I stayed here for two nights with my husband and 2 dogs. The location is great as it is away from the busyness of 6th Street but close enough for a nice walk there. It is also near the bridges that connect to South Congress and thus a great walk to stroll on along the river. Parking is valet only which is a bit annoying to me but was pleasantly happy when I found out you can text valet services so they can have your car out and ready for you with no wait! The type of room we stayed in was their "Fabulous Room" and had a queen bed, lounge chair, and stand up shower. The room to me was spacious and clean (especially with 2 dogs). The only negative about the room was the lack of a refrigerator. We slept in late the first night but luckily they still serviced our room in the afternoon. Another bonus is their 24 hour room service- we ordered burgers late night and they were tasty, although they did not make them to order (ours were overcooked). The most positive part of our stay here was that the hotel is extremely dog friendly. They let you bring max 2 dogs up to 60 pounds. The dog fee is a flat $100 per stay plus an additional fee of $25 per night. The hotel provided each of my dogs (to rent free of charge) with a large dog bed and they also have dog bowls- both available upon request. They also gave our dogs a complimentary gift box which included treats and a toy. There is a park about 3 blocks away for the dogs to do their business. I would highly recommend this place if you're looking for a dog friendly hotel in Austin! Overall, we had a great stay here and wouldn't hesitate coming back. The hotel is kept clean, the staff is friendly, and service was efficient. read more

Context: This is a W and if this was a Hampton Inn, mmmboy it would be five stars but alas, this is a luxury brand of Marriott. So the hotel front doors are very heavy and glass, they swing open with quite of bit of momentum and I have my bag and backpack for my 5 day journey through the large state of TX. There were a number of valet's hanging around talking who did not attempt to go for the door - thank you. But if I did not have eagle like reflexes, that door would have shattered. Like Aunt Marge, I have a real firm grip. The elevators, there are three and one was functioning. Worse, I saw a person moving food on the lift and he said all of the service lifts were down too. So that wasn't good to hear. I was on the 8th floor. So about that, I decided to take the stairs and that was an experience. I got to either 4 or 5 and then you go to another stairway down a corridor and then to another stairway. I needed to go to two and that wasn't going to happen. So I went down to one and you cannot exit. Additionally, it seems these doors all lock which is great but 1) they were all propped open or 2) what if you didn't want or couldn't take the lifts? The room was nice, it looked at a construction site but you could not hear it. There was a shelf right as you enter that has glasses on it. There are a lot of mirrors in the hallway and in the room. The one in the room freaked me out because it is just leaning so I was afraid that one wrong move could cause catastrophe. Otherwise, it is a fine unit. I would not return, it was almost $400 a night and there are many other places to try. read more

This location just went through a renovation. The lights they installed have a whistling noise. That they are aware of. They said they have to switch out a piece etc. but why have the rooms for service. Then the air wont go past 71. There is no engineer on site at night. I called 4 times for an engineer he never came. Go to the jw marriott. This is not luxury at all!! The gym is outdated and so is the spa. The manager said he would yell at the engineer for not coming, but no accommodations for me being inconvenienced. Totally unprofessional read more

Update: After speaking with the general manager I'm updating this review to 4/5 stars. While I can't give the visit a perfect score, the manager did make a concerted effort to recover my experience and make things right. -------- Checked in today. Room smells like it had water damage at some point that's been repaired but not completely eliminated. The hotel is undergoing construction. So you have to take the elevator to the third floor, walk a bunch, and then take another elevator every time you want to come or go. And if you have status, don't expect to get your upgrades. First I was told there weren't any available. But upon further discussion, they revealed I won't get one because I already booked a decent room. And the manager was pretty dismissive about it. Then on top of it all, my mobile key doesn't work. read more

My Lv bag went missing out of my room . I told housekeeping not to service the room In that am. So it was to my surprise when i went home in my room to get my charger i found 2 housekeeping workers in the room . The hotel will not reimburse me for the bag basically telling me it's my fault for leaving the bag in the room. I would not recommend this hotel or stay there ever again read more

