Holiday Inn Express Austin Downtown University

United States , Austin - TX
AUSTIN, 810 Red River Street
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100 reviews shown

4/10

Poor

27 Apr 2026

Frank

Parking terrible

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Apr 2026

latriece

Breakfast was great. Parking was entirely too expensive.

8/10

Excellent

25 Apr 2026

Kelly

The staff were all friendly, helpful and amazing! Cheers to Koran! The breakfast was great. Fruit, coffee, juice, pancakes, omelets, breakfast potatoes, bacon, sausage and yummy cinnamon rolls. The bed was comfy. Overall, the hotel could use some upgrades, but our stay was pleasant and we were satisfied.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

25 Apr 2026

Zhiwen

Clean

Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2026

Kelly

Best location
Confusing, but well marked maze to get through hotel

Friends

4/10

Poor

24 Apr 2026

john

There’s no one at the front desk to check into if it’s raining you have to walk in the rain to check in. That’s ridiculous in itself. I had no hot water for my shower and my cheesecake plate was left inside my room at 74° instead of putting in the refrigerator and was garbage.

Self

8/10

Excellent

21 Apr 2026

Anne

Good breakfast. Nice room. Location within walking distance of 6th Street bars, restaurants, & entertainment. Stubbs BBQ is conveniently across street. Confusing interior at first with 2 hotels sharing the same building, but we figured it out.

Partner

4/10

Poor

20 Apr 2026

Blair

There was loud construction going on. Realize this would always be a problem but would suggest that the construction near breakfast could have started after breakfast was finished

4/10

Poor

20 Apr 2026

Adolfo M

Parking costs $50 PER DAY

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

19 Apr 2026

Toni Leann

Check in was weird. Check in at the sister hotel front desk, take a set of elevators to the connecting hall to the Holiday Inn Express, take the other set of elevators to your floor to get to your room. The 1st room we were given smelled like something died and there were ashes on the back of the toilet seat. We requested to move rooms due to the smell. The staff was friendly and accommodating, so they gave us complimentary drink vouchers to the bar for the inconvenience.
The 2nd room smelled better, but the shower had terrible water pressure. The bathroom sink had too much pressure & leaked and the toilet seat wasn't attached.
It was the small things that added up. There wasn't a USB cable connection in the room for charging my phone, so I bought a plug-in block. Ear plugs came with the room because of the university district party crowd. The chaise lounge was hard, but the beds were cozy and clean.
Again, the staff was very friendly and accommodating. Location was also nice.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Apr 2026

James

I had a very nice stay and the breakfast was great also close to everything downtown. I will definitely stay again soon..

Self

6/10

Pleasant

17 Apr 2026

Jin Hyun

Very overpriced for this hotel

Business

4/10

Poor

17 Apr 2026

Lucrecia

Location was great. Staff was also excellent but unfortunately, all downhill from there. 3 room changes in 5 days. First room had to take an ice cold shower at 6am..no fun. Room was changed at that point since water kept failing. Second room was handicap accessible which should be fine, but shower only had a handheld wand that shot across the room but could not be angled down. So you had to hold it all shower long or aim it at the wall while you applied soap or shampoo without any water on you. Also armuior had a bar only at the height for wheelchairs so my wife’s dresses and even my shirts hit
the ground on a hanger..so room change again..room 3 had a tub with damaged porcelain and was either dirty or just warn so bad it looked dirty, hard to tell ..oh and water not ice cold but just warm enough to step in after running it for 20 minutes. If not for the staff and location it’s a 1 star hotel…

Business

4/10

Poor

16 Apr 2026

Joe

Breakfast was listed on the website until 11 but upon arriving we were told that it’s only until 9:30.
Parking accessibility is weird having to use 3 different elevators from the parking to the rooms. Someone also tried to access our room in the middle of the night.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

15 Apr 2026

Jessica

Everything was great, it is just a bit confusing since it’s two hotels in one property and the front desk is too far and inconvenient for where the area is, other than that it was great.

Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

15 Apr 2026

Norma Iris

NO in room coffee maker!! Apparently that ended our first night there…. Also- if you’re noise sensitive- this is not the place for you. One side if the building faces a bar/club. The music AND base comes through the AC vents!!!! We moved rooms… every single time the AC kicks on - even the sounded sleeper woke up - every single time.
After 3 nights - Looking forward to a good night sleep tonight somewhere else.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

15 Apr 2026

Shree

The parking was Expensive, almost $60.00 the building has 2 hotels in one and check in was in n the other hotel lobby which was confusing.

Self

8/10

Excellent

14 Apr 2026

debbie

The hotel is across from some music venues. The have a music ordinance that music ends at 10:30pm so if sleeping early or have small kids you may want to stay somewhere else. Also entrance is thru IHG loft hotel that they share location with

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2026

James

We stayed 5 nights and really enjoyed it. The hotel provided everything we needed, was well located in a slightly quieter part of town but all our restaurants and bars were easily accessible on foot. Breakfast was plentiful each morning and slightly changed day to day. The beds were comfortable and the swimming pool was a great bonus. Would definitely recommend for a stay in Austin.

Family

8/10

Excellent

13 Apr 2026

Nicole Marie

Place was clean and nice. Our bed was so comfortable. Great location to walk to 6th street
Breakfast was amazing every morning! Bartender Kristine was so friendly and nice!!

Partner

2/10

Poor

13 Apr 2026

GABRIELA

Disappointing Stay Despite Good Location

I recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and had a frustrating experience.

The check-in process is extremely inconvenient. There is no check-in at the hotel—you must walk about a block to the Hotel Indigo, then return. This was never communicated, making arrival stressful. The Indigo entrance is also very busy, with no easy place to stop.

The hotel advertises a heated outdoor pool, but it was not heated at all during my three-day stay. The water was freezing.

In Room 240, the shower took a long time to get hot, and the controls were reversed. This was confusing for my 7-year-old, who initially thought there was no hot water and was left freezing.

The front desk offered two drink vouchers, which I did not use. This did not feel like adequate compensation.

Positives: good location, convenient parking, and decent breakfast. The room was acceptable.

I am attaching pictures so future guests know what to expect. This is the review I wish I had read before booking, as others do not mention these issues.

Overall, poor communication and misleading amenities made this stay disappointing.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

11 Apr 2026

Macey

Great experience. Wish they provided water bottles in room.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2026

Jennifer

Yed

6/10

Pleasant

10 Apr 2026

Ashley

the parking situation was not as described online. i was frustrated and charged half of the 24 hours when i left for the first time after being in the hotel for an hour. if you sign up for parking at the desk like you'd think you should, it will charge you incorrectly. I had to argue with their 3rd party customer service for an hour before being assigned the right parking pass which was more than what was told to me by front desk

8/10

Excellent

10 Apr 2026

Stacey

I was not aware of an airport shuttle. I used Uber because I was told there were no shuttles. That 30.00 i could have saved.

8/10

Excellent

10 Apr 2026

Paul

Staff friendly and helpful.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2026

Jenny

Very clean! Check out time was noon no rushing up and getting out. The breakfast offered was good with variety of choices. Shower was amazing great pressure and a good size! Great dove products to use . Definitely happy with our stay. Parking was expensive I felt like it should be included with
Your stay

Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Apr 2026

David

As mentioned, the daily buffet breakfast was one of the highlights of this property. Special kudos goes to Nicolasa and Ana from the breakfast staff for their excellent work. It is so rare that you can find thin bacon that is not entirely over cooked and they both kept the food stocked despite busy and aggressive crowds. Another dissapointing swimming pool. I suppose they don't want to heat it sufficiently so as to prevent algae build up, but it is not comfortable to swim in. Additionally, they closed the hotel's front desk on Neches Street and combined it with Hotel Indigo's front desk which faces Red River Street. It is confusing upon arrival and the walk to your room can be quite lengthy. Our room was the farthest away from the front desk as any. Fortunately, we like to walk. If we were much older or handicapped, it would not be ideal. The room was good, fresh brewed hot coffee and hot water 7/24, friendly staff, and a great location make this hotel a good choice.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Apr 2026

Tiffany

Pros: good price, free breakfast, nice pool, staff was nice and it was clean.

