Travaasa Austin

Travaasa Austin is a fantastic little staycation resort out near Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. I promise you’ll feel like you’re out of town on a quiet getaway! Check-​in isn’t until 3pm but you’re allowed on the property as early as 9am. There’s a pretty healthy list of activities scheduled for the day so ideally you’d plan your day out beforehand and arrive accordingly to make the most of your time there.
Guests rooms are actually in three-​story individual dwellings, which I thought was a nice change of pace from the cookie-​cutter rooms in one large building. We stayed on the 3^rd floor in Hacienda Alamo and it was the perfect location.
The views out there were absolutely breathtaking. Austin is such a huge city and we tend to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, forgetting about the Hill Country. We need to take advantage more often!
While on the property we chose to take advantage of a cooking class and a wine tasting, both of which were excellent. Executive Chef Ben Baker took great care of us as we prepared several dishes. The master sommelier, Edward, was AWESOME. He was super knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor, which made the tasting much less pretentious than I expected it to be.
The All-​Inclusive package is definitely the way to go, as it includes all meals and $ 175 resort credit per person. The credit can be used towards spa services or activities such as the wine tasting /​cooking class. You’ll be well taken care of at Travaasa and while it’s a little pricey, it’s perfect for a special occasion.

We have stayed here several times, including the one in Hana.
The Austin site is great in many ways. Setting, trails, food, activities and the rooms are very nice. Beds are comfortable. Staff is friendly.
The one thing that has bothered us every time we visit is the service at the bar and restaurant. The bar always seems to be understaffed. Expect to wait 7 – 8 minutes after you sit down at the small bar to even be acknowledged. Most of the time you have to speak up just to get the bartenders attention for the privilege to order a drink. I have seen many guest frustrated with this issue. Not just my family. The restaurant isn’t much better in terms of service and response. I really do think this is just a problem with staffing as the employees seem to be working as fast as they can. Management must be cutting corners with staffing in the bar and restaurant. Other than that, I enjoy this place and would recommend it.

Went for the full day spa all inclusive package, couldn’t have asked for a better experience! We took advantage of all the property had to offer; hiking trails, adventure ropes course, the Poland the delicious lunch. Well worth the price tag!

I love to travel I have been to resorts all over the world only to find out that one of the best resorts I’ve ever been to was right in my own backyard! Surrounded by green hills and peace and quiet! A salt water pool with a sick view! A restaurant with delicious organic food! I highly recommend this awesome spot!

I live right around the bend. Just about 9 miles away and just recently heard of this wonderful place. We felt like we were away from it all yet just 15 minutes away from home. Beautiful views of the canyons, lake, hill country… A truly peaceful setting. But, there’s more to Travaasa being a peaceful retreat. Travaasa offers more. From the obstacle course that really tests conquering your fears… of height, to horseback riding over a creek and into the woods up a hill, to cooking lessons, yoga, archery, hiking, and even riding a mechanical bull. All of these experiences are different yet challenging in their own way. My husband and I felt closer experiencing all these adventures together. I can’t forget about the food! The menu changes every day due to availability of fresh product. Each dish we had was delicious. We opted for the all inclusive experience so we were able to sample a lot from the menu. Only alcohol was not included. Can’t wait to go back when it is warmer to try the pool, which overlooks
part of travis.

For Austinites, the great thing about this place is that you feel like you’re out of town but it’s without all the hassle of traveling – and who wants to travel these days, with the world exploding around us?
Is it overpriced? I can’t really answer that. I’m poor, so everything is overpriced. We did do the whole package where everything is paid for up front, because we wanted to use the spa services. In the end, I don’t know if we saved much money doing it, but it did feel nice just walking into the restaurant and knowing your shizzle was already paid for. I do wish they would let people who pay for the full package check in a little earlier– check-​in is at 3, which means when you arrive, lunch is already over, so you have to wait until the next day to use your lunch credit. They do offer scrumptious snacks in the interim before dinner, however.
The staff are super friendly. The guys who work the activities were really fun and very helpful. Our food for the most part was great, but on the one occasion where my meal (pumpkin risotto) tasted like a butt’s butt, my waitress Tara was super extraordinarily wonderful and offered to remove one of my alcoholic drinks from the tab.
Also another cool thing– they sell clothes at the spa, so if you leave home without an essential thread, they got you covered.

