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The weekend before Thanksgiving, we took a long weekend trip to visit my husband’s family in Austin, Texas.
We visit Austin somewhat frequently, and I have a list of hotels that are on my list to stay at, one of which was the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa.
I love staying at beautiful, high-end hotels (and love finding deals on them even more!), so was very excited when there was a good price for our dates.
In my research, I read about staying at the Omni Barton Creek with kids and the family-friendly amenities on property, but have to say I was absolutely blown away by all of the kid-friendly touches when we actually arrived.
My four-year-old was obsessed with the mini golf course, bounce house, complementary s’mores every night, and so much more.
After our stay, it was clear that the Omni Barton Creek truly goes above and beyond when it comes to families traveling with kids.
If you’ve ever wondered whether a luxury resort is realistic, or even enjoyable, with little kids, this one genuinely surprised me.
In this review I’m covering the rooms, dining, pools, activities for kids, and whether the price is worth it, plus tips for visiting with little kids specifically.
If I’ve already convinced you this is the resort for you, book your stay now!
Family-Friendly Facts: Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa
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Getting to the Omni Barton Creek with Kids
The Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa is located in the Austin, Texas Hill Country. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
When we visited, we got a rental car since we knew we’d be driving to see my husband’s family.
The hotel offers both valet and self-park options. We chose the self-park option and it was perfectly convenient since all parking is on-site.
The property is large, so I’d recommend one parent parks/retrieves the car and the other waits in the hotel lobby with kids.
If you plan to just stay at the hotel (which you absolutely could!) the distance from the airport would be do-able by Uber or Lyft.
Downtown Austin is about a 25-minute drive from Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa.
Family Room Accommodations at Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa
There are lots of different room options when you stay at the Omni Barton Creek with kids.
Since we just have one child, we opted for the deluxe room with two queen beds. It was perfectly spacious for their basic room!
There was a large bathroom (with separate toilet area), and a small sitting area with a table and two chairs. It would have been large enough for a pack-n-play or crib if we had needed one.
For larger families, the hotel offers suites and connecting rooms. The Omni Barton Creek guarantees connecting rooms for families, just request it when you make your booking.
Some rooms also offer a balcony, but since my son is so young, I prefer not to have one in our room for safety.
The rooms offer important kid-friendly amenities, like a mini fridge and plenty of storage.
For example, our room had a very large dresser that more than fit all our clothing and a large closet to store luggage.
Dining with Kids at Omni Barton Creek
One of our favorite things about visiting Omni Barton Creek with kids is how many restaurants are available on site and offer great kids menus!
Our favorites were Crenshaw’s Bar & Eatery, which is a casual restaurant with American fare, and Texas Spice, which is the breakfast restaurant and offers a great weekend buffet.
The same kids menu is served at each restaurant and has tons of options for all meals.
The breakfast buffet at Texas Spice was a huge hit. My son loved picking out his own items, and it was offered at a discounted rate for kids.
Poolside dining is also available, which is a great option for lunch. And of course if you want to stay in your room, the hotel offers room service for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Omni Junior Chefs program is a fun way that the hotel promotes healthy eating.
They gave us a gift bag full of healthy snacks and coloring supplies at check-in. When kids return their colored postcard to the front desk, the hotel donates a meal to the Feeding America.
The Pools at Omni Barton Creek
There are several pool options when you visit the Omni Barton Creek with kids, including two traditional pools and one splash pad.
The splash pad is great for toddlers and young children—my son loved it! And the two larger pools are great for stronger swimmers or swimming as a family.
There’s also an adults only pool and hot tub if you’re traveling with others who can watch your kiddos while you get some quiet adult time! All of the pools are heated and open year-round from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m..
We visited in the fall so it wasn’t crowded at all. It was easy to get a seat and we had plenty of space all to ourselves.
The resort staff said the pool gets much busier in the summer (which was no surprise!). If you’re visiting during that time of year, it might be a good idea to grab chairs early or reserve a cabana.
Also since we visited in the fall it wasn’t terribly hot, so we didn’t need much shade. The chairs all have umbrellas if you’re traveling during a hotter time period.
There is poolside food and drink service (with a kids menu!), which was super convenient. We could spend the day relaxing in the sun without having to go inside or get dressed for lunch.
Family Recreation & Activities at Omni Barton Creek
- Lawn games and outdoor spaces: The Longhorn Lawn is an outdoor space that is great for kids to run around. When we visited, it was set up with games and a bounce house/inflatable water slide!
- Mini golf: There is a small mini golf course, perfect for little kids, right on the hotel property.
- Crafts: Each day we were at the hotel, there were kids crafts available in the lobby. This was a great option if we needed indoor time or a low-stimulation activity.
- Arcade: The hotel has a small arcade with retro video games and an air hockey table. Our favorite part of this space was that all the games were free, so my son could play as much as he wanted!
- S’mores: Each night, the Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa set up s’more making kits that we could make on the large fire pit at the back of the property. It was a great (and free!) simple dessert each night!
- Nature trails: The resort has a family-friendly 1-mile nature path loop where you can take in the Hill Country scenery and get some fresh air.
- Golf lessons: The Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa is perfect for families who love to golf and offers lessons for all ages.
The Omni Barton Creek Spa (For Parents!)
I can (unfortunately) only somewhat share my experience with the spa at Omni Barton Creek.
We had every intention of booking spa appointments when my son was visiting my mother-in-law, and let me tell you, the spa was gorgeous!
We ended up not wanting to spend the extra money (trust me, this was a hard and overly responsible decision!).
But, through my research, I learned the spa offers massages, facials, body treatments, salon services and couples spa experiences.
You can book them in advance (definitely recommend this during busy seasons), or make an appointment once you arrive.
The spa is open daily from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Common Questions for Families
- What is the best age to visit the Omni Barton Creek with kids? Honestly, ANY age! There are a range of activities for all kids from baby to teenager age.
- What is the ideal length of stay at Omni Barton Creek with kids? We stayed for four nights and it was perfect! Granted, we also spent time away from the resort with my husband’s family, but I don’t think I would have gotten tired of the resort had we spent all of our time there.
- What should you pack (beyond the usuals)? If you’re planning to golf or play tennis, you can consider bringing your own equipment and attire for those sports. Bring swimwear and any sort of swim aids (like life jackets or vests) that your kids typically use.
- What is the best time of year for families to visit Omni Barton Creek with kids? I’m biased, but I LOVED visiting in November! We live in the Midwest, so it was a nice break from the cold at home. And the resort was quieter because it was during the off season. Since the pools are open year-round, we could still take advantage of all of the amenities.
- What budget considerations should you take into account? Since we stayed during a less busy time, we secured a reasonable room rate. Plan to spend a moderate amount on food and beverages at the hotel. I didn’t think prices were crazy, just standard, upscale resort pricing.
Our Family’s Final Verdict on the Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa
Overall, I would absolutely recommend visiting the Omni Barton Creek with kids. We will be returning the next time we visit my husband’s family and already can’t wait to be back!