Cons: location is 1 block from homeless shelter, bathroom fan was horrible, AC unit was either freezing or sweltering with only 1 degree change, tv remote was basically unusable. 😂

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Apr 2026

Ishaan

Clean room | Great lounge/common area| walking distance to most of the places you want to see

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Apr 2026

Lee

Attentive cleaning staff, overall very clean, tidy and well presented hotel. A good breakfast and good coffee. The poolside seating and relaxing areas are a huge bonus. Would highly recommend.

Partner

2/10

Poor

08 Apr 2026

James

My stay was satisfactory, however, there waz some iss

8/10

Excellent

08 Apr 2026

Lawrence

Hotel is nice. Great location. Walls are a little thin so if you have noisy neighbors, get ear plugs. Other than that hotel was good.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Apr 2026

Sylvia

This is our go to place to stay when we go to Austin. We at least 4 times a year to see a live show. Centrally located, it is very convenient and in walking distance of 6th street. Staff is friendly and the rooms are always clean. The buffet breakfast is tasty for being complimentary. Will be booking again for an August show.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

07 Apr 2026

lee

Staff was very friendly. comfortable bed, good location for us.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Apr 2026

Danny

Checking in was a different process, as you had to check in at an adjoining hotel, then walk back to the Holiday to get to your room. A bit confusing in the beginning but you get used to the route.

Self

4/10

Poor

05 Apr 2026

Julie

Was a hassle walking through the maze to check-I which involved multiple elevator banks and winding hallways. Decor was dated; staff was friendly but would not stay here again.

The additional deposit of $100 that was not mentioned on Expedia which was taken out of my account and not refunded for 5 business days was a joke.

8/10

Excellent

05 Apr 2026

Mark Edward

Restaurants were amazing

6/10

Pleasant

04 Apr 2026

Chiachih

The check-in process was the worst I have ever experienced. This Holiday Inn Express does not have its own front desk. We had to drive to another hotel that is connected with Holiday Inn for the check in and then drive back to the hotel to drop our luggage. The self-parking cost was way too high, $49 after including all fee. Staff was helpful and breakfast was pretty good. It appears to me that the manager of the hotel has made some big mistakes, e.g., removing its front desk and outsource parking to a 3rd party. Unless these issues would be addressed, I would not stay in this hotel again in the future.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Apr 2026

Daniel

Great location.

6/10

Pleasant

01 Apr 2026

Hans

Very limited breakfast.
Expensive and complicated parking.

8/10

Excellent

01 Apr 2026

Jose

Hotel was near a homeless kinda shelter bothering people.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 Mar 2026

Dwayne

Friendly staff

Self

10/10

Exceptional

31 Mar 2026

Kyle

The hotel was in a great location. The front desk staff was amazing, very welcoming. Breakfast was very fresh, delicious and plenty of room to sit down and eat comfortable. The room was very spacious and clean. I will definitely be recommending this hotel and staying here in the future if I need to come back to Austin, Texas.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

30 Mar 2026

MARC

Didnt eat but coffee was good. Staff helpful and engaging!! Was a nice spot for exploring.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

29 Mar 2026

Rolando

Bottom of door entering the room was coming off and parking under building jst way to overpriced

Friends

8/10

Excellent

29 Mar 2026

Eliza

Staff are wonderful. Helpful, friendly, and relaxed. Very clean rooms and public areas. Nice local decor. The Holiday Inn is connected to another hotel and they have consolidated the front desks to the Indigo hotel, located at the bottom of the hill. There are signs but it’s about 3blocks additional walking around the corner. If you have mobility issues please be aware. The room itself was clean and the beds and bedding are great. My issue is the state of the bathroom fixtures. The tub looked gross and needs reglazing. One of the towel bars was coming off the wall. Two tsk.

