Aiden by Best Western @ Austin City Hotel

The hotel's lobby features striking decorative elements that give it a fresh and energetic feel. Carpeting is a focal point, with bold, black swirls, and mod furniture is done in vibrant, primary colors. The white walls and cream tile floors present a clean look, and white blinds over the numerous windows enhance the inviting ambiance. Expect to see a diverse mix of travelers here, from tourists and business professionals to state government workers and families here to visit students at the nearby college. It’s a quiet but friendly and warm hotel that hosts a weekly evening reception each Monday, with free soft drinks and snacks for guests. 

The Best Western is located south of downtown Austin just off Interstate 35. The immediate area is a mix of commercial and residential development, with little within walking distance other than a 7-Eleven convenience store, a Starbucks, and Denny’s restaurant, all five minutes or less on foot. St. Edward’s University is only a five-minute drive. Depending on traffic, it’s approximately a 10-minute drive to downtown attractions including the Texas State Capitol, Sixth Street Historic District, and Austin Convention Center. University of Texas at Austin is about 13 minutes by car. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and McKinney Falls State Park are both roughly a 15-minute drive. 

Guest rooms have a polished, pulled-together look, featuring a mix of earth tones and vibrant accents, including orange bed throws and bolster pillows, and black-and-orange upholstered armchairs. The white walls and bright white bedding contrast nicely with the light-brown wood furniture, which includes desks with office chairs and headboards with distinctive white stripes. The gray patterned carpet with black-and-white accents enhances the decor, and contemporary art in the same motif adds a nice touch. Units are average in size and they have comfortable beds in King or Double-Double options. Two-room King Suites with sleeper sofas also are available. Bathrooms contain wide, salt-and-pepper granite vanities, and striking brown tiling framing the shower/tub combos. Amenities are a plus, with 37-inch flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffeemakers, microwaves, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. Guest rooms are relatively quiet given their proximity to the Interstate, but some ambient noise from other rooms can be heard. 

This hotel has several value-added amenities -- including ample freebies. They include a hot breakfast buffet with the ever-popular Texas-shaped waffles, coffee in the lobby all day, and a weekly reception with snacks and soft drinks. Parking, Wi-Fi throughout, and newspapers are free as well. The on-site Opal’s Divine Grill has a bar and serves American classics for lunch and dinner, such as burgers, salads, soups, and street tacos. There's also a lobby convenience shop that sells various sundries.The spacious outdoor pool isn’t heated, but it’s surrounded by lovely landscaping, and there's a whirlpool, covered tables, loungers, and shady areas. A well-equipped fitness center can offer guests a good workout, with five pieces of cardio equipment, a weight-training machine, and free weights. For business travelers, there is a business center with three computers and 7,000 square feet of meeting space. Valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available, and the guest laundry room is open 24-hours, but it only has one washer/dryer. Pets are welcome with a surcharge.