Review: The Otis Hotel Austin, Marriott Autograph Collection

After spending a week in Houston with friends, I decided to extend my time in Texas and enjoy a return visit to the vibrant city of Austin.

With my trip coming together somewhat spontaneously, my accommodation strategy was quite piecemeal. The Otis Hotel Austin, Autograph Collection caught my eye at the right price, and I decided it would be a good opportunity to check it out for a night.

The Otis Hotel Austin – Booking

Typically, The Otis Hotel Austin can be booked for 40,000–65,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. If you’re paying with cash, expect prices of approximately $200–300 (USD) plus tax, which can rise to as high as $500 (USD) during major local events.

Visiting on the Saturday of Memorial Day long weekend, points prices were surprisingly low, at 45,000 Bonvoy points. Meanwhile, I noticed that last-minute cash rates were quite reasonable in comparison, in the range of $170 (USD) plus tax.

In the end, I booked my stay with a Free Night Award worth 35,000 points, which I topped up with an additional 10,000 points. On paper, this was rather poor value; however, I decided to book this way for a few reasons.

My Free Night Award was expiring a few days later, so this was a perfect opportunity to redeem it for some value. It happened to fit with my travel plans, and it indeed proved to be the most cost-effective option in the city on that particular night.

Moreover, the cash cost of the same night would have exceeded the $125 (USD) annual fee I pay for the credit card from which I had earned the free night, the American Express US Marriott Bonvoy Business Card.

With usage deadlines and fixed values, I use a lower bar for redeeming certificates than I do for redeeming points, and I’m satisfied to redeem them for any net gain.

For any cash bookings at the The Otis Hotel Austin, you’ll be happy to know that it participates in Marriott Luminous, a preferred partner program. By booking your stay through an authorized travel advisor, you’ll receive a number of other perks and benefits at no extra cost, which come in addition to those you may enjoy with Marriott Bonvoy status.