There are a number of other hotels and B&Bs close to campus; the Star of Texas Inn and Hotel Ella are two excellent choices. You might also want to try a private accommodation service like Air BnB.
We also expect to have a very limited amount of crash space for student participants. Those interested in this option should contact the conference organizers at their earliest convenience.
FLIGHTS and TRANSPORTATION The Austin airport (AUS) is served by all major U.S. airlines. British Airways has a direct flight to and from London Heathrow. There are several transportation options to get from the airport to downtown Austin: (1) A taxi; (2) a shuttle bus (www.supershuttle.com); (3) renting your own car; (4) public transportation (www.capmetro.org): The line "100" takes about 25 minutes from the airport and has several stops close to campus. It is the cheapest option.
AUSTIN Austin has a very vibrant music scene, great restaurants, clubs, bars, and outdoor recreational venues. If you have an extra day or two before or after the conference, there are plenty of interesting places to see, please see the recent article in the New York Times.
TEXAS If you have a few extra days before or after the conference, you may want rent a car and explore San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country (settled by German immigrants starting in the 1840s: places such as New Braunfels or Fredericksburg). If you have even more time, Big Bend National Park, Galveston, and South Padre Island are other exciting tourist destinations. Here is a list of some of the places to explore around the area:
The Texas Hill Country (settled by German immigrants starting in the 1840s)