It's the beginning of something new! New home! New life! New Adventures for me and my husband in a land far and wide. This year 2015 is a year of new beginnings for us. My husband's company moves us far from the shores of Asia to the new territories of the West.
For our first temporary home in the US, we chose Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin-Arboretum/NW. It is an apartment-style living in an all-suite hotel.
For our first temporary home in the US, we chose Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin-Arboretum/NW. It is an apartment-style living in an all-suite hotel.
The first requirement we were looking in a room is... it must have a kitchenette where we can prepare food. Sure, there are many hotels with this feature but we like it here because the location is convenient. Plus the hotel's amenities look inviting from the website.
Lobby
I remember the first time we've arrived at Austin, Texas. My husband rented a car without GPS. I was nervous! I don't want to get lost in this big city I've never been to. You see, It's our first time coming to Austin.He seems confident and adventurous enough to navigate the city without GPS. True story, we only use a printed map to get to the hotel. And we have no data on our phones. Yikes!
We made a gamble that day. I'm glad that we were able to successfully reach our destination without getting lost. The printed map version is helpful after all. Haha!
The lobby is cozy and warm. Perfect for the cold and chilly winter weather outside.
Room
Our bed at the suite was gigantic. We had a king-sized bed. I feel like I could do some gymnastics on it. (Never mind my excitement, I'm a first-timer.) I love our room. Staying at this hotel feels like home.
Dining
Our stay at the hotel is inclusive of breakfast as well as dinner from Mondays - Thursdays. During our 2 week stay at the hotel, I noticed we are not eating the same dishes every single day for breakfast and dinner. They understand variety, folks!
I've heard stories of hotels repeating their menu every 3 days but I'm glad this hotel does a different approach not inflicting boredom to our palates.
Honestly, I'm not used to the American diet yet. I had a hard time adjusting to the food. Sometimes, I would give him (my husband) reasons why I couldn't come for breakfast. Hehe! The food at the hotel is average.
What I thought
Overall, this is a good hotel. I love the atmosphere. It feels like home even when we are physically a thousand miles away from the confines of the home we used to call.The atmosphere at the hotel helps us adjust to the newness of the environment. The location is prime. There is a sports bar within a short distance walk from the hotel. This sports bar also serves good food too.
I find the staff of this hotel to be very friendly. They love to engage in conversations which is something different from the culture we grew up in. Overall, my husband paid $2,500 USD for our 2 weeks ++ stay at the hotel. You can book them here.