Absolutely beautiful. I loved everything about the pool/​cabanas. When we had an issue with the air conditioning in our room, it was resolved kindly and immediately. They even brought us dessert for the mishap! We were treated like royalty from the moment we arrived. They went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and comfortable. The grounds are impeccable. It looks as beautiful as the photos suggest. The service is exemplary. I don’t have enough good things to say about Travaasa. It deserves six stars.

My mother and I came out for a relaxing weekend at Travaasa to celebrate my birthday. I was super surprised I had never heard of this resort, given that I live only 10 minutes away. Overall, we had a fantastic weekend and I highly recommend staying here with the all-​inclusive package… great for a girl’s trip or romantic getaway.
Pros:
***Staff– absolutely every staff member (from the spa therapists, valet guys, front desk attendants and restaurant servers) was super sweet and accommodating. They all wanted to make sure we were extremely happy and went above and beyond whenever they could to please us. When we first arrived, our room wasn’t ready but we really wanted to watch the UT vs. TCU game. The resort doesn’t really have a common area with TVs (as most people don’t escape to an luxurious retreat to watch TV), but they found a way to pull in a TV to a conference room for us and set up a comfy little game watching area just for my mom and me. We ordered food and drinks in there as well. Now if that’s not first class service, then I don’t know what is!
***Grounds — the grounds are very well kept. All the hiking paths, activity courses, landscaping, and common areas are true to Texas Hill Country style. You get a great feel for nature out here!
***Rooms — The mattress and bedding were exquisite, and their attention to detail in décor was spot-​in with its organic feel. Also, the large tile shower was quite spa-​like!
***Activities– all of the activities are pretty well organized on the daily schedule. There are all kinds of things to choose from depending on what you are in to. I absolutely recommend going on the early morning hike. It’s a great 2.5 mile course through the woods with a bit of climbing here and there… Great way to get your heart going in the morning! I also really enjoyed the «Big Swing» and even got my not-​so-​adventurous mother to try it out. What a blast!
Food– everything we ate at Travaasa was absolutely superb. The chef creates a new menu pretty much everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are all about fresh, farm-​to-​table meals, and I couldn’t be happier with the dishes we tried.
***Spa– Travaasa without a doubt has one of the nicest spas I’ve ever been to. We had custom facials, Swedish massages, and Manis/​Pedis. Everything was extremely luxurious and the therapists were fantastic. I will say, if you were paying for these items a la carte (without the all-​inclusive package) I think they are pretty pricey compared to other spas in the area… but needless to say, I think they are worth it for a little pampering :)
Cons:
***Check In– when we were first checking in, I was a bit overwhelmed since the front guest center is where several of the activities also meet. So when we were trying to get all of the information we needed from the hotel front desk, I could barely hear what the poor girl was trying to say. The room has pretty bad acoustics when it comes to trying to have a conversation with the person next to you. The girl we were talking to definitely understood how this wasn’t the greatest first impression upon arriving, and made it up to us by having a bottle of wine sent to our room. This was very nice!
***Bedrooms– the sound insulation between the different floors is pretty bad. We could hear the guests above us stomping around and woke us up pretty early both mornings. I’d recommend requesting a room on the top floor in order to avoid this (especially if you like sleeping in.)
***Pool Area– while definitely beautiful, it wasn’t exactly the most relaxing place to lounge around. Other guests were pretty loud during our stay and there isn’t any music/​speakers in the pool area to help drown out the noisy people around us. I did make a comment to one of the staff members though, and they asked the other guests to try to keep it down since they were being so disruptive. I also felt like the deck seemed a bit old or maybe not properly made, as anytime someone walked around it definitely made some pretty loud noises and continuously distracted me from relaxation. Also, we were never able to get a cabana since they were taken pretty early each morning. It would be nice if they could put in a few extra cabanas, or some comfier bed-​like chairs instead of the typical wooden lounges.

