This Luxurious All-inclusive Spa Resort in Texas Is a T+L Reader Favourite — and It is Set on a Gorgeous Lake

A quintessential summer season in Austin, Texas, includes getting out on the water. Actually, the warmth nearly calls for it.

Whereas Woman Chicken Lake is correct within the coronary heart of the capital metropolis’s downtown, it’s usually crowded, has a recurring algae drawback, and you may’t swim there — however, only a brief drive from downtown, you’ll discover Lake Austin, a cleaner, extra serene neighbor and residential to the oasis of Lake Austin Spa Resort. What began as a fishing camp within the Nineteen Thirties has reworked over the a long time into among the best spa resorts within the nation, one which’s beloved by Journey + Leisure readers yr after yr, and is dwelling to 40 distinctive suites, all of which really feel like a house away from dwelling with vintage furnishings paired with rocking chairs and personal gardens. 

The resort itself is a little bit of a window again in time. The decor is classic blended with a Texas attraction that makes it cozy and comforting, and the methods listed below are primarily analog, from the exercise desk to room service — but all the things nonetheless runs like clockwork. The ambiance encourages you to get off your cellphone and soak in your environment and the water.

Cindy Current, the resort’s director of selling and wellness, notes that water is central to the expertise at Lake Austin Spa Resort. She coined the phrase “Blue Thoughts” to explain how being in or close to a physique of water is sweet in your well being. This “Blue Thoughts” philosophy additionally guides the wellness program, which incorporates all the things from chilly plunges and “ice facials” on the spa to water sports activities and pool lessons.

Staying at Lake Austin Spa Resort is a little bit of a choose-your-own journey. With a stacked each day occasions calendar, a dock loaded with water tools, and a luxurious spa, you’ll be able to select simply how energetic or relaxed you need to be. Personally, I assumed I wished to loosen up. Nonetheless, I then attended a number of experiences I’ve at all times wished to attempt, like stand-up paddleboard yoga or actions I wouldn’t discover anyplace else, like a conventional Japanese sword class.  

One other factor that struck me was simply how attentive the workers had been. There was by no means a second the place I struggled with a query for greater than 30 seconds as a result of somebody was at all times proper there to assist. From arriving, the place they whisked away my automotive and took care of my baggage, to serving to me schedule actions and spa time, I used to be at all times met with a smile and an answer. The category “academics” or facilitators had been at all times heat and upbeat, making every expertise so fulfilling, and I walked away from each saying, “I need to try this once more!”

It’s straightforward to see why Lake Austin Spa Resort is so beloved. The workers is accommodating, the menus are considerate, and the experiences obtainable are plentiful. However what caught with me was how a lot intention was put into all the things; from the entrance desk to the exercise coordinator to the servers at dinner, everybody there appeared to care in regards to the expertise they had been offering.

To study extra about that have, learn my full evaluation beneath. 

The Rooms

The property has a complete of 40 rooms, all of that are uniquely embellished. Every presents an off-the-cuff but upscale ambiance with hand-picked vintage and classic decor that maintains the resort’s Texan attraction.

Fundamental or Signature rooms present a private entrance patio, vitamin C-infused bathe heads, soaking tubs, and plush, cloud-like mattresses you will sink into. The Lake View and Backyard rooms have related choices with a extra scenic view. For much more outside house, you’ll be able to improve to the Premier Sizzling Tub Cottage, which presents a separate front room, fire, and personal again backyard with a sauna. 

These in search of the final word pampering — and maybe a historical past lesson — can keep within the Woman Chicken Johnson Suite. Named after the previous First Woman (a beloved visitor), the room is styled with among the identical vintage decor from her keep a long time in the past. I used to be fortunate sufficient to expertise this suite throughout my keep, and it felt like entering into a wonderful time capsule that also had all the trendy facilities. The suite presents a separate front room and bed room with an electrical fire in each rooms, a again backyard with a scorching tub, and several other complimentary extras like a bottle of Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival and nightly cheese and fruit plates.

Meals and Drink

An enormous a part of wellness is meals, and Lake Austin Spa Resort takes that very severely. Stéphane Beauchamp, the resort’s director of culinary experiences, curates the menus across the vegetables and fruit grown instantly within the resort’s backyard. The crew sources something they will’t develop instantly from native farmers.

The menu accommodates numerous dietary and well being issues, from dairy- and sugar-free to vegan and gluten-free choices. To say these components are contemporary is an understatement. I ordered nearly each fish dish they’d and was hard-pressed to choose a favourite. Even with restrictions, the kitchen can cook dinner up magic — the vegan desserts right here knocked it out of the park. However it doesn’t should be all well being and wellness, because the cocktails additionally totally impressed me. My favourite was the Hill Nation Ol’ Long-established, with Citrus & Smoke being a detailed second. 

