Element Austin DownTown Texas

Hey there! I'm back with another hotel adventure. I recently visited Austin for my birthday from March 16th to 18th, and I must say it was quite an experience. The hotel I stayed at had some pros and cons, which I am going to discuss in detail.

To start with, the hotel was pet-friendly, which was a big plus for me. However, I was disappointed to find out that there was no designated area for pets to relieve themselves. It was especially inconvenient since Austin is known for being a dog-friendly city. We had to take our dog, Cita, around the block or to the Capitol every time she needed to go.

Another thing that was a bit strange was that the hotel was split into two: Element and Aloft. I didn't know that Element was a part of Marriott, and honestly, I am not a fan of their hotels. The separation of the hotel was a bit odd to me, but we still had a good time.

When we arrived, we had to pay for valet parking, which was $49 per night. The downside was that every time we wanted to go somewhere, it would take valet at least 20 minutes to bring our car. We had to go through the hotel front doors and take an elevator to the second floor to check-in. Marriott hotels require you to use your credit card for check-in. Our room was on the fifth floor, and we booked the Queen size suite, which was quite spacious and had a kitchenette, living room, separate bathroom, and a separate bedroom.

The hotel had a bar and lounge area, but we didn't get a chance to check it out due to the crowd (coronavirus). The suite was good, but the only downside was that the bedroom was quite hot, and there was no air conditioning or fan. We had to rely on the screen from the living room to get some airflow, which was not very comfortable at night.

Another downside was that there were homeless people around the hotel, and some of them would come up to us and follow us while we waited for our valet. It was a bit uncomfortable, but I understand that the hotel couldn't do much about it.

The checkout was smooth, but we had to pay the last $49 out of pocket, which I feel should have been automatically deducted from the payment method we used to book the room. Overall, I had a great time with my boyfriend and our pup, despite the minor inconveniences. Although the hotel was a bit expensive, I think it was because of its location (downtown Austin, next to the Capitol). If you plan to book here, be prepared for some minor issues, but it's still a good place to stay. I hope this review helps, and I will soon be posting more hotel reviews on my YouTube channel, along with pictures on here. Thanks for reading!