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, entails getting out on the water. Actually, the warmth virtually calls for it.

Whereas Woman Chicken Lake is true within the coronary heart of the capital metropolis’s downtown, it’s typically crowded, has a recurring algae downside, 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 remodeled over the many years into probably the greatest spa resorts within the nation, one which’s beloved by Journey + Leisure readers yr after yr, and is house to 40 distinctive suites, all of which really feel like a house away from house 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 combined with a Texas appeal that makes it cozy and comforting, and the techniques listed below are primarily analog, from the exercise desk to room service — but every part 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 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 nice in your well being. This “Blue Thoughts” philosophy additionally guides the wellness program, which incorporates every part from chilly plunges and “ice facials” on the spa to water sports activities and pool courses.

Staying at Lake Austin Spa Resort is a little bit of a choose-your-own journey. With a stacked every 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 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 wherever 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 automobile and took care of my baggage, 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 “lecturers” or facilitators have been all the time heat and upbeat, making every expertise so gratifying, 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 employees is accommodating, the menus are considerate, and the experiences obtainable are considerable. However what caught with me was how a lot intention was put into every part; from the entrance desk to the exercise coordinator to the servers at dinner, everybody there appeared to care concerning the expertise they have been offering.

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

The Rooms

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

Primary or Signature rooms present a private entrance patio, vitamin C-infused bathe heads, soaking tubs, and plush, cloud-like mattresses you may sink into. The Lake View and Backyard rooms have comparable choices with a extra scenic view. For much more out of doors area, you’ll be able to improve to the Premier Scorching Tub Cottage, which gives a separate lounge, hearth, and personal again backyard with a sauna. 

These on the lookout for 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 a number of the similar 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 an exquisite time capsule that also had all the fashionable facilities. The suite gives a separate lounge and bed room with an electrical hearth in each rooms, a again backyard with a scorching tub, and a number of 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 significantly. Stéphane Beauchamp, the resort’s director of culinary experiences, curates the menus across the fruit and veggies grown instantly within the resort’s backyard. The staff sources something they’ll’t develop instantly from native farmers.

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

As an all-inclusive resort, all meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks are included within the nightly price. The primary restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the spa additionally gives 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 every single day beginning at 3 p.m. 

Actions and Experiences

Itemizing all of the actions that Lake Austin Spa Resort gives can be each unimaginable and overwhelming. The resort has a every day rotating checklist of actions friends can take part in, from enjoyable courses like barefoot tai chi to adrenaline-pumping water snowboarding to instructional cooking or astronomy courses — 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 environment for the category.

Whereas most actions are included in your keep, a number of require advance sign-ups, and even fewer require an additional charge. The simplest approach to see what’s on the docket for the day and get all of the pertinent info 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 largest draw is the lake. Lake Austin Spa Resort has all the required water tools, and all non-motorized tools — together with kayaks, hydrobikes, paddleboards, and extra — is free for friends. There are additionally two every day cruises up the river to benefit from the surroundings and study Austin, and a spacious health club with top-of-the-line tools for individuals who’d fairly break a sweat indoors. 

But when it is rest you search, that can also be not onerous to seek out. Three swimming pools can be found to friends: one by the primary constructing, full with cabanas and a lake view, and the opposite two close to the spa. One pool is positioned within the pool barn, the place many aquatic courses happen, however the spa-adjacent out of doors pool can also be an excellent 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 way of a gated walkway. The spa space contains two of the three swimming pools, a wild backyard, saunas, whirlpools, and zen-like remedy rooms, along with greater than 100 therapies masking a variety of issues.

Company can take pleasure in conventional spa therapies like massages and facials or check out extra new-age therapies like sound remedy and power therapeutic. I loved making an attempt out a number 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. Regardless that the chilly plunge was intimidating, I left feeling invigorated, and my muscular tissues felt like that they had gone by way 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 friends 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. Nonetheless, solely ages 16 and up are allowed on the resort. Teenagers can take pleasure in yoga, water sports activities, and different actions. 

Accessibility and Sustainability

Lake Austin Spa Resort is positioned on a scenic lake throughout from a nature reserve, putting it smack dab in the course of a pure oasis. The resort would not take this magnificence as a right, 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 nicely 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 initiatives. 

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

Lake Austin Spa Resort has two ADA-compliant rooms.

Location

Lake Austin Spa Resort is positioned 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 embody rideshare apps, non-public transfers, and SuperShuttle, which takes a number of teams at a time and can make stops alongside the best way. 

Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep 

Lake Austin Spa Resort just isn’t a part of any loyalty program, nevertheless it nonetheless gives a number of gives when reserving instantly. These gives vary from free nights for those who guide a minimal quantity to discounted {couples} packages, reductions for Texas residents and residents of neighboring states, and extra.