My wife and I just returned from Austin and we were pleased with this hotel. The location is ideal because it's right near the main districts. You can walk anywhere. Upon check-in Alex was quite helpful and friendly. He answered all my wife's questions and also upgraded us to a high floor room with a great view because of our Starwood status. The staff as a whole here are all first class. The concierge offered us both champagne and water which was a nice touch. The process was pretty smooth overall. The room was nice with very comfortable beds and great amenities. The bathroom was modern and also had a great shower. I tend to like bathrooms that have doors that close as a whole but that is just a preference and they offer a curtain if you want to divide the shower area from the sink and mirror. The one drawback was that the entire room had a moldy smell that my wife noticed immediately upon check-in and the smell stayed in there for the entire trip. read more

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I know I'm being harsh here but this place is pretty awful. The only stars I'm giving are for the cleanliness and swanky decor because that's all it has going for it. Most uncomfortable hotel bed and lumpiest pillows I've ever used (and I've had to stay in seedy hotels before). Literally nothing to watch on TV. Why can't they let you link your Netflix account? The restaurant is TERRIBLE. How can you make bad breakfast food?? AND still charge $25 per person?!? Everything is ungodly expensive for NO reason because it's awful. I will never ever stay here again. We did a staycation and completely wasted $1,000. Ugh. read more

Like all W hotels this one is a real beauty. Super hip and funky decor in the lobby and rooms, restaurants on the first floor. I adore the library. What a great place to chill with a glass of wine. The rooms are as to be expected with W; comfortable and luxurious. Well done, W. read more

W Austin - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

Had an absolute blast at the W's Wet Deck party this past Friday! I love Austin and decided to come down for July 4th weekend with a friend. I made reservations for a cabana in advance, and it was definitely the move! The cabana was spacious, clean, and they gave us a basket full of goodies. We got there early as I was actually working from home on east coast hours, but it was great to relax before the masses of people and DJ came in. And of course, we got to cop the limited number of lounge chairs for tanning! The party really started around 2pm, and it was a wild time! Everyone was super friendly and honestly just such a fun time! We had the greatest bottle girls as well, making it just the best overall experience! While pricey for just the three of us, it was definitely worth it! Our bill came out to about $1000 for two bottles of champagne and one of goose, but if you have a big group, it's not bad to split at all. Definitely recommend read more

W Austin - Food menu - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We selected this hotel since Amex indicated it was a "fine hotel". Bar staff by poolside were great. However after requesting our room to be cleaned 3 times it fell to deaf ears. After a great wedding we came back to our room without clean towels or clean sheets. I notified manager Alex of oversight and his only response was a thumbs up. We will never stay at the W Austin again. read more

Lost personal belongings, got dirty towels, got unrecognized charges... completely negative experience in this hotel. I and my team stayed there for a business trip, several of us lost our personal belongings in room, I got a very dirty hotel, and got charged for mix bar, which I swear I did not take anything from the room. The staffs were not helpful on the lost or hygiene issues. read more

W Austin - Dirty towel - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

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First and foremost, this is always my first choice for my yearly visit to Austin for my hotel choice. This W Hotel does one heck of a job making you feel at home and their service is beyond wonderful! I feel bad for some of the reviewers who had not experienced the same service I have accustomed to over the years, but I guess an employee can have a bad day from time to time making the stay for the guest less desirable. With that aside, the location of this hotel is right downtown within Austin about two blocks from the famous 6th street. The rooms are cozy and very inviting with ample amount of space for their standard rooms. Free water, great snack bar options, and great hotel amenities (bars, restaurant, etc.) is always a plus for me as well. The fact that next door hosts some great concerts makes it even better and you need not to worry about a long stroll back to your room! The hotel also offers a courtesy car for taxi purposes up to five or ten miles, forgive me for not knowing the exact distance, but well worth it for easy drops offs in downtown congested areas. Yes, this hotel can be expensive, but in my opinion it is well worth it as the hotel does a wonderful job at making you feel at home and taking the exhaustion out of traveling to new cities. read more

