Practical information for visitors to San Antonio, Texas
In this guide you will find practical information that is useful for planning your trip to San Antonio, Texas. When you go on vacation it is a good idea to read up on your destination, to be well prepared for any situation you might encounter. Especially if you are a tourist from outside of America, you might want to familiarize yourself with the local customs, emergency numbers, the tipping culture and other interesting facts about San Antonio.
Police, fire brigade and ambulance
The general emergency number in the USA is 911. If you have an emergency that requires the attention of the police, ambulance or fire department then calling 911 is appropriate.
If you need to call the police, but there isn’t any emergency, then you could call the San Antonio Police Department at 210-207-7273. The non-emergency number of the fire department is 210-207-7744.
Weather and climate in San Antonio
As San Antonio lies in Texas you can expect it to have pretty warm weather. If you wish to enjoy a warm summer vacation then San Antonio offers the perfect climate for that.
San Antonio is a popular destination during its summer months for a good reason. Especially July and August are very dry months, while they also offer the hottest temperatures. These months also offer long days with lots of sunshine hours.
In July the average temperatures range from 75°F (23.9°C) to 95°F (35°C). But you can expect some days to be even warmer. And in August the temperatures range from 75°F (23.9°C) to 96°F (35.6°C). Especially if you want to visit the famous water parks of San Antonio these months will be excellent times to visit.
These temperatures can be too warm for some people. So travelers who prefer a more mild temperature, are recommended to visit during the colder months from November to April. During these months you the city will also be less crowded by tourists. Which allows you to explore the city and its cultural sites much easier.
Especially early November is excellent if you want to enjoy everything there is to do in San Antonio. As this period has less rain than the two warmer months before it, while during the day the average high temperatures can still reach 60°F (15.6°C) to 70°F (21.1°C) degrees. Making the weather perfect for exploring the cultural sites at your own leisure.
Due to certain festivities April is also quite a popular month to visit San Antonio. Many tourists visit the city this month due to Fiesta San Antonio, which is an 11 days long festival that celebrates the battle of the Alamo. The event reminds us a bit of Mardi Gras with its parades. Going just outside of the summer season also allows for a bit milder weather, although there is a slightly higher chance of rain.
Tipping culture in San Antonio
The USA has a strong tipping culture. And although people do tip a lot, people on the internet also enjoy inflating the numbers that are actually being tipped. So that begs the question, what is actually being tipped in San Antonio?
People in San Antonio are actually one of the biggest tippers in the USA, as on average they tip 16.8% in restaurants. Across the USA tipping 15% of the price, before taxes, in restaurants is fairly standard.
As a fist rule you can give 15% in restaurants, to taxi drivers, tour guides, delivery people and to hairdressers. You could give bartenders 1 or 2 dollars per order. The same if someone brings your suitcase. The cleaning maids at the hotel 2 or 3 dollars. And 3 to 5 dollars for valet parking.
If the service was bad, then you could leave a lower tip. Or no tip at all. It should be noted that although many Europeans often leave a couple cents of small change on the table as a tip in restaurants. In America it can be considered impolite to leave a tip of a couple cents, as it does mean the service was terrible.
Especially in touristic areas tips can also already be included in the price. If this is the case, then you can find it on the bill. But in San Antonio this rarely happens, so do expect to tip.
Public holidays and festivities in Texas, USA
The United States has many holidays that are proudly celebrated in abundance each year. So it’s a joy to be in the USA during important holidays. This list contains most federal holidays and regional holidays that are observed in Texas. The most famous unofficial holidays that are being observed in Texas have also been added to this list.
In the United States public holidays work slightly differently than in many other countries. The private sector isn’t obligated to give people a day off on public holidays, although many businesses tend to do so. Some of the public holidays are considered federal holidays. On these days people who work for the federal government are given a day off.
1 jan 2024 – New Year’s Day
15 jan 2024 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
19 jan 2024 – Confederate Heroes’ Day (regional holiday)
14 feb 2024 – Valentine’s Day (unofficial holiday)
19 feb 2024 – President’s Day
2 mar 2024 – Texas Independence Day (regional holiday)
17 mar 2024 – Saint Patrick’s Day (unofficial holiday)
29 mar 2024 – Good Friday (regional holiday)
31 mar 2024 – César Chávez Day (regional holiday)
31 mar 2024 – Easter (unofficial holiday)
21 apr 2024 – San Jacinto Day (regional holiday)
12 may 2024 – Mother’s day (unofficial holiday)
27 may 2024 – Memorial Day
16 jun 2024 – Father’s Day (unofficial holiday)
19 jun 2024 – Emancipation Day (a regional holiday)
4 jul 2024 – Independence Day
27 aug 2024 – Lyndon Baines Johnson Day (regional holiday)
2 sep 2024 – Labor Day
14 okt 2024 – Columbus Day (regional holiday)
31 okt 2024 – Halloween (unofficial holiday)
11 nov 2024 – Veterans Day
28 nov 2024 – Thanksgiving
29 nov 2024 – Day after thanksgiving
24 dec 2024 – Christmas eve
25 dec 2024 – Christmas day
31 dec 2024 – New Year’s Eve