Had the pleasure of staying at the Travassa Austin twice! Hello Staycation!
Location is pretty secluded (nothing like the great outdoors) deep into Cedar Park. At night it does get dark and you have to drive through windy roads with parts of it without street lights.
The grounds are well kept and there are tons of experiential activities you can sign up for with an addition ($ 30/​per day?) to the room cost. Definitely try the Prickly Pear Challenge course — it was pretty extreme for me cause. well i’m a beginner. The pool is rather small, but well kept. There are even a few cabanas to relax in! Water stations are located almost everywhere on the resort = a plus! Overall the facilities are clean, well kept and tranquil.
The rooms were just-​OK for us. The rooms are grouped together and spaced out in blocks. During our first visit, our room was located on the bottom floor (no rooms available !) that literally faced only the trees. not much sunlight thus making the room rather dark. Plus, the windows were TINY, felt like we were somewhat in the basement. I would have preferred if we had the room on the 2^nd floor or third. Another thing to note is that sound definitely travels through the floor. We could hear banging & people walking (in heels) in the room above us. And the path that led to our room, was hard to lug a roller bag through.
The restaurant– Preserve Kitchen & Bar was great! The concept of the food here is fresh, organic and locally sourced food — Farm to table style. The menu changes every so often (I think the server said daily). We had breakfast, lunch and dinner here and everything served was delicious! For lunch, I would suggest the fish wrap. For dinner, get the steak or the chicken, very flavourful! Also, there is a long list of wines, cocktails etc. Note there is only one on site so you’ll be eating there the whole time during your stay unless you venture out.
Overall, I had a great time staying at the Travassa twice. It was a nice relaxing getaway.

Travasa is such a fun filled staycation! There’s a little something here for everyone. If you just like to relax by the pool and get a manicure, they’ve got that. Or if you’re like me and prefer an adventure filled weekend, this is is the spa for you too! The restaurant is serves superb gourmet meals at a reasonable price. The obstacle course, archery, and mechanical bull riding were a blast!

Another spectacular dinner at Travaasa celebrating a good friend’s birthday. The Sommelier, Edward, produced an incredible wine from North Italy — Lagrein. I will certainly have more. Dinner was exquisite and Chef Ben shared his trademark sourdough bread made from 175+ year old starter. Many thanks to all.

Really can’t say enough about this place. Great weekend getaway close enough to Austin. The staff is excellent. Took my girlfriend here for her birthday and she enjoyed it. We got the all inclusive pass which staying for one night it was well worth it. Included dinner and breakfast. The Cowboys who teach the Equine adventures are great down to earth spiritual guys. The property is gorgeous and our view from the room was perfectly overlooking the canyon. I do want to come back. Only regret was the rain kept of from doing the horse ride which was a main reason for going but have to protect the safety of the horses so i can’t fault the establishment for that. The equine adventure put you one on one with be horses so that allowed us to experience the horses in a different way. I highly recommend this place. Feels like you are on vacation without the plane ticket.

ACCOMMODATIONS & SERVICE: 3 Stars
GROUNDS, FUN FACTOR, POOL, RELAXATION: 5 Stars
ACCOMMODATIONS: Room is nice enough. Clean, roomy enough for two, I love the mini fridge. Nice sized bathroom. But I am up at odd hours due to the inability to sleep longer than 5 hours. I went to bed at 10 usually so up at 3am. There is NO comfortable place to go out of the bed. There is a slippery leather couch that has too overstuffed of pillows that are UNREMOVABLE.
They are so overstuffed they kind of push you right off the slippery couch.
Even laying on it lengthwise, because you can’t move the pillows, there is not enough room for your arms.
SERVICE: Unfortunately, the service was lacking. It became a humorous running joke with my group that things were just not going to happen unless you ask more than once. On two different mornings at the restaurant, with two different hostesses, they told me they would bring me a blanket because the breeze was chilly. Neither time did a blanket show up.
One Friday at the pool we were left to go search someone out to order anything. It was 2pm and they hadn’t had service at the pool yet. It was one thing after another but like I said, we couldn’t help but just laugh after a while.
EVERYTHING ELSE:
This stay, overall, was awesome. Came with 3 other girlfriends from high school to celebrate us all turning 40 this year. Could not have picked a better place. The activities they have organized on the resort are unique, and FUN!
The food is good (not mind blowing) and undeniably fresh.
The surroundings are stunning. You can really become one with nature.
Roasting marshmallows by the campfire at night was always a perfect ending to the night. It was enjoyable talking to strangers at the campfire.
But overall, unless you sit by the pool, you can see very few people during the day if you choose. We all couldn’t stop saying this was the ultimate girls getaway place.
The spa is wonderful and relaxing although both therapists I experienced were lacking skills. Can’t win ‘em all!
We drove into Austin 2 nights which was no big deal. It’s not that far. But for that reason, I’m so glad we kept a rental car.
I definitely see myself returning with friends. For some reason, I do not see myself coming here with my husband.

