I've been to Austin several times and I've only stayed Downtown for convenience, typically in the Kimpton or Fairmont. Deciding to attend a conference last minute, my normal options were fully booked. I feel like I lucked up finding Prov B and will stay again in the future. I was of course concerned about the neighborhood based on the neighborhood description, but it was not a cause for concern at all. I live in a major city, so I understand transitional neighborhoods. There are some transitional neighborhoods that you should be concerned in, but this isn't one. It's just an older neighborhood that is slowly being transitioned. I stayed with a female friend and we felt safe coming and going.