Austin, Texas is by far one of my favorite cities. It’s filled with nice people, great bars, and killer BBQ. Oh, the BBQ! Until recently, I’ve only had the pleasure of visiting Austin during South by Southwest (SXSW), the annual film, interactive media, and music festival. So, when I partnered with Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites by Hilton’s Travel MANager program and became a Weekend Escape Artist, I was excited to see the city in its true form.
As a Weekend Escape Artist, my mission was to whisk my girlfriend, Sarah (MilkAndFlowers.com), away for the weekend and take care of all the planning on my own. Not the easiest task, but one I was certainly up for.
I decided we would stay at the Hilton Homewood Suites off of Stonelake Blvd, just 18-minutes outside of 6th Street (Downtown Austin). It was the perfect combination of close to the downtown action, and far enough away to feel at home and cozy when the time called for a bit of relaxation.
Read also: How to Become a Weekend Escape Artist
Something good to note: Hilton has a partnership with UBER where you can gain HHonors points, Hilton’s loyalty program, simply by using their service. Click here to learn more.
Sarah and I go a bit stir crazy if we don’t have some spontaneity every once in a while, so this trip was exactly what we needed. We sometimes wake up on a weekend with no plans, and that morning randomly decide to get in the car to go somewhere. That being said, you can imagine that when I told her we were going to Austin without any solid plans – which was a bit of a fib – she was very excited. Score 1 for the Weekend Escape Artist.
What I loved most about the Homewood Suites hotel is the fact that the room feels a lot like our own apartment here in Los Angeles. Most hotel rooms feature a small living area, with very little seating and room to move around. Homewood Suites, on the other hand, has a nearly complete kitchen and a living room. I’m talking a full fridge, stove, and even a dining table. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a home away from home on those long stays and you plan on cooking a bit instead of dining out every meal. After all, on longer stays it can get expensive, and why not save your money for extra activities?
We had an absolutely amazing time both inside and out of the hotel. It may have only been a weekend but we managed to squeeze every ounce of fun from it we could. I won’t get into it now, but let’s just say that in addition to the typical Austin we’re used to hearing about, we made sure to experience some less than traditional adventures as well. That post is coming soon, so stay tuned!
