Extended Stay America - Austin - Downtown - Town L

The room was a pleasant surprise for the price. The bed was comfy, the sheets were clean, the AC worked great, and there wasn’t any bad smell in the room. The hallways did smell unpleasant, but it wasn’t too bad given what we paid. It felt safe around the hotel, and downtown was only a 10-15 minute walk over the bridge. I’d definitely consider other Extended Stays at this price. We were there for Austin Marathon weekend, so the low rate had me expecting less.

The room had the basics I needed: a desk, Wi-Fi, a bed, and a bathroom, so it did the job. I probably wouldn’t stay again. I chose it because it was close to downtown and cheap, though the property is pretty worn. Arriving after hours was awkward: the front desk phone gave no sign it was working, so I ended up banging on the door. There’s a laundromat that charges $4 each for wash and dry, and the sign says to get quarters at the desk, but they had none.

There was a lot of noise on the ground floor, so I’d pick an upper floor if one is available. The rooms are decent, and for the price it gets the job done, though it’s definitely not a luxury hotel. I also had to wait for someone to come check me in because nobody was at the front desk.

I loved the skyline view from my room, and it had a fridge, microwave, and stovetop. The location worked really well, with town, Zilker park, Congress bridge and avenue all close by, plus nearby bus stops. The staff were friendly and helpful, and there was coffee and muffins or oatmeal and grits in the morning. They don’t clean the rooms much, but the place was perfect for me.