neuro0

There are quite a few of MR properties there, including SHS, CY, RI, TP, anyone knows which is the best for a week stay? Thanks!

hhoope01

I haven't personally stayed at a Marriott in Austin, but there are a few postings about some Marriotts in North Austin in the Austin Marriotts thread.

I'm sure others can chime in with more information to help.

Annandaler

We've stayed a couple of times at the TownePlace Suites in the Arboretum area. The place is "OK".

Two weeks ago, we stayed 3 nights at the Residence Inn in the same area. As a Platinum, they gave us a 2-bedroom suite on the top floor. It was a delightful stay. Great location. Very quiet (even looking out on the MoPac Expressway). Good breakfast. Free high-speed Internet. One downer: 50 cents for local calls.

howinus

Recently stayed at renaissance arborteum and marriott round rock. prefer Marriott round rock. Less congested, nicer staff,awesome executive lounge with great food., ie, smoked salmon in the am, sandwiches in the evening. Price about the same.

zdave

I stayed at both the RI and the SHS just off of I-35. The location was fine but service at both was disappointing. I arrived late and was walked from the SHS to the RI in the same parking lot. When I got to the RI the door lock was dead at my room and I couldn't get in for at least an hour. When I finally got in my room after 2am, and had an 8am meeting the next morning, I asked to stay another night so I would not have to move so early. They accomodated me at a higher rate and didn't give me any compensation. I moved to the SpringHill the next night. I expected the Residence to be much nicer than the SpringHill but they were really about the same.

opsbnks

You only get half points at RI. I have stayed at the others. They all look the same and none of them have anything to write home about - bed, desk, shower, toilet; yup, all there.

Oops - forgot - as a plat, got upgraded to a Jacuzzi suite at CY - but it took about an hour to fill to a reasonable level and by then I didn't care anymore.

Sprite

Mr. Sprite stays at the FS Ren and really likes it. The area is nice. We stayed a weekend at the SHS. It was exactly the same as all other SHS. Crowded on the weekend. Without the fan on I could hear MoPac traffic a bit until it all but stops for the night. We were there over the daylight savings change, the computers did not change over and auto wake up calls were not received. The Front Desk worked to make them manually. They missed one member in our group (seemed to call in order of elite status/time), when questioned they said Corporate didn't tell them about the daylight savings problem (huh?? we thought about it ahead of time and set a back up alarm). Otherwise everything was fine. We got points and nights for 3 rooms rather than just one! (that never happens) He used the Round Rock FS Mar. last week and liked it also.

neuro0

Thanks, everyone! Most likely I will be staying around the Arboretum area. Either the SHS which is cheaper or the RI (which one is better, SHS or RI?) and few days at the Ren.

BWI Flyer

Does anyone have any recent information on the Marriott Austin North's concierge lounge?

I got an E-mail with an offer to upgrade for $20 a night, wanted to know if it was worth the extra bucks.

BTW, I just called the hotel, and the concierge lounge is closed on the weekends.

Thanks!

JimJ321

The Renaissance Austin was great. Newer building with a large atrium. Got upgraded to a suite with no problem for a 5 day stay, which is rare to me.
The only problem with Austin when we went in Sept was the cricket infestation. They made it up into my room all week!

IrieDame

I am also a fan of the Renaissance

timetosave

I'm actually staying at the Marriott Austin North now. I have stayed here a total of ~4 weeks over the last few months and have been on the CL floor every time.
I think the CL is great here. They have a different hot breakfast every morning. This hotel is pretty new and the staff is very friendly. I think its one of the nicer Marriotts.

HyperMKIV

i am currently staying at the renaissance here in austin and i totally love it here. the staff that i have been dealing with is a cut above!!! glad i actually made the trek up here to try it out...

ntamayo

Where are the bats when you need'em?

Just recently spent a night at the Marriott South. I was taken aback as well by the 5 Marriott brands side-by-side along the freeway (M-SHS-FI-CY-RI).

Got upgraded to a great suite (thanks to this thread for the X45 & X25 suggestion) with a living room separated by french doors from the bedroom, vanity area, and bathroom.

Dinner in the Limestone bar/restaurant was fine, with a typical SW-style menu.

C-lounge was cozy and had a reasonable honor bar, food (arrived late for the hot appetizers), and breakfast (sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, rolls). Attendant was friendly. Free Wifi a plus. ^

Overall a great stay.

Only nitpick was the location; it's not an optimum area to be in w/o a car. Only the island of Marriott brands and an Asian-type place next door admist a sea of car dealearships and industrial tilt-ups and no sidewalk w/in a reasonable distance. If you plan on using it as your base, better to rent a car or take a taxi. Otherwise, it's perfectly fine as an overnighter for AUS when you use the hotel shuttle.

IrieDame

Any recent take on this hotel...headed there next week and what is the typical taxi fare from the airport?