Planning to be in Austin on 3/24 - 3/26 with some friends. Need recommendations for hotels in or near downtown area, preferably walking distance to 6th street/warehouse district. Doubletree was recommended but fully booked. Thinking of Omni or the new Hilton. Also plan to rent jet ski in Lake Travis, is the water still to cold for this? Thanks.

Have you tried the Radisson downtown? It's right on Town Lake and would be walking distance to both Sixth St and the Warehouse District. Downtown is not very big so walking is easy. Don't know if the water in Lake Travis will be too cold for you then but I know it will be too cold for me!

We stayed at the new Hilton in Dec.,and liked it a lot.It is an easy walk to 6th street. Rooms were nice, beds comfortable,nice gym,rooftop pool and hot tub. I would stay there again.

I stayed at the Hilton downtown a few weeks ago (which I assume is the "new" Hilton?) and loved it. The location was perfect -- very easy walking distance to 6th street and Warehouse district -- and the staff was wonderful and very helpful. I would totally stay there again the next time I'm in Austin.

Here's a Lake Travis current water temp website - you can watch it over the next month.

http://wwwext.arlut.utexas.edu/omg/weather.html

I did a quick search on orbitz and there are still a few nice hotels left in the area you want for those dates. The Stephen F. Austin is one block from 6th Street. I stayed there once when I got snowed in while working in downtown (believe it or not, it actually SNOWED in Austin) and I enjoyed it very much. The Mariott at the Capitol is on 11th, and the Hampton Inn and Suites is only a few blocks from the entertainment.

There are a couple of nice hotels just south of the river. Those might be a little further than you care to walk, but a cab to 6th St. or the Warehouse District would be cheap.

The water will still be quite cold in March, but a wet suit should solve the problem. Enjoy your stay in our city.

PM,

I decided on F. S. Miguel for dinner Mon. You need to try it for Sun brunch or any dinner.

J62

J62, please report back if you try Fonda San Miguel. I tried it a month ago for the first time and was very unimpressed with the food. The atmosphere was great though and the location couldn't be beat since it's about two minutes from my house! But for the price I was really expecting tastier food. Maybe the brunch is better.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I heard good things about Hilton, may gave it a try if the price is right. Also good link on the water temp. in Lake Travis... as of today 57 degrees. Hopefully it'll warm up at least by 10 degrees by next month.

Any suggestions on which club or bar to go to along 6th st. or warehouse district? (upper 20's age crowd?) Thanks again.

6th street is mainly <25 yr olds (maybe even closer to 22. 4th street aka warehouse district is mid 20's+ scene.

Are you into rock, techno, acoustic, beer, wine, or mojitos???