When most of our friends think of Austin, a South-by-Southwest Festival is what springs to mind first. After all, the city hosts three separate SXSW conferences each March: one for music and media, another for film, and one for the "interactive" folks. And at each and every festival, regardless of job description, attendees party like rockstars. 

Drinks are drunk. Hookups are hooked. Open bars are plentiful. Hotel rooms, alas, are not - they're always overbooked. You, or a friend, or you and a friend, are likely to end up sleeping in the bathtub. And, for better or worse, the entire scene ends up feeling a little bit like a college redux.

Don't get us wrong: we love music, movies and the internets - we just tend to steer clear from SXSW because our livers demand it. But we also think Austin is best experienced on its own, without lines and mobs. A big part of Austin's charm, especially for New Yorkers, is its college town, laid-back feel. That said, Austin is a lively city with lots to do, even when it's conference-free. Every week, quality bands play in small bars,* indie movies are shown, art galleries have openings - and all of these happenings are accessible without lines, wristbands or guestlists.

In fact, we encourage you to visit Austin in the next couple of months if you can: January and February are an off-season of sorts, and prices for everything, especially hotels, are cheaper. As always, we've done our research and managed to get extra perks for jauntsetter readers, plus insider-tips on where to stay, eat and play. We've also found some inexpensive airfare and the best rooms for you to lounge and rest in - with prices starting at just $69/night. 

Keep reading for further reasons for why Austin should be on your 2009 must-visit list and don't forget to check out our blog daily for even more details on this charming Texan town.

xo,

your jauntsetter team

* With its 200 music venues, Austin is understandably known as the "Live Music Capital of the World." 

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Austin is a warm destination, best visited anytime but summer (when it gets uncomfortably hot). While it's unseasonably cold today, by Thursday, temperatures are back to up to the toasty high 70s. 

As we mentioned in our intro, we recommend getting to Austin sometime in January and February, pre-SXSW. Come March, hotel occupancy, and rates go way, way up.

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Try and spend at least 4 nights in Austin. It'd be a shame to spend less as there's so much to do in the city as well as its surrounding area, with its 200 parks and miles of hiking and biking trails, plus tons of gorgeous lakes. 

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If you have flexibility with your dates, we found lots and lots of flights in January and February for under $300 thanks to this tip from Airfare WatchDog. 

Via Travelocity, we found a nonstop Continental flight leaving Newark Thursday, Jan 16th and returning Monday night, Jan 19th, for $286 total (all taxes and fees included). There were some low-priced, $264 JetBlue flights available for similar dates - just purchase at least 21 days in advance. 

If you've got fixed dates, make sure to check out one of our favorite websites, FareCompare.com, to find the best deals to Austin. And if you've got more flexibility, play around with dates at Kayak.com.

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You can actually take a bus, which departs about every 40 minutes, for 50 cents from the airport to downtown Austin. Schedule here. 

If you don't want to wait, you can also take the Super Shuttle for $21 roundtrip. Or splurge and grab a taxi, which is approximately $25 (with tip) and sometimes as little as a 15 minute ride to downtown.

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We recommend staying in the area called SoCo, where restaurants, bars, galleries, and boutiques abound. Plus, all of our absolute favorite hotels are located there. Take a look below.

Our Budget Pick: Austin Motel 

This motel is an Austin classic and a landmark of sorts - 2008 marks its 70th year in business. It may be super cheap (rates start at $69), but it's definitely not an ordinary, run-of-the-mill motel. Instead, you'll find creative decor - each room is one-of-a-kind - and several welcome additions: free parking, hotel hot tub, and super great 50's-style pool! Plus, as mentioned, the neighborhood is lined with restaurants, clubs, and stores - including a recommended ice cream place across the street.

Our Midrange (and #1) Pick: Hotel San Jose 

If you remember, our very first profiled jauntsetter and Senior Editor of jezebel.com, Dodai Stewart is crazy about hotels - and one of her all-time favorites is the hip Hotel San Jose. Says Dodai: "I bought a keychain from the hotel, because I was like, 'I want it to be my home! So I'm going to pretend that I have the keys to the San Jose.'"

Dodai likes the hotel for its rock-star themed rooms - she stayed in the John Lennon one - but there's much, much more to love about the place, including their focus on sharing: you can borrow a typewriter, Polaroid camera, CDs or entire iPods, and videos from the front desk. For very reasonable fees, you can also rent a bicycle and bring your dog. 

Rates start at $95/$105 (weekday/weekend) for a room with a shared bath or $160/$175 for a private bath, and $280/$295 for a suite. Before you stay, make sure to email Meghan Hughes - the Guest Relations Manager - at Meghan.Hughes [at] sanjosehotel.com and ask for the best available rate. Depending on availability, Meghan will give jauntsetters an upgrade or discount! 

Warning: book ahead. This hotel has an average occupancy rate of about 90% - one of the highest in the nation.

Our Splurge Pick: The Hotel Saint Cecilia 

What used to be a Victorian-style B&B has now been remade into Austin's newest fancy hotel - one that's "luxurious and quirky at the same time," as their very first (and glowing) Tripadvisor reviewer reports. The decor is rock n' roll meets cozy, and highlights include the patrons-only pool, unique minibar offerings (there's bison jerky), and fun drinks (they make their namesake bloody mary with fresh squeezed tomato juice).

Each of the 14 accommodations - some suites, some bungalows, some regular-sized rooms - is outfitted with a private entry, organic mattress, huge shower, as well as a turntable - and you can borrow vintage vinyl for free from the lounge! 

This last perk is especially fitting, since the hotel's name is a nod to the patron saint of music and poetry. Weekend rates vary from $375-$675. And, as a jauntsetter, you'll get a complimentary cocktail in the private lounge, by the fireplace! We can't wait to check this new hotel out ourselves - it honestly sounds like reason enough for any hotel-lover to visit Austin.

If the Saint Cecilia is too much of a splurge for you, but you still want something luxe, you can always try out the Four Seasons. While it doesn't sound nearly as nice or original, they've got "holiday rates" starting at $255 a night till January 12th (regular rates are $420/night).

[Update 5/31/2009: Check out our update on The Hotel Saint Cecilia here. Simply put, it's no longer our "splurge" pick. We'd recommend a courtyard suite at the Hotel San Jose instead; it's a super spacious second floor room with a lovely patio and even as the most expensive room type at the HSJ, it still goes for $375/night on weekends, almost $100 cheaper than The Hotel Saint Cecilia's bungalow room.]

Former New Yorker and profiled jauntsetter Diana Pittman recently relocated to Austin - where she'll be getting married soon - and for this week's issue, she sent us a round-up of her favorite spots to hit up in her new city. See below for the highlights, and keep checking our blog for more tips throughout the week. 

Reminder: we remind you again that the above list is just the beginning of our recommendations for this fun city, so make sure to read our blog for even more ideas and insider tips on what to do in Austin, Texas!