Great hotel! Conveniently located, clean, free parking and quiet!…read more Nothing fancy but they do have a bar and restaurant as well that was your typical medium place. Bar food ect. I would stay there again.

A little far from downtown and the airport but a decent hotel…read more There is a little cafe, pool, gym, and a shuttle along with other amenities. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The rooms are well maintained and not too outdated. It is next to a HEB, Whole Foods, abs the shopping common area so you can walk there.

Having spent 20+ years in hospitality, travel and the spa industry, including experience with…read moreSpafinder, i-SPA, Four Seasons and Marriott, I tend to notice the details. I've also experienced extraordinary five- and even six-star properties, and I've learned that true luxury isn't simply about what has been spent--it's consistency, attention to detail, anticipatory service and, most importantly, people who understand hospitality. My best friend, Janel, and I took two days to simply be together and literally open the calendar to plan some of her future travels. With her children now in college, she's at a wonderful stage of life where she wants to see the world and experience the best of the best--five-star hotels, exceptional restaurants and memorable experiences. Hotel Viata seemed like the perfect setting. The property is gorgeous--an Italianate gem tucked into the Texas Hill Country, with a sense of escape while still convenient to Austin. And then there is Ashley Quarles, Director. Honestly: How in the world is Ashley everywhere, and does she ever sleep? She was there when I checked in. She was there at the spa. When something needed attention, she was there. When I had a question or offered feedback, she was there--and genuinely wanted to hear it. After 20+ years in this industry, I recognize the difference between someone doing a job and someone taking ownership of the guest experience. Ashley takes ownership. She is warm, gracious, professional, responsive and remarkably receptive. Nothing seemed to be "someone else's department." If it affected a guest, she cared. I don't say this lightly: Ashley Quarles is a significant reason Hotel Viata operates at the level it does. Beautiful properties can be built. Genuine hospitality comes from people. The pool was a highlight. It is secluded, peaceful and exceptionally maintained. Every chaise lounge and piece of outdoor furniture was beautifully cared for, with plentiful, beautifully presented towels. I've stayed at five- and six-star properties where pool furnishings weren't maintained this well. Someone here is paying attention. I also loved the live DJ poolside. Rather than generic piped-in music, an actual DJ quietly and discreetly created the atmosphere. The music enhanced the experience without interfering with conversation--sophisticated, relaxed and beautifully done. Gabe, the pool and lounge/bar manager, was fantastic. He was present, knowledgeable, personable and refreshingly candid. He listened to what we liked and recommended what he genuinely thought we would enjoy--even steering us away from something he didn't think was right for us. That is anticipatory service rather than simply taking an order. The spa is where I saw the greatest opportunity for refinement. It is intimate and boutique, but luxury spa hospitality begins before the treatment. Janel wasn't escorted to her locker or provided spa footwear, and her heated massage table wasn't functioning properly and was actually cool, requiring her to request another blanket. These things didn't ruin the experience; they are opportunities. It's those seemingly small details that transform a good massage into an exceptional luxury spa experience. I shared them with Ashley, who listened without defensiveness and genuinely wanted to know. I left believing she would actually do something with the feedback. Dinner was fantastic--quality ingredients, beautiful preparation and presentation. And Luis was magnificent. He is a true mixologist who understands his craft and can explain the ingredients and thought behind his creations. More importantly, he understands anticipatory service. He listened to what we were looking for and essentially said, "Let me show you what I think you'll love." He was right. Our room was beautiful, with exceptionally comfortable beds, wonderful linens and a luxurious sense of space. We did have a temperamental telephone and a toilet that wasn't functioning quite properly. There were also small arrival-service inconsistencies involving assistance to the room and obtaining ice. These should be addressed, but they didn't define our stay. After two decades in hospitality, I've learned: No property is perfect. What matters is what happens when something isn't perfect. Hotel Viata already has the difficult pieces--a gorgeous property, beautiful rooms, excellent food, an exceptionally maintained pool and people who care. The smaller inconsistencies can be fixed. Gabe demonstrated genuine hospitality at the pool. Luis demonstrated it at dinner. And Ashley Quarles demonstrated it everywhere. Janel and I came to relax, reconnect and dream about where her next adventures might take her. We left thoroughly enjoying Hotel Viata and appreciating the people who took care of us. Beautiful hotels are easy to find. Beautiful hotels filled with people who genuinely understand hospitality are much rarer. Hotel Viata has those people.

If you are just looking for a nice getaway, this is the place for you…read more The best part of this hotel for a summer visit is the pool bar. It's a very laid-back and fun place to spend the day. The rooms are nice, and the hotel has unique décor and a cool vibe. It's a fun place to stay for a couple of days. ***The beds - not so good. They are very firm and not comfortable at all.*** There is nothing within walking distance of this hotel, except for the Apple Computer offices that share the same parking lot. The customer service is good and on point. The restaurant is ok, but the food is nothing special. They have 4 or 5 regional craft beers, but nothing on tap. Parking is free and is in a covered garage. The room included a complimentary bottle of wine, free bottled water, a mini fridge, and a microwave.