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Under construction. Hotel was a mess without adequate dining and it was a maze getting in and through to our room. Rooms and hallways need renovation and we were not told about the circumstances when booking. Price did not reflect the poor accommodations. Will not return. read more

10/100! Jordan made sure our stay at The W Austin was a phenomenal one. Convenient location, beautiful suites, a plethora of amenities and stellar customer service! I will definitely be back sooner than later. See Jordan upon checking in - you won't regret it. read more

Received great service from Julia at the front desk and Megan in the bar! Thank you! read more

I stayed here for a handful of days to attend a conference for work. Friendly staff but the hotel is very run down. The staff would be the only reason I come back. Friendly and easy to approach. My room was fairly filthy. There are signs that say the room is sanitize but I'm pretty sure that didn't happen for the room that I stayed in. It seemed like nothing was wiped down. The counters in the room had stains on them. Again, it seemed like no one bothered to clean this room. I checked in really late so I didn't actually see how dirty the room was until the next day. The grout in the bathroom looked like it hadn't been cleaned, ever. The toilet set in the bathroom had a small crack on it so everytime I went to use the restroom the toilet seat would cut my thigh. The pillows were very flat. There were four pillows on each bed but they were so deflated, it was like there were no pillows. The furniture in the room is where you can really see the wear down. The headboard had so many scratches and the paint was coming off. Kind of made me cringe knowing I have to put my hair near/on this. The curtain between the window and room were know where to be seen (I'm referring to the sheer privacy window curtain) The only curtain that was in my room was the black out curtain. It looked like someone had just removed the privacy curtain and did not bother to replace it so it was either full on brightness in my room or pitch black :( I'd definitely check out another Bonvoy location the next time I'm in the area. read more

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Note for business travelers - there is apparently a company policy that you cannot work from the lobby before check in. I arrived early for a work trip, knowing that I was early and knowing I wouldn't be able to check in, but was then told I wasn't allowed to work in the very large spacious lobby while I wait. "You really don't have anywhere else you can go!?" + "You can wait in the restaurant until they kick you out I guess" are legit sentences that were said to me. I was shocked at the guy's tone. I was spending 500+ dollars to stay there that day and was told I could not sit on one of their many couches, with my headphones on, and work quietly on my laptop. I got breakfast at the restaurant and debated working from one of their couches after (many other business people were there working from their laptops). I felt so uncomfortable though, like this guy was gonna hunt me down. It was absolutely wild. The issue I have is with the horrendous tone and attitude of the man at the front desk. You work in hospitality dude. During my stay, I was so anxious I would run into him again every time I walked downstairs. I will never stay at a W again. It was enough to make me want to write a review to warn people. I travel a lot for work and there are 100% way better options out there if you travel for business. read more

The place looks horrible - dated heroin chic- I'm not talking about the construction which is a mess, but M&Ms that were $25 and $60 daily for valet parking so my wife didn't have to try and figure out self park... my room was jammed in the corner with cement bulkheads encroaching on the bed... Just bad all the way around, and a horrible comparison to the Fairmont Austin - W better clean up ur act. read more

Refreshing experience at The W for happy hour! I ordered a daiquiri. It was light and delicious. While my friend and I sat on the couch in conversation, the waitress brought us kettle chips to snack on. They were crispy and seasoned. Very good. We order a side of happy hour fries to snack out. They came out hot and the spicy mayo was a bit of a different experience. I love cone to The W rather it is gor an event or to eat at Trace. read more

W Austin - Daiquiri - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

Sensational fitness area. Pool was closed. Sadly, we were not notified when the repairs were completed. Management was professional and friendly and took the time to resolve our issues. It's a good sign when management takes a strong interest in resolving problems satisfactorily. read more

There's just something about a really nice hotel, and the W has that something. It's sleek, modern, and right downtown. The rooms have cool design elements like giant mirrors and bold wall paper. The in-room coffee maker is a Nespresso with two or three kinds of pods. The toiletries are from Bliss, and in addition to the standard shampoo, conditioner, and lotion, the standard toiletries include a face wash which is pretty unique and definitely appreciated. It's worth mentioning this isn't really a kid-friendly hotel. The hotel guests all appeared to be business travelers or folks out for a night on the town and I didn't see a single kid the entire week I was there. The space is kind of tight and there's not a whole lot of room for kids to run around. Plus, the sitting area on the side of the lobby becomes a super-loud lounge in the evening with a DJ and full bar. read more

