Making bikes available for guests has become a smart modern amenity, more so than a doorman. You’ll find PUBLIC bikes at an increasing number of cool hotels around the country including the following: Ames Hotel, Boston, Hudson, NYC, James Hotel, NYC, Delano, Miami, Mondrian, South Beach, Shore Club, South Beach, El Cosmico, Marfa, Hotel San Jose, Austin, Verde Camp, Austin, W Hotel, Austin, h2hotel, Healdsburg, and Clift Hotel, San Francisco.

We just stayed at one of “our” hotels last month in Austin Texas, the Hotel San Jose. It stands out in uniqueness and authenticity. With the HSJ it is the sense of place that makes it special and appropriately modern. The very nature of the hotel itself serves as a concierge and ambassador for Austin. A stay here teaches you about the city’s culture. The hotel could not really exist anywhere else, and few modern designer hotels attempt to be so brave.

Hotel San Jose was a 60’s motor court in a dilapidated state when hotel entrepreneur Liz Lambert transformed it into a bohemian chic and Zen Texan oasis.  There are dirt paths, courtyards covered for outdoor dining, and an abundance of trees and shrubs that range from cactus to bamboo.  You hear birds singing throughout the day and forget the fact that you are on Congress avenue, a busy four lane thoroughfare that takes you to central downtown Austin.

Any hotel can have name brand designer furnishings, but not many can have unique furnishings that connect you to the local environment and culture.  The designer elements here are an eclectic mixture of rustic wood, iron, leather and cotton, put together with craftsmen’s touch to create a Spartan casual manner. This might seem self-conscious or out of place nostalgic in a slick city like Dallas or San Francisco. But Austin is quirky, so this it works. It’s a little like being in a ranch bunkhouse, except bunkhouses do not usually offer superb modern bath products – Malin and Goetz soaps and shampoos. There is nothing falsely nostalgic or romantic here.

The hotel guests and visitors include a lot of local and youthful characters that reflect the culture of Austin. The street location is about as friendly as any that exists.  The nearby corner is a local hangout with a Joe’s coffee that serves the highest quality coffee drinks and local fare, like breakfast tacos.  A dozen other shops are within two blocks.  Musicians play and people dance right outside.  The street energy encourages you to stay outside. Austin is one of the many cities recently embracing commuter bicycling. At Hotel San Jose guests are provided with PUBLIC bikes so they can further explore the area.

The Hotel San Jose is a 5 star experience for me because it preserved an authentic character and a sense of place.  Our bikes are very happy there. Go check them out.  Our bikes are also very happy at Mellow Johnny’s, perhaps the most exiting bike store in the country, just down the road from HSJ and another reason to visit Austin.

Which of your favorites hotels do you think should offer PUBLIC bikes to their guests? Feel free to recommend a few in the comments sections below.

Posted by: PUBLIC
On Monday, April 18th, 2011 at 11:25 pm and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.