This hotel has some good and not-so-good things about it…read more The good: staff was nice, hotel was clean, the restaurant/bar had good options, the pool deck was a plus. The not-so-good: the patio of my room was surrounded by walls and you could not look out. Depressing and I never sat out there. There was no window in the room, just the glass door that looked out to a wall. Also, the hallway and my room had an unpleasant smell the 2 days I was there. Lastly, I did not like the location. Close to some loud bars that looked dumpy at least from the outside and I could hear music much of the night despite the included White Noise machine being cranked.

I had a great three-night stay at the Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown!…read more I was in town for work, but decided to stay an extra day to explore. Location was great. It was within walking distance from many restaurants, bars, and shops. I walked to breakfast and/or coffee every morning and even walked to Office Depot to pick up some things for work. I can't speak for parking or valet since I didn't rent a car. I was placed in room 320 with a king bed. The room was spacious and gave me plenty of room to walk around while also having a dedicated space for all my belongings. I had no issues with the room. However, if you're looking for a nice view, room 320 is not it. My view was of a building wall.. But it didn't bother me because I didn't spend a lot of time at the hotel. I was really only there to sleep. Since I didn't spend a lot of time at the hotel, I didn't get to explore much of it, but I do know there's a pool, fitness center, and onsite restaurant and bar. They also have a nice spacious lobby and courtyard. A few other things I appreciated: refillable water bottles in the room, a water station with hot and cold water on every floor, the welcome note and chocolates, and the wonderful service throughout my stay!

We chose this hotel to stay close but not too close to the hubbub of Austin sights and sounds. Upon…read morewalking to our room into the main hallway, there is a lingering musty smell that lingers. We had a clean and tidy suite on the first level. Two double beds were comfy and plenty of towels. Our first night's stay was decent. Surprised to know they seem to use softened water because it made our skin feel slippery. I noticed the shower gel holder was falling out of the wall. A precarious situation of having to carefully pull the mechanism to dispense without pulling too hard. I did notify the night staff but the next day, it didn't seem like anyone came to fix it. No extra body wash or soap was provided even when I asked for some. The wall sockets with the en-suite appliances was not usable. The electrical outlets weren't working so we couldn't toast anything, use the kettle, or the coffee machine. Couldn't find one with a GFCI breaker to reset that side so gave up. Interestingly, the full-sized fridge and microwave were working ok though. The rod for one of the window curtains fell off while opening them. Because it's floor to ceiling we just left it alone. The common spaces around the property are well decorated, from the Library, Executive board room, kids corner, gym/yoga studio, and outdoor lounge space. Although, the snack/tea/coffee station with Keurig isn't filled maintained often. We had to ask the night staff to refill the water for tea and the lobby water dispenser was constantly low as well. On our second to last day, I found the hot water and still water station downstairs at Simona's. Pros: Clean, comfy, affordable stay. Enjoyed the bottomless drip coffee $5 and their signature Breakfast at Tiffany's latte. Also appreciated them letting us do late checkout and upgrade our room. Cons: Complimentary water station, Keurig / snack station, overall maintenance of room amenities could be handled better. Warning: If booking from 3rd party (BILT, Capital One Portal...) the added parking is not the same price that's on Colton's House's website. It's actually $40/day (with in/out privileges). However if booking directly through Colton House for stays, parking is 50% off at $20. Would we stay here again in the future? Most likely not. For an SLH property, we may look for another better-maintained option in the future.

The Colton House on South Congress feels more like your stylish friend's Austin loft than a hotel…read more It's modern and very boutique. It's extra but just the right amount of extra. There's a food truck instead of a restaurant! That's progress. Simona's is its coffee-and-cocktail bar in the lobby! I spent a full day at the pool. A beautiful choc hotel. A huge flaw is you need a key to get everywhere. You cannot go park and get to the lobby. You have to use a key to get from your room floor to the lobby. That's just weird.

This is a great hotel for business travel - right in the heart of UF area of Austin!…read more Easy and quirky check in at the bar at the center of the lobby! I was upgraded prior to arrival based on my status as I basically live in Marriotts. Room is bright, quirky and modern - designed to be very minimalist with hangers and pegs on the wall instead of a closet and two small closets - one with a toilet and one with a very compact shower that reminds me why I would never want to vacation on a cruise ship! There is no bathroom just separate compartments for each with a sink in the hallway! You can pull a large shower type curtain across that part of the room for privacy. Room was quiet and very dark which I love! In keeping with the minimalist theme - there is no fridge or coffee machine in the room! You can however get free coffee downstairs and there is a grab and go fridge with snacks and drinks in the lobby. There is also a taco place in the lobby that I previously reviewed and won't return to! All was great except in the 8am hour the cleaners arrived and had loud conversations in the hallway- of course on the one day I did not have a super early start - then knocked for room service twice before I left - at 8:50am!!! I mentioned it to the front desk and the lady that was there apologized but a young guy told me that it could not have been the cleaners as they had been in a meeting and he disagreed with my discussion until two other ladies also from my floor told him the cleaners were definitely there!! Not great customer service! Still a good room, fun property and good fora night or two !

