I'll be vacationing in Austin soon and I'm looking for a moderately priced hotel in the downtown area. Please give me your recommendations and what you liked/disliked. Or let me know where I should NOT stay. Which parts of Austin should I stay away from?

I like the Austin Motel (refurbished '40s style motel, kinda funky, attracts artists) and the San Jose (rehabbed boutique style property.) Both are on South Congress south of downtown _ not really walking distance to sixth street for instance _ but the neighborhood has good restaurans and galleries and shops. And you'll need a car in Austin anyway.

Thanks for the name of the motel. I'm going to give them a call. Are there bad parts of Austin that I should avoid when I'm out and about?

Avoid east of IH35 after dark. Smack in the middle of downtown Austin is the Driskill Hotel and the Stephen F. Austin Hotel. Not moderately priced but VERY central. Both have wonderful wonderful restaurants but there are scads of others: Louis 106, Sullivan's, Edgewater Grill, etc. The funky area 3&4th and Colorado has lots of restaurants and entertainment. Don't know when you're coming but you might call the hotel directly and ask for any specials.

Barbara,

Thanks for the warning about east of IH35!