Give Big or Go Home

Austin's most glamorous — and expensive — gifts available this holiday season

They say the best things in life are free, but isn't it fun to get a really fabulous gift, too? For this holiday gift guide, we've uncovered the most glamorous, the most expensive, and the most outrageous gifts you can give this holiday season. Sure, they may require cashing in your 401(k) or taking out a second mortgage, but it's holiday time and your beloved is worth it.

Own the hippest hotel in town for a night
What: Buy the Hotel Saint Cecilia for an evening
Cost: $20,000 per night

For $20,000, you can kick those celebrities and local luminaries to the curb and enjoy the Hotel Saint Cecilia all to yourself. The buyout ensures total privacy at this beautiful Travis Heights hotel, and includes exclusive access to the hotel’s five suites, six poolside bungalows and three intimate studios. Oh, and let's not forget the Saint Cecilia's infamous 50-foot heated pool. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of South Congress or retreat to