I would expect that a nice hotel like the W to be welcoming and focused on patrons. Yet, it seemed like those staying at the hotel were imposing. I stayed at a holiday inn down the street with friends the last few nights and wanted to upgrade for relaxation and splendor. Yet, by the middle of the night, I wish I had that HI bed back. The bed was firm, the pool was a huge party with a DJ and drunkards, and late check out was 1/2 hour more.... huh????!!!??? Being an SPG member, we usually get free WiFi. Nope, not here. Plus, when I went to the spa next to pool with my book and the lady looked at me like "you need something?" I asked, "is there a place to relax with my book away from the party by the pool?" She replied, "the locker rooms." I didn't pay how much to sit my butt in a locker room to read. Yes, I'll skip the W from now on. I guess I'm just too old now. read more

W Austin - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

Old, never updated since it opened. Because of work I have to stay there very, very often. The three elevators have nowhere near the capacity needed to service the hotel and are constantly used to go one floor at a time by hotel employees. You will waste a lot of time waiting and riding elevators as crazy as that sounds. Restaurants are generally boring. Cheesy techno vibe at night. Rooms are dark and small and hot. It is just a bad hotel. Amazingly it is also expensive! Choose Fairmont, Proper, JW, Hyatt, Hilton, Van Zandt over this in that order. read more

Typical W in a good location that's clean and fine. Do not expect any of the service nor room accessories one would find at a high end property. The missing items would include even a simple coffee maker, so plan accordingly. read more

We had so much fun on a last minute over night stay at The W in Austin! The hospitality of this group is always on freaking point! Sunday Funday pool scene full of happy, young professionals! Great way to relax. Seen and be seen. Huge shout out to Skyler at the front desk! She took the best care of us checking in late + last minute. Upgraded us to the top floor w a sick view for the same great rate. And even let us check out late too! The only downer moments - we had to switch rooms due to a very obvious pet accident/ smell that was gross + forever lingering. Probably due to Covid but, they are no longer brining "whatever whenever" to your room upon request. As we called down asking for a lint roller, we were surprised to hear that the old ways of going above and beyond are a thing of the past. . Either way we will be back! Whoever is reading this- give Skyler a fat raise!! read more

Enjoyed the upscale appearance + large suite style bedroom + upscale amenities in the room + great front desk service + stellar lounge area + onsite bar and restaurant. It truly was a 5-Star experience. My only regret was I was there for a single night. read more

W Austin - Excellent patio off of Lavaca St. But the dining area is equally nice. - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

Booked a getaway for our anniversary, what made it 1star was Marilou (Manager at Away Spa), I had booked a surprise Spa treatment for wife, when my wife found out she didn't want to do it in the morning (appointment was in the evening) Marilou will not do anything to accommodate the change. She was extremely rude to me and said well you booked it so now you have to pay the cancellation fee for the entire amount. My wife decided to go, she checked in at 4:30pm, marilou called me at 4:35 and said there will be a charge for the fee since she did not want to do it. But she was already there! Horrible customer service from W spa!! Will be sure not to return here ever and let all my friends and family know to stay away from this place. read more

