9 Stylish Boutique Hotels in Austin for $500/Night or Less

Travaasa Austin is an upscale spa resort set on a hilltop of a gorgeous nature preserve with forested canyons, about half an hour from downtown Austin. Its 72 rooms are housed in seven buildings and offer private balconies with beautiful canyon or garden views. Hiking trails, an infinity-edge pool enclosed by a wooden deck, and a luxurious spa are just some of the amenities here, and there's a restaurant serving organic, local fare, with many of the ingredients used sourced from the hotel's own farm. The serene atmosphere is furthered by the over-16 policy.

This seven-room hotel, situated in an intimate Craftsman-style house in the up-and-coming East Austin area, lives up to its "unique boutique" billing. Rooms all have distinct, trendy decor with pops of color and smart details such as black make-up towels and eco-friendly, big-bottle toiletries. Free perks include parking, Wi-Fi, and bikes loans, and rooms come stocked with large flat-screen TVs, French presses, and minibars with fair prices. But the hotel's size means limited service hours, and virtually no amenities.

Over a century old, this former private residence has old-money Texas written all over it -- but, while rates aren’t cheap, they certainly aren’t the priciest you’ll find for the level of luxury here. The 47 rooms come with free Wi-Fi, cozy robes, large flat-screen TVs, and twice-daily housekeeping service. There’s also a tasty on-site bar and restaurant, as well as a classic parlor bar.

Overlooking Lake Travis, this bed-and-breakfast has just five suites, each with a different destination-based theme. Aside from free breakfast and a lovely small pool, amenities are few -- but the property largely attracts couples and wedding parties looking for a relaxing getaway.

The luxurious, 40-room Lake Austin Spa Resort is an all-inclusive destination spa and wellness retreat on 19 lakeside acres. Guests can paddleboard, kayak, canoe, hike, or relax by the lake at this bucolic property in Texas Hill Country. In addition, there are fitness classes, wellness lectures, yoga, three swimming pools, and over a hundred spa and salon treatment options. The restaurant serves gourmet spa cuisine using produce and herbs grown at the resort's organic garden. Guest rooms are clean and bright, although small, with private patios and beautiful, spacious bathrooms.
Note: There is a two-night minimum here.

Lone Star Court is a mid-range, rustic-chic hotel located in the up-market shopping and residential district of The Domain. Though it is a 123-room property, its retro-style (with accents like colorful rocking chairs and repurposed wood) and chill environment it a boutique feel. Free Wi-Fi and breakfast add to the value, while bikes to borrow, outdoor fire pits, and live music are totally Austin.

This stylish boutique hotel in South Austin has only five guest rooms, and caters to guests looking for a truly private and relaxing hideaway. An outdoor courtyard is shaded by tall trees and features a sleek water feature and hammocks. Just off the courtyard is the hotel's common area, where guests will find cool mid-century modern seating, a trendy Apple iMac computer and printer, and a full kitchen. The bright and airy rooms all have platform beds with comfy bedding, iPod docks, LCD TVs, and white decor. Suites have spacious bathrooms with freestanding tubs, and each room has a mini-fridge.

Stylish Hotel St. Cecilia, with just 14 rooms, is a boutique hotel in the truest sense of the word. It features a sexy lounge (complete with patio seating), spacious grounds, and uber chic rooms that meld with Austin's weird vibe and cool music scene via distinct decorative touches and amenities. The centerpiece is an historic Victorian home fronting spacious, sylvan grounds and harboring five of the hotel’s beautiful suites. The long, narrow pool offers a classy place to beat the Austin heat. Plus, it's located in one of Austin's coolest neighborhoods, close to downtown shopping, historic sites, and entertainment.

They say everything's bigger in Texas, but this intimate "bungalow-style" boutique hotel might be the exception. The 40-room property, originally built as a motel in 1939, incorporates a stylish, minimalist design and sits at the center of Austin's SoCo neighborhood, a trendy area known for great music. The hotel reflects its hipster surroundings by offering lots of cool stuff on loan: an excellent music library (both CDs and pre-filled iPods), a video collection, Polaroid cameras, bicycles, and even a Remington typewriter. There's a small swimming pool, an outdoor lounge serving drinks and snacks, and the locally famous Jo's Coffee next door. Urban-chic rooms have modern wooden platform beds, polished concrete floors, paisley bedspreads and flat-screenTVs.
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