A staycation is taking the time to explore your hometown or surrounding area instead of taking a trip elsewhere! It can involve a day trip to local attractions or, my favorite, a weekend getaway somewhere close by.
Staycations are a great way to get that vacation feel without breaking the bank and they give you the opportunity to play around in your own city and discover new things about the place you call home!
Here are some of my favorite ideas for an Austin Staycation weekend:
1. Austin Motel: The Austin motel is centrally located on South Congress and has one of the quirkiest pools around. If you’re looking for a fun (and insanely Instagrammable) place to hang out with your girlfriends, this spot is perfect. It has affordable rates, funky rooms, an awesome gift shop (picture heart shaped sunglasses, canned rose and pool floats) and a location that can’t be beat. You’ll be swimming by day and enjoying South Congress by night. 
2. Hotel Ella: Talk about a hotel with history. This boutique hotel was built in the 1900’s and was recently renovated, but in no way lost its charm. Located in downtown Austin and close to the UT campus, you’ll be able to spend time dining at Goodall’s (their on-site restaurant), enjoy a drink at The Parlor Bar or take a dip in their charming and private pool.
Photo by Hotel Ella
3. Barton Creek Resort and Spa: Looking for a relaxing spa weekend? Or maybe want to try your hand at some golf? Or just want to truly get away and spend the weekend cozying up in your room rather than out on the town? If any of those sound like you, then this resort is perfect. Barton Creek Resort is a little pricey, but it’s true getaway outside of walls of the bustling city. Throw on a crisp white bathroom, order some room service, pamper yourself, and unwind.
4. Hotel San Jose: A little more upscale, Hotel San Jose is a bungalow style hotel and perfect for a couple looking to disconnect for the weekend. With an old school vibe, beautiful courtyards and a chic pool area, there is no shortage of ambiance at this South Congress gem. If you want to up your game, add on the Texas Day package and enjoy 2 complimentary drinks at the bar, 2 complimentary coffees at Joe’s Coffee next door, 4 hours of hotel bike rentals and more.
5. Wimberley Inn: While it’s not technically Austin, Wimberly and Driftwood are right in our backyard and Wimberly Inn is your key to a relaxed and unplugged weekend. This Inn is surrounded by nature and you can enjoy 3.5 acres of trails right in your backyard, plus a home cooked breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. If you want to get out, you can visit the Wimberley town square, explore Jacob’s Well (10 minutes away), stop by a few wineries in Driftwood (15 minutes away) and then finish your day off with BBQ at The Salt Lick (about 20 minutes away). Yum!
6. The Westin Downtown: This hotel has a rooftop that is to die for. I’ve brought a few friends up to Azul for a drink and they were all blown away by the view. Even if you’ve lived in Austin your whole life, nothing beats seeing the city from that high up. The hotel itself is beautiful, there’s a great restaurant on the ground floor called Stella San Jac and the rooftop also sports a pool that will have you swooning the second you set your eyes on it. If you stay here, spend the day exploring downtown, you’re right in the center of it all!
And those are my top 6 spots for a staycation! Have you ever taken a stay-cation in Austin? If so, I would love to hear about your favorite places to stay and the fun things you’ve done around town!
Until next time!