Self

4/10

Poor

28 Mar 2026

Jonathan

6/10

Pleasant

26 Mar 2026

Jenee

Clean room, helpful and friendly staff! Pool was freezing

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

25 Mar 2026

Narendra

When we enter the room, it looked like that the Carpets (floor) were not vacuumed. There were tags and paper chits on floor. There is no any particular time for cleaning rooms. Otherwise the service was good 👍.

Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Mar 2026

Santiago

Clean room except didn’t throw our trash or we had to ask for towels and didn’t leave any toilet paper in bathroom ! Also if we pay to stay at the hotel why do we have to pay to park our vehicles safely !

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

24 Mar 2026

Naoko

The room was fairly clean and spacious. They also have a nice seating area with outlets if you want to work on your laptop. The surrounding area felt a bit sketchy though.

Self

2/10

Poor

24 Mar 2026

Adam

Rooms and common areas slightly dingy. Loud. Front desk staff not super knowledgeable. Good water pressure

Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2026

Viktoriya

Nice hotel in downtown and 5 min walking to Capitol. Beautiful swimming pool. Parking is expensive. On Sunday parking in the streets is free

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2026

Aracely

The pool views of downtown couldn’t get any better it’s one of the best views in the city. Easy access to everything nearby.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2026

Shannon

It was amazing. Breakfast was the best

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2026

Candace

nice location

8/10

Excellent

23 Mar 2026

Nguyen

It’s all good

Family_with_children

4/10

Poor

22 Mar 2026

Darren

Made me check in at a different hotel which required two elevators and a long trek. Desk lamp switch didn't work. Thermostat didn't work. Shower drain was loose. Alarm clock had the wrong time.

6/10

Pleasant

21 Mar 2026

Randy

Difficult to check in at one hotel and then room in another.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

21 Mar 2026

john

Great location and very friendly staff

Friends

8/10

Excellent

20 Mar 2026

Ramona

Great location, clean hotel and great staff

Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Mar 2026

Sam

Self

8/10

Excellent

19 Mar 2026

Martha

Breakfast included with variety of options.

Partner

2/10

Poor

15 Mar 2026

Bryan

Case no 27539344
Angelo

I spoke with support staff multiple times in regards with a refund of one night stay. My flight was delayed more than five hours and I reached out to cancel my hotel room and to recieve a refund for the second night. I am still recieving surveys from the Holiday Inn Express in Austin as if I stayed there. Angelo, said he would reach out within 48 hours and no word OR Follow up at all.... I then went on toe speak to 2 more agents to no avail. I am requesting that I receive a credit to my account of one night stay ASAP based on the LACK of customer service and response for status updates.

8/10

Excellent

12 Mar 2026

Pamela

Great location and breakfast, friendly staff. The only down fall was the elevator was not working and the parking was expensive

Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2026

Diane

Recently merged with the neighboring hotel, so the check in desk, entrance, etc seemed like a hike to our room, but it was well signed so we never got lost. Desk staff were very helpful. Great location to go to the Sixth Street bars.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

11 Mar 2026

George

Lots of amenities and a great location for an excellent value

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Mar 2026

Laney

Smooth check-in, friendly faces, very clean— would definitely stay again.

Partner

4/10

Poor

10 Mar 2026

Earl

My room had mold and the hotel is over priced to be going under renovations.

4/10

Poor

09 Mar 2026

Sandra

Check in process was terribly. Very unhelpful staff. Parking was confusing and very beyond expensive. Workout room was smothering hot and not all of the machines worked and the floor was dirty.
Very disappointing stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2026

Jaylen

Wonderful experience. Kind and gracious staff. Perfect location.

