TX Austin Embassy Suites Austin-Downtown Town Lake

[Nightfly]

Make no mistake, the Embassy Suites Austin-Downtown/Town Lake is a business hotel. This mid-1980's appearing hotel was constructed with commerce in mind. With picture windows facing an open atrium, the 'suite' portion with a couch, chairs and small wet bar have undoubtedly held many a sales presentation on the merits of a particular industrial valve product line before the Internet made many of these face-to-face meetings obsolete.

There are still a good many road warriors populating the premises as evidenced by enthusiastic participation at the morning complimentary cooked-to-order breakfasts and nightly 'social' cocktail hour where personal Per Diem spending can be kept in check. There are still indications, however that the Embassy is geared to maximize the income from the wheels of corporate travel. Billing for internet access and steep parking rates can offset free scrambled eggs and well drinks.

The facility itself was I'm sure at one time a landmark property in Austin, but chipped Formica panels in the rooms and shop worn fixtures speak to better times prior. It is clean, quiet and the staff, who appear to be newly minted Hilton Corp. management trainees in their first large-ish property were eager to please if not slightly green. "Cutting the wheat from the chaff" so to speak.

This review might indicate the casual traveler has no place in a lodge catering to the "Up In The Air" crowd, but that would be a mistake. To the contrary. As with all things hotel related, location-location-location is a truer measure of value. Sitting midpoint between Downtown proper and the eclectic South Congress district, the Embassy makes for an ideal walking exploration of urban Austin. A hearty stroll or quick taxi ride brings you restaurants, food pods, shops, saloons and music venues. Nothing (except Austin favorite Threadgills World Headquarter Resturant/Beergarden/Concert stage) is knee-crawling close or exhaustively far away. In short, leave the car parked in the $14 & $20/night garage and hit the town unencumbered.

This review might be very different if the author had paid more than about a Benjamin per night to stay (which I'm quite sure you couldn't get anywhere near at the Hyatt across the street) but as an entree to an initial visit of Austin, at the right price, the Embassy Suites Austin-Downtown/Town Lake is a hard proposition to match for the value-play traveler.