Recommends

GeorgeEvelyn1978

Joined 2 years ago

Great hotel BUT... It's a great hotel but if any of you are looking to save some $$ then book it at goo.gl/FPxYD They have some of the best hotel deals on the web!

Doesn't Recommend

marydavis

Joined 4 years ago

Noisy. Be prepared to bring some ear plugs to the San Jose because it's going to be a noisy night. I stayed there on a mid-weekday and was surprised at how much noise I could hear in my room.

The San Jose has its own outdoor bar/cafe/hangout area for people to sit down and it also has loud music to go along with it. Mid-week they will tell you it only goes until midnight. Right next to the San Jose is a popular coffee/hangout spot called Jo's which always seems to have a lot of people. There are also several bars in the area playing music which you will hear in your room even after the San Jose has closed down its "bar" at midnight.

If you're prepared for the noise then the rest is positive. Although the rooms are small (I stayed in a "deluxe" room which had its own bathroom) they will get the job done. But, they're not quite as nice as I expected. The San Jose is right next to a lot of shops and restaurants which you can walk to---this is the biggest plus for the San Jose.

I chose to stay at the San Jose for something unique but the rooms weren't that interesting and the noise was unacceptable. I can't imagine what it's like on a Friday or Saturday. For the price they charge definitely not worth the stay.

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nedhenry

Joined 8 years ago

Beautiful place, great service, great food, chill atmosphere!. kcf78749's lack of insight and her date's poor manners, coupled with only a patio visit, are no reason to give anything (not to mention such a marvelous place) 3 stars. Obviously, someone can read her review and see she is an airhead, but it affects the star rating outside the review. What a dummy! It's a four-star (perhaps 4.5 star) place. So, I'll balance out her childish stupidity with 5 of my own.

Recommends

kcf78749

Joined 7 years ago

great outdoor patio area. I've never actually stayed at this hotel, so I can't comment on the hotel aspect of it, but it's a great place for a first date. My date and I had some wine out on the patio, by the pool, and it was lovely. However, once I "broke the seal", so to speak, I ventured inside to use the ladies' room. One problem--the restrooms were not labeled at all. My date pointed at a glass door that he had just come out of and said, "I think that's a unisex bathroom?". I went in, although I was a bit leery because the door was made of glass (albeit a tad frosted, but you could still pretty much see everything). I made him stand in front of the door in case anyone came by, since it was just a one toilet, "private" (I use the term loosely) bathroom. Well, he saw someone he knew and went off to go say hi, and then while I was still using the restroom, some guy came up to the door and looked inside. I could see every aspect of his face, so I'm sure he could see everything of mine too! I was humiliated. When I ran outside, my date said, "Yeah, I saw a few girls coming out of that other door over there". Apparently there was a ladies room--with a real door! Nice job labeling it.

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guitargirl2

Joined 5 years ago

Fun place to meet friends after work. I met friends there after work and had a great time. It's a great space and vibe. People can keep coming and going and the staff is completely accommodating. We spent the greater part of the evening there and would definitely return.

Recommends

loolamay

Joined 7 years ago

Not a rating - just an observation. When I saw the overall rating on this hotel, I got excited. Then, I read the reviews. They're pretty overwhelmingly weighted toward the staff being terribly rude. The high ratings mostly refer to the ambiance of the place - not the people.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: When I average the user ratings - I get an overall rating of 3.2 - a far cry from the near-5 rating displayed.

BEWARE: READ THE REVIEWS

Doesn't Recommend

mwbruce23

Joined 6 years ago

Shady cancellation policies and lack of altruism. On this particular day, several large conventions were being held in the downtown Austin area so there were no rooms available, not even as far out as the airport. The gal who took my call, offered me a room that had just become available due to a cancellation. The price was an outrageous $290 for the evening but having called at least 25 different hotels during the past 2 days, I knew it was either this or nothing. I wasn?t given much of a choice either?she wouldn?t so much as hold the room long enough for me to confirm with my boss?so I reluctantly booked it anyway. Needless to say, when I checked in with my boss, the rate was way too much and he ordered me to cancel the reservation.

Now I?m a business man and I understand that these guys stand to lose revenue when they don?t book a room, but I called back no more than five minutes later to cancel and they wouldn?t budge. Their cancellation policy? Twenty-four hour advanced notice; otherwise they charge a full night?s stay minus taxes.

I cut my customers breaks all the time--despite working on sales commission. I doubt the front desk staff stand to gain or lose anything personally from this, so it?s beyond me why there was no leniency in my case. Sure they didn?t technically do anything wrong (trust me, I read their cancellation policy that was emailed me after the fact), but again they lack the ?human factor? as I like to call it, that so many of their larger competitors (i.e. The Omni, The Radisson and the Four Seasons), display on a regular basis. I know this because I called and checked out the cancellation policies of each of these hotels.

So if you want my advice, (for the same per-night cost), you can stay at one of the aforementioned hotels that are located even closer to downtown Austin, and offer the altruism and amenities you?ve come to expect when staying as someone?s guest.

Recommends

wellseasonedtraveler

Joined 6 years ago

Enjoyable, cool Hotel in Austin. While in Austin I stayed several nights at Hotel San Jose. I loved it...the cool, clean, comfortable rooms were just what I was looking for. It's a very unique...amazingly decorated and pristine landscaping. The staff was attentive, friendly and informative about Austin attractions. The lounge and courtyard open up in the evenings for beer and wine and is a great space to relax by the pool or listen to music. The have a coffee bar in the lounge with newspapers/books along with cool adjacent coffee shop called Jo's. The rooms are spacious and private with all the amenities of a new Hotel, yet with vintage feel of it's rich history dating back to 1930's. I like the location most with restaurants, shops and live music venue's nearby. This is definitely not a corporate branded Hotel with wasteful practices and hidden charges after your stay.

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mittenkitten

Joined 7 years ago

worst place ever. What a racket! This place has hip rooms and cool design--and charges every dollar they can for it--but the staff, simply put, s*cks. Basic requests (directions, an iron, recommendations) were met with eye rolls and lackluster answers from too-cool-for-school hipsters--and that is when you can get them to get off the phone--talking with their friends, not helping other customers. The rooms cost FAR too much to be treated so poorly. Plus the walls are really thin and the sliding bathroom doors are really LOUD. Forget about getting up at night and using the bathroom unless you want to wake up your partner (I woke up twice from hearing my neighbor open their bathroom door--that's how thin the walls are). For $200 a night, you get no newspaper, no iron, no coffee or tea, no continental breakfast AND you get treated like a bum. Nice.

My advice: Book a room instead just 500 feet away at the lovely Austin Motel and get more space and friendly Austin-style personality and service for much less.

On the flip side, "Hotel" San Jose is a wonderful place to sit on the patio and have a glass of wine under the heat lamps--and you don't have to be a "guest" at the "hotel" to do so. But do not waste your money booking a room at this overpriced shanty.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

A funky South Congress hotel that attracts musicians and savvy tourists with its authentic Austin style.. In Short
When the San Jose Hotel was built in 1936, the look was described as "ultramodern." Today, it's every bit as cool and colorful as the guests who check in. Musicians are the norm, as are visitors who want the true Austin experience. The 40 rooms and suites are stylish and comfortable. Gravel pathways and a courtyard complete the scene. Other amenities include a small pool, high-speed Internet access, on-call massages and bike rental.