Posted: 19/12/23 | December 19, 2023
Austin is known for its great music, delicious restaurants and food trucks, and vibrant tech scene. It’s a perfect city for weekend getaways, especially if you enjoy barbecuing and the outdoors.
I love the city so much that I lived there for over eight years before returning to New York City.
Austin is a vibrant, fun city, with many unique things to see and do. Plus, nothing is more than 20 minutes from anywhere, so you won’t spend ages getting around like you would in major metropolises.
To help you choose the best place to stay during your trip, here is my list of the best hotels in Austin:
1. East Austin Hotel
East Austin is an energetic area that is a great place to stay if you enjoy eating out (some of my favorite places are Fukomoto, Via 313, and Counter Cafe). This boutique hotel has 75 rooms with a minimalist Scandinavian design with soft pastel colors and wooden accents. Amenities include Casper mattresses, plush bathrobes, an in-room coffee maker, and vintage décor. There is also a small outdoor pool, complete with a poolside cocktail bar, as well as a rooftop bar and restaurant. Plus, it’s located right on lively East Sixth Street, one of the best nightlife spots in the city.
2. HotelIndigo
This hotel is located in downtown Austin, an area where you will want to stay if you want to be close to most of the city’s attractions. It’s also just steps away from Stubb’s, a world-famous music venue (try to catch a show there if you can). Indigo is a stylish and creatively designed hotel with a rooftop pool and bar, as well as a 24-hour fitness center. The colorful and spacious rooms feature comfortable beds, a desk, a flat-screen TV with premium channels and luxurious bath products in the large showers.
3. Austin Motel
The landmark Austin Motel originally dates from the 1930s and has been renovated into this fun property in South Congress, an area full of boutiques, top restaurants and food trucks, and a vibrant nightlife. Austin Motel is just as cool as its surroundings, with a pool complete with a bar (adults-only swimming on summer evenings) and a funky retro design that I really liked. The colorful rooms are on the small side (it’s still a motel, after all), but they all have fluffy bathrobes, Bluetooth speakers, a minibar and fair-trade Alaffia bath products. Most rooms also have a desk. Additionally, there is free on-site parking, which is not common among Austin hotels.
4. The Timmermans Hotel
One of the few hotels in the middle of the Zilker district, this area has many interesting things to see and do, including the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and the Barton Springs Pool. The Carpenter Hotel is a quiet, open-air boutique hotel with a relaxing outdoor pool and patio. Staying here feels like a little retreat from the city. The comfortable rooms have a beautiful minimalist industrial design with many light wood accents, blackout shutters and private terraces. I really like the attention to sustainability, with eco-friendly bath products and local treats in the minibar.
5. Embassy Suites by Hilton
Anchored on the border where Zilker Park and the (Texan) Colorado River meet, stay here to be close to many of Austin’s green spaces. You can walk to the Greenbelt from here and you are also close to the lake. Embassy Suites offers spacious rooms with city views, an indoor pool and a fitness center. The free hot breakfast buffet (complete with an omelet station) is fantastic and there is also a happy hour every evening with free drinks, which I thought was a nice touch. It’s a solid and affordable mid-range choice if you want to stay in a quieter area.
6. Arrival
This 4-star hotel features super spacious and bright rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, incredibly comfortable beds, work desks, Bluetooth speakers, high-quality bath products and a refrigerator with bottled water. The bathrooms and showers are huge, and some rooms even have balconies (so ask for one at check-in). There’s also a courtyard restaurant and bar, a Goan-inspired eatery and a gin-focused rooftop bar. Arrival is also right on East Sixth, home to some of the best bars in the city (my favorites are Whislers, Lazarus, Lolo Wine and Lucky Duck).
One of my favorite cities in the entire country, Austin is a perfect weekend getaway destination. There’s loads of delicious food, plentiful live music and all kinds of outdoor activities to keep you busy. And if you choose one of the above hotels, you are assured of a great stay in the Texas capital.
Book your trip to Austin: logistics tips and tricks
Book your flight
Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines all over the world so you always know there is nothing going on.
Book your accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory and the best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently offer the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay are:
Don’t forget travel insurance
Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft and cancellations. It is comprehensive protection in case something goes wrong. I never travel without it as I have had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that provide the best service and value are:
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resources page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the apps I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will also save you money when you travel.
Would you like more information about Austin?
Be sure to visit our robust Austin destination guide for even more planning tips!
