I had a one night stay back here over Labor Day weekend with my gf. I didn't get an upgrade, and I still don't understand the whole toilet in the shower concept, finding myself using the bathroom in the lobby once for privacy. lol.

The pool was really busy on the Sunday afternoon of the holiday weekend but a fun vibe. We used the welcome drink guitar picks for a couple free drinks, and I still had my 3 from my stay last year, which the guy at the front desk exchanged for new ones which was nice and unexpected (the design changed, so he gave me new ones to make sure the bartenders would accept them). There was some confusion between the bartenders about what was included, with one guy saying only frozen margs and another girl saying house wine, draft beer or frozen margs. When I asked about this she was like, oh that guy is new, I'll just go grab your drinks.

I was a bit disappointed with the breakfast in Grey Market compared with my prior stay a year ago, which seems to be an increasingly common note in the Thompson thread. I had the make your own breakfast where you pick 3 items and the braised greens were salty to the point of being inedible, the cheesy grits not very good. The eggs were good, but can't screw those up too much. My gf's hash with chicken sausage was better. We also ordered the pancakes which were pretty good, we ended up mostly splitting the hash and pancakes. To my pleasant surprise, as a globalist they waived the whole breakfast charge for the 3 entrees and 2 coffees (maybe they have a unofficial $ cap and we didn't get juices).

Valet was fast with the car. The property isn't perfect, but the pool scene is nice and if you're not planning to be in the room much I feel like it's a much better value than the Thompson. I'd stay here again when in Austin.