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    The Need For Speed

    Road trip heaven: A Texas hotel gives guests a BMW for free when they check in

    Eric Sandler
    Aug 16, 2014 | 3:01 pm

    Summer road trip season may be racing toward an end, but one of Texas' most posh resorts wants to keep the fun going with an intriguing freebie.

    Head to the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa anytime between Aug. 27 and Oct. 26. While there, hotel guests can check out one of nine BMW models absolutely free. Drivers don't even pay for gas. Check a car out for three hours during the day or five hours in the evening for a "dinner drive."

    "The (hotel) is dedicated to offering our guests best in class amenities," general manager Arthur Coulombe says in a statement. "The BMW Resort Driving Tour provides them the opportunity to experience the beautiful Hill Country region in a luxurious automobile during their stay with us."

    No word from the hotel on whether guests are allowed to attempt to recreate the short film in which Clive Owen tosses a very spoiled Madonna around the back seat while hooning in an M5, but we assume that sort of, ahem, spirited driving is frowned upon.

    Still, these aren't stripped down 3-series with crank windows (do those even exist anymore?). Choices include two convertibles, the 650i coupe and the big body 750Li.

    Of course, when visitors aren't exploring the Hill County's famous scenic drives, the resort offers plenty of ways to relax. Try the six-acre waterpark, 36 holes of golf or full spa. The hotel is also about a half hour drive from downtown San Antonio, which is in the middle of major upswing in its dining scene.

    Rates start at $309 per night, and those booking a two-night stay will receive a $100 per night resort credit. That's a definite splurge for most people, but it does come with a few hours of seat time in a Beemer.

    Just resist the urge to go all Transporter.

    Watch sports on a giant projection screen.

    JW Marriott San Antonio bar
    Photos courtesy of JW Marriott San Antonio
    Watch sports on a giant projection screen.
    unspecified
    news/travel

    TOP CHEFS

    Posh Hill Country resort lands star chef Dominique Crenn for new restaurant

    Brandon Watson
    Oct 24, 2025 | 9:15 am
    Dominique Crenn
    Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country
    Dominique Crenn will helm the upcoming restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country.

    The forthcoming Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country in Fredericksburg isn't messing around when it comes to luxury. The posh hotel has drafted Dominique Crenn, one of the most influential chefs of the 21st century, to helm its signature restaurant, opening in 2027.

    Known for her appearances on Iron Chef and an episode of Netflix's Chef's Table documentary series, Crenn has had one of the culinary world's most stratospheric careers. In the 1980s, she helmed the Intercontinental Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, becoming the nation's first woman head chef. She became a household name after moving to California, opening her signature restaurant Atelier Crenn in 2011.

    She was awarded the Best Female Chef Award in 2016 by The World's 50 Best Restaurants. In 2018, Atelier Crenn was awarded its third Michelin Star — making Crenn the only woman chef in the United States to have achieved that top honor. The food showcased in the 2022 horror classic The Menu? All Dominique Crenn.

    "Chef Crenn is an extraordinary talent with a rare ability to draw out the essence of every ingredient, crafting a culinary experience unlike any other," said Mark Harmon, developer of Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country, in a release. "With chef Crenn, we aim to further elevate Fredericksburg's identity as a leading wine and culinary destination by creating experiences that feel local, inspired, and enduring."

    Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country Crenn's restaurant will be the showpiece of the posh Fredericksburg hotel.Rendering courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country

    The unnamed restaurant will showcase Crenn's unique approach to cuisine, a style she calls "poetic culinaria." While rooted in French techniques, it will incorporate global flavors, premium seafood and meats, and locally sourced ingredients to showcase Hill County terroir. Guests can also expect a little avant-garde edge.

    "The Texas Hill Country has a culinary rhythm all its own," said Crenn in a statement. "This collaboration is a chance to celebrate the land, the people, and the seasons through a new lens — one that's deeply personal, rooted in nature, and elevated by imagination. I'm honored to bring this vision to life in Fredericksburg, and to be partnering with such an excellent team of hospitality legends to see it through."

    Crenn will have some fancy digs to show off her culinary finesse. The Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill County, the first Texas hotel for the chain, will include 60 hotel rooms, 37 multi-bedroom resort villas, and 50 private residences. In addition to lodgings, the resort will also contain five food and beverage concepts — an all-day restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a bar and lounge, a pool bar, and a grab-and-go juice bar — as well as a spa, a fitness center, and two resort-style pools.

    chefscelebritieshill countryhotelsfredericksburgopenings
    news/travel
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