Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Austin NW - Arboretum Area

This mid-range chain hotel is situated in a four-story beige and brown building flanked by a parking lot. The small lobby is cloaked in the same shades, with beige tile floors and a dark wood front desk topped with a granite counter. Farther in, the lobby turns into a trendier lounge
that doubles as the breakfast area in the morning. Brown patterned carpet pairs well with cream-colored booth seating, dark wooden tables, and upholstered chairs. A cozy, living room-like corner features a gray couch and striped armchairs clustered in front of a large, wall-mounted flat-screen TV surrounded by cool, rectangular shelving holding decorative knickknacks. Overall, it's a pleasant look, if unremarkable. The hotel attracts many business travelers who value the convenient location to nearby major companies. Families and couples can also be seen congregating at the pool or in the breakfast area.

The hotel is far from the bustle of Austin, but still
close enough to reach it by car in about 20 minutes. It’s also located less than a 10-minute drive
to IBM, Apple, and the National Instruments Corporation, making it convenient
for business travelers. The Arboretum Mall is a 10-minute walk away. There’s a
variety of dining options on surrounding streets as well as several stores including Target, TJ
Maxx, and Ross Dress for Less, which are all within a five- to 10-minute walk from
the hotel. The Domain shopping center is a nine-minute drive away, while the famous Sixth Street district is 18 minutes by car. The University of Texas can be reached in about 15 minutes. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport takes under a half-hour to reach by car. 

Rooms are fairly generous in size and feature pleasant, contemporary decor that includes white linens on beds framed in large dark brown headboards as well as orange or blue accent walls. Dark wood furniture includes work desks, while large windows fill the spaces with natural light. Suites have wooden floors instead of patterned carpeting seen in all other rooms, as well as gray couches for
a slightly more sophisticated look. None of the design is surprising (especially for Austin, a place that prides itself on being funky), but it is generally attractive. Each room has a Sealy
Posturepedic plush pillow-top mattress, flat-screen TV, coffee/tea
maker, mini-fridge, and a microwave. Suites also add sleeper sofas, while One
Bedroom Suites have separate living rooms. In contrast, the King Studio Suites
have full-size refrigerators, microwaves, sinks, and dishwashers. Bathrooms are spacious
and include gray granite countertops, gray tiles, large mirrors, hairdryers, and shower/tub combos. Makeup remover wipes and Bath & Body Works toiletries are thoughtful extras. Guests should note that complaints have been made about street noise and noise from other rooms due to thin walls and poor soundproofing.

Guests at this hotel can begin their day with a free
breakfast buffet, which consists of both hot and cold items. The property has a lovely outdoor pool with a waterfall feature as well as a hot tub, plus cabanas are available with flat-screen TVs and brown woven furniture with tan
plush cushions. The 24-hour fitness center has six
cardio machines, exercise balls and bands, and a selection of free weights.
Business travelers can make use of free Wi-Fi throughout the property, a
fully equipped meeting space that can hold up to 125 people, and a 24-hour
business center with two computers and a printer. There’s a coin-operated
laundry room, free parking, and a free shuttle that takes guests within five
miles of the hotel.