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 Photo: Casey Dunn
1316 South Congress Ave. / 512.444.7322 / 800.574.889
Located in Austin’s swanky SoCo area, Hotel San José originally opened in 1936 as a modern motor court for travelers. The stucco-walled transformation into an urban, bungalow-style hotel is much more recent. Anything but ordinary, the San José gets right in the mix of Austin. Locals favor the courtyard as a place to start evening entertainment, and world-famous music clubs are steps away. The New York Times said, “No better place to capture Austin’s eclectic soul than the Hotel San José.”
The San José forgoes the usual carpeted hallways, creating funky pathways between the rooms and the main lobby instead, with crushed granite surrounded by artistically landscaped Texas plant life. The refreshing courtyard pool is as enticing as the lattes or pulled pork sandwich from Jo’s Coffee Shop located across the driveway. Local shops line the street and the Congress Avenue Bridge is a short walk, overlooking Lady Bird Lake where you can watch 1.5 million bats take flight simultaneously after sunset.  Pool at the Austin Motel
1220 South Congress Ave. / 512.441.1157
As the iconic neon sign that has become an Austin landmark says, Austin Motel is “so close yet so far out.” Just blocks from downtown with an unobstructed Capitol view, the Austin Motel exudes quirky charm and family-run pride. The motel has doubled in size since it opened in 1938 (yes, the neon sign has been there since day one). The randomly colored walls and bright murals make each of the 41 rooms unique. A 1950s feel is heightened by the kidney-shaped pool and motor court arches.
Guests can mosey to Congress Avenue Bridge or meander their way through the one-of-a-kind shops that speckle the SoCo district. Art galleries, music venues, excellent dining and a bonanza of vintage stores are all within walking distance. This is one place that will never disappoint anyone looking for a truly Austin experience.  Inside The Mansion
1900 Rio Grande St. / 512.495.1800 / 800.311.1619
This luxurious, boutique hotel has a unique history. Built in 1900 by the wealthy doctor Goodall Wooten, the mansion served as the family’s home until his death in 1942. The Wootens sold the estate, which changed hands for 60 years, even serving as an alcohol and drugs rehabilitation center for nearly two decades. It wasn’t until 2002 the mansion became The Mansion, with meticulous restoration to recapture the original opulence of the Goodall Wooten house. It has since become one of the most lavish places to stay in Austin.
Guests are treated like red carpet material as they walk into a southern comfort zone. The Condé Nast recommended hotel includes the exceptional Judges’ Hill Restaurant & 1900 Bar, where a worldly dining experience awaits in the elegant dining room or on the romantic courtyard veranda. The Mansion is a treat enjoyed by visitors and Austinites looking for a fantastic escape.  The Driskill lobby
604 Brazos St. / 512.474.5911 / 800.252.9367
More than a century old, this luxury hotel is certainly historical, but comfortably contemporary as well. Cattle baron Jesse Lincoln Driskill built this famous hotel in 1886, making it a key location for many important guests from Texas governors to celebrities to visitors seeking to soak up Texas hospitality in style. The hotel’s 189 guestrooms and suites are perfectly situated at 6th and Brazos Streets with downtown’s nightlife only steps away. The stately architecture clearly shows how historically rich this getaway is. Recently restored to its original grandeur, the marble flooring and extravagant stained glass instantly impart a regal touch on your stay in Austin.
A truly full-service hotel, the award-winning Driskill Hotel includes the 1886 Café & Bakery, with street side bistro seating for lighter fare; the five-star culinary masterpiece Driskill Grill; and of course, the classy Driskill Bar, where locals and visitors mingle as live piano fills the air. Amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, massage services and an executive business center. The Driskill is managed by Destination Hotels & Resorts, the fifth largest independent hospitality management company in the country. Other Recommended Area Hotels:  Downtown Luxury Discover the perfect balance between the city beat and resort calm. Set on the shore of Lady Bird Lake, the ideal location of the Four Diamond downtown Austin hotel lets you experience the best of our eclectic city. Catch the display at the famous "Bat Bridge", right outside the hotel in downtown Austin. Wander across Congress to find yourself immersed in the entertainment districts – including SoCo, Warehouse District, 2nd Street and Sixth Street. Take full advantage of the lake locale with a ride around the trail paddle a canoe, relax by the pool or workout in the 24-hour gym. Critically acclaimed dining, redesigned guestrooms, elegant event venues, and a fantastic view of downtown add the finishing touches to thisr inviting downtown Austin, Texas hotel  Family resort in nearby Bastrop Escape to infinite comfort at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa. This expansive, 405-acre Texas hotel resort welcomes you with distinctively approachable luxury in the midst of rugged wilderness, where jeans and business suits intermingle with ease. Retreat to the secluded setting of this ranch-style Austin hotel – just minutes from the airport, downtown, and historic Bastrop. Conduct business in the state-of-the-art meeting facilities or on the crisp greens of the championship golf course. Luxuries abound, from spacious guestrooms and spa treatments to delectable dining and endless recreation. Discover the vast wonders of this all-new Bastrop Texas hotel and resort. |
Austin is nothing if not a town full of hidden treasures, the kind that you can live here for more than ten years (like me) and still not get to totally experience, and the kind that as a visitor, you’d have to come back to our fair city for vacation after vacation just to completely take in. Lakeway Resort and Spa is one of those hidden jewels, located just west of Austin on Lake Travis, and it provides you with both that laid-back Austiny feel, while also making you think that you are nowhere even close to the hustle and bustle of home.