We were there November of 2023 and for Thursday and Friday night it was almost $900. It is $379 /nt plus $60+ in taxes. We attended an Austin wedding and arrived early on Thursday. There was construction going on. We commented before coming that they never tell you about this when you make the reservation but we later received an email that mentioned it. When we walked in I noticed there was a bellman but no one opened the door for the people walking in with luggage. The place was cold and dark feeling. Gray with pictures on the wall and a makeshift bar area that accomodated maybe three or four people when open. The furniture sat low so if you have elderly people good luck with that. They had ice water infused with fruit which is always nice. The woman who greeted us was socially challenged. I will leave it at saying she simply seemed to be in a REALLY bad mood. Check in is at three but we had to be ready for the wedding which started at 3:30 so we were hoping they could squeeze us in early since it was one of the official wedding venues. We went to the second floor for the area they arranged to be the temp restaurant. The service and food was good. Forty bucks for oatmeal toast and coffee for two. Fortunately for us they called us so we were allowed an early check in. The elavators worked while we were there. They change out the rugs in front of the elevator every day to read "GOOD MORNING", "GOOD AFTERNOON" , "GOOD EVENING". BTW you need a key for the elevator, no one told us. We stayed on the 9th floor, bring a COAT for what feels like the freezer section hallway of the hotel. The hotel itself has a new wave platinum gray cold look which has like these rounded pillars you might see in an old European prison, in the hallways and bedrooms. We had a corner room. When you first enter it is a walk down a hallway to the bathroom then bedroom, which had one small queen bed. We were disappointed because my husband is 6'6" and prefers a king or two queens is OK. At this price we were disappointed we could not get a king. There were no drawers to put you clothes in. The closet was small but fine. The have an iron, and a hair dryer. You can buy movies. There are snacks if you wish to purchase them. They make free bottled waters available to you. There is a light at the front door for the bedroom which is a bit of a hike if you are trying to turn the light on and off before getting in bed or after getting out of the bed. It is literally like walking from my bed at home to my living room to turn on my bedroom light! HA! There are not a lot of outlet options in the bedroom. The outlet under the desk is low and dark so you have to crawl on your hands and knees with your flashlight to connect your USB outlets if you bring them, none appeared available. For a hotel trying to be new wave USB outlets would be nice. The outlet did not work we found out the hard way because our phones died plugged into a dead outlet. read more

The W is a beautiful hotel. That said, we will return specifically because of Suzanne at the front desk. She was amazing and a truly great host. Thanks Suzanne! read more

I've been staying / visiting at the W since 2014 and it's definitely my go to spot in Austin. The location is perfect for going out, accessing good food/coffee, and getting to key places in downtown including ACL Live! On the surface, it's all glitz and glam. Trendy downstairs lounge, rooms decked out with modern decor, elevators with mood lighting, and now even the Alexa rooms on the 15th floor! So #tech so #austin haha. The suites are huge and the balcony rooms have an amazing view of downtown. I also love the toiletry line they use which also includes a face wash! The green soap always kinda weird me out but I love the smell. During holidays and pool parties, the wet deck and downstairs are poppin! So much fun. But... Compared to other options like the Four Seasons next door, the quality is not quite there. It hasn't been uncommon to find stains on the pillowcases or weird smells in some of the rooms. I get the feeling this aren't ventilated very well. During one of my stays over the summer I ended up getting sick from all the dust that pours out of the a/c which is right by the bed. It's also uncomfortable that the air blows right onto you. I've had some awesome memories at the W and it is definitely the coolest. Just wish there were some changes regarding cleanliness, especially for air quality. read more

W Austin - The wet deck! - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

We stayed this week for two nights at the W Austin. I was going back-and-forth on which resort downtown to stay in... Ultimately decided to go with the hip route and stayed at W. We booked one of their nicer rooms as it was our 20th anniversary. The resort did not disappoint. Room was very cool. All service staff was exceptional from the valet, to the front desk to the staff at the pool bar, etc. The resort went over the top and greeted us with a nice amenity when we walked in the room. The room was very well appointed. Cool bath tub, cool views, comfy all the way around. Spend one afternoon pool side drinking, some fun frozen cocktails at the pool and Wet Deck. Staff was great and was fun people watching at the pool. Resort is located on 2nd... So it's a short stroll to 6th. Thank you W Austin for giving us a 20th anniversary we will never forget. Will be back read more

