Hotel Review: TownPlace Suites Austin South
My first experience staying at TownPlace Suites in Detroit Warren was dreadful; the property felt grimy and outdated. I had an occasion to stay in Austin for a night and the closest hotel to my destination was TownPlace Suites Austin South, located in the South Congress area. I debated back and forth on whether to give TownPlace Suites a second chance, and I’m ultimately happy I did.
TownPlace Suites Austin South is located in the South Congress neighborhood of Austin, known for its trendy shops, restaurants, and lodgings.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
I earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points by using my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. It earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on all other purchases. Paired with Marriott’s promotions and American Express’ offers, it opens a door to endless points-earning opportunities. Until October 31, some lucky cardholders are being targeted with AMEX offers which increase the Marriott points earning rate to 10X, U.S. restaurant purchases to 10X, and U.S. gas purchases to 8X, capping these earning rates at $7,500 spend per category.
The Bonvoy Brilliant comes with fantastic benefits that can substantially offset its annual fee. Photo credit: www.americanexpress.com
The Bonvoy Brilliant does come with a hefty $450 annual fee, but offers tons of perks to significantly offset its costs. The card features the following benefits:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status - The mid-tier status offered by Marriott
$300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit - Can be used towards your room rate
$100 property credit when booked directly with Marriott and staying a minimum of two nights at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties
1 free night certificate - Redeemable for properties up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
Access to Priority Pass lounges
15 Elite night credits - Can be helpful if you are chasing Marriott Bonvoy status
Even for non-loyalists, this card is still a must-have in my opinion for those who are passionate about traveling. It’s a true example of a keeper card, as the benefits outweigh the steep $450 annual fee.
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Lobby & Check-In Review
The hotel looked brand new from the outside, and the exterior was more colorful and modern than a traditional TownPlace Suites property. I used Marriott’s mobile check-in function to bypass the traditional check-in process, but a plexiglass barrier was present as a safety measure against Coronavirus.
The hotel supports mobile key and check-in functionalities through Marriott’s app so you don’t have to stop by the front desk.
The lobby felt contemporary and well-decorated; there was plenty of seating space for hotel guests to work or hang out, and each table area was equipped with outlets.
Almost every seating area was equipped with USB ports and outlets, true essentials for our generation.
The lobby could accommodate many guests, and I liked that the hotel offered an even mix of individual and communal seating options.
The lobby offered plenty of seating areas for guests.
As I headed to the elevator, I saw a cool map showing where things were in the city and how long it would take to drive to destinations. That being said, I advise taking the estimates with a grain of salt as Austin is notorious for its traffic.
If you are a first timer visiting Austin, check out the map and see where popular destinations are!
The “business center” didn’t offer much in the way of comfort or privacy. When I visited, it lacked a chair and was situated in an area with moderate foot traffic.
The business center was small and uninviting, likely serving as an express hub printing documents or to jot a memo.
In the elevator was a reminder that we are still battling COVID-19 and that Marriott was enforcing safety policies. Thankfully, most people in the hotel wore masks and kept a safe distance from one another.
A sad reminder that we are still in the midst of the pandemic.
Living Room Review
Upon entering the room, I was greeted with a small kitchenette. Compared to the TownPlace Suites in Detroit Warren, this space was more intimate but felt much higher quality and more updated.
A full-sized refrigerator is more than enough for the family or small party that often stays at TownPlace Suites.
All flatware and cookware were in great shape, and I appreciated that the electric stove was a flat top, making it easy to cook and clean.
The flat top electric stove was a huge plus because it was easier to clean and distributed heat more evenly.
Across from the kitchenette was a deep closet big enough to store a few suitcases.
The closet offered simple yet effective organizational options for your long-term stay.
Entering the living room area, I appreciated the mobile desk setup. I used the stationary desk as my dining table and the portable desk as my workstation during the day. The chair was comfortable, and the complimentary WiFi from Marriott worked seamlessly to get my work done.
Having a mobile desk adds more flexibility, especially if there are more than two people in the room.
Next to the desk was a small love seat with an ottoman that filled the corner of the room. It felt rather stiff but likely needed to be broken in more since it looked and appeared relatively new.
If you shift the love seat closer to the wall and place the ottoman on the open end, you have yourself a swanky spot for friends to crash!
A king bed between two nightstands was on the other end of the room. The bed was comfortable, and each nightstand was equipped with outlets and USB ports.
One thing I noticed was that the room phone was completely wireless. This is an excellent addition and better accommodates families with pets and/or younger children, who may play with and break the cord. I hope to see this become the norm for other hotels as well, not just extended-stay properties.
Room guests can easily stow away the hotel phone when not being used due to its wireless setup!
Bathroom Review
The bathroom was a marked improvement over the one in Detroit. It was bright, inviting, and, most of all, clean. The mirror was also heated, so it didn’t fog up after a hot shower, and Marriott fulfilled my request for extra towels for the stay.
All I ask for out of budget hotels is for the bathroom to be clean, and TownPlace Suite Austin South provided exactly that.
Both the communal toiletries and prepackaged bar soaps provided were by Paul Mitchell. Though I don’t mind using individual bar soaps, I think Marriott can benefit from entirely shifting to liquid pumps, which are increasingly becoming the norm for hotels.
The hotel used communal Paul Mitchell toiletries.
Gym Review
The gym was right across from the elevator on the first floor, and I was happy it was open. It was relatively small, but due to the pandemic, I didn’t encounter anyone while working out. There were two flat benches with dumbbells and gym balls in the corner. I wish the dumbbells had more weights, as standard sets usually go up to 50 lbs.
It was disappointing to see that the heaviest dumbbell was 40 lbs.
On the other side of the gym were three treadmills and two ellipticals. Each cardio machine had a small towel in the cup holder, which was a nice touch for guests. Even though I didn’t have to share the gym with other guests, it’s probably wise for the hotel to block or remove a few cardio machines to distance gym-goers as a cautionary measure against COVID-19.
The hotel should block or remove a few cardio machines to promote social distancing.
Lastly, there were extra towels and a water fountain for everyone working out at the gym. I could easily come down at night to refill my water bottles for the evening.
Extra towels and a clean hydration station for everyone working out at the gym.
Outside the gym was a tiny swimming pool, which certainly was not spacious enough to accommodate multiple groups of hotel guests.
A tiny swimming pool to combat Texas heat.
There was also limited outdoor seating around a bonfire setup by the pool for late-night hangouts with friends or family.
There were only a few seats by the bonfire on a first come, first serve basis.
Summary
TownPlace Suites Austin South was a no-frills, modern property suitable for business travelers or families. Some improvements could be made to the outdoor seating areas and gym amenities to better accommodate guests, but my experience far exceeded my expectations, which were warped by my lackluster stay at TownPlace Suites Detroit Warren. At the end of the day, travelers choosing budget or extended stay hotels don’t need or expect extra amenities. Having a clean room and comfortable bed is really all we ask for! TownPlace Suites Austin South provided precisely that, and I recommend it to everyone visiting the South Congress area in Austin.