The layout of the hotel room is a bit different but for what you pay it's a very good spot in a…read morevery good location in the heart of Austin steps away from the university. It also has a nice outdoor area with games and an onsite place for coffee.

Stayed at Northshore Austin (2nd and San Antonio...not the address listed here) as a guest through…read moreThe Guild. I loved every minute of it. Way better bang for your buck than renting a hotel. We got a 1 bedroom with a den that had a queen bed. Although the den did not have an actual door or privacy, what we got in amenities made up for it. There was a weird incident where we walked in on 2 employees who appeared to be engaged in gratuitous acts moments before we attempted to open the door. Although, maybe we were mistaken...we all just got an odd vibe from the two employees (one behind a closed bedroom door we found after talking with the first employee for over 5 minutes) and the other changing the password on the lock (from the inside of the room?--/he had to exit to do this after we entered the room). We had requested an early check in, so it was weird to find anyone hanging out there, playing "peek-a-boo" with grown guests at the initial check in. But the final total for a 4 night stay amounted to $1741.90...and considering the location...the amenities...the layout of the room...it was worth it! Just a warning: while the rooms are equipped with full kitchens, there aren't basic items like salt, oil, cutting boards (although one was brought to us after a text) to do any substantial cooking. But, who doesn't love a room where you can actually wash laundry BEFORE heading home?

My husband and I visited Austin this past weekend for a friend's wedding and spent three nights at…read morethe guild at the Arnold on East 6th. Originally I booked through an online travel site and minutes after I received a text from the Guild. After chatting with an agent they informed me that by booking direct I could get a deal and I canceled my original booking and booked directly through them with a savings around $250. I had a few questions prior to arriving and every time I texted an agent I received an answer almost immediately. This type of communication continued throughout our stay. The accommodations were pristine. I am extremely picky and honestly was nervous about staying here as it isn't our typical type of accommodations when we travel, but I could not have been happier. The apartment was huge. It was spotless and everything looked brand new. While we didn't cook there, the kitchen was fully stocked with what you would need to make a meal. There was a French press! There were extras like coffee, hot sauce, tampons; they thought of everything you might not have thought of. We spent hours listening to the eclectic record collection thy provided, so fun! Also, the neighborhood was super cool. We ate from some crazy good food trucks (rolling smoke, bomb tacos), checked out an awesome dive bar (the white horse) and found it completely walkable to the downtown area. My only regret is there aren't guilds outside of Texas! Thanks for a great stay!

In the excitement of the Texas Longhorns playing against the Clemson Tigers for the first ever CFP…read morePlayoff First Round football game I quickly reserved a room at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center. I have been here before to hang out at the Gabriel's Café before home games before but never spent a night here. My weekend experience started by valeting my car where it is all cashless and the assistant will text you a link to tip them. It was quick and easy. The registration desk was on the second floor. Our room was very nice, elegant and spacious, and everything worked fine. We had a view of the courtyard and the room included the usuals like a mini fridge and two robes. The housekeepers were very nice and will change out the towels and spruce up the bed but wished they also had a QR code for tips. At night the room was very quiet and the bed very comfortable. My only recommendation is to change out the shower head for felt like worn out. We dined at The Carillon and one of the best meals we have had in a very long time. It was much less stressful to stay here and just walk to and from the game.

This is by far the most AMAZING hotel stayed in. Words can't even describe. The service is top…read moretier, the rooms are so clean and completely unrelated but i wore the robe they had and i felt like a queen with my chocolate milk in a wine glass. the only reason i gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is because the wifi was bad. the games on my ipad that the apps that didn't require wifi weren't working. other than that, absolutely amazing experience

I love this little spot. It's one of those places that's perfect for taking a break when you're out…read moreon Congress. Grab a seat, slow down for a bit, and enjoy a frosé and some light bites while you take in the energy of the street. Such a fun, laid-back Austin stop--and the perfect place to relax for a while.

This is such a cute hotel. My friend and I had our annual girls' trip here this year and loved our…read morestay. It's very conveniently located near many shops and eateries, so we basically stayed around the SoCo area and chilled (and also talked our ears off). The room was cute, the decor on the premises with all the plants was lovely, and everyone on the site was very friendly. The place also offered live music, which we enjoyed with a couple of cocktails from the bar at the hotel. The only slight downside is the tiny pool and the pool area, but we still enjoyed our stay overall. We would definitely stay there again next time we are in Austin.