Herb and Valentina's place was the perfect choice to begin my first time at SXSW. It's 10 mins by bike (a B-Cycle bike share station just a few minutes walk from their place), 8 min drive, or 15-20 mins by SXSW free shuttle (it stops 10 mins walk away) from all the action downtown. It's also right near restaurant row in Zilker Park but in an extremely quiet neighborhood. If you want to convenience to downtown without the craziness, this is the place for you.
I slept beautifully on their comfy mattress. The shower pressure is incredible. The complimentary fruit and orange juice made it possible to get up after staying out late. The laundry machine was easy to use and perfect for someone who packs light.
If all that weren't reason enough to book here, Herb and Valentina were excellent hosts and a pleasure to get to know. Herb told me about the neighborhood's history and all the restaurants and places I should visit (Barton Springs is literally a stone's throw away). He also drove me to the conference my last morning since I had my bags. Why are you still reading this? If you're coming for SXSW or really any reason, this is where you should stay.