TX Austin La Quinta Austin Capitol

[LittleCupcakes]

It can be a little unfair to review a property based on a single-night stay; imperfections are more easily magnified, and a good experience can partially mislead when it's based on just one night.

But, that's exactly what must be done.

The La Quinta Austin Capitol is usually billed as a 2.5-star, but is sometimes listed as a 3-star, and I understand the discrepancy. I paid about $99 including taxes, booked through their website using discount code AMX15 (15% off when using AMEX). I stayed one night, a Wednesday, in room 404.

This is an everyday room with better than the usual cheap motel furnishings. There's a rather large mini-fridge (if you take my meaning), a microwave oven, a hair dryer, coffemaker, an iron and board, and a clock radio; these amenities are often not provided by "better" hotels. The furniture is interesting as well. The desk chair is more of an office model, a real work chair. The comfy armchair was simple wood and leather(ette??) with a simple, subtle sense of design.

To my mind, that's 3-star quality (or better!) in terms of room furnishings.

Except as mentioned above, the not at all small room is standard, drab, and boxy; the old-feeling bath area (sink outside, commode and tub/shower inside) is equally bland. There's a perfectly acceptable bed, drawers, TV, and a closet. The TV is non-flat, but a wide variety of programming (comparable to cable) is available. So let's call it 2-star quality for the room itself. Everything was clean enough.

The air-conditioning unit was as good as I've used in a property like this.

I don't know how much service one might need from a basic property, but each employee seemed happy and eager to help. My one special request for a pair of scissors was met immediately and cheerfully.

The property's location is amidst government office buildings (and related 9-5 business types) so there's not much to eat or drink in immediate proximity. However, the fun core of Austin (6th Street) is just a few blocks away (downhill, maybe 15 minutes or a bit more, and it's pretty steep in spots) and there you'll find that restaurants, bars, and music joints abound. Austin's core, by the way, is everything San Antonio's Riverwalk isn't; that is, alive and with a soul.

As to specific issues: hot water took several minutes to become fully hot, the windows were designed to open but were permanently locked shut, the water pressure is somewhat low, and the towels were thin and small. The ice machine on my floor was out of service, and looked as if it had been for some time. There were minor noise issues, but nothing overly distracting or annoying.

Parking is valet only, and isn't exactly cheap.

Wireless internet is billed as free, but available in the lobby only. I know this is true, but I was able to hook into what appeared to be the property's wireless network from my fourth-floor room. Since it is not promised, don't necessarily expect it, but it worked for me. No password was required.

So, I'm completely conflicted here, and it took a while to decide how to score this place. Was it perfect, in that I got everything I expected (clean, basic room) and a lot more (furnishings, wireless, etc)? Should I base the score on what I experienced, or what I should have expected?

As to value, for $99 it didn't seem like a bargain, but other hotels in the area charge a lot more, and rates in Austin are in general not cheap by any means.

Take away from this review whatever you will. I guess I'd sum it up as: I didn't exactly like the place, but I sure as hell respected it for what it did accomplish.