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The Palmer's Guest House - The Great Getaway in Central San Marcos

Photo gallery for The Palmer's Guest House - The Great Getaway in Central San Marcos

A living room with a leather sofa, a patterned armchair, a wooden cabinet, a television, and a table with a lamp.
A bedroom with a bed, two bedside lamps, a nightstand, a ceiling fan, and a window with blinds.
A patio area with wooden chairs, a table, and a red umbrella.
A bedroom with a bed, nightstands, a lamp, a mirror, and a chair.
A living room with a sofa, an ottoman, a floral armchair, a small table with a lamp, and artwork on the walls.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Games
    A rare find - enjoy a variety of games available on-site.
  • Walkable and wonderful
    Guests love the walkable location for its easy access on foot.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Texas State University
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Laundry room
  • Air-conditioning
  • Deck or patio
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Balcony or patio

Explore the area

View in a map
San Marcos, TX
  • Place, Texas State University
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, San Marcos River
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Place, Rio Vista Park
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Airport, Austin, TX (AUS-Austin-Bergstrom Intl.)
    ‪41 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Futon and 1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

The Palmer's Guest House - The Great Getaway in Central San Marcos

Beautifully furnished, quaint and cozy guest house nestled in the charming historic district of San Marcos. Located just 4 blocks from the downtown square and Texas State University, with convenient access to the Outlet Malls and the San Marcos River. Multiple restaurants, cafe's, coffee shops, a laundromat, gas station and a grocery store are all within walking distance.

The Palmer's Guest House is right next door to the famous Palmer's Restaurant Bar and Courtyard. Included with your two-night stay is the "Palmer's Welcome Package" which includes a welcome bottle of Texas Wine and a $30 gift certificate to enjoy a fabulous meal next door at Palmer's Restaurant, Bar & Courtyard. Come enjoy a taste of the Hill Country and everything San Marcos has to offer. *Please call Kristin to add on the "Palmer's Welcome Package" to any booking for only $29.

Keywords: Guest House, bed and breakfast, B&B, romantic

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
Even the most well-behaved pets have dander.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
To lock door, push top button then twist deadbolt.
Please text Kristin at 512-775-7770 to inform of departure.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 339116vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

San Marcos

Located in San Marcos, this cottage is in the city centre and near theme parks. Shoppers can check out San Marcos Premium Outlets, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of San Marcos River and Rio Vista Park. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Bobcat Soccer Complex or Bobcat Ballpark. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and cave exploring.
View more Cottages in San MarcosOpens in a new window
Map
San Marcos, TX

What's nearby

  • Texas State University - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Hays County Historic Courthouse - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • San Marcos River - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Wonder World Cave & Adventure Park - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Rio Vista Park - 17 min walk - 1.5 km

Getting around

  • San Marcos Station - 16 min walk
  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪The Square - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Blue Dahlia Bistro - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪North Street Curry Shop - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Urban Bird Hot Chicken - ‬7 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Palmer's Guest House - The Great Getaway in Central San Marcos pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Palmer's Guest House - The Great Getaway in Central San Marcos?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Palmer's Guest House - The Great Getaway in Central San Marcos?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Palmer's Guest House - The Great Getaway in Central San Marcos?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Palmer's Guest House - The Great Getaway in Central San Marcos located?

Located in the heart of San Marcos, this cottage is within a 5-minute walk of Witliff Collections and Texas State University. San Marcos River and Rio Vista Park are also within 1 mile (2 km). San Marcos Station is 16 minutes by foot.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 177 out of 195 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 195 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 195 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 195 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 195 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ashley D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to stay while visiting my son. A short walk to the square and anything else you may need. Really enjoyed going to Palmers for dinner next door. Ty for a great stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Valier B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Palmers Guest House is always 5 star!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

LiAnn P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We wanted something close to the college for walkability. Weather led to driving, but we could have walked. The room was wonderful and the restaurant was great! Had dinner and brunch there.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Matt T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great guesthouse to stay at. Clean and comfortable. Host was great with communication and information. Right next to Palmers which is a great restaurant and bar , and within walking distance the downtown area. Everything was excellent and we would definitely stay here again .
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Randy R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place! Cute and central to everything TXST. We came in for a campus tour and it was perfect!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Peter B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Incredible location, impeccably clean, beautifully decorated, fantastic hosts, who have the best restaurant in town and give a you a dinning credit and a bottle of wine.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Terri P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hidden Gem!

