Hampton Inn & Suites Austin @ The University/Capitol — Hotel in Austin

Giving this place a 1 star for customer service. Me and my family called for a reservation for 2 nights. We told Laura that we were going for a concert and then celebrate my husbands birthday. When we got to our hotel that night, because we did book the day we were going, we find out it was booked for one night. The confusion on my face was very noticeable. When asked what the problem was, I told the manager that we told Laura that we wanted 2 nights. If it was only for one, we were looking for something else. We only booked there because she had said she had found a room. Well there was no room. When we confronted Laura, she said, thats not what I told you and basically said it was our fault. We had 2 hrs til our concert with no room for tomorrow to celebrate my husband's birthday. And she then proceeded to tell us and pointed in the direction that she knew for a fact the hotel down the way had rooms. I was so annoyed and pissed. We called. The rooms started at $400 a night. We kept calling around and nothing. Everything was booked. When leaving to the concert, which I was trying so hard to get hyped for but couldn't because I was worried about what we were going to do, they ask "well did you find anything?" Seriously? I was so heated I had to get out of her sight because if I wouldve stayed I would've said some not so nice things. We finally found a hotel an hr before we had to check out and thank God they were able to accommodate us even before check in because they new we didn't want to be going around town with our luggage. I was so grateful to THAT hotel. Because this hotel, didn't try to help us at all find something else. Other than telling us the hotel down the way had some rooms. They didn't tell us they were $400. It was very poor customer service, and Laura and the manager Rose were not accommodating at all. Laura didn't help, and Rose kept looking to Laura as if she was the manager. The way they handled everything was unprofessional. The only reason we found something is because one of the hotels we did call thats didnt have rooms, helped us find one. I idk why Laura didn't offer that, shes a booking agent for hilton, she could've at least tried to help find something for us. It was miscommunication on her side. Because she knew exactly how long we were going for and what we were going for. It was sad when the girl that checked us in even didn't understand how there was such a mixup. So hopefully Laura doesn't screw anyone else out of having a good night because, let me tell you, i was not at ease until we had another hotel! So thank you, Laura, for a memorable stay, just not a good memory. Next time, just apologize and try to give your customer some ease and help them find somewhere to stay at a reasonable price. You're a booking/sales agent, its your job. I will never stay here again. I will stay on the outskirts next time. They were way more professional, and made sure we were okay, and I don't mind the distance. Sometimes, being close to downtown isn't a good thing. I found this out...

I love everything about this hotel! Give yourself a huge treat and stay here! It's paradoxically both vibrant and peaceful, quirky, and stunning, and it's beauty is excelled only by the friendliness and extraordinariness of the people who work here!

Ok, I should now say that this is a different sort of review. I visited the hotel one morning just to see it and get a good, long, grand tour. I had met the owner years before and he had told me about this property for a long time and I couldn't wait to see it. He's very proud of it, but not even his enthusiasm had prepared me for how amazing the place is. I was in town for a talk and my client had put me at another hotel, which I also loved. But this place is so special that I wanted to write up my experience of it. I'm writing about the Hampton only because of my genuine excitement about the property. As a man who travels a lot, I'd want to know about such a place from others, and so I wanted to give my impression to anyone it might help.

The building was originally designed and constructed for high end luxury condos, and not as a hotel. So you get super wide hallways, soaring ceilings, and luxurious spaces such as you've probably never seen in a hotel before. Even the rooftop pool area was incredible. And the details are everywhere - elevators whose doors are always open when they're on the first floor, awaiting you. And then when you see them closed, you see that they're etched with beautiful renditions of guitars. There's original art everywhere. You're saying to yourself: "This is a Hampton Inn?????" By historical circumstance, it's the Crown Jewel of Hampton Inns, or of urban inns of any sort.

The General Manager, Sean Fitzgerald, is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. A former quarterback at Pitt, this man knows how to lead a team. Everyone there seems to have been recruited for their positions like national championship players are. They're the most amazing staff ever. And I saw this on just a visit of a little more than an hour - where people in the hallways wanted to stop the owner and manager and rave about what a front desk person had done for them that day, or the previous day on arrival, going far beyond the call of duty to solve problems in a seamless and gracious way. The owner turned to me and grinned and said, "I love to talk to guests here. It's always such a boost!" I've traveled to as many as 90-100 hotels in one year alone, and I've never seen such staff motivation!

I was taken to a corner suite on the fifth floor, and was floored by what I saw. It looked like a high end Manhattan luxury apartment, with space galore, beautiful appointments and a view of Austin like no other I've seen. There was even a wide outdoor wraparound deck.

But, Ok, enough! Do yourself a big...

Stayed a few days before Christmas until the day after Christmas. First time in Texas , didn't know what to expect but the stay at the hotel made it pretty easy to enjoy! The staff on my check-in didn't acknowledge me when I walked in however I'm prone to self check in so it didn't bother me all that much. Elevators do require key access so that was something I did have to go back down for at one point because to me it's easier having a physical key. Walking into the room my name was on the TV, a consistent touch from a previous visit in another state. The room had a great view for me personally as I could see the mountains, nearby establishments and the sunset. I did not rent a car so I cannot speak on the parking situation. Ubers/lyfts were very affordable especially with most stores and restaurants being in close proximity. I was able to Uber eats and even get staples from target delivered which was super convenient. Upon booking my reservation which I called about I did request a microwave as again being there during Christmas I was going to have to fend for myself a whole day and that was not there when I arrived but I went down and reminded them and they were super gracious to check and have one brought up. The gym and pool were in the middle of the hotel which was a bit different but the views!! The views were really nice. The breakfast was rotating and the cute Texas shaped waffles were a cute touch. That salsa! I wish I could bottle and bring home. The gift shop is what you see is what you get so if you see something you like get it because no guarantees it will be there when you come back. Special shout out to Rose who was phenomenal!! The only reason I knocked a star was because anytime I would take a steamy shower I would start sneezing pretty bad consecutively right in the middle of my shower. I've used the body wash at another location so I really deny it being the bath products and attribute it to some mold somewhere as I've been tested and am positive to being allergic to mold. That was a bit of a bummer because I like a nice hot shower at the end of a long day and I had to use cooler water and make them very short. I would go to bed a little stuffy and wake up the same but after a few hours it wore off(until I showered again). There was construction at the hotel across the street(no complaints here about noise or anything, just an observation) and a few streets behind the hotel so there were just a few detours. Other than...