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(Vrbo)
Nowadays, people want more from their lodging than just a room to lay down for the night, a continental breakfast and good customer service—they want a memory.
This city has an abundance of well known hotels, but with all of Austin's wonderfully wacky residents why not stay in one of their homes? Whether it's a vacation, staycation or get-together, here are seven local rentals you won't soon forget.
Sculptor's Guest House, $121 per night
(Airbnb)
Located a short distance from Downtown, UT and the airport, this guest house sits on two acres of art studios so you can truly get into character while you walk the sculpture garden. The house itself is decked out in unique architecture and creative interpretations of ordinary objects, like the onyx stone bathroom, natural wood headboard with matching end tables, and cozy kitchen. The guest house accommodates a maximum of four guests with one bedroom, one bathroom and plenty of couches to crash on for an authentic artist experience.
1940s East Austin Bungalow, $164 per night
(Airbnb)
This spacious bungalow was built in the 1940s, but you'd never know when you walk inside. The wooded, solemn interior paired with black finishes give the rental a clean, rustic look. Although you'll be staying in a home that is nearly 100 years old, the unit comes complete with all the technology of the modern era. The Bungalow comfortably allows four guests with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Mid-century modern home, $202 per night
(Airbnb)
Nicknamed "The Peach Door" after its fruit-hued front entry, this Downtown-adjacent house is packed with texture, natural light and a comfortable interior that will make anyone feel right at home. Located in the coveted Travis Heights neighborhood, guests are just a short walk away from Austin's picturesque arts and culture strip, South Congress. The stay accommodates up to four guests with two bedrooms and one bathroom.
The Bloomhouse by Lodgewell, $822 per night
(Vrbo)
Don't look for any straight lines in this house—you won't find any. Designed by two University of Texas architects, this lodge is designed to make you feel like you're stepping into a fairytale with its cave-like interior and secluded location in the West Lake Hills woods. You'll know you've arrived at this one bedroom, one bathroom home for four when you see its fantastical head peeking through the trees.
Colorful Clarksville estate, $847 per night
(Vrbo)
Each room in this massive 3,200 square foot home is cloaked in its own unique personality, from its two-story graffitied living room to its colorful countertops to the industrial wash basin sinks. Less than a mile from downtown, this space is perfect for entertaining or simply soaking in city living. With six bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms and two kitchens in the main house and one bedroom, one bathroom and a full kitchen in the guesthouse, there is room to sprawl out.
Downtown Guest House, $250 per night
(Vrbo)
This picturesque hippie hideaway sits just two blocks away from South Congress but comes with the privacy of the Hill Country. Built in 1928, the European cottage has exposed ceiling beams, a pebble shower and lush garden filled with large trees on-site. The guest house may be small but with a downstairs bed and loft upstairs, it can still fit four guests without getting crowded.
Historic Casa Cartel, $2,648 per night
(Vrbo)
Integrating Mexican architecture and art throughout this bespoke villa, the tastefully vibrant interior makes it impossible not to be in a good mood. With natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows, custom murals painted all over the house, a basement theater and a private pool fit for a full summer of lounging, this opulent house is the vacation. The house sits on a corner lot "very close to downtown" and sleeps up to 17 people with nine bedrooms and five bathrooms, so bring the whole crew.
Your perfect stay awaits you!
Popular
(Spiderwood studios)
One of Austin’s oldest film studios is under new management and promising to become a “true entertainment destination” after a little TLC.
Spiderwood Studios 969 is now managed by Spark River Entertainment, who took over the lease in February. The company plans to revitalize the venue, add a high-tech studio and an amphitheater, and open by the end of summer.
Since the 152-acre studio sits about 45 minutes east of Austin in Bastrop County, the company also hopes to built apartments and a hotel nearby.
Spark River CEO Maria Espinosa Booth and co-founder Christopher Chisholm leased the site, which is already home to sound stages and a few prop-making businesses, from Tommy Warren, who opened the space in 2009.
Austin’s film industry has been booming lately—“Walker,” “Queer Eye,” and “Fear The Walking Dead” were filmed locally—and it’s spreading. Bastrop 552, a 486,000-square foot studio, is set to be complete in August 2023 and $276 million Hill Country Studios in San Marcos was recently approved.
(Dell Technologies)
Michael Dell has gone from a dorm room on Guadalupe Street to high rises and luxurious penthouses. It’s fitting for the former University of Texas at Austin student who is now CEO of Dell Technologies. Just last month, the company announced a record quarter with $26.1 billion in revenue.
So while Dell may keep his Texas ties with a residence in Austin, he’s also made himself at home on the east coast and outside the continental U.S. Here are the properties of the occasionally local man who may someday be a trillionaire.
Austin
Eight bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a gym and a lap pool are just a few of the traits in this massive, nearly 33,000-square-foot home. But the home, a 20-mile drive from Round Rock where the company is based, is even larger when you consider that Dell and his wife, Susan, own land adjoining the property for a total of about 119 acres.
That’s not all for his Austin ownership. He also has a house a few miles away that’s been dubbed 6D Ranch, for the six members of his family.
Boston
Here, Dell reportedly has a contract for a penthouse in what will soon be Boston’s tallest residential building: the Four Seasons Private Residences One Dalton Street. It’s one of three penthouses with direct elevator access, fireplaces both inside and outside and more than 7,200 square feet of living space. The residences boast nearby Dalton Park in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood for owners to enjoy fresh air and seasonal greenery.
New York
Central Park views and nearly 11,000 square feet make for a $100.47 million purchase. The 1,000-foot condo tower is on Manhattan’s West 57th street and has six bedrooms and six bathrooms. Known as One57, it has elegant bedrooms and smart kitchens equipped with custom cabinetry and integrated appliances. It also comes with the perks of being above the Park Hyatt New York. For example, there are in-residence dining and catering services that can be arranged at a moment’s notice.
Hawaii
Dell’s home in the residential community of Kukio has island views of Maui and lots to explore. In what’s been labeled Hawaii’s most exclusive neighborhood, Dell has the flagship residence of 18,500 square feet. His next-door neighbor is Paul Hazen, the CEO of Wells Fargo, and it’s known as a billionaire getaway. With a nearby golf course, archaeological reserve and the fresh air of the Kona coast, we can see what attracts them.
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