Hyatt Regency Austin

On the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, this downtown Austin hotel blends city beat with resort calm. Step outside to catch the Bat Bridge (Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge) and walk to SoCo, the Warehouse District, 2nd Street and Sixth Street. Long Center, Palmer Events Center and the Austin Convention Center are all within easy reach.

This 16-floor hotel has 448 redesigned guestrooms with lake or downtown views and private balconies on many rooms. Rooms include refrigerators, iPod docking stations, 55-inch flat-screen TVs, safes and work desks, plus designer toiletries in the bathrooms. The vibe is modern and polished — a city-meets-resort base for business or play.

Take a dip in the seasonal outdoor pool, soak in the hot tub, or keep fit in the 24-hour gym. Make use of the lakeside trail for jogging, paddle a canoe on Lady Bird Lake, or book boating and sailing outings. Onsite perks include a gift shop, wedding services and complimentary wired and wireless internet — wake up to lake-breeze mornings and downtown skyline views.

A 24-hour business center and express check-in/out make work easy. The hotel offers about 45,004 sq ft of meeting and event space, with conference facilities and multiple meeting rooms. Self-parking is available onsite (charges may apply).

Critically noted dining includes Southwest Bistro (SWB) for lunch and dinner, a coffee shop/cafe for quick bites, and a bar/lounge for drinks. Buffet breakfasts are served daily for a fee, with regional Southwest flavors on the menu.