Texas

Generally speaking, accommodations in Texas are quite reasonable. Austin in particular, though, has some incredible hotels to explore. Our favorite hotels in the hotspots are:

Austin:

• Kimpton Van Zandt
• Austin Proper
• Archer Hotel

San Antonio:

• Hotel Emma
• Mokara Hotel & Spa
• The St. Anthony, A Luxury Collection

Dallas:

• The Ritz Carlton
• Rosewood Mansion
• The Joule

Unless you plan on staying only in Austin, we recommend renting a car to explore the surrounding areas. Lyft and Uber are very reliable modes of transportation in the cities and for a reasonable amount of money. In Austin, we had a blast riding around on the electric scooters.

While barbecue is the main cuisine of choice, with briskets, pork and breakfast tacos, in recent years, the diverse nature of Texas’ cities have brought Vietnamese and Cajun delicacies to the forefront. In Austin, in particular, you can find an eclectic mix of cuisines at popular restaurants.

In places like Austin, you’ll find sprawling malls and adorable retail shops, which means you won’t go home empty handed. In Austin’s South Congress neighborhood, for example, you’ll find adorable vintage shops, jewelry brands like Kendra Scott and trendy clothing brands. South First Street, nearby, is a local favorite offering small boutique brands and local eateries.

Texas, overall, is fiercely independent, friendly and rooted in history. In cities like Austin, travelers will find a unique twist on the Texan way of life with “hipsters”, foodie culture and a tremendous focus on being “weird”. We loved the eclectic mix of people in Austin, all of whom were incredibly friendly and polite.