Austin Motel

Whether you’re a tourist from Toronto or a staycationing redneck from Tuscola, the Austin Motel will give you a taste of the Violet Crown City with a SoCo twang. Staff and management are laid back but not disinterested; in many stays, I’ve had but one concern, and it was handled promptly and fairly. Vintage rooms are in good repair and über-​clean. Furthermore, the pleasures of Jo’s coffee, Guero’s Tacos, and the Congress Avenue bats are just down the sidewalk. Bonus points: a human being will answer the phone when you call!

I have to say, I’ve never felt like I’ve let down my fellow travel companions more so than by booking the Austin Motel.
We tend to go for value and experience over luxury or chic. We have zero complaints when it comes to the condition of the motel, cleanliness of the rooms, or location of the property. I would give all of those aspects 5 stars. None of that means anything when the customer service is an absolute 0 stars.
Let’s start from the beginning…
We arrived Thursday around noon. Knowing check in was at 3pm, we noticed the parking lot was practically empty so we decided to ask if an early check in was possible. The pleasant girl at the front desk «looked», said there was nothing available at the moment, but we could check back soon. No big deal– there were plenty of food and coffee stands along the road so we decided to go for a walk and grab a bite to eat while we waited. When we came back over an hour later, there still wasn’t a room available, nor the hour after that… All of the rooms miraculously got cleaned right at 3pm though. After reading the other reviews, and going off my personal experience, I’m going to say that this motel has an absolute NO EARLY CHECK IN POLICY, regardless of their coy «check back soon» act they pull at the front desk. Look, I understand, and can even respect policies that are strictly enforced. I only ask that you make them clear and obvious to your patrons instead of leading them on with a «maybe» notion that you know will never happen.
While checking in at 3pm later that afternoon, I encountered a different employee at the front desk. When he asked me what brought me to Austin, I naively assumed he was making an attempt at small talk. How wrong was I! I answered that I was there with my friends for a girls weekend of sightseeing. He responded with, «Oh god– you guys are always the worst. Always the loudest!» Taken aback by his rude reply, I decided to just smile, shake it off, and walk out.
Fast forward to later that evening…
Being it was Thursday and we didn’t want to get too crazy on our first night, we decided to hit up White Horse for some two-​steppin’ (Highly recommend! One of the best experiences of the whole trip!). We Ubered back to the motel around closing time and when we exited the car, a security guard approached us immediately. He began lecturing us about complaints he’s received throughout the evening. Confused how that is even possible since we’ve been gone all evening, we asked who complained and he said the rooms below us. He then went on to interrogate us by saying things like, «You guys are lit up! What are you on? I know you’re on something…». Insulted by his accusations that we were on drugs of some kind, we just walked up to our room to call it a night. When one of my friends opened the door to retrieve something from our car, the same guy was standing right next to our door just eavesdropping on us. Now officially creeped out by this whole exchange, I decide to call the front desk to complain about the security officer. Their reply? «Well, he’s been working for us for over XX years so I think we’re going to believe him over you.» WTF?! At this point I decided we weren’t going to get anywhere with the night staff, so I decided to let it go and handle it in the morning when I could speak to the day manager.
Fast forward to the next morning…
We’re getting ready for our day when the room phone rings. When I answer, a lady on the other end says, «We need to talk about last night. Do you want to meet in your room or the parking lot?» Impressed by her proactive approach, I say, «Yes, I would love to come talk about that actually. I’ll meet you in the office.» I walk down to the front office and when I walk in, the lady from the phone sets in with a lecture before I could even issue a greeting. «This kind of behavior is unacceptable here. We don’t support customers of your kind who are here just to party. We think you might be better suited somewhere else, so we’re asking you to leave today.» FLOORED. Literally floored. This woman, without even giving me the chance to speak, was quick to evict 4 young women (27 yrs old) who were 1,500 miles from home, on a Friday night, with nowhere else to stay. Now heated by this entire situation I say, «No, that is NOT an option. We have done nothing wrong here and we will NOT be leaving.» Long story short, I stood my ground and we fulfilled the rest of our reservation at the Austin Motel, but ONLY because it would have cost us $ 300+ a night to move elsewhere.
If you want to be harassed based on your age alone, stay at the Austin Motel.

