I have always wanted to stay in an Airstream and so when I came across Paul’s listing when we were looking for a place to stay in Austin, I was thrilled. Unfortunately, the stay didn’t live up to our expectations. Part of the blame definitely lies on our expectations and our own hang-ups. Paul and his family were very friendly and accommodating. We really appreciate them opening their home to us.

Paul’s home does appear to be in a very nice neighborhood but be prepared that you will need to drive to get anywhere. His neighborhood is not biking or walking friendly (no sidewalks or shoulder on the road). It is a quick 5 to 10 minute drive to downtown and other popular areas as advertised.

We have walked through a couple of Airstreams over the past couple of years and they were quite a bit newer than Paul’s and/or were completely redone. Very nice campers. Paul’s is completely functional but has been well used and some aesthetic repairs are needed. The inclusion of a stereo system, toaster oven and fridge were much appreciated on our stay. He also has ample lighting and wall outlets. We were able to charge all of our devices at the same time. We did find the beds uncomfortable though. The mattresses were thin and didn’t offer as much support as our REI camp mattresses.

As Paul alludes to in his listing, the bathroom in the trailer isn’t really something you are going to want to use for anything other than late night emergencies. Although the house is only a few feet from the trailer, you have to walk through Paul’s living room and kitchen to get to the bathroom. My husband felt really uncomfortable using a bathroom right off their kitchen as this is an area they were using frequently and the bathroom door was very thin. There is no countertop in the bathroom so I reluctantly used the toilet lid as a flat surface for clothes and toiletries (the other alternative was the floor).

You should also be aware that the backyard is Paul’s work area. Along with the Airstream you will find a couple of old automobiles, trailers and his building material. There is a lot of wood and metal back there. At the time we were staying at his home there were also piles of decomposing foam, wood, etc. They have a couple of chairs out by his garage but this isn’t a typical green backyard for relaxing.

After our stay, we re-read all of Paul’s reviews wondering what we missed. With the price and all of the glowing reviews our expectations were high and so we felt it was important to share these details in case, like us, you are particular about the places you stay.