If you’re planning a trip to Austin to determine whether or not it might be a place you’d consider moving, where you stay will have a huge influence on whether or not you like the city. Where are the best places to stay when visiting Austin?
Downtown Austin
Downtown Austin is probably the best place to stay for most people. There are plenty of restaurants and nightlife within walking distance of most Downtown hotels, so when you come back from a long day of driving around Austin, you’ll be able to put the car away and walk to happy hour or dinner. Downtown is also a great home base as most of the time you’ll be following a reverse commute.
Favorite Downtown Austin Hotels
If you’re looking for something historic, The Driskill is the place to be. One of Austin’s oldest hotels and conveniently located on 6th St, you really can’t go wrong. If you’re looking for something newer, the Hyatt Place Downtown on 3rd St is a good choice. Looking for something a little more upscale, try the W Hotel or the Four Seasons.
Smaller Boutique, Downtown Hotels
South Austin (zip code 78704) is another great choice that combines a convenient location with walkability. Most of these hotels are boutique hotels (Hotel San Jose, Austin Motel), but they are within walking distance to another one of the city’s restaurant hubs, South Congress. You’ll also find several options on AirBnB.com as well.
A More Affordable Downtown Option
If you like Downtown, but can’t find a hotel that’s in budget (our hotel prices sky rocket during festivals and event weekends), try going a couple of exits north around where 35 meets 290 or 183. Here you’ll find some more affordable options that are only a few minutes drive from Downtown. The zip code here is 78751 for those searching online.
Know the Area You Want to Live? Stay There
If you’ve identified the area you want to live, I would highly recommend staying as close to that area as you can. This way, you can get a better sense of what it’s really like living there. There are hotels in nearly all areas of the city and if you don’t find something you like, try an AirBnB.com type short term rental. Learning the patterns of an area before you commit to living there is money well spent.
Have a Few Areas You’re Targeting? Move Hotels
This is one of the more ambitious plans, but can be very effective. If you have a few areas of town you’re interested in and not quite sure how to make the decision, spend a night in each area and see how you like it. Many of the areas look completely different at night then they do during the day and staying there for a full 24 hours is a great way to really soak up your surroundings.
Staying Near the Airport
You might be able to find a great deal on a hotel near the airport, but keep in mind there is virtually nothing out there other than the airport and some houses. No restaurants or nightlife at all. (Even the airport shuts down before 9pm) You’ll probably only head back to your hotel when you’re ready to crash for the night. When looking for an airport hotel, the closer you can stay to 35 off 71, the more centrally located you’ll be.
Visiting Austin for a Potential Relocation?
Make sure to give yourself time to explore areas, not just check out houses. If you need to find a house during your trip, of course that’s an important step and you’ll probably have to spend more time than someone who is visiting to explore the possibility of moving. If you fall under the second group, I would encourage you to spend more time exploring areas, experiencing Austin like a local and really getting a sense for the city. If you spend too much time on houses, you will leave not really knowing if you could live there.
Relocating to Austin?
Relocation is one of the aspects of the real estate business our team of Buyer’s Agents specialize in. Why? We relocated to Austin from San Francisco about five years ago and found it really difficult to find honest information. We decided to center our business around relocation and help buyers uncover what they need to know about Austin before deciding which part of town to live. With a little research and guidance, we can help make your relocation experience as stress free as possible. For more about our experience, check out our Austin Relocation Blog and our Guide to Relocating to Austin. When you’re ready to speak to a Realtor, fill out our Relocation Survey, call us at (512) 827-8323 or email us at info@11OaksRealty.com to schedule a no obligation consultation.
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