Came here for a birthday celebration weekend for a very good friend of mine.
Travaasa is tucked away and a pretty impressive compound. We were greeted at the front desk with a tasty beverage. The rooms were nice, nothing super luxurious but also nothing campy. We basically didn’t do any of the interactive stuff. They do have a long list of fun things to do. They range from free to not. Variety in activities from wine tasting to slacklining… yes slacklining. We opted to spend the afternoon by the pool reading magazines while we waited for our massage appointments.
The massage itself was fantastic, the noise level however not so conducive to relaxation. Having said that, their customer service was phenomenal and they went above and beyond to correct the outcome of how I felt about it and that says a lot.
I will make one point to the massage area, their floors are very hollow sounding. They provide complimentary sandals which are the loud thick plastic ones. You may want to consider switching to a softer sounding sandal or slipper. Having a sign out that says «Please walk quietly» is obviously not enough.
The restaurant on site was great. I had the steak which was perfectly cooked, for breakfast I had a sweet potato hash, loved that too.
We all had a great time, definitely recommend this place for a «stay-​cation»!

First let me say that this was the BEST experience of my life. I had about 3 days before my vacation ended and wanted to go somewhere but would be traveling alone. I asked the question on FB and several friends recommended Travaasa. Because it is close to me, I decided to give it a try. One thing I really liked is that you can sign up for activities and arrive early on the morning you check in, and they will let you know when your room is available so you get the maximum amount of time out of your stay. I arrived early for a 9:30 yoga class and had time to make dinner reservations (required) and make spa appointments. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed as though I had returned to old friends. Jaclyn at the front desk is very knowledgeable, helpful and accommodating. I could write a novel about my experience but you don’t have time to read that and I don’t have time to write it, so below is a ‘(not so) quick list of the activities I participated in and my thoughts on them.
Yoga– (hatha flow, yin, intermediate) — Susan was our teacher and I think she is very good, but i do a LOT of yoga in my regular life. I found the classes to be somewhat repetitive. I am not sure how restricted she is in her sequencing, but we did many of the same poses, regardless of the class type. If you don’t do a lot of yoga and already have your own style, then I would definitely recommend. If you do, then I would suggest attending one class rather than all of them, which is what I did.
Qoya– a new yoga type practice that Susan also led– this was fresh, exciting and FUN! Ladies, highly recommend!!!
Equine encounter: this was life changing. Keith Moon and Jody (not sure of his last name) were fantastic. The approach they use in this activity is truly different and unexpected. I felt bonded to them, my co-​participants, and to the horses when the activity was over. Jody even hugged me and every time I saw them around the property, they greeted me like an old friend. A MUST DO activity.
Guided Meditation– this too was led by Susan. I really enjoyed this session. I have always been a bit intimidated by meditation but she made it accessible, enjoyable and relaxing.
Giant Swing– SUPER fun if you like roller coasters and giant drops. The team that led the activity– Scott, Johnny and Jaime were great– it was like hanging out with your (nice) brothers. They were super fun, funny, cool and relaxed.
Challenge Course– OMG I did not expect to do this, but the couple I did the Giant Swing with was doing it, so I tagged along. One of the most exhilarating things I have ever done. Again, we were with Johnny, Scott and Jaime. Jaime assigned himself to me, as he could see I was nervous. He was amazing at relaxing me, encouraging me, but never forcing or intimidating me into doing it– challenge by course is what they say. I can’t believe I did the course, but I am so glad I did! What a feeling of accomplishment!
Bike Pump– Keith Moon had recommended this and admittedly, I didn’t know what I was getting into– but it was a super adrenaline filled rush. Think BMX meets mountain biking on a course. very challenging but very FUN! Jaime led this one too and he is very reassuring, encouraging and warm.
Wine Tasting: Edward, the Somalier is very engaging, VERY knowledgeable, and very passionate. He is friendly, funny, not intimidating and very sociable. I enjoyed the class a lot, along with the people I sat with. That night, I came into the restaurant for dinner and the community table was full– and I was alone. I saw Edward and he swooped into action, placing me at the bar for a wine pairing with my dinner. The bartender, Nick, was also fantastic. Again, everyone treated me like an old friend. They all find a way to connect with you, and it makes the experience so much more amazing. I seriously was reveling in every minute I was there.
Now, the spa. The spa is divine. I did the detox polish and massage which was awesome, a pedicure and a facial. All of my providers were knowledgeable, friendly, professional and amazing. All of them used techniques I had not experienced or seen before, which makes you feel like you are getting something new! All of the receptionists knew my by name, and again greeted me like an old friend. My aesthetician Tracey even hugged me when we were finished. She was extra gentle with me because my face was having an allergic reaction. She was wonderful getting it to calm down.
The weather was abysmal the whole time so I didn’t get to use the pool. I did hike once but it was super muddy I wanted to go again. I want to go back as soon as possible and do that, archery and there is a new activity they are just starting– hatchet throwing which seems cool! The property is gorgeous, the rooms are beautiful and well appointed. I realized I have not even commented on the food. AMAZING! farm to table, organic and gourmet– what else could you ask for?
This place is life changing. GO! RUN! BOOK IT! and do the total package

