My husband and I recently visited Austin for a family event. Our last experience using Hotwire.com had not been the best, but we decided to use the site again because we had a credit. When we found out that our stay would be at the Wingate Inn, we immediately visited their website http://www.wingateroundrock.com/ to get more information because we had never heard of this chain.
We were pleasantly surprised to learn that it was conveniently located near several area attractions (including Dell Diamond Stadium, Lake Austin, and Inner Space Caverns) and that it was also located near a number of popular restaurant chains. We also read the reviews on Expedia.com. They received an overall rating there of 3.8 out of 5 and many previous customers had positive comments about their customer service, cleanliness, and free breakfast.
We were very pleased with our experience and they definitely met all of our expectations. When we first checked in, the desk attendant was very friendly. He asked if we were familiar with the area and provided us with a free map. When he found out that we were travelling with a toddler, he told us that if we needed to, they would be happy to provide us with milk in the evening or snack items. My husband was in a cast at the time of our trip and had forgotten to bring anything with him to cover his arm so he could shower. When we talked with the staff, they were more than willing to provide us with a large trash bag and some rubber bands which worked perfectly. Free newspapers are available in the lobby and they also have a concierge/activity desk.
We have stayed at many different hotels which offer complimentary breakfast in the mornings. Typically, this consists of muffins or bagels, cereal, and juice, coffee, or milk. The Wingate Inn has a large selection of items for breakfast. They had all of your "typical" options including a variety of hot and cold cereals, muffins, and bagels, but they also had a Belgian waffle machine where you could make your own waffles, fresh biscuits and gravy, and a variety of fruit. The breakfast area is more spacious than I have seen in many other hotels and included several tables. The only downfall is that the tables are "pub style" so that they are higher which is not necessarily the best scenario if you are travelling with small children.
Our room was clean, comfortable, and offered plenty of space. Amenities available in the room included: complimentary high speed and wireless internet access, cable television with premium channels, clock radio, in room safe, sofa sleeper, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and refrigerator/microwave/coffee maker. The entire establishment is non-smoking (this was a plus for me), and they make you sign an acknowledgement form regarding this when you check in.
Other features available at this location that we did not access included: fitness center, pool, hot tub, business center, and conference/meeting rooms. They are a "pet friendly" location and parking is free. You can make your reservations on their website or through travel-related sites such as Expedia.com and Orbitz.com. Rooms are typically about $109/night, but we got ours for $70 through Hotwire.com.
When we visit the Austin area again, we would gladly stay at the Wingate Inn.
more