Figuring out how to navigate a new city is an adventure for some and stressful for others. Let us ease your mind with an early preview of transportation options for when you come to Austin Fling next May!
Driving: If you'll be driving to Austin, hotel parking is available on-site for $30 USD daily; valet parking $37 USD daily. The hotel does not park vehicles with more/less than 4 wheels, are handicapped controlled or with trailers. Max height 6'8".
Flying: If you'll be flying to Austin, the airport is located 10.5 miles from our official Fling hotel, the Marriott Courtyard Austin Downtown/Convention Center at 300 East 4th Street. We do not recommend you rent a car during the Fling tour days (May 4-6) because we'll be busing you everywhere, and parking at the hotel isn't cheap. You will, however, find a rental car useful if you're making a longer vacation of it and venturing beyond downtown. In that case, rent a car just for the extra days.
Here are your best options for getting from the airport to the hotel:
Airport
Austin has one airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA), located in southeast Austin, and it has a lot of local flavor. As you arrive, you may see a band playing live music -- yes, at the airport! And no worries about killing time at the airport while you wait for your flight home. You'll find iconic local restaurants like the Salt Lick, Hoover's, and Hill's Cafe selling BBQ, Tex-Mex, breakfast tacos, and more. Austin City Limits and independent bookstore Book People have shops here too, if you need a last-minute souvenir or reading material.
Getting to the Hotel
Driving: If you'll be driving to Austin, hotel parking is available on-site for $30 USD daily; valet parking $37 USD daily. The hotel does not park vehicles with more/less than 4 wheels, are handicapped controlled or with trailers. Max height 6'8".
Flying: If you'll be flying to Austin, the airport is located 10.5 miles from our official Fling hotel, the Marriott Courtyard Austin Downtown/Convention Center at 300 East 4th Street. We do not recommend you rent a car during the Fling tour days (May 4-6) because we'll be busing you everywhere, and parking at the hotel isn't cheap. You will, however, find a rental car useful if you're making a longer vacation of it and venturing beyond downtown. In that case, rent a car just for the extra days.
Here are your best options for getting from the airport to the hotel:
- CapMetro Airport Flyer, fee $2.50 USD (day pass). Hop on a CapMetro Airport Flyer bus for a 30-minute straight shot between ABIA and downtown Austin. You'll get off at the Trinity/4th stop (ID 5589), which is a 3-minute/.10-mile walk to the hotel. Buses depart every 30 minutes and offer free wifi. The CapMetro App is free to download in the Apple, Android and Windows app stores.
- Super Shuttle, $12 USD (one way), reservation required
- Rideshare options include locally owned Ride Austin, a community-driven and nonprofit ride-hailing service (yay!); Fasten; Wingz; and Uber and Lyft.
- Taxis can be hailed outside baggage claim, on the lower level. Estimated fare is $30 USD one way.
Getting Around Downtown
Pedicab: Need a lift to a restaurant or bar that's a little farther than you want to walk? Try hailing a pedicab, an open-air cab seat for 2 to 3 people that's pulled by a bicyclist. Austin is home to several pedicab companies, and they're popular with locals and visitors. Look for a pedicab on the street and hail it like a taxi. Rates vary, so ask your driver about the price per rider or per trip before hopping in. Most drivers work for tips only.
Bike Rental: Several bike rental companies operate downtown, like Austin B-cycle, where you can rent a bike at a kiosk, ride it, and return it when you're done. Austin B-cycle operates two stations near our hotel: Convention Center at 4th Street and Convention Center at 3rd/Trinity
Rideshare: Options include locally owned Ride Austin, Fasten, Wingz, and Uber and Lyft.
So When Does Registration Open?
Austin Fling registration opens in just a few weeks, in early November, and space is limited, so be watching for the announcement here and on our Facebook page!
And When Should I Arrive?
We recommend arriving on Wednesday the 2nd if you can swing an extra night or, at the latest, by mid-afternoon on Thursday, May 3rd, so that you can attend the Kickoff Happy Hour from 6 to 7:30 pm, pick up your name tag and swag bag, and settle in. The Fling ends on Sunday, May 6th, with a fun happy hour with food, drinks, and live music that you won't want to miss; we'll have you back to the hotel by 7:30 pm that evening. We recommend departing on Monday the 7th. (To be safe, hold off on making any noncancellable reservations until after you're registered.)
Of course we hope many of you will come early or stay later to see more of Austin's attractions, which we'll be showing you in coming weeks. Come for the wildflowers, the music, the food, the history, the "weirdness" of Austin, and the welcoming hospitality of Texas!
