashioned, which literally came out smoking. The cocktail itself was very good and not too sweet, which I appreciated.
Antlers Lodge at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
My favorite dishes included the wild boar meatballs with Parmesan cheese, which were super flavorful, and the white cheddar mac and cheese and Brussels sprouts.
As a main, I went for the game meat trio, which included elk, boar and beef with fingerling potatoes. I haven’t eaten much game meat, but figured “when in Texas.” That ended up being a good call, as all the cuts were cooked to the perfect temperature and flavorful without being too gamey.
Trio meat plate at Antlers Lodge. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
Springhouse Cafe
All-day casual dining is found in the Springhouse Cafe, with both a dining room and outdoor seating on the property’s ground level.
When I visited, I ordered breakfast off a menu, though the hostess mentioned there’s a buffet when the hotel is busier. Springhouse Cafe is also where World of Hyatt Globalist elites can access their complimentary breakfast benefit.
I had the steel-cut oatmeal with fruit and seeds each morning, which was fantastic. While I didn’t have lunch or dinner at the Springhouse Cafe, the menu offers a variety of salads, sandwiches and entrees.
Breakfast at the Springhouse Cafe. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
Charlie’s Long Bar
The late-night hang at the resort is Charlie’s Long Bar. Living up to its name, the bar itself is massive, complete with cowhide barstools, a shuffleboard table, a full-size pool table with leather pockets, darts and nearly a dozen TVs.
Charlie's Long Bar at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
Woodbine Bar
The Woodbine Bar, located in the lobby, is a bright and airy spot to grab a snack or drink. When there’s nice weather, the staff opens the window behind the bar for a light breeze.
You can also sit outside on the deck at the Woodbine Bar, which has multiple dining tables and a row of rocking chairs that overlook the property.
The Woodbine Bar. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
Cactus Oak Tavern
The Cactus Oak Tavern is located across from the golf pro shop and offers a full bar and a limited menu that primarily serves golfers throughout the day.
Poolside dining
There are also three outdoor restaurants and bars located across the property, including Papa Ed’s Pool Bar and Grill, Vince’s Watering Hole and a lagoon-side bar at The Big Spring.
Amenities
The Big Spring lagoon
The Big Spring lagoon, which debuted in March 2026 during my stay, is a 2.2-acre man-made pool featuring sandy beaches and kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals. It seems aimed at giving visitors a beachy getaway without having to travel hours to the coast.
One of the sandy beach areas at The Big Spring lagoon. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
There was plenty of space to spread out on the shore. However, the paddling area was more limited. If there were more than a couple of kayaks and paddleboards on the water at once, it could start to feel crowded.
Pools
In addition to the lagoon, there are four outdoor pools at the resort, including family-friendly pools, kiddie pools and adult-only pools that provide everyone a space to cool off from the Texas heat.
Pool at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
Lazy river and waterslide
The resort’s 900-foot-long lazy river is a slow and relaxing way to move through the water park while staying cool. For more excitement, there’s also a two-story waterslide.
The lazy river and waterslide. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
Windflower Spa
The Windflower Spa is located near the villas and provides an incredibly calm haven away from the rest of the resort. Amenities include men’s and women’s areas with a hot tub, steam room and dry sauna.
Hot tub and dry sauna at the Windflower Spa. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
I received a 50-minute massage during my stay. My favorite feature was the fully-adjustable massage table, which worked just like an adjustable bed. I found it to be more relaxing than a flat massage table.
Hill Country Golf Club
The Hill Country Golf Club is a 27-hole championship course that spans over 200 acres around the resort. Features include a pro shop inside the full-service clubhouse, locker rooms, GPS-equipped golf carts and a practice putting green.
The Hill Country Golf Club surrounds the resort. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
The resort’s TopTracer driving range was a new addition in 2026. It uses balls equipped with electronic tracers that let you observe stats and play interactive games (similar to TopGolf). You can rent a golf bay for between $35 and $60 an hour, depending on the time of day.
Fitness center
The fitness center is open 24 hours a day and includes Peloton bikes, free weights, treadmills and elliptical machines. The space is well lit and air conditioned, with two water stations. There is also a dry sauna in each locker room.
Family-friendly activities
There are a variety of on-site activities geared toward families and kids.
Every morning, a chalkboard with the day’s activities is posted in the lobby. During my stay, those activities included nightly s’mores by the fire, tie-dyeing t-shirts and a variety of games throughout the day. Next to the fitness center, there’s an arcade, which features over a dozen arcade games.
Then, each morning at 8:30, the resort offers buckets of birdseed so guests can feed the birds and squirrels.
There's a wildlife feeding area outside of the Springhouse Cafe. (Photo by Craig Joseph/NerdWallet)
Athletic courts
The resort also offers plenty of sporty outdoor activities, including courts for tennis, pickleball, and beach volleyball.
There’s also a bicycle rental station with both kids' and adult bikes. The first rental hour costs 75 cents, and each additional hour costs $10, with a $40 maximum per day.
Next to the beach volleyball courts, you’ll find some wood-burning fire pits, a cornhole set and a ping-pong table.
Is the resort worth it?
I’ve stayed at a lot of Hyatt hotels, and the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort is among my favorites for its spread of activity and relaxation options. Depending on your mood, you can chill in the lagoon or lazy river, lie by the pool, hike, golf, play pickleball or volleyball, or just sit by the fire (or inside with air conditioning). And if you’re on a family trip, there are several activities to keep kids entertained.
The renovated guest rooms felt upscale and comfortable, and I particularly liked the food and ambience at Antlers Lodge. The resort also offers a great price point for award stays compared to similar resorts within the World of Hyatt program, and you’ll avoid the resort fee of $60 per night when you book with points.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.