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

08 Mar 2026

Rosalia

We had to check-in at a different hotel (Hotel Indigo) without any notification until we arrived.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2026

Pamela

Beautiful area, loved everything about our stay only thing I did not like was being charged to park my vehicle in the hotel garage. No previous disclosure of this was made nor was it stated on hotel website.

Family

8/10

Excellent

07 Mar 2026

Amanda

Room was clean. Finding the room was an adventure. Had to check in at the indigo hotel go up there elevator follow some signs with twist and turns and find the elevator for the Holiday Inn express. Use that elevator and then find the correct floor and room. The a/c in room was very loud it woke me up several times turning off and on. They provided earplugs there is a music venue across the street which is why we stayed there. Honestly would only stay again if going to the same venue and the price was lower than competitors in the area.

Partner

2/10

Poor

06 Mar 2026

Angelika

Room Temperatur at Arrival was set at 65 degrees. At night, we could not sleep because the AC was blasting at our bed and was extremly loud. Breakfast area was so hot that they set up huge and very loud fans blasting at you. Will never stay at Holiday Inn again!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

06 Mar 2026

Joey D

The location is great. Close to most night life in ATX. rooms were clean and staff was friendly. Parking was a pain in the ass (and expensive), but that might be all of ATX I guess.

2/10

Poor

05 Mar 2026

Stephen

Property was very loud and the parking company they use, metropolis, charged me twice for parking in a 24 hour period. The hotel told me that would not happen. The area is also full of homeless vagrants. Avoid this place.

Partner

2/10

Poor

04 Mar 2026

Savannah

Inconvenient parking/ check in

4/10

Poor

04 Mar 2026

Christopher

Better instructions when checking in would be useful. We had to take one elevator to the M floor, walk across the hotel, and then hop on another elevator to get to the 2nd floor. We couldn’t get hot water on the first night. There was no ice on our floor. It could have been quite a bit better. It was just disappointing.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

04 Mar 2026

Robin

Clean room, great staff

6/10

Pleasant

04 Mar 2026

Angelia

This may have been the most adventurous hotel check-in of my life… and not in a good way.

Check-in was consolidated between two hotels, which meant I checked in at one building, took an elevator to the M floor, walked across to the other hotel, then took another elevator and wandered down what felt like a never-ending maze of hallways trying to find my room.

Except… my keys didn’t work.

So I walked what honestly felt like half a mile and two elevators back to the front desk (in the other hotel). The very sweet agent realized he had upgraded my room but forgot to write the correct number. No problem — things happen. I did ask if I could please be placed near the elevators, as I’m a woman traveling alone and didn’t want to be at the end of a dark hallway.

Round two… two elevators and another marathon walk. I get there and — there is no room 370.

At this point I’m thinking I’m on some kind of hotel scavenger hunt.

So… half a mile and two elevators back to the desk for the third time. The very kind manager discovered the issue — the “7” should have been a “2” and the handwriting was a bit… creative.

Finally headed to my room again, which somehow ended up being even farther away than before, literally at the end of one hallway, turn right, then all the way to the end of another hallway. Definitely not near the elevators like I requested and honestly didn’t feel very safe walking that far alone late at night.

To top it off:
• The AC in my room wouldn’t go below 65 and it ….

Self

6/10

Pleasant

03 Mar 2026

Claudia

Hot water didn’t last long in shower. Ice machine never worked but very noisy

10/10

Exceptional

02 Mar 2026

Maribel

Yes

8/10

Excellent

02 Mar 2026

Gustavo Andres

Pool was great

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2026

Kevin Moran

Already did

6/10

Pleasant

27 Feb 2026

Stacy

Room was fine. Staff was courteous. Check in was confusing because it was at a different entrance which was actually in the Hotel Indigo. We had to walk around the hotel from where we had parked to find the check in because it was not at the main entrance to the Holiday Inn. Ice machines didn't work on the floor. One day the elevator was out of order. All that said, it was a fine stay, clean faclity, and very easy access to UT and downtown.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

27 Feb 2026

Stephen

Hotel was nice and in a good location!

