The Austin Motel
Travelers will see hints of the Atomic Age in the Austin Motel's famous neon sign, kidney-shaped pool and classic "motor inn" drive-up check-in. The motel has been around since 1938, going through many incarnations until it was refurbished in the early 1990s. The motel has since become a favorite with those traveling on a budget who want to stick close to the West Austin area and downtown. Forty-one one- and two-bedrooms are available, each uniquely furnished and decorated (some rooms include murals), as well as luxury rooms and suites. There's only one caveat to staying at the Austin Motel: Weekend reservations must include both Friday and Saturday nights.
The Austin Motel
1220 South Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 441-1157
austinmotel.com
The Driskill Hotel
The palatial, marble-tiled lobby of the historic Driskill Hotel, flanked with columns and sweeping palms, takes guests back to Austin's formative years. Constructed in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill, the hotel is the oldest operating hotel in Austin and about a mile away from the West Austin neighborhood. The Driskill Hotel includes 189 luxury guestrooms and suites that feature high-speed or WiFi Internet service, in-room safes, mini-bars, premium cable television and pay-per-view movies. The hotel also offers full concierge services, valet parking, a 24-hour gym and massage services. The Driskill Grill and 1886 Cafe & Bakery are favorites with locals. Fun fact: In 1934, former U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson, and his bride-to-be, Lady Bird, had their first date at the Driskill Hotel's dining room.
The Driskill Hotel
604 Brazos St.
Austin, Texas 78701
(800) 252-9367
www.driskillhotel.com
Hotel San Jose
The bungalow-style Hotel San Jose, originally built in 1939 as a motor court, personifies the "Keep Austin Weird" slogan, offering unique, off-beat amenities, such as the use of Polaroid cameras (for guests to snap photos of their stay), a video and music library, bike rentals and morning bento-box breakfast service served in-room. This SoCo hotel, one zip code away from West Austin, has 40 different rooms and suites, some with shared baths and others with private facilities. Wi-Fi access, in-room manicures/pedicures, on-call massage, and dry-cleaning services are available as well. Guests have access to a swimming area and outdoor gardens. Hotel San Jose is also pet-friendly, permitting up to two furry family members per room for an additional $10 per day.
Hotel San Jose
1316 South Congress Ave.
Austin, Texas 78704
(800) 574-8897
www.sanjosehotel.com
The Carriage House Inn
The Carriage House Inn offers travelers to Austin a homier option to a hotel stay. The luxury inn is located in a restored, Victorian mansion situated on well-groomed grounds that feature flower gardens, outdoor swings, a gazebo, lily pond and waterfall. The Carriage House Inn is located close to downtown and West Austin, and also near the University of Texas-Austin, allowing guests walking access to the campus and notable attractions, such as the state capitol, Bob Bullock History Museum, Blanton Art Museum, LBJ Library and Museum, and the many shops and eateries on the university area's "drag" (Guadalupe Street). Each of the four rooms and two suites has Wi-Fi access, cable television and a private bath. Homemade breakfasts are served daily. Rooms are nonsmoking only and limited to two people, each of who must be over the age of 14. Flexible check-in hours and express check-out are other bonuses at the Carriage House Inn.
The Carriage House Inn
1110 West 22 1/2 St.
Austin, Texas 78705
(866) 472-2333