This was my first visit to Austin being over 21 and with the motel being located on Congress I thought I had found the perfect location on a budget. As I predicated; the location was ideal and the room was great for the price– clearly this isn’t the Hilton and I knew that. What really ruined my stay at this motel was the management; I had never encountered such crass and rude behavior especially at a business establishment. God forbid you check out a little late (even when they call your room and tell you there’s a $ 25 late check out fee and you agree) don’t be surprised if some angry lady comes knocking on your door and cussing you out. Not very professional. I would say if you need a place to stay for cheap and you don’t care how professional management is– you’ve found your place!

This is a gem of a place. We only live 20 miles from the motel, but wanted to «do» SoCo as a tourist. As noted it is within was one block of the Continental Club, Amy’s Ice eat Cream, Jo’s Coffee and Hopdoddys. Room was very small, but the bed was comfy and the AC able to make room freezing. The grounds are funky and the pool is GREAT. It is much bigger than most hotel pools and it is cool and very clean. Will be coming here again on near future.

I have stayed in my fair share of hotels in Austin and the Austin Motel is actually in the top of that list for a variety of reasons. First and foremost though is location. I love this area on S. Congress because of all the walkable places. From antique shops to cool clothing boutiques, food trucks to fancier dining establishments I found everything I needed and more just by walking a couple of blocks away.
The Austin Motel itself is older and a motel so it isn’t fancy, but it is clean and full of its own brand of charm. The room I stayed in was super spacious and the pool is quite nice, too. Also, there is free Wi-​Fi which is key if you are traveling for work as I was. Lastly, there is a cat that belongs to the property — you’ll see him roaming around the outside or lounging on the check-​in counter occasionally. He’s a cool cucumber and will let you pet him sometimes so if you are a cat lover like me that’s another bonus.
For the price and location, I don’t think you can find a better place to stay in Austin!

I looooooved my stay at this motel. It may not be fancy or have new furnishings, but it has a ton of character and is in a great location on South Congress — waking distance to so many wonderful shops, restaurants, and bars.
It’s a motel, so of course you have your door facing outside to the world, but it’s all very safe and cozy. I love being handed a real key instead of a swipey card. My room was beautiful. Tall ceilings and two ceiling fans, sort of Spanish tile flooring and a giant wooden armoire, cozy chairs, a little table, microwave and mini fridge, huge king sized bed, and a bathroom that could use some updates but works just fine and is very clean.
The atmosphere of Austin Motel is really warm and welcoming, as is the customer service. There’s lots of flowers and greenery, a bunch of random garden art, vintage chairs with floral cushions and huge old umbrellas by the pool — which is very blue and inviting. Seriously wish I had brought my swimsuit.
There’s even a local cat who hangs out here, which was the very best part. He was so sweet, just walking and flopping around the property. What a life.

First things first, it’s not luxurious, there are no extras available at the front desk if you forget something, there’s an air of not giving a care in the world if you are unhappy, and even with all this it’s my very favorite place to stay in Austin. I won’t go if they are sold out. The location is amazing, smack in the middle of Congress. The atmosphere is great with open doors and open beers. I find the rooms charming and eclectic rather than old and out dated. Just have an open mind and know 7 – 11 is down the street if you need toothpaste and you will love it too.

Great, fun, quirky motel. I didn’t even know there were places like this anymore! I knew it was going to be fun the moment I checked in. The check-​in guy was as charming and fun as the rest of this place, really helpful giving directions to our dinner place.
It’s a little expensive, if you’re just going on price for comparable rooms, but this place isn’t really comparable to any other place around.