W Austin - View from our room on 15th floor - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Stayed here while attending a wedding in the Austin area in Dec 2021. Booked via Amex FHR and am a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite member. With both Amex FHR and bonvoy benefits, I received breakfast at the restaurant for 28 per person, a 100 dollar spa credit (made a prior reservation in anticipation of this) as well as a suite upgrade. Very W aesthetic which is expected. Bold pink colors and dark tones create a very hip to be hip atmosphere. The room was nice and spacious, and I enjoyed a nice view of downtown Austin. I had to deduct a star though for two points. Firstly, I tried to order some room service chocolate cake and they, unfortunately, didn't have any in stock. About an hour later the cake showed up and the staff apologized for the miscommunication. It was nicely comped and I appreciated it greatly. Secondly, the price without the extras & FHR credit was very high. I would definitely not pay full price for this hotel but would recommend the Amex credits included. If you're not able to use the spa credit or don't plan on eating breakfast, not really worth it. All in all, would return based on the nice staff, large suite size, and fun bar downstairs. read more

Let's start out with the positives. The W is conveniently located near pretty much anything you want in downtown Austin. The pillows are very fluffy and comfortable. These are my favorite things about the hotel. Unfortunately, there isn't much else I like, or that I can positively say about this hotel. I am a platinum elite member of Marriott Bonvoy and I say this because I have a significant amount of experience with Marriott brand hotels around the world; this is my worst experience with the brand during 84 stays total. I chose this Marriott over the others as it was the only Marriott hotel to offer a balcony in Austin. I was advised that due to my current platinum elite status I'd be offered a free upgrade to the balcony IF available. When we arrived they informed me that the balcony was not available and we could upgrade to another type of room, but to be honest the upgrade received was not noticeable (the room was pretty much the same). I did a cursery search on the hotel's website and found that it was actually offering the balcony room for rent, so there was that... Again, this was the only reason I selected this hotel over the JW or other Marriott hotels. Things only got worse from there. Parking is mandatory valet and that is at a $54 a night rate. I knew they only had valet, but did not know it was so expensive. There is parking down the street for $30 a night. My issue is that there is only one option and it is on the higher end. I am perfectly capable of parking myself and do not feel the need for a valet in all, specifically this situation. After checking in and settling, we stepped out for a bite to eat. Upon returning we realized we did not have toothpaste and messaged the hotel requesting some. This request was sent just after midnight and received zero response until around 90 minutes later when we received a very rude phone call at ~1:30am. No effort was made to deliver toothpaste. Room service did not leave any, and we gave up and passed out. Fast forward to the morning after, we had to go to CVS to get our toothpaste. This next part is not the hotel's fault, but it affects my stay nonetheles. The weather is rotten this weekend and this is a getaway for us (we have kids and are limited in options) weather doesn't have to mess up the trip, but in this situation you can usually fall back on the hotel and your positive experience. I expressed my concerns over my trip and asked to be released from my reservation early so that I could find different lodging. The W complied with this request and released me with only one night's charge. This saved my overall rating, but I would never even consider staying here again. I'm not even sure what perks I received as a platinum elite member with $50 parking, $20 slow internet and $10 gummy bears. read more

We visited the W hotel this past Friday night during the start of SXSW. The staff was very nice and during the evening their two bars were going strong. The layout is quite interesting. They had two bar areas with seating/couches and a separate room with a dj and small area for dancing. It got pretty packed at one point but the bartenders were fast. The DJ was the best part. I had a Makers and coke and a Deep Eddy grapefruit cocktail and both drinks were made well. If you're looking for a swanky lounge to sip wine or cocktails, you may want to consider the W. We had a fun time! read more

Tony in valet management is a true asset to the W brand and any hotel would be lucky to have him. I've been in communication with him for the past week resolving a parking overcharge and he's handled all issues without question but with a WOW factor in mind. Customer service like his reminds me of the old fashioned days when service was likened to a Disney-esque art. Showing genuine care and concern for others and their well-being goes a long way. Feeling respected, to me, is the essence of true service and Tony has mastered that aspect. Extending my thanks to Mr. Ellis always. read more

