01/06/07

kitschy, retro, cool!

by ilovechicago

My friend, her sister, and I recently returned to Chicago after a short stay at the Austin Motel. We stayed in the waterfall room, which was comfortable and cozy. The room was clean and had just the bare necessities (which was great because we mainly needed the room for sleeping). The staff was extremely helpful and knowledgable about Austin; they were able to recommend places to see and restaurants at which to eat. We happened to be there for the First Thursday so the area was a bit more happening than usual. It's just too bad we didn't have more time in Austin!

• Pros: location, helpful staff

12/05/08

ok but over-hyped

by robertnewell

the hotel is ok but over-hyped

its really not that funky or unique

and the staff is soso

great location though but i think they are living off of their prior reputation or something

it should either be less expensive or they should take care of it a bit better i.e. paint job inside the rooms,

get rid of the cheap mexican tourist blankets, get nicer bedding/sheets, better retro lighting,

get internet capabilities, maybe some retro art or something

it was just very over-hyped i thouhgt

• Pros: good location
• Cons: over-hype on the funkyness

Rest your head in the hippest, funkiest hotel in downtown's South Congress district.

by Contributor

The Scene
This hotel gets a lot of its charm from its location in the heart of South Congress. Celebrities, business travelers and regular Joes call it their Austin home away from home. Folk-art aficionados consider it a museum--where you can stay the night. Built in 1938, this funky motel has been an active participant in the city's history, emerging as an Austin landmark and a hip, affordable place to stay the night.

The Details
The building houses 41 rooms, each decorated according to a different theme. From French Provincial to Chinese lanterns and bamboo to hot Mexican decor with Saltillo tile, each comfortable room takes you to a surreal new world. The lima bean-shaped pool is a cool '50s throwback. The place is decidedly low-tech though, so items like alarm clocks and Internet access won't be found.

08/03/06

Loved It!

by estherfay1

Stayed there for the first time on one of my many visits. It was great! Rooms not plush but comfortable. Short walk to what makes Austin...Austin! Great for shopping, eating and just people watching. Had a blast. Don't go there if you expect to be catered too. Go there if you want to have a fun and eclectic stay in Austin.

• Pros: Fun & Funky
• Cons: No amenities.....hardly

03/10/05

Funky and Fun

by josh

With a great location close to everything, the Austin Motel is far from a boring Holiday Inn. It's great for first-timers to Austin, because it is infused with lots of local charm. Great bars and live music venues are a short walk away.

08/20/04

i love this place! but stay home if...

by crystalcrys25

if you dont know enjoy the artisan scene, or purposefully avoid the "hippies" when in austin, stay home or book the super 8, because the Austin motel is not for you. I would live there if i could afford it. The most inexpensive room there is 60 bucks a nite, and since i am a broke college kid just in town for one nite, it worked... but even if i wasnt, i would still come here for the kitchy-ness and atmosphere. you really must appreciate the personality of the city of austin to appreciate the personality of the austin motel.

• Pros: artsy, funky, clean
• Cons: , lowtech, simple

01/04/04

oh my aching back!

by juliecaldwell

Great location, great pool, easy to find, helpful staff, but the rooms were not comfortable AT ALL. I think the mattresses are original to the buildings and getting a comfortable temperature in the room was almost impossible. If you can sleep on a cardboard box and feel refreshed in the morning, then you won't have any problems. But if you are over 30 and accustomed to decent back support, you may wanna try a chain.

• Pros: funky, location, price
• Cons: crap mattresses, bad window units, tiny shower

05/22/03

Pool

by jennstock

What a Fantastic Pool and surrounding landscape. Hotel is in an easy area to find.

• Pros: Pool
• Cons: Few deluxe rooms

05/04/03

Great getaway

by ponderos

If you like chain hotels, Dallas nightlife and meals at Chili's, steer clear of what is one of the hippest examples of what Austin is about. There's no better way to feel the flavor of Austin than by walking down South Congress to check out all the funky furniture and jewelry stores. In the middle of the week, enjoy the SoCo festivals where artisans, musicians, dancers and hip Austinites blow off some steam. The legendary Continental Club is right across the street. Guero's is about a block away and has some of the best Tex-Mex in Austin. Even though I live in Austin, I stayed there one night with a date just as a different thing to do on the weekend. The saltillo-tiled floors and antiqued furnishings gave the place character. The ambiance of South Austin gave it a down-to-earth feel. I can't recommend the Austin Motel highly enough.

12/14/02

spare me

by sick_of_liars

Umm..I believe the category said best vlaue...not most overrated eclectic ripoff.. this place is waaaayyy overpriced... the whole theme thing is way tacky...i wouldnt put my mother-in-law in this place... any naitonal chain kicks ass over this place