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

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

Whereas Woman Chook 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 quick 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 remodeled over the many years into among the best spa resorts within the nation, one which’s beloved by Journey + Leisure readers yr after yr, and is residence to 40 distinctive suites, all of which really feel like a house away from residence 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 programs listed here 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 telephone and soak in your environment and the water.

Cindy Current, the resort’s director of promoting 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 on 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 day by day occasions calendar, a dock loaded with water gear, and a luxurious spa, you possibly can select simply how energetic or relaxed you need to be. Personally, I believed I wished to loosen up. Nonetheless, I then attended a number of experiences I’ve all the time wished to strive, 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 employees have 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 all the time proper there to assist. From arriving, the place they whisked away my automotive and took care of my luggage, to serving to me schedule actions and spa time, I used to be all the time met with a smile and an answer. The category “academics” or facilitators have been all the time heat and upbeat, making every expertise so fulfilling, and I walked away from each saying, “I need to do this once more!”

It’s simple to see why Lake Austin Spa Resort is so liked. The employees is accommodating, the menus are considerate, and the experiences accessible 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 have been offering.

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

The Rooms

The property has a complete of 40 rooms, all of that are uniquely embellished. Every provides an off-the-cuff but upscale environment 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 possibly can improve to the Premier Scorching Tub Cottage, which provides a separate lounge, hearth, 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 Chook Johnson Suite. Named after the previous First Woman (a beloved visitor), the room is styled with a number of the identical vintage decor from her keep many years 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 fashionable facilities. The suite provides a separate lounge and bed room with an electrical hearth in each rooms, a again backyard with a sizzling 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 critically. Stéphane Beauchamp, the resort’s director of culinary experiences, curates the menus across the fruit and veggies grown straight within the resort’s backyard. The staff sources something they will’t develop straight 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 substances are recent 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 must be all well being and wellness, because the cocktails additionally completely impressed me. My favourite was the Hill Nation Ol’ Normal, 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 principle restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the spa additionally provides a Mediterranean buffet meal throughout lunch. Should you get hungry, go to the entrance desk, because the kitchen places out a brand new baked good every single day beginning at 3 p.m. 

Actions and Experiences

Itemizing all of the actions that Lake Austin Spa Resort provides can be each inconceivable and overwhelming. The resort has a day by day rotating listing of actions company can take part in, from stress-free lessons like barefoot tai chi to adrenaline-pumping water snowboarding to academic cooking or astronomy lessons — at Lake Austin Spa Resort, the world is your oyster. A shocking favourite for me was the bokken-do Japanese sword class, the place a educated and pleasant teacher created a enjoyable environment for the category.

Whereas most actions are included in your keep, just a few require advance sign-ups, and even fewer require an additional payment. The simplest method to see what’s on the docket for the day and get all of the pertinent info is to move to the actions desk in the primary constructing. 

Outdoors the scheduled actions, there may be nonetheless a lot to do on the resort. Maybe the most important draw is the lake. Lake Austin Spa Resort has all the required water gear, and all non-motorized gear — together with kayaks, hydrobikes, paddleboards, and extra — is free for company. There are additionally two day by day cruises up the river to benefit from the surroundings and find out about Austin, and a spacious gymnasium with top-of-the-line gear for individuals who’d quite break a sweat indoors. 

But when it is leisure you search, that can be not arduous to search out. Three swimming pools can be found to company: 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 title, in any case. The spa is in a separate constructing connecting to the primary resort by means of 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 remedies masking a variety of issues.

Company can get pleasure from conventional spa remedies like massages and facials or check out extra new-age remedies like sound remedy and power therapeutic. I loved making an attempt out just a few totally 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. Though the chilly plunge was intimidating, I left feeling invigorated, and my muscular tissues felt like they’d gone by means of a exercise. I additionally tried the Luminosity of Ice facial, which left my pores and skin plump and glowing. Nonetheless, my favourite must be the non-public aqua stretch. I’m satisfied that Monica works magic and never solely launched rigidity all through my again and shoulders but in addition discovered built-up fascia, which I wasn’t even conscious was limiting my movement. 

Whereas resort company have free vary to discover the spa and all its facilities, remedies, 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. Nonetheless, 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, putting it smack dab in the course of a pure oasis. The resort does not take this magnificence without any 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 supplies every visitor with a reusable water bottle and has eradicated single-use plastic along with its strong 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 on the market — and it is a very scenic 40-minute journey. If you’re arriving from the airport, choices embrace rideshare apps, non-public transfers, and SuperShuttle, which takes a number of teams at a time and can make stops alongside the best way. 

Methods to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep 

Lake Austin Spa Resort will not be a part of any loyalty program, nevertheless it nonetheless provides a number of provides when reserving straight. These provides 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.