Hotel booking tip: Most of the hotels near the Convention Center are already booked through the SXSW Hotel blocks, but  some still have rooms if you go through Expedia or other travel sites.

September 28, 2011 Survey of Hotels in Austin:

   > Best Western Airport $160/night. 10 min from downtown

   > Wyndham Garden Hotel, South Austin, $186/night, 3.5 miles from city center, city bus available

   > Holiday Inn Express North, $115/night, 7 miles from downtown with shuttle service to/from downtown (for fee)

   > Hyatt Place, North Central Austin, $204/night, 6 miles from convention center

November 8, 2011 Survey of Hotels in Austin:  

   > Ramada Austin $127/night. 4 miles from city

   > Durry Inn and Suites Austin $144/night. 5 min from downtown

   > Holiday Inn Express North, $115/night, 7 miles from downtown

   > Hyatt Place, North Central Austin, $264/night, 6 miles from convention center 

December 7, 2011 Survey of Hotels in Austin:  

   > Ramada Austin $146/night. 4 miles from city

   > Durry Inn and Suites Austin $156/night. 5 min from downtown

   > Holiday Inn Express North, $136/night, 7 miles from downtown

   > Hyatt Place, North Central Austin, $232/night, 6 miles from convention center

   > Hilton Austin Airport, $330/night, 6 miles from convention center

January 10 search for hotels found the following:

   > Hilton Hotel Airport. $263/night, comp transport from airport and on SXSW hotel shuttle route

   > Holiday Inn Express North Central. $144/night, comp transport from airport, 8.5 miles from Convention Ctr

   > LaQuinta Austin Highland Mall. $124/night, comp wireless & breakfast, 5 miles from Convention Ctr, on SXSS shuttle route

   > Red Roof Inn Austin South. $112/night, 5 miles from conv ctr

February 6 search yields the following:

March 6 - 7 (IMA only dates) still showing hotel availability:

   > Hampton Inn downtown: $219/night, couple blocks away

   > Radisson downtown: $185/night, couple blocks away

   > Wyndham Garden Inn Airport: $127/night

   > LaQuinta Capitol: $109/night, couple blocks away

March 6 - 13 (iMA and SXSW Interactive) is harder to find, but rooms exist. Also suggest keep checking downtown, people booked early and end up not going, so rooms do pop up.

   > Crestwood Suites Austin: $71/night, 14 miles northwest

   > Holiday Inn Round Rock: $122/night, 20 miles north on I35

   > Red Roof Inn Austin North: $61/night, 17 miles north on I35

   > Lakeway Resort & Spa: $238/night, 23 miles west