Fabulous STAY perfect location will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carley M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location and wonderful guesthouse. We truly enjoyed our stay. The location doesn’t get much better, neither does the hospitality. We can’t wait for our next stay. Highly recommended!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rhoda A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great little house! Close to everything and was stocked well with towels and extra little things. The bed was super comfortable! We would definitely stay again!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jordan L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Guest House

We really enjoyed the guest house and it's location! Palmer's Restaurant was a great spot to eat, but there are many other good choices within walking distance.The private covered parking area was a big bonus.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cute cottage and host was super responsive! Stayed cool inside during the summer heat and loved that it was walking distance to shops and restaurants!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kim G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Super Cute Place

Loved the place, close to everything, will stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sherina

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Super Cozy Great Place !!!

We found our "place" to stay when coming to San Marcos, perfect for us, great location, very nice, wonderful restaurant/bar, walk to everywhere Wonderful hosts !
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023
Archival

8/10 Good

Terry D.

Exactly as advertised. Great location, nice meal in the restaurant.

Will be staying there again in the future. Convenient, clean and cozy.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2016
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar, 2020
Palmer's has proudly served the finest in Hill Country cuisine since 1978. We are thrilled to be able to offer our guests a wonderful extension of our services in the Palmer's Guest House right next door. Just stay the night!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Lisa H.

Comfortable beds and great location!

Palmer's guest house took care of all my needs promptly. It was great being right next door to the restaurant, which has fabulous food and service!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2016
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar, 2020
Enjoy the most comfortable night's sleep in town after a fabulous meal at Palmer's anytime!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Steve B.

Perfect vacation and close to everything for us

This place is great and there can't be a better place in San Marcos. The owners are perfect hosts.
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar, 2020
We work very hard every day to ensure we have one of the finest establishments in this great city! Thank you so much for letting people know about us!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jimmy A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was great and the staff was wonderful. Thank you! :)Dustin
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Valier B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect overall!

This is the only place we stay. Love it!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

ebnik e.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Charming location

Enjoyable dinner with a charming place to rest.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Jim D.

Nice cottage in a great location for walking to Texas State, and downtown San Marcos.

We enjoyed the cottage and our meal at Palmer's. Great location..
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kaechoong L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very pleasant stay

We visited San Marcos to see our new grandson. Because of the facility we enjoyed our stay very much. The rooms were clean and cozy and equipped with everything you need.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Haley N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect weekend in San Marcos

Everything was just as promised. It was so lovely, spotless & the hosts were quick with communication! Can't recommend this property enough!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Chantelle E.

Palmer's Guest House

Fabulous accommodations, personable staff. Owners are fantastic. I highly, highly recommend the Palmer's Guest House to anyone looking for a comfortable stay with five star cuisine.
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar, 2020
Thank you so much for your great review of the Palmer's Guest House! It means so much to us to have such loyal guests who have stayed so many times over the years and continue to make great memories with us at Palmer's. We can"t wait to see you again! P.S. I love the story of your husband getting a compliment in the Courtyard on how nice he smelled after using our body wash and shampoo ;)
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Britney R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute Cottage

Cute cottage
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mike S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wick trip to San Marvelous

Stayed here on a quick visit to see my daughter. It is an awesome little place in a great location. Palmers is one of my favorite restaurants in San Marcos and I never knew this was here!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

About the host

Hosted by Kristin Sheffield

Host profile image
The Sheffield Family has been in the hospitality business for over 50 combined years. we are a family run business who supports our local community.
We look forward to your stay!

Why they chose this property

Perfectly nestled in the heart of San Marcos. Walking distance to TXST, downtown, the historic district, the square, HEB and many other shops, restaurants and the San Marcos River! Enjoy the ambiance and amazing food and drinks right next door at Palmer's Restaurant, Bar, & Courtyard. Indulge in the "Palmer's Welcome Package" FREE with any two-night stay, or for just $29 with a one night booking. Please call Kristin to purchase this special treat at (512)775-7770.

What makes this property unique

San Marcos is located half-way between Austin and San Antonio, Texas, known as the Gateway to the Hill Country. In We are known for our crystal clear, San Marcos River which is always 72 degrees and can be enjoyed year round. San Marcos is home to Texas State University and the guest house is within walking distance to the entire campus. In addition to being located right next door to the fabulous Palmer's Restaurant, we have a convenience store right next door for anything you may have forgotten to pack, multiple coffee shops, bars, a grocery store and a liquor store all within a few blocks of the property. And for endless shopping pleasure, San Marcos boasts the biggest outlet malls in Texas just four miles down the road. There is so much to do and see here you will need to come again!

Languages:

English

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