6/10

Pleasant

27 Feb 2026

Rick

Toilet didn’t work, hot water didn’t work, pillow smelled like body sweat, appears pillow cases weren’t changed.

4/10

Poor

27 Feb 2026

Conner

No hot water, sink was broken. Staff did not provide clarity on parking pass. Ended up paying $100 in parking.

Self

8/10

Excellent

27 Feb 2026

Kevin

Very friendly accommodating staff, the room was pretty good, and they provided a good buffet breakfast.

Self

8/10

Excellent

25 Feb 2026

Julie

Room was spacious, clean and comfortable.
Whole arrangement with Indigo hotel in part of building and HIE on other floors was confusing. Staff were courteous, breakfast buffet good. Parking was expensive and unexpected...$50 a day for guests seems ridiculous.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 Feb 2026

Marisol

Courteous staff, efficient check-in and check-out. Clean room, great location. Not very loud considering the nightlife spots around, but I did not stay on a weekend. Breakfast was wonderful and included with room. Parking was very convenient, but note that overnight self-parking was $50 after tax.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Feb 2026

Autumn

great room, great staff

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

24 Feb 2026

Michael

From the time we arrived, it was an uncomfortable stay. I was on a trip to Austin with my friend and we were looking for an affordable hotel stay in the downtown area. The location is okay, and close to a lot of bars, but the homeless in the area is highly noticeable. We didn’t have any issues with them, but there were certain situations where we felt it’s not as walkable around the hotel, especially with younger children. When we arrived to the hotel, the lobby was empty with lots of signage asking us to walk to the other side of the building to check in. We realized once we followed the signs that the hotel we booked must have been purchased by another hotel and that other hotel, Hotel Indigo, is now managing both hotels. The check-in process went fine. That night, one of us had clogged our room’s toilet and called down to get a plunger sent up to our room. We were told that we’d have to wait until 7 AM for one even though it was midnight. My friend went to someone he found working in the halls and they said they could come take care of the toilet for us. One of the nights of our stay, I ended up having a very scary situation happen. I used to sleep walk as a kid, but hadn’t for about twenty years. I guess due to the lack of sleep and excitement, I had left our room, and began walking up the stairs to the top floor. When I woke up, and realized what was happening, I went to the elevator to go back down to the second floor to go back to my room. The elevator locked me inside

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

24 Feb 2026

Donald

I booked a room in good faith an I was overcharged. The check in clerk was rude. I think the reason I was definitely overcharged was due to a concert that week. Which I think is criminal. I also think when businesses overcharge because of activities going on is unforgivable!!! I definitely won't be coming back!! Because of this business overcharging me I won't forget and definitely won't forgive!!!

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

23 Feb 2026

Rachel

Employee at the front desk (Kiran) recommended one of the best Trini restaurants to eat at and also was very helpful in telling me where to go.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

23 Feb 2026

David

The room is located in downtown Austin was greeted by friendly and helpful staff.
I didn't like the fact that this hotel are two in one, needed to grab 2 elevators.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

19 Feb 2026

Eric

There was practically nothing good about that hotel. There is nowhere to unload your car. Parking is $45 per night. Checking in is confusing as they’re merging with another hotel in the same building so there’s different entrances, elevators, keys, etc. it seems as though the only AC that works is IN the rooms. Walking to your room or even trying to eat breakfast (which was pretty good) is like sitting in a sauna. Seems to be a long term problem because there has two fans semi-permanently mounted to tables. Staff was friendly but the maze of halls and elevators and the need to use your key card 3 times to get from outside to your room Makes this hotel a no-go for me in the future.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

19 Feb 2026

Ping-Hui

Paint peeling off in the bathroom, the toilet seat is not securely attached to the toilet, the shower lever is half off the wall, the shower curtain was ripped off the hook, the shower temperature fluctuates.
But the water pressure of the shower is great and the breakfast is great, too.