Originally Posted by
txhyattlvr
Disagree on the HR. It's a classic old school HR with huge atrium and is fully renovated. Different stokes for different folks. Glob treatment at the HR is excellent with lots of suite upgrades and GORGEOUS views of Downtown Austin from across Lady Bird Lake. The distance to downtown (over a single bridge where the bats live) is about a half mile tops. It's adjacent to tons of gorgeous parks with trails and lots to look at.
OTOH - the Driskill is right off the main NOISY and rather dirty corridor where especially now there's a good lot of homeless people. If that's where you want to be, then so be it, but I much prefer being surrounded by quiet park land with gorgeous views and a ten minute walk to "the action." The HR also has hot made fresh food (or did) available for breakfast - and not just reheated stuff.
Also, Driskill rooms (even for Globs) can be very hit and miss. I've had TINY rooms there with significant hallway noise. Not an issue if it's 10% booked but....
I agree with your points. Some great walking opportunities (the Lady Bird trail is fantastic), and you can visit the bats each night. I did love my view from the HR. I agree; the food is actually better at HR than at Driskill if you are there midweek. But it still is a generic big conference hotel.
The charm of Driskill is hard to beat. I also liked being able to grab dinner to-go with a 5 minute walk rather than 20 minutes. The area around Driskill definitely has a homeless population. I was up on the top floor of the tower (in a fantastic room) so the noise of the street was a non-issue.
As you say, just depends on what you are looking for. Both are good properties.