Woo-hoo! (Recs: books and Austin hotels)

[telophase]

I have $20 in Amazon.com gift certificates. What should I buy and why?

(caveat: usually when I ask for recs, I end up not buying what people have recced, for whatever perverse reason, but I do end up putting a number on my wishlist and buying them later.)

In other news, I took the opportunity of Sora being out of it on Monday to make kanzashi (and myrialux helpfully came over and entertained Sora on Sunday while I made more). I need to finish them up - put them on clips and the like - so hope to have pictures of them soon. :) I'm going to the Ikkicon artist alley in Austin in early Feb, so need to increase my stock. :)

And speaking of which: anyone have any recs of a hotel/motel reasonably near downtown Austin that offers internet in its rooms (preferably wireless, preferably free, but pay and wires will do), is less than $100/night (preferably less than $75), and is not hot and cold running cockroaches? myrialux is coming down with me, but not attending the con, and will need to telecommute some on Friday.

Comments

[riofriotex.livejournal.com]

We've stayed in the Austin Motel the last two years on Christmas night in rooms that had a total cost of $80 with taxes. Not fancy rooms but very clean and comfortable, and it's a funky sort of place that I think you would like. It's just a bit south of downtown on South Congress, and I think the Armadillo free bus service runs down there, but I am not sure.

No idea on the wireless as we've never had a computer down there. I would think some of those websites that rate hotels (like Trip Advisor) might give you some feedback on that.

Another note - the great "healthy Mexican cuisine restaurant El Sol Y La Luna" has moved and is no longer next to the motel. They told us at Christmas that a new restaurant with better hours (for a motel next door) will be opening in March I believe. I think El Sol moved downtown, but I would also recommend the Magnolia Cafe (http://www.cafemagnolia.com/) which also has a location on South Congress, about seven blocks south of the Austin Motel.

Finally, have you considered Hotwire? I got a great room at a Hyatt in a Chicago suburb for $55 (plus tax). Not sure if you can make free wireless a criteria in your search though.

[riofriotex.livejournal.com]

ETA - the two-bed rooms are going to run $100 and up with taxes at the Austin Motel.