Hotel Van Zandt! The Ultimate Staycation

Each time we travel to downtown Austin with Kennedy, we marvel at the beautiful skyscrapers, each of us having our favorite buildings that we love to point out. So, when we got the opportunity to have a staycation at one of the best hotels in downtown Austin, we were absolutely thrilled!

Hotel Van Zandt was everything we hoped it would be and more! We truly loved the aesthetic of the hotel. It is the perfect mixture of Texas rustic, modern elegance, and a little bit of Austin weirdness. It is luxury with an undeniable sense of cool. There’s also a strong musical influence to be found at every turn. From the trumpet-shaped light fixtures and the music sheet artwork in the bathroom to the live music that happens weekly at the hotel. Much like the city of Austin, music has a very strong presence in this beautiful hotel. 

Our day at HVZ

We made the absolute most of the 24 hours that we spent at Hotel Van Zandt! We began our stay by checking into our gorgeous room which featured a separate living room area with great views of downtown Austin. What stood out most in our room was the incredible attention to detail! We were excited to find a huge bathroom with a large soaking tub. Me and my five-year-old, Kennedy are both bath lovers and we could not wait to get in that tub later that night along with the amazing smelling bath salts that they provided. Other details that really made our stay special were the thick comfortable bathrobes they provided, the artwork on the bedroom wall which after looking very closely, Kennedy discovered was a vintage map of downtown Austin! And I can not forget the super adorable kid’s teepee that was set up in the living room. Staying true to the city, the teepee included a copy of Good Night Austin by Adam Gamble and Mark Jasper, a Texas coloring and activity book, and a Hotel Van Zandt teddy bear. It was so cute and comfortable that Kennedy almost decided to sleep there instead of her bed! 

Next, we headed down to the rooftop pool, and to our surprise there was a brand-sponsored pool party happening there. The pool area was jumping and filled with amazing energy. In addition to a DJ, there was also a live band, and drink specials at the bar. We spent a few hours playing in the pool and enjoying a poolside lunch with great music and great views of downtown.

After our fun time at the pool, we stopped by the social hour in the lobby. The social hour is complimentary for guests and includes margaritas, beer, and wine. We sat down in the cozy yet elegantly decorated lobby area and relaxed with some yummy margaritas before kicking off the late afternoon with a stroll down Rainey Street. Hotel Van Zandt offers a couple of complementary modes of transportation. There are bikes for adults and micro kickboard scooters for kids. We checked out a scooter for Kennedy and since HVZ is located right next to Rainey Street, we decided to explore the infamous, lively street next door. Kennedy had such a fun time zipping through the crowded street and stopping for mini donuts at Lucy’s. 

Later that night, we had dinner at Geraldine’s. The vibe at the onsite restaurant was unmatched! The dim lighting and great music definitely put us in an ultra-relaxed mood. When we were seated, we were given a curated playlist of songs to choose from and encouraged to make requests with the DJ. This really gave the restaurant a very unique ambiance. When our food arrived, we were blown away by the presentation. The food at Geraldine’s was sophisticated yet comforting and so delicious! 

As planned, we could not let the night end without soaking in that large soaking tub before heading to bed! 

We enjoyed our staycation so much! It was fun and relaxing and we made some really great memories! 

Thank you to Kimpton and Hotel Van Zandt for hosting us! If you’re looking for a great hotel in Austin that captures the true vibe and essence of the city, definitely check out Hotel Van Zandt!