As an all-inclusive resort, all meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks are included within the nightly charge. The primary restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the spa additionally presents a Mediterranean buffet meal throughout lunch. For those who get hungry, go to the entrance desk, because the kitchen places out a brand new baked good daily beginning at 3 p.m. 

Actions and Experiences

Itemizing all of the actions that Lake Austin Spa Resort presents could be each unimaginable and overwhelming. The resort has a each day rotating record of actions visitors can take part in, from enjoyable lessons like barefoot tai chi to adrenaline-pumping water snowboarding to instructional cooking or astronomy lessons — at Lake Austin Spa Resort, the world is your oyster. A stunning favourite for me was the bokken-do Japanese sword class, the place a educated and pleasant teacher created a enjoyable ambiance for the category.

Whereas most actions are included in your keep, a couple of require advance sign-ups, and even fewer require an additional payment. The best technique to see what’s on the docket for the day and get all of the pertinent data is to go to the actions desk in the primary constructing. 

Exterior the scheduled actions, there’s nonetheless a lot to do on the resort. Maybe the most important draw is the lake. Lake Austin Spa Resort has all the mandatory water tools, and all non-motorized tools — together with kayaks, hydrobikes, paddleboards, and extra — is free for visitors. There are additionally two each day cruises up the river to benefit from the surroundings and find out about Austin, and a spacious fitness center with top-of-the-line tools for many who’d moderately break a sweat indoors. 

But when it is leisure you search, that can be not onerous to seek out. Three swimming pools can be found to visitors: one by the primary constructing, full with cabanas and a lake view, and the opposite two close to the spa. One pool is situated within the pool barn, the place many aquatic lessons happen, however the spa-adjacent outside pool can be a fantastic place to loosen up. 

The Spa

One of many resort’s largest attracts is the spa — it’s within the identify, in spite of everything. The spa is in a separate constructing connecting to the primary resort via a gated walkway. The spa space contains two of the three swimming pools, a wild backyard, saunas, whirlpools, and zen-like therapy rooms, along with greater than 100 therapies masking a variety of issues.

Company can get pleasure from conventional spa therapies like massages and facials or check out extra new-age therapies like sound remedy and vitality therapeutic. I loved making an attempt out a couple of completely different experiences within the spa. My first cease was the newly put in hydro-circuit. I started with an exfoliating mud scrub after which rotated between a heat bathe and a chilly plunge. Despite the fact that the chilly plunge was intimidating, I left feeling invigorated, and my muscle groups felt like they’d gone via a exercise. I additionally tried the Luminosity of Ice facial, which left my pores and skin plump and glowing. Nevertheless, my favourite must be the personal aqua stretch. I’m satisfied that Monica works magic and never solely launched rigidity all through my again and shoulders but additionally discovered built-up fascia, which I wasn’t even conscious was limiting my movement. 

Whereas resort visitors have free vary to discover the spa and all its facilities, therapies, and day packages might be bought individually from the resort; nonetheless, this solely provides entry to the spa space and never the remainder of the resort. 

Household-friendly Choices

Lake Austin Spa Resort is a favourite for multi-generational getaways, with actions interesting to a large age vary. Nevertheless, solely ages 16 and up are allowed on the resort. Teenagers can get pleasure from yoga, water sports activities, and different actions. 

Accessibility and Sustainability

Lake Austin Spa Resort is situated on a scenic lake throughout from a nature reserve, inserting it smack dab in the midst of a pure oasis. The resort would not take this magnificence with no consideration, although, and has carried out a number of inexperienced initiatives to make sure the resort’s sustainability.  As beforehand talked about, most meals is grown on-premises or sourced domestically, however the efforts go effectively past that, utilizing non-toxic pesticides and composting meals scraps, in addition to different kitchen waste, to create extra soil. Glass, plastic, cardboard, and paper are additionally recycled for landscaping tasks. 

The resort additionally offers every visitor with a reusable water bottle and has eradicated single-use plastic along with its sturdy recycling program. It additionally donates previous linens and blankets to native animal shelters.

Lake Austin Spa Resort has two ADA-compliant rooms.

Location

Lake Austin Spa Resort is situated on the japanese fringe of Austin, about 40 minutes from downtown. A water taxi service, departing from downtown, is obtainable — and it is a very scenic 40-minute journey. In case you are arriving from the airport, choices embody rideshare apps, personal transfers, and SuperShuttle, which takes a number of teams at a time and can make stops alongside the best way. 

The best way to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep 

Lake Austin Spa Resort is just not a part of any loyalty program, but it surely nonetheless presents a number of presents when reserving instantly. These presents vary from free nights should you e book a minimal quantity to discounted {couples} packages, reductions for Texas residents and residents of neighboring states, and extra.