Everything was wonderful besides the guy named Drew working in the office. I guess we disturbed his time on his laptop. He was rude and a total smart ass the moment we walked in. Customer service fail Drew. Try a little harder. We came here to enjoy time with old friends and he put a huge damper on our stay. He made us completely uncomfortable. I hope he doesn’t treat any other guests the way he treated us.
Unprop your feet and work on your customer service Drew. Inappropriate. Rude. Not necessary.

This place is so far out! Great room & fab surroundings! Close to the best of South Congress! Staff rocked it too! Highly recommend!

We stayed here for 2 nights and wish we could stay longer. The hotel amenities are so cute and the rooms are very clean. The location is priceless, right on SOCO. We had a very pleasant stay.

We really enjoyed our stay at the Austin Motel, and it is NOT for everybody. We experienced a lot of the things that can happen here, a heater that cannot keep up with an unusually cold night (they put a space heater in the room INSTANTLY, thanks Drew), toilet a little slow. Our Queen poolside room was large, funky and clean enuf. Parking was easy, wifi free and fast enuf, cats if you can catch them, just like home.
We received some wonderful local advice from DREW, who is a Unilocal cheerleader not, and we agree that you should just forget Unilocal this time and GO wherever Drew tells you. For us that was Botticelli one night and then next door to the Snack Shop; both tied for the best dinners on our one week Texas swing through San Antonio, Austin and Galveston.
Fair trade coffee here was the best on the trip, lots of tourista info and books in the lobby, fresh sushi too. Fun laid back neighborhood with lots of eclectic shopping and food. Austin Motel is a very cool oasis within an easy interesting mile walk of downtown Austin and the Capitol.
Love the sign, or leave. Do it if you are still fun.

Giving the Austin motel another chance for its convenience on congress right across from where I sing tonight at midnight. It is double the price I am paying for the rest of the band at the crowne plaza south but the parking spot and the proximity to the continental is worth it. I thought I could edit my review based on how I am treated THIS time (perhaps the 42^nd time I have stayed here.) the owner, Dottie Dean isn’t here today (because she’s deceased!) but the man who took my reservation and credit card info did so, without incident. A few mins later, he called me back by phone, to tell me that he remembered my name as being a «trouble maker»!!! I guess telling your truth on Unilocal is making trouble! He said if I make any trouble I will never be allowed to stay there again. Mind you, I have never had a party at this hotel, snuck animals in, smoked in the room or torn a sheet or stolen a bedspread or a towel. I always tip the maids and am a considerate neighbor to the people next door because I hate loud neighbors, All I did was stand inside in the cool room for another few minutes after check-​out. It was 106ish outside, I’m shocked he called back to rattle my cage. Well we shall see what happens after this stay. Hopefully he figures out that being nice to his customers is called customer service. It’s not a foreign thing. Bring accused of being «too nice» is a GOOD thing, one that business owners strive to achieve. Will he be nice? Or refuse to rent to me when I arrive? Ohhhh I love a good drama but I hate stress. I hope the young man decides to act like he cares about the customer. We shall see…
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Well, the pressure seemed a bit much for him because he was much nicer. He still bombarded me with the one word answers but the room was nice and clean and tho the heater didn’t work properly, it was a better experience than last time. They have so many customers I guess they don’t care if one or two return regularly.

Great little vintage hotel!
Right in the midst of everything on South Congress!
I’d actually like to give it 4.5 stars but that’s not an option.
The .5 is only because the toilet was kinda wonky.
It flushed all the contents down every other flush. :-/​
We stayed in one of the «cozier» (small) rooms & it was tolerable for 2 people.
When you’re in Austin who stays cooped up in their room anyway? ;-)
The room was clean. We were able to park right in front of our room door.
Staff was friendly at check-​in & check-​out.
I would definitely stay there again!
We went during off-​peak season but I’m certain this place is AWESOME for SXSW!

