Austin Vacation Rental castle

I think our group was the first to stay at the Bouldin Castle and we enjoyed it immensely. We were in Austin for a week-long conference and very quickly the castle became the talk of the event. Though the rain kept everything from being completed when we arrived, it didn't take away from the experience. Ivan and Priscilla were very pleasant and accessible hosts; wonderful to deal with and quick to respond to issues.

To say the rooms in the castle are huge is an understatement. You have plenty of space here, indoors and out. Whether it's drinks and conversation by the lap pool, card games in the great hall, or an after-dinner unwind in the garden, you'll never feel crowded.

The kitchen has everything you need (and a lot of things you want in your own home). With so many good eateries around, the most use we made of it was for breakfast, but the fridge is huge and the stove is top-notch. More than enough silverware, dishes and such.

The location is unbeatable. Everything is within walking distance (though it helps to have a car). Lots of great places to eat, shop and hang out are all within a few blocks.

It is a castle and it's decorated as such, so you need to know what you're getting into. It's not the Four Seasons. The entire house has personality and eclecticism that you won't find at a cookie-cutter chain hotel. Some will like it, some won't. Be prepared to do laundry frequently and we found parking to be scarce on Friday and Saturday nights (as there's a popular nightclub around 2 blocks away.) Some things - like the landscaping and interior ornamental accents - weren't completed yet, but they were close and I'd expect are all done by now.

We loved it and will be back.