Originally Posted by
sch_flyer
The Driskill is cool for what it is - a historic property that happens to be part of WOH. It's an old building and rooms are "odd" but in a cool way. Doorways are narrow and things are not exactly "ergonomic". It does show its age - I had a tile fall of a shower wall while I was brushing teeth - when mentioned at check-out, the clerk just shrugged. The elevators are pretty funky as well and are sometimes out of order. The location is great and the decor is very "western" - you definitely don't feel like you're at any old Hyatt. I would not hesitate to stay again when in Austin, depending on the going rate!
I would agree with most of this word for word, until the last sentence. I think i would give this place a pass.
We may have a unique set of facts, but you only get one chance to make a first impression with me. We paid almost $400 per night due to the ACL music fest, arrived late Friday after spending the week at Hyatts in DC and got what i will say is one of the top 5 rooms assigned in my 20 years of being a road warrior. Call some of the rooms quirky if you may, I call them spaces that should be used to enlarge other rooms! Decent sized room but almost no light, thru 2 inside view windows. Visited the front desk and was very blunt but polite, needed to see other options before my wife arrived. Let’s just say it took a while for me to finally get a sufficiently empowered manager to get me into a decent room. I was on a Prive rate and the first deck clerk kept referencing my “complementary” upgrade and that all he could do for me was get me some other options without an upgrade. This isnt how Prive rates work, the upgrade is confirmed at booking and is hardly complementary. It was partially that it was late and i just wanted to sit down, but this hour plus of room viewing made me realize that there are a TON of undesirable rooms in this place.
I’d also say the quirks and other attributes mentioned in the quoted review can cut a little more negative. The elevators, redo them. Lots of other common area infrastructure that needs TLC, although to be clear our room was nice. New shower, new tiles, etc. But some of the rooms i viewed and rejected had much less attractive bathrooms.
Finally, I’m on a rate that includes breakfast for 2. The place in the hotel is quite popular and we were not advised we would need a reservation. A pompous passive aggressive host informed us we did and put our name on a list for what he claimed would be at least an hour wait. There were empty but unbussed tables, my biggest gripe at brunch, but we took his word and walked away down the street. To my partial surprise we got a text 5 minutes later that our table was available. The food was ultimately pretty meh, i think you can find far better brunch elsewhere. Not sure what the local attraction to this restaurant is.
I’d think carefully about this place if it going to be your first stay. There are lots of other options, a new Westin down the street, a 4 seasons, etc. I’d take a look around especially at higher rates like what i paid.