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Should we stay "close" to downtown without a car?

New York
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Should we stay "close" to downtown without a car?
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Hello,

We are going to be in Austin from October 20th to 25th for a convention. We would like to rent a place so that we can all stay together. We are exploring two options for staying.

1) There is a house located on E Cesar Chavez and Comal St that approx a mile from downtown. If we got this house we wouldn't rent a car.

2) There is a house in Allandale but as it is about 5 miles away we would rent a car.

I know it is hard to say which is better, but any advise? None of us mind walking but is it unwise to hope for little to no rain for 5 days? Plus we do have infants and would be pushing strollers. Would it be more fun to stay closer to downtown? What are the two areas like?

I know lots of questions but none of us have ever been to Austin so we are flying blind.

Austin, Texas
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1. Re: Should we stay "close" to downtown without a car?
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I wouldn't stay in either location. Rain is the least of your worries. The house on E. Cesar Chavez without a car would mean that you are walking through what is not the best part of Austin, and crossing under a major interstate, while pushing strollers. Not advisable. If you stay in Allandale (an older residential neighborhood) and rent a car, you are going to have to deal with traffic to get downtown for the convention, asssuming it's downtown.

Help us out by answering a few questions, and we may be able to give you some better options --

Where is the convention you are attending?

How many of you are there, including infants?

What is your budget for lodging?

Austin
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2. Re: Should we stay "close" to downtown without a car?
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What do you want to do during your days? If you want a nice residential neighborhood to hang out in, Allandale is a great choice. You can drive downtown in about 20-25 minutes, depending upon the time of day. There's also a nice park (Northwest) at the edge of the neighborhood.

New York
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3. Re: Should we stay "close" to downtown without a car?
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The convention is at the Austin Convention Center at 2nd and Trinity.

There are 9 of us in our group. 6 adults and 3 infants. So we were looking for a 3 bedroom that the parents and infants can each share a room. We are looking to keep the price to $300 and under a night (tax included). I did find some homes in SoCo or Zilker. Are those better neighborhoods? Obviously downtown would be the best but it gets pricey fast.

We aren't sure yet what to do with our days. The men will be at the convention most of the time so the women and babies will maybe do some wandering around the city, museums, Capital tour or other touristy things.

Austin, Texas
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4. Re: Should we stay "close" to downtown without a car?
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SoCo or Zilker would be much better areas for your group. The convention goers would have to take a cab to the convention center, but the rest could walk to the restaurants and shops on South Congress or to Zilker Park, if you're close enough, or rent a car (a van would probably be necessary for so many people) for you all to use during the day, while the others are at the convention.

Austin, Texas
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5. Re: Should we stay "close" to downtown without a car?
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Why not consider Homestead Suites on 1st, just off Riverside Dr. or Extended Stay America at 6th and Guadalupe? Either of those should fit in your budget, great locations for downtown on both of them. They also offer the semi kitchens you might like with the infants.

Any "house" location is going to necessitate a car or van for the family tourist days. With the van you could drop the convention goers at the convention center for the day and then return to pick them up but that's a hassle with your not knowing your way around Austin.

While SoCo and Zilker are nice neighborhoods neither is walking distance for the convention center or most of the downtown activities. S. Congress has some interesting shops and restaurants but you'd have to figure out if the rental property is near.

Don't forget to call 512-478-0098 or http://www.austintexas.org for your free maps and visitor guides. The visitor guide in particular will have lots of information for you.

Welcome to Austin!

New York
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6. Re: Should we stay "close" to downtown without a car?
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Thank you all for your help. We looked some more in South Austin and found two houses that we like and are comparable in price and size. I just wanted to see if one of the areas was preferable over the other.

One house is near Travis Heights Blvd & Maripos (just east of Stacey Park).

The other house is near S Lamar Blvd and Kinney Ave.

We will be getting a car as those of us not going to the convention will probably want to do some touring around anyway.

Austin, TX
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for Austin
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7. Re: Should we stay "close" to downtown without a car?
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If you have kids with you, the place by Stacy Park might be a better fit.

8. Re: Should we stay "close" to downtown without a car?

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