Hotel
The Doubletree was the site for last year's Armadillocon and ConMisterio, so the hotel staff is accustomed to dealing with fans and parties. It's got a wonderful enclosed courtyard area with a fountain, a great lobby with lots of couches, large sleeping rooms, and a friendly staff. It's not a downtown venue (6th Street is 5 miles away), but there are a few restaurants within walking distance. The hotel does have a courtesy shuttle that will ferry you within 2 miles; depending on how many folks need it, I'll see what I can work out with other rideshares and such. The hotel is only 12 miles from the airport, which is about $25 by taxi or $15 by airport shuttle.
The convention room rate is available Thursday, February 8 through Sunday, February 11. A single room is $109, and a double is $129 plus state and city occupancy taxes (currently 15%).
- You can book over the internet (www.austin.doubletree.com, internet code FAC, or by using the special FACT hotel reservation page)
- You can book by calling toll-free (1-800-347-0330, mention the secret code words "Corflu" and "Fandom Association of Central Texas"), or by calling the hotel directly at 512-454-3737.
Alas, we are blocked by quantity rather than proximity, but I will try to determine the con suite floor and room number ahead of time so you can get a suitable room at check-in. Ideally, I'd like to surround the con suite with Corflu-booked rooms, so let me know if you're willing to be a noise barrier solution.
Don't wait until the last minute - our room block closes on January 18th. You might be able to book at the con rate after that, but there are no guarantees; there are a lot of other things going on in Austin that weekend. If you have a car, the hotel has given Corflu a discounted self-parking rate of $5 for both day use and overnight guests. Your vehicle can rest in sheltered comfort in the multi-level parking garage while you meander outside and sneer at my dusty 4x4 pickup truck in the oversize-vehicle parking area.
Getting Here
Austin is fairly easy to get to by air - after all, it is the state capital. After much hoohaw several years ago (oh, geez, was that really in 1999?!), the airport was forcibly relocated to the former site of Bergstrom Air Force Base. Austin Bergstrom International Airport features nonstop service to 35 destinations (the international one being Cancun, of course). The airport is 12 miles or 25 optimistic minutes from the hotel; average taxi fare is $27.50, and Super Shuttle shared-ride service is available for roughly $15.75 one-way. (The Super Shuttle toll-free number is 1-800-BLUEVAN; their Austin direct number is 512-258-3826.) There are also Capital Metro Line buses serving the airport; I'll do some more research and report later if anyone is interested.
If you're driving to the DoubleTree Austin, the hotel is located at the corner of La Posada Dr. and the Interstate 35 northbound service road, between the Pappadeaux and Papasito's restaurants. If you're driving I-35 northbound, you'll want to take the FM 2222 exit; for I-35 southbound, take the Hwy. 290/FM 2222 exit, U-turn under the interstate, and turn right at La Posada Dr. If you're coming in on Hwy 183 or Hwy 290, - oh, heck, just get the directions from the hotel's website or Google Maps.
You can walk to and from the hotel, but I don't recommend it. Texas is not a pedestrian-friendly state. The hotel does offer a courtesy shuttle service to nearby Highland Mall, or any office, restaurant or store within a two-mile radius. You could use the shuttle service to hit a bus stop, and explore downtown or other areas from there. Capitol Metro does offer a free Dillo service in central Austin and the University of Texas area.