Ok , I really got lucky ! I needed a room fast and everything was booked or over the top expensive. When you book the day of and it's SXSW, you can expect to have a problem . Booked a 4 star hotel in the location that I needed through Hotwire and surprise ; I got the W! Traffic from Dallas was a beating . Arrived at check in with 15 minutes to spare before showtime and I was an irritable mess . I apologize now for being rude to the very sweet , professional desk clerk (with a great accent ) who handled me very professionally. After the event , I returned with some friends for drinks and dinner . Fabulous drinks , dinner , dessert and service !!! Server went way out of the way to accommodate my young friend's dietary needs . This is not a criticism - just an observation - seems to cater to a younger , hipper crowd - not my demographic. But I had a fun time and so grateful to get this deal ! read more

W Austin - Yum - Hotels Near Me - Austin, Texas

Worst experience I've ever had with a hotel employee. The manager, Alex, was very discriminatory and unhelpful. He also made a fraudulent reservation without our authorization. Please beware. read more

Stayed Friday night at the W in downtown Austin. Must say one of my best hotel stays ever. And, I travel a lot...150 nights a year Diamond with Hilton and Titanium with Marriot. Yes, the W in downtown Austin I'd put as one of my best experiences. The hotel is very hip. Very relaxing. Service in phenomenal. They pay attention to details, think in advance of what you might want. Everything is easy. Two exceptional folks on the W team in dining area are Katherine H. and Prometheus W. Very informative. Present in every conversation. Strong attention to detail and complete service. The ambiance and entire experience is incredible. Both folks are stars above stars. Exceptional and memorable service. read more

So, it's the W. We had heard rave reviews of the famed mixologist that came to train the bar tenders. The hired "local forager" to source seasonal items for the restaurant. We've seen their legendary interiors in other cities. (Who can forget the all white-faux-fur-pink-lit-bar in NYC?) So I should preface this whole thing with: my expectations were HIGH when the W came to Austin. The interiors are indeed beautiful. Quite stunning, in fact. The multiple lounge rooms have luxe layers of hand-loomed carpets, inviting velvet-piped couches, deep pillows and fireplaces. The Main bar is red-light red velvet overload with a feature piece in its vintage stereo equipment. Trace, the restaurant is decked in silvers, blues and white, with an enticing menu full of gamey selections garnished with seasonal, local veg. But, and as it turns out it's a big but... Where's the Wow Moment? Okay, it's sexy. But the hot pink on white ethnic decor plays out with equal success at the Free People boutique on Lamar. The red on red, well, I don't have to say it. I had hoped to be blown away and it didn't happen. There are nice moments, but overall, interior meh. The biggest disappointment though, was the cocktail menu. With so many bars doing such amazing things these days, the (very short) parade of cocktails on the menu were not much more than season-less mockery of good mixology today. I mean, watermelon and strawberry in December? I had the Scottish Pear. The palette was confused with both gin and scotch but mellowed after several sips. My friend's rum drink was better, but more befitting a cabana beachside than winter in Texas, however mild they may be. I'm guessing the menu will remain the same year round, which is disappointing considering Trace's menu is delicious and changes nearly every day. For round two we decided to guts it and order off menu, placing ourselves in the "well-trained" hands of the bartender. Whiskey with a wintery flair was the request (after he didn't know what a sazerac was). We got a ginger beer, cherry and bourbon concoction and a bourbon Cointreau cherry situation. The latter was more successful than the former... But I say when you want a good $11 cocktail there are several bars in Austin with far more capable -- if less beautiful -- 'tenders. read more

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Very convenient location. Close to everything. We got on the Airport flyer and got off 2nd and Congress and walked to this hotel. It wasn't bad at all. I got a hotwire rate of like $109 a night which was pretty good. The rooms were a bit of a disappointment. It was puny, the tub had a huge barrier to get in, and the toilet had a door that was oddly located that you had to duck between the toilet to close the door.. and here I thought that everything is bigger in Texas. Maybe I'm just too big for these places. Parking: $29 valet, but if you time it correctly you can get street parking for free. Parking on Sunday on the streets is free so I took advantage of that. Monday they stop checking at 6:00pm so I also took advantage of that after a day of going out. I think it was something like M-W 8-6 and Thu-Fri 8-Midnight, Sat 11-midnight. You can also pre-pay for next day for a few hours so that was kind of nice if you want to sleep in. There is a 3 hour max for meter parking. read more