The final hotel stop of this trip was a short overnight stay at the W Austin, after an enjoyable dinner with my team.

Booking

I booked this stay a few days before my arrival.

I had initially booked the Marriott, as recommended by my wife, but the lack of available suites led me to switch at the last minute.

I therefore booked a suite with a balcony at the W, using the rate offered through my Marriott credit card, which provides a $150 discount on the rate via a statement credit.

Arrival

I arrived at the hotel after a drive of just under two hours from my training session in San Antonio.

After a very brief wait, a very pleasant front desk agent handled the check-in formalities.

Despite her friendliness, she did not introduce any of the hotel’s services…

At least I was quickly on my way to my suite, located on the 6th floor of the property.

Suite

My suite was located on the 6th floor of the hotel, to the left of the elevators.

The entrance opens onto a very tastefully decorated living area, with a sectional sofa facing a coffee table. Opposite stands a large desk, on which a Nespresso machine had been placed, along with a small welcome gift and a letter addressed to me.

Later, an additional welcome amenity was placed on the coffee table, which I discovered upon returning from dinner. The living room has a balcony, unfortunately a bit low and with a view that is not really unobstructed.

Extending from the living room is the bathroom, with separate toilets, a vanity, and a large walk-in shower. The toiletries are provided in large reusable containers.

Lastly, the bedroom is rather small, but the view over the river is very pleasant. Despite the low floor, the rooms are well enough soundproofed that I could not hear any outside noise from traffic or nearby festivities.

Everything is decorated with excellent taste, and I had a wonderful time in this suite.

Finally, the virtual tour:

Hotel Amenities

The hotel features an outdoor pool, a spa, and a fitness center, all located on the 4th floor of the property. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to visit the spa.

Pool

Unfortunately, I did not have time to use the hotel pool. When I arrived, however, it was quite busy.

When I wanted to use it after returning from dinner, it was already closed.

Fitness Center

I used the fitness center on the morning of my stay for a short workout before starting my day. It is very well equipped, even if some of the equipment is beginning to show its age a little. Everything was in perfect working order, and I imagine this gym is shared with the residences located above the hotel.

Food & Beverage

The property has a bar and a restaurant, both located near the lobby, as well as a café. Poolside bar service is also available.

Lobby Bar

Before dinner, I had a glass of champagne at the bar.

A glass of Veuve Clicquot is priced at $35 before tax and service, but this was covered by the $150 credit.

Asking for a snack would apparently have been too much… And my waiter seemed more interested in gossip than in providing service.

A shame, because the place is beautiful.

Service

The service at this hotel, as mentioned above, is disappointing. A pity, because the renovation is extremely successful.

Departure

Check-out formalities were simple but cold. Once again, service missed the mark.

Bottom line

A pleasant stay thanks to a beautiful suite. But a serious effort clearly needs to be made on service. It is a shame, especially since that is not usually an issue in Texas.

Itinerary Followed

As a reminder, here is the itinerary followed:

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