Hotel chains dominate the lodging choices in Austin, and many of them cater primarily to business travelers and politicians.

The selection below highlights Austin’s historic and boutique hotels, instead, with each offering plenty of character and individuality. Austin also has a very active homestay culture, so listings on sites such as Airbnb abound.

Location

When choosing an area of town, keep in mind that the neighborhood surrounding Sixth Street tend to stay up late for the Nightlife on which the city has grown its reputation. If you are used to city sounds, the noise level of Central Austin may not bother you, but if you require silence to sleep, you might consider a hotel in a quieter neighborhood several blocks removed.

Booking

Keep in mind that rates tend to rise during holidays, festivals, and special events and booking well in advance for South by Southwest (SXSW) in March and Austin City Limits Festival (ACL) in October is a must.

Prices

Keeping prices in the accommodation sector up-to-date is notoriously hard. But to provide a sense, accommodation listings include the price of the cheapest room for two people in normal high-season. Rates exclude sales tax.

• $ => Rooms less than $150/double
• $$ => Rooms $150–$300/double
• $$$ => Rooms $300/double