Weekend Austin Trip: Where should I stay? (Now need food choices!)

Kyougu

I'm planning a trip to Austin, and even though I visited the city a couple of times this is the first time I'm booking a hotel for me and a large number of friends. Looking for input into the best area (affordable and distance).

We're planning on Friday doing some of the touristy things (South Congress Street, Capital, Rainey street for the bars, trying to go see the bats) and Saturday spending the day in Hamilton Pool (which I'm aware can be a hassle to get into).

Anyone have any recommendations of an area to look for in between all these things?

Djeet

I don't see one on the calendar for the foreseeable future but be aware that weekends where there is an F1 event you are not going to get accommodations without paying 5* premium.

Do you need a kitchen? How many people?

Kyougu

Yeah, I picked a weekend when there didn't seem to be much going on in Austin (June 27th).

We really don't need anything fancy. It's looking like 16 people (driving in from Dallas). We done similar trips to Schitterbaun and generally stay a bit outside of the city at a Best Western or something along those lines. Since we want to do more stuff in Austin proper this time I need a hotel within the city but one that's also not too far from Hamilton Pool.

noir_blood

I'd recommend the Embassy Suites. Both the Central and Arboretum location are probably about ten-fifteen minutes from downtown, and you can accommodate four people in a suite (more if you're being sneaky).

Plus they have full breakfast in the mornings and receptions at night that consist of drinks and snacks.

Back when I was going to Austin constantly, those were my go to hotels. Though it helped that I got an employee discount,

Djeet

How are you going to get to Hamilton Pool? Are you doing car rentals? You might could find some accommodations out Barton Creek area, but that seems like it would seriously cramp your easy access to downtown. By the time you hit West Oak Hill you are kinda in the sticks. The green line is Rainey street, the blue line is South Congress, the red circle is the Capital, and the bats are under the bridges between the capital and SoCo. The Google pin is Hamilton pool.

Kyougu

Thanks @Djeet. Since we all have cars I'll mostly likely pick an area closer to the Austin sights and just make the drive out to Hamilton Pool.