Hospitality, thy name is Stephanie. I typically pick a place to myself when I'm AirBnBing (as I often work from home and take phone calls at odd hours with folks on other time zones), but figured Stephanie's place was large enough for the two of us. I was right. And then some. Stephanie had a way of making me truly feel not just at home, but like one of her old friends. She stocked the guest bathroom up with amenities - shampoo, conditioner, body wash, fresh towels. Bed is super comfortable, bedroom is large and private. Compared to some closet-sized AirBnBs I've stayed in (namely in NYC and Asia), Stephanie's place was palatial. And that's not considering the vast outdoor backyard, a little oasis of peaceful green.
Stephanie is also great about recommending local spots, many of which are within walking distance.
TO KNOW: Hyde Park is not a traditional walkable downtown-y neighborhood, but enough exists within a half-mile radius. My personal favorite was Tyson's Tacos on Airport Blvd, but Stephanie will give you lots of her own local recs.
Hyde Park is a couple of miles from UT and maybe about 3 miles from Lady Bird Lake. Very easy to go for a neighborhood jog if you like to keep fit while traveling.
THINGS TO NOTE: Stephanie has a dog, Maggie. I love animals so I found this to be a feature and not a bug. Maggie is super friendly and laid back.