Best/closest hotels?

[Tom Bress]

This will be my first NI Week. Any recommendations on local hotels? I saw the list on the NI website, but I've never been to Austin before. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

[Neville D]

The Hilton is the best and right across the street from the Convention Centre.. it is not that much more expensive than the others.. go on the NI website and they have a list of hotels and a special code you can use for a discount.

Have fun!

Neville.

[Jim Kring]

QUOTE (Tom Bress @ Jun 26 2008, 01:29 PM)

This will be my first NI Week. Any recommendations on local hotels? I saw the list on the NI website, but I've never been to Austin before. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

Here's my list:

• The Hilton is great because it is across the street and is pretty nice (pool, etc.) -- This is where a lot of the LAVA'ers (including me) are staying.
  
• The Omni has the best service for the price -- the rooms aren't as big, since it's an older hotel. I saw Quentin Tarantino staying there, last year, when he was filming 66th Grand Prix of Monaco
  
• The Driskill is more expensive (although not ridiculous) and has the best service and a cool vibe (piano bar, hide-covered couches, etc).
  
• The Courtyard Austin Downtown-Convention Center is also very close.
  

[Val Brown]

QUOTE (Jim Kring @ Jun 26 2008, 02:01 PM)

Here's my list:

• The Hilton is great because it is across the street and is pretty nice (pool, etc.) -- This is where a lot of the LAVA'ers (including me) are staying.
  
• The Omni has the best service for the price -- the rooms aren't as big, since it's an older hotel. I saw Quentin Tarantino staying there, last year, when he was filming 66th Grand Prix of Monaco
  
• The Driskill is more expensive (although not ridiculous) and has the best service and a cool vibe (piano bar, hide-covered couches, etc).
  
• The Courtyard Austin Downtown-Convention Center is also very close.
  

I stayed at the Courtyard last year (my first NI Week) and will be staying there again this year as I enjoyed it. It was very comfortable, spacious room with a good internet connection and other amenities. I also stay at Courtyards a lot so I have award points to use, which helps with the expense. If I'd KNOWN that everyone who is everyone is staying at the Hilton I might have chosen to be there instead....<sigh>. Actually all of the properties Jim mentioned are close, convenient and IMO good, even though the Driskill is more expensive.

BTW does anyone know if reservations/payments are being taken yet for the BarBQ???

[crelf]

QUOTE (Val Brown @ Jun 26 2008, 05:30 PM)

BTW does anyone know if reservations/payments are being taken yet for the BarBQ???

http://forums.lavag.org/LAVA-OpenG-NI-Week-2008-BBQ-t11283.html' target="_blank">They sure are.

[boone_93]

I've stayed at the Hampton Inn for 3 years.

- good price

- about a 2 block walk to the convention center

- nice rooms with free broadband internet

- a happy hour with free tap beer, wine, and snacks every evening around 5pm

- free hot breakfast every morning to supplement NIWeek's meager one

They might not be on the hotel list but they were a couple years back and I just keep asking if they have a NIWeek discount and they give me one. They're usually comparable with the Radisson for price.