Where to Stay: We Lasso Up Three Picks For Your Austin Getaway

by Allison Weiss Entrekin

Ah, Austin. Where the music is live, the beer is cheap and the luxury hotel options are many. If you’re heading to Hill Country for a Texas-tinged retreat, here are some of your best accommodation options:

Money Is No Object: Lake Austin Spa Resort
Starting Rate: $1819.91 (includes three nights’ accommodations, three meals a day sans alcohol, taxes and gratuities)

If you’re ready for a mind-blowing (and wallet-thinning) spa experience, look no further than Lake Austin Spa Resort. Located on 19 lakefront acres just 35 minutes from downtown Austin, the resort recently snagged the No. 2 spot on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2007 reader’s poll on destination spas. The property has a mere 40 rooms, so you’ll never want for personalized attention, and since you’re prepared to splurge, ask for a room with its own private garden—you’ll swear God moved heaven to Texas.

Smart Luxury: Hotel San José
Starting Rate: $160 per night

With its ultra-hip vibe and even hipper location, it’s hard to imagine a cooler Austin property than Hotel San José. Created from the bones of a 1930s motor court, the hotel offers 40 rooms and suites that boast a chic, minimalist design. Help yourself to a jazz CD from the on-site music library, sip champagne and sample a cheese plate during happy hour in the courtyard, and take a short stroll to the Continental Club, a world-famous music venue located in the neighborhood.

Family Pick: Four Seasons Hotel Austin
Starting Rate: $320 per night

If the kids are coming along on your Austin trip, you’ll all want to hang your cowboy hats at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin. The famed Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail is located just steps from the property, offering 10 miles of opportunities for your little ones to release their energy. Unlike many luxury hotels, the Four Seasons Hotel Austin does more than simply permit children—it welcomes them with their very own child-sized bathrobes, hypoallergenic toiletries and in-room dining menus. The concierge is also happy to arrange babysitting services so Mom and Dad can enjoy a night on the town.