This spot is definitely a place I had fun in. However, I think I was too old or not in the right mood for this sort of place. It would have been a fine place to just crash in while enjoying the local bar scene. Staying a few nights looking for quiet or romance — not so much.
The host was really nice. The sleeping cat on the counter was a wonderful welcome. I only wish we could have taken a cat with us. The hotel is super cool. Almost kitchy, but not in a bad way. Our room had ginormous tiles on the floor, a fresco on a wall, and some old/​funky/​vintage furniture. Really enjoyed the look of the room. The parking is NOT made for a large pick up truck. It is one way in and you have to u-​turn to get out. Seeing that future dilemna, I always backed in to a parking spot before it started to get crowded. If it were full, I’d never get my truck out without a spotter.
The thing I did not like was the absolute lack of any thoughts of peace & quiet. We got a room on the first floor. Leave if they try to put you in one of those. Every step was as if they were in our room. The folks next door obviously went to the local bars every night and would hang out smoking in front of their doors. It seemed like we were in the conversation. There is NO sound proofing between walls or outside the door. It was very annoying with the late night crowd around us. Like I said, if that were our goal we would have fit in better.
The bathroom was nice, but very tiny. When sitting on the throne, I had one knee on the door and one knee on the bathtub. I’m 6′ 4″. Felt like I was doing my business in airline seating.
It was a good spot and a good price for the prime location. I didn’t mind trying it once, but would likely try something different next time.

Stayed here for the 2^nd time this past summer and had a great experience. Inexpensive, quirky, fun rooms, beds were comfortable and we loved their pool. Location couldn’t be better and parking wasnt an issue. Austin is the best.

Favorite place I stayed during my Texas trip. Awesome pool, great location and such character. We checked out the bat bridge on the way into downtown. I’m glad I stayed there!

The rooms were terrible. Uncomfortable bed, unbearable bathrooms, and a unbelievably terrible smell. The lobby smelled like cat piss which should have been a good indication that place was not kept up with. When we got to the room, we stayed in the «great wall of China» mock. The bathroom was too small I had to stand in the tub to shut the door; no ventilation in there either, we had to open the window (which during the heat of august is never a good idea) that didn’t have a screen so all these flies came into the room. Also there was no refrigerator so we had to put ice in the sink to keep our drinks cold… Probably the only thing this place has going for them was the pool, it was nice to see a place actually have a deep end for diving. All-​in-​all you can find somewhere else to stay for A LOT cheaper.

Fantastic location right in the thick of things. Very easy to get to from the highway or airport. And a very good place to land, especially if you like funky quirk. If you do not appreciate having an old door for a headboard, thrift-​store (yet charming!) furniture, and random noises, you will be unhappy at this motel. If you harbor any «Mad Men» or Rte 66-​esque nostalgia, and enjoy unique properties, you will probably like this place. You can walk to tons of stuff, including all the SoCo madness, the riverside trails, the Rainey District, they have a small pool, bike rentals, semi-​feral cats, accept pets (with a pet fee; not all rooms), and on-​site parking. Ang good strong coffee in the morning!
My only minor complaint: crummy toiletries. But, hey, I brought my own.
We had a great time here, and I’ll be back.

Absolutely horrible customer service. Wanted to block rooms for my November wedding. Was told that we could block rooms for $ 10 each starting August 1^st. Well, as instructed, fiancé went there to block rooms on August 1^st but now their story changed. He was told they were not accepting blocks for that particular weekend anymore and each person would have to individually call to make a reservation. Disappointment begins, but my fiancé decides to make the reservation. Well… Austinites hold your hat and wait to be blown away… He was told as he re-​approached the desk to reserve a room that he had to call. Call. Call?!? He was told to «call» while he was standing right there. But it doesn’t end there. He was asked to make this call outside. Not in the lobby. He asks why and they state «We don’t want locals to have an unfair advantage.»
Lesson learned: As a local, I won’t support, or endorse supporting, this terrible local business.