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PS - Since I moved 2500 miles from my parents, I guess it will serve me right if my kids end up back in Texas!
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<p>My sister and I were raised in Illinois and my parents still live there. All five of their grandkids are native Texans.</p>
<p>Could I ask one last question of the Austin-experts? (just made a Word doc of every suggestion on here!).</p>
<p>To cut costs (really trying) we were going to take a shuttle from the airport to hotel & (maybe?) walk to campus. Does this sound like a reasonable plan? Thought I'd ask at UT admissions which are the good hotels (& check out that 'college rate'). Or, would all these great visiting sites be un-doable without a rental car? </p>
<p>Thanks for any thoughts!</p>
<p>Oh, you'd spend all day on the bus if you tried to get from UT to Barton Springs then Mount Bonnell and beyond. Mass transit isn't great here, though it's getting better. I'd rent a car, which also would allow you the flexibility of a cheap hotel/motel anywhere.</p>
<p>Thanks! My husband said car (for 2 days) would be really expensive w/insurance & parking. But, since we've flown all this way (1200 miles) I'd really like to make the most of the trip. If we just stayed in town (didn't do the Barton Springs/Mount Bonnell) -- do you think we could get by w/out a car?</p>
<p>Well, if you found a hotel close to campus, the advantage of not having a car would be that your son would experience what his life would be like as a freshman without a car. Only you wouldn't see a lot of the town.</p>
<p>As I recollect- there are not many hotels that are an easy walking distance from the UT campus- if there are they are either very expensive or very bad. The closest ones are on Route 35, which is not walkable to the campus. </p>
<p>I would call the admissions office and ask about hotels within walking distance to see what they recommend. I just don't remember any from last year's visits.</p>
<p>Jolynne-Look at it this way. Less than $100 for a car rental is a small investment to help you decide how to spend $160K+. Check before you go, but rental car insurance is probably covered by either your current auto ins. policy or your credit card.</p>
<p>I bet you could get a car fairly inexpensively. Remember that you can rent something tiny...it's just the two of you making short drives. Besides all the usual suspects, try Enterprise.</p>
<p>Thanks! I'll research car prices & convey all to hub -- sounds like it might be a good idea, esp. if it means we get a better hotel (not expensive or bad) & see the town.</p>
<p>Appreciate it!</p>
<p>Go with a car. You won't have to pay anything for parking at any of the places we've recommended. Maybe a hotel garage, but you can find plenty of hotels that don't charge for parking.</p>
<p>Get a car for sure! You should be able to find a good rate by calling around. Not having to pay for the shuttle or a taxi will go a long ways towards paying for the car. Unless you stay downtown, most hotels do not charge for parking. Be sure to get a hotel just north of downtown near I35 and you will be close to UT. If you stay south of downtown, you will have to fight traffic through that area to get to UT. There is a big coffee shop culture here also. If nobody has already suggested it, check out the Austin Chronicle (our alternative newspaper) for what's going on.</p>
<p>But South Austin is where all the cool people live. ;)</p>
<p>Yes, they all (well, really, just most of them) live there. They're just hard to get to from north of the river! </p>
<p>The Austin Chronicle can be found on-line.</p>
<p>I agree with preironic about getting a hotel slightly north of downtown on I35. The traffic situation on I35 is brutal in terms of traffic jams at virtually all hours of the day. Leave plenty of time to get back to the airport when you leave. I35 is a parking lot.</p>
<p>Texas is not a place where you can do without a car. You will regret it if you don't rent one in Austin. Trust me on this one.</p>
<p>Austin has a Rent-A-Wreck location. Google it and call for rates.</p>
<p>Rodeway Inn University/Downtown (TX191)
2900 N. I-35 , Austin, TX, US, 78705-3404 | Phone: (512) 477-6395 Fax: (512) 477-1830</p>
<p>$58.63 a night 2 double beds, 3 adults.</p>
<p>We often stay at the Fairfield SOUTH of downtown on I35. It's just a few exits south, and the rates tend to be pretty good. They have AAA and Senior discounts.</p>
<p>Thanks for all that info! Invaluable (we almost did the 'no car' route---I'll tell husband about everything).</p>
<p>Appreciate the specific info re: hotels & 'rent-a- wreck' (considering hub is car afficianado, that might be a tough sell, but I'll cite the rates!).</p>
<p>I agree with staying south of downtown, especially if you'll be going from the hotel to airport. Then you can just take Riverside or 290 across town and avoid the I-35 traffic. I wish I could remember the name of that place at Barton Springs and First Street. It's right down from Barton Springs, hike-and-bike trail, Chuy's, Shady Grove, the Capitol, etc.</p>
<p>As a 1972 UT grad with draft number 18, I worked as a carpenter's helper building what is now the La Quinta at Oltorf and I-35. That's on I-35 at the Oltorf exit--the 1st exist South of Riverside, so everything is capable of being reached by using Riverside to Congress Ave. and avoiding I-35. </p>
<p>It still stands (we built 'em the same way Phelps swims), but it may be a little run down. Then again, I'm a little run down 37 years later. BUT Austin was a blast then and it still is now.</p>