After flying in from Dallas on JSX and meeting some friends for dinner, we arrived at the JW Marriott which would be home base for our weekend of house hunting.
Booking
We booked our stay with cash, directly with Marriott Bonvoy, to help earn elite nights towards renewing my Titanium Elite status. The rate during our stay was around $290 which is on par with some of the nicer hotels in Downtown Austin.
Location
The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of downtown at the corner of 2nd Street and Congress Avenue, just one block off of Lady Bird Lake and not far from the Texas State Capitol. The driveway entrance is located along 2nd Street and is used for valet as well as rideshare pick-up/drop-off.
Parking
The hotel offers self parking for $35 per day in the underground garage. Valet parking is slightly higher at $40 per day. Since the primary purpose of this trip was house hunting, we knew we would be in and out frequently so we decided to pay the extra $5 per day for the convenience of valet. Each time we requested our vehicle it was waiting for us by the time we made it outside.
Lobby/Check-In
When we arrived the lobby was buzzing with activity as there was a large conference taking place and the lobby bar was packed. With no one in line we walked up to the desk and we were quickly checked in and my Titanium status was recognized. I applied for Suite Night Awards at booking but they didn’t clear so I appreciated the fact that they did at least upgrade me to a corner room on the 23rd floor.
After checking in we walked past the lobby bar towards the rear of the hotel to the elevator banks and rode up to the 23rd floor and Room 2337.
Room
Our corner king room was no different, from a footprint standpoint, than a standard king room. However, because of its location, it did have windows along two sides which allowed tons of natural light and great views. Immediately upon entering the room, there was a wardrobe and a nook with a coffee maker to the left. Past this was a desk that doubled as the TV stand.
Opposite this was a chair with an ottoman and a small table as well as the king size bed.
The bathroom felt fresh and modern and included a large walk in shower with single use toiletries.
Lounge
The Executive Lounge is located on the 5th floor and can be accessed 24/7 via keycard for guests with lounge access. The lounge consists of one large, long room that is broken up into various sections of seating.
At night, there are a few snacks set out along with beer and wine on an honor bar system where you fill out a card with what you self serve.
During breakfast, the bar area is set up with a variety of cereals, pastries, yogurt and fruit.
Opposite this, on the island, were hot dishes including eggs, sausage and potatoes.
In the middle of the lounge was another coffee and beverage station that also had tea and other non-alcoholic beverages.
We utilized this lounge after breakfast to get some work done and they had an assortment of snacks out throughout the day. Candy, trail mix, nuts, fruit and KIND bars were available.
The only issue with this lounge was the fruit flies on the breakfast buffet. The staff was working hard to keep them away but if anything was left uncovered for long they would come swarming.
Summary
The JW Marriott has a great location in the heart of downtown Austin. It is nice and new but, contrary to many of the other hotels in town, it just feels like a plain city hotel. We enjoyed our stay and would stay again if the price were right. Though all things being equal there are other hotels in town that I would prefer.
