Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Austin Downtown - University, an IHG Hotel

One thing to note up front - a lot of previous reviews stated that because of the hotel being across from a shelter, that you get bugged by the homeless. If you are street savvy, the locals don't bother you at all, as long as you don't behave like a friggin tourist!!! The room was clean and comfortable, also with a great view of downtown. The location was in walking distance to downtown, which was super convenient. The breakfast was standard, and all you need to get started, with lots of options for different dietary restrictions - and fresh fruit. Also, Jacob and Jose were super helpful and friendly during the entire time as well as all of the staff! Will stay here again on my next trip.

No issues!

Breakfast was good, although they stop putting out more food 20 minutes before breakfast time ends. So if you come down with 10 minutes of Breakfast time left you're just sick with whatever is left. That is wrong in my opinion!

Parking is an ADDITIONAL $30 per day. When they are fully booked for a night, they raise the rates of the room, even if you had a reservation a month ahead of time. I spoke with a manager, and he lowered our room price to what we had reserved it for.

It was clean. The staff, especially Lucero, were extremely helpful. Lucero assisted us in relocating from one room to another, not once but twice because there was loud music outside of our room. She was very pleasant and extremely helpful.

The parking fee,$30 a night, took me by surprise, not sure if I didn’t notice whe I made the reservations. It is in the middle of party central. So if you don’t make nd loud music and crowded streets, this is a good place to stay.

Staff is friendly. Only thing I was told on phone when I booked the room that there was a garage exit to Stubbs bbq and that someone would escort me that direction because of homeless shelters that are close by, and then when I needed to return I could call front desk and someone would wait for me by the garage doors. When I got to the property, I let them know that I spoke to someone on phone and they would help me get to stubbs bbq through garage and that I would be secure. Well on my actual visit the front desk told me no one will escort you through garage leaving or returning but there is an exit in garage I was welcome to use. I was too scared to use garage exit on my own so I went through front doors instead and just prayed I was left alone as I ran, it worked. I ran back also in the evening it was safe aftr all.

When someone talks on phone about providing assistance make sure everyone is aware of what is said on the phone.

Clean, crisp, quiet, comfortable bed & pillows and decent breakfast (coffee could be better - I wished there was granola)

The water pressure on the low flow shower heads was really lousy. I mean it takes you a long time to rinse off. In addition to that, you could tell when a nearby room started their hot shower because the temp in your own shower took a hit and went from nice and hot to luke warm. Fixing both of those issues, to me, is important.

I loved the breakfast set up. This weekend was more expensive than we anticipated and those breakfast bars saved the day!

The parking is a pain in the ass but I don't think there's much you can do about it. When I'm parking four levels below the surface and have to wait on and on air conditioned elevator, I'm usually not in a good mood by the time I walk in my room haha

Cleanliness, Rooms, breakfast, location

I liked everything except that our check-in experience, when we talked to the lady at the front desk she was not at all friendly to talk to, she explained everything so rudely and quickly that I thought she is doing her job forcefully and she is not happy with her work , As a guest we always expect good welcome.

Lucero at front desk was extremely helpful and always with a smile. The rooms were clean and staff was attentive.

Since it located in downtown, it is a little noisy due to party spots. Had to pay for parking. Did not notice at time of booking that it was not included.

The pool and fitness center were great. The room is nice-everything I need and more. Having a microwave for tea and coffee and fridge was nice. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Breakfast is nice.

Parking fees and figuring out where to park for cheapest.

It’s was conveniently located for what we wanted to visit and see. The room was perfect, we were four, and the breakfast was really good. Friendly staff and the people who worked the breakfast were very nice to us. Rooms, pool area, excercise room and our room were very clean. It met all of our expectations.

The cost for parking is a little steep.