Dear readers — I need your help. I rarely (read: never) reach out for anything personal, but I am trying to sort out my accommodations for SXSW and am having difficulty. Can anyone out there in the internaughts help a lowly blogger get an Austin hotel room for March 18th – 22nd? I will pay, I just need an in. A hook up, as the kids say. Drop me a line at michael [at] acontinuouslean [dot] com. In return I can offer a day of personal shopping, a dedicated blog post, a trip to the Bronx zoo or I can just buy you proper drinks at a proper bar. —ACL
moot
on Jan 5th, 2009
@ 10:24 PM:
Haha proper drinks at a proper bar, oh you.
Matthew
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 12:08 AM:
Michael – that was a heartbreaking loss for the Buckeyes tonight. I was rooting for y’all.
A Longhorn fan should at least hook you up with some accomodations in Austin.
Michael Williams
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 12:10 AM:
Oh man — don’t fuck with me about the Buckeyes. They are impotent in bowl games but at least the beat Michigan.
ACL
Michael
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 10:14 AM:
What an amazing rivalry, no matter how inept either team is when it comes to bowl games the true measure of each school is how they fared versus eachother. I recently got to see that documentary about the rivalry’s history and it was amazing. The crazy ex was from MI so I always vehemently rooted for the buckeyes, sorry for the loss!
Sam
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 10:14 AM:
Mike, Are you just looking for a recommendation or is everything booked, and you need a legitimate in? A buddy of mine lived in Austin for a few years, and says there’s a nice Hilton downtown, and also a Four Seasons.
Also, check out this link for the top ten Austin boutique hotels http://www.gayot.com/hotels/bestof/10best_boutiquehotels_austin.html.
Sam
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 10:17 AM:
Of those boutique hotels he specifically recommends the San Jose Hotel, Stephen F Austin (owned by Intercontineltal though), and the Driskill…he put specific emphasis on the San Jose. Good luck!
Michael Williams
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 10:25 AM:
Everything downtown is booked if you aren’t “registered” with SXSW.
Joel
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 11:14 AM:
Lots of locals get of town during SXSW and rent their houses and apartments out for the week. You might try finding a few others headed to Austin for the week and go in together on a house. Check Austin Craigslist.
sam
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 11:35 AM:
i don’t know what level of luxury you are used to, but there is a pretty nice eco-friendly hotel joint really close to where i live (http://www.habitatsuites.com/specials.htm). it’s not going to be anything like the san jose hotel, but as you stated, that shizz is BOOKED! habitat suites is north of the action, but austin is small and rental cars and taxis make it easy enough. i prefer the buses myself. i like crazy people.
don weir
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 11:51 AM:
Joel is right. If you don’t live here, the next best way to experience SXSW is by renting a house. I’d make a post on Craigslist to try and beat others to the punch. And Liz Lambert, the owner of Hotel San Jose, just opened a new place called the Saint Cecelica. Check it out here: http://hotelsaintcecilia.com/
LG
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 11:52 AM:
“Everything downtown is booked if you aren’t “registered” with SXSW.”
Actually, that won’t help at this point. Everything downtown is sold out for registrants, too. Your best bet is to check hotel websites directly (instead of hotels.com, etc) and prepare to pay through the nose. Hotels that almost always have last minute (expensive) rooms left are the Sheraton and the Hyatt and sometimes the Radisson.
Also, check out the new AT&T Conference Center Hotel on the UT campus. Expensive, but a short ‘Dillo or cab ride away.
Intercontinental is really nice and might be a possibility, but Driskill and Four Seasons will laugh at you. They have waiting lists a mile long and will give preference to their regular guests that stay there every year.
Otherwise, book your hotel no later than September next time…
LG
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 11:54 AM:
Oh, and one more thing: Sometimes you can find a room at the Extended Stay on 6th or the Homestead on Riverside, but beware. They are notorious for overbooking and bumping people to their other properties around Austin.
Michael Williams
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 11:56 AM:
Thanks for all the tips everyone. What I am looking for, more than advice “Otherwise, book your hotel no later than September next time…” (I’m a man, men don’t plan. You should know that.) I need a HOOK UP. You know, you or someone you know works for the Four Seasons, etc.
An ACL reader graciously hooked up a room slightly out of town (for a great rate), but if we could move closer to downtown that would be ideal. As of right now, we have a place to stay but could maybe use an upgrade to get closer to the action. I get VERY drunk at these sorts of things! ha
Thanks all,
ACL
JP
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 12:20 PM:
Make sure to stop by The San Jose Hotel for drinks. Sam is dead-on. I highly recommend it. Actually, do yourself a favor and book your reservation for next year’s SXSW now at The San Jose.
Have a great time-
JP
Casey
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 12:53 PM:
Michael,
An unfortunate turn of events in last night’s game, definitely. I’m not sure how comfortable you would be with the idea, but my roommate and I are both going down and staying at our friends’ place. We are all fairly friendly, and Ohio natives like yourself. If you’re not interested, no qualms are made.
-casey
Jeff
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 12:59 PM:
I have Diamond status with Hilton and can probably score you a room. Shoot me an email with all the details and I’ll make a call for you.
sam
on Jan 6th, 2009
@ 2:04 PM:
is “diamond status” code for “i have another sex tape you don’t want leaked on the internet so you better give me what i want when i want it?”
j/k
SXSW Update « A Continuous Lean.
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 4:24 PM:
[...] Jump to Comments Many thanks to all that offered their assistance and advice towards securing a hotel room for the upcoming SXSW festval. I would especially like to thank Brad [...]
Michael Williams
on Jan 9th, 2009
@ 10:57 AM:
Mark,
Does Michigan still have a football team?
Regards,
ACL