Jensoid
Couples · November 20254/10
A conundrum. However, one we will not choose to experience again. We have a Love/Meh relationship with SCH. I believe, it's solidly part of the Meh that has overtaken SOCO. Do you really need 3 wester...A conundrum. However, one we will not choose to experience again. We have a Love/Meh relationship with SCH. I believe, it's solidly part of the Meh that has overtaken SOCO. Do you really need 3 western themed, boot licking store fronts all next to each other? With SCH celebrating it's 10yr anniversary, I can only say one word regarding the accommodations. Uncomfortable chic. Overpriced, also comes to mind. This time we were in Suite 343, about a grand a night. Ironically, this was less than the SCH website when our travel agent booked this weekend for us with Expedia. However, she may be able to get better rates due to her profession.
Challenges with our room, were numerous. A couch that was impossible to get comfortable on with leather pillows with attachments to the metal frame, torn and non functional. The other couch was cute and in a brick hutch, but heavily worn seat cushions meant it was a challenge getting out off of and not extremely comfy either. Not very functional. No light in the little hallway when entering, created a very dark space where one couldn't really see what you put in the dresser drawers, without the aid of the good ol phone flashlight. Or perhaps there was a light, but have no idea how you would turn it on. In order to enter the suite, the door stuck and you needed to put your shoulder into it to open. And a bit of a heave to open it to get out. In the morning when I went to shower, I turned the handle, the entire handle fell off and crashed to the floor. I did manage to replace it and get it to function, which resulted in a luke warm shower at full on "Hot" setting. Although the faux patinated brass, maybe cool, it's not really efficient in function. TV's were large and there were actually 2 of them, but again, understanding how they worked was puzzling, but we eventually figured it out which remote did what. There was a large, railway tie posing as a table of sorts where the phone lived, but you had to be on your knees to really use it to call down for room service or when we checked out. One tree trunk thingy served as a bedside table, but if you deployed it, from underneath the bedroom area TV, it served somewhat as a obstacle to get out of bed to use the bathroom area. The misses, turned a trash can upside down and put a book on it for a Macgyver inspired table.
Somehow, we managed to book our Birthday Staycation weekend, when there were weddings both Friday and Saturday. The issue with that is both of the events had the wonderful bar lounge area booked for Cocktail hour and not accessible to other guests. The the lounge has been a favorite haunt for us over the past decade, that was a bummer and an item good to check on if you happen to want to book a stay here.
So what worked in the room? Well the bed was comfortable, plush. The view from the bed out of the wrap around windows looking towards the city down Congress Ave, was pleasant and a reminder how much Austin has changed since my move in '77. Little balcony was functional, although we didn't hang on it. The chairs and table could use a wipe down frankly. We enjoy staycations. At this price point, this suite couldn't compare to the quality that the Proper or Hotel Zaza offers, for instance, within the same approx price range.
What else worked? After dinner out, we were able to enjoy the lounge and as usual the barkeepers were wonderful and the place still has a very chill feel. We really enjoyed 7am'ish No Se Breakfast and room service lunch Burgers on Saturday. That space has wonderful light in the morning. The Valet, front desk and wait staff (Hi Emily) at No Se were great. They have good peeps working here, at least the ones' we encountered.. that has always seemed to have been the case.
We will visit the bits we like when we find ourselves on SOCO, although we find ourselves less likely to visit SOCO these past few years and leave it to the tourists who flood the area on the weekend. Things change, we get it.Show More
