How We Tested

Best of the Year selected a well-traveled couple for a multi-day stay at Lake Austin Spa Resort in mid-August. They were chosen for their extensive travel experience and familiarity with many types of accommodations, from vacation rentals to hotels across a range of price points. The stay was arranged through the resort’s PR company and coordinated by Best of the Year and the resort representative. Lake Austin Spa Resort hosted the stay, while the testers covered their own airfare and transportation to and from the property.

During their visit, the testers assessed the accommodations, food, service and hospitality, spa, fitness and wellness programming, lake activities and overall guest experience in real-world conditions. And they put the activity schedule to work, trying AquaStretch/Myofascial Release, paddling on Lake Austin, yoga, TRX suspension training, cardio drumming, kickboxing, floating meditation, Boat to Hike, massage, sound bathing, astronomy and photography. They experienced both activities and amenities included in the resort fee and spa treatments and other services available for an additional charge.

The testers completed scorecards assessing the overall guest experience, service and hospitality, value, differentiation and whether the resort delivered on what it promised. They also shared what stood out, what could be improved and whether they would recommend the experience.

Best of the Year analysts reviewed the resort’s awards entry and supporting materials across our evaluation criteria. Additional judges assessed its sustainability practices and supporting claims, including efforts around plastics, refillable amenities, resource conservation, sourcing, waste and community impact.

What Experts and Consumer Testers Said

Our testing confirmed one of the most appealing things about Lake Austin: you can arrive, hand over some of the planning and simply start trying things. And our testers tried as much as they could cram into their multi-day stay. Of everything they tried, the signature "AquaStretch" myofascial release came out on top. Performed in the water, the assisted stretching and bodywork was unlike anything else we tried and exactly the kind of experience that makes a wellness getaway feel like more than a nice hotel with a spa attached.

The quality of the instructors came up repeatedly in our evaluation, too. One tester called them “AMAZING” and praised their “high caliber.” That distinction matters: Lake Austin doesn't just give you a long list of things to do; the people leading those experiences were a big part of why we wanted to keep signing up for more.

Food was another highlight. Three meals a day are included, with dishes cooked to order and an emphasis on flavor, nutrition and seasonal ingredients, including herbs and produce from the resort’s own gardens when available. One tester called the food “healthy and gourmet” and specifically praised the made-to-order approach. The chef’s efforts to creatively reuse ingredients and reduce food waste also stood out. You will not be eating camp food.

The resort’s small scale adds to the experience. With just 40 cottages and bungalows, it feels intimate rather than resort-sized, something our testing specifically called out as making the stay feel special. Accommodations earned high marks, too: spotlessly clean, plenty of storage, robes and flip-flops waiting, and a bed one tester emphasized was “VERY comfy.” Staff were attentive, the property was well maintained and the lake itself was every bit as much a part of the experience as we hoped it would be.

Testers had a few tips for the resort, too: "During our summer stay, dock hours ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., putting water activities during some of the hottest hours of the Texas day," says one tester. "We would have welcomed earlier morning or later afternoon access. And two of three scent jars provided in one room wouldn't open—a tiny complaint, but no detail escaped testing."

Our science and standards judges also saw positives in Lake Austin’s reported sustainability efforts, including refillable amenities, reducing single-use plastics, resource conservation, local sourcing and efforts to reduce food waste. They also wanted to see more measurement behind those efforts, including clear baselines, targets and year-over-year reporting to demonstrate their impact.

Last but not least, it's hard to ignore that the resort has a long history of travel and wellness accolades, including being named the #1 Destination Spa in the U.S. in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards in both 2024 and 2025, along with repeated recognition in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

"Spotlessly clean, well-appointed rooms, very comfortable beds, and attentive staff." -Best of the Year Judge & Travel Category Expert

Best of the Year Bottom Line

If you want a getaway where the planning is handled and the point is to actually rest, Lake Austin Spa Resort earns the recommendation. Our reviewer's firsthand stay found the setting, the instructors, and the food genuinely strong, and the intimate scale is the thing people remember. Go in with clear eyes on the all-inclusive question, confirm what your rate covers before you arrive, and the experience should hold up to what drew you there in the first place.

Why Trust Us?

The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have spent their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.

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