I stayed at this hotel for three nights during sxsw 2006. Our room was fine, the service was okay, and the hotel was surprisingly quiet for being so close to 6th street. This hotel is in a wonderful location for SXSW. You can walk to everything or the bus stops right in front of the hotel!
I wish it had been a bit cheaper and the breakfast hours had been longer. Breakfast was only till 10am on weekends and nine on weekdays.
Also.....the wifi is only in the lobby or the deck. You have to have use DSL if you want to access the computer in your room.
The valet was quick and efficient. The front desk was always busy but they tried very hard to work with everyone.

I have stayed in this hotel twice. The first time was uneventful. It has a good location if you're going to the Austin City Limilts Music Festival, as it is within walking distance of the shuttle buses to the festival. However, my second stay will be my last. The problem is that all rooms, except for one wing, open to the outside. This means that you can hear people walking by your room all night. We also had people, probably inebriated, knocking on our door all night, apparently looking for some other room. In addition, the "courtyard' arrangement means that when people in the middle of the complex stand around yelling drunkenly (and they did!), the noise echoes and reverberates annoyingly. My real complaint is that, after we complained of a sleepless night, the management acted as if it were all our fault for failing to report it. I replied that any security staff that was doing its job would notice people screaming in the courtyard all night without being told. I asked to be moved to the one wing of the hotel with rooms that open to an enclosed hallway to avoid the outside noise, but they refused, claiming to be booked. Believe me. there are much better-and quieter-hotels in Austin!

Filthy carpet. Tiny room. Indifferent service. Good location.

My husband and I moved to Houston last year. We used the 4th of July weekend as an excuse to get out of town for one night to explore Austin. We chose to stay at the La Quinta because we like to take our 70 lb. dog on short over night trips. The La Quinta is known for its "pet friendly" policy- no weight limit and no excess fee. We did not find any other hotel in Austin that was so accomodating to dogs and still affordable. Had it just been my husband and I we would have considered a different hotel, but all in all the La Qunita was fine for our short trip.

The positives/advantages of the La Quinta are:
-You can bring your dog w/ no hassels.
-Even w/ taxes & parking it is affordable (total for us $100).
-Location, location, location. You can easily walk to the Capital, 6th street, and the other entertainment districts.
-Room was clean and good size.
-Corteous staff.

The negatives:
-It is what it is. A bargain, non-luxury style hotel.
-Standard hotel/motel bedspread. Yuck. I've read too many articles about the lack of washing those things receive.
-Valet parking. The guys working are very friendly and helpful, therefore you need to tip them. The $ adds up.

A word of warning- Austin is HOT! Also, due to the holiday weekend the local park- Zilker- was packed, as was Lake Travis.

Don't miss:
-Amy's Ice Cream
-Live music at Stubb's
-The Mexican Martinis @ Iron Cactus on 6th street.

I hope this review was helpful.