Left today after a 3 night stay and didn’t want to go! Travaasa is a wonderful combination of relaxing and fun. The rooms are clean, spacious and cozy. I had a private balcony looking out into the trees. The sunrise coming over those trees every morning was lovely. The beds are to die for… amazing bedding and perhaps the most comfortable bed I’ve been in. Everyone there was friendly and super helpful… from the front desk to the spa to the restaurants and also the adventure activities. The Bike Pump track was a blast and Jeff was super helpful with instructions and even took a ton of photos that he sent to me. The crew with the climbing wall and zip line were hilarious and didn’t make me feel like an idiot for being nervous. The bar/​restaurant service was highly professional and friendly and the food was delicious. Spa services were top notch… stunning spa! The meditation class and posture class were fine. I’d opt for a solo hike instead. The trails are lovely.
All in all, super pleased with how detail oriented the staff was. Highly recommend!

Travassa may be one of the best kept secrets in Texas. The resort, which is located in a greenbelt, feels very secluded. The rooms and pool enjoy views over the canyons that beckon you to stay forever.
The food and service is excellent. I celebrated my birthday on the patio with a late lunch and some wine. I have never relaxed and enjoyed anything more.
We also took a tour of the resort as we were planning for a wedding. Travassa could very likely be the next big wedding venue.
I can’t wait to try the beautiful spa and to visit Travassa Hana.
Oh… I just saw where Travassa was voted the #1 spa and resort in the South. I guess it won’t be the best kept secret for long.

If I could give 6 stars, I would. Came here just to spend the day for a girls’ getaway. We all booked massages and hung at the pool/​hot tub. All 4 of us had such a wonderful time we didn’t want to leave! The service was impeccable, everything was super clean, and the massages were amazing.
We all had food out by the pool, and our only suggestion is that the menu be more encompassing. While the food was more like «poolside munchies», we really wanted more of a lunch but wanted to stay in our suits and eat by the pool rather than get dressed and go into the restaurant.
The grounds are amazing and beautiful, and for the price, it is a super value.

There are qualities of Travaasa that I loved and some that left me wondering. I’m a positive human, so let’s start with the l-​o-​v-​e! The following ranks the top three (in order) of what was so supremely excellent that left me missing and would want to go back for:
1) Ryan. Whatever you do, ask to dine with Ryan serving. He was undoubtably the nicest human my Aunt Kimba and I had the pleasure of meeting. He’s real, kind and supremely accommodating. ***Management, please promote him. Having someone this legitimately genuine at the helm will make all guests feel welcome and cared for.
2) The Spa. Best facial/​massage of my life. I don’t have many under my belt but my Aunt Kimba does and she had the same remarks.
3) The beds and shower. Hellloooo comfort and relaxation!
And, now — the things that left something to be desired.
1) Room service not provided. My Aunt Kimba splurged and spent an incredible amount of money for the food to be included. This is something neither of us would do again. It was so hard for us to even come close in our food bill to what she already payed for. Dinners did not impress.
2) holy moly! There’s an infinity pool! My first one I’ve ever seen in real life! On my eminent dive in, I’m glad I felt the water first. It wasn’t heated. What?
I’m so grateful my Aunt Kimba treated me to an unforgettable time here, but I can vouch for her remarks on the experience being a little overpriced with the food package.

I lived in Austin for 5 years and had no idea Travaasa existed!
I stayed here on a surprise birthday /​end of stressful work months. It’s tucked away in the backwoods of Austin’s gorgeous hill country. You have to dial in for them to open the gate for you. FANCY SCHMANCY. Then, you begin your climb up the windy road to the actual facility.
We had a canyon view room and it was gorgeous. The bathroom was spacious and clean. The beds were comfy.
There’s also a lot to do at Travaasa. You can practically stay there the entire weekend and not leave. Horseback riding, spa, pool, hiking, rock climbing, fine dining, you name it! My boyfriend and I enjoyed a couples massage immediately after we checked in. It was extremely relaxing and I highly recommend it! Unfortunately, we weren’t able to take advantage of the hiking trails since it was raining most of our stay. :(
Overall, a perfect weekend getaway! We definitely want to come back!
P. S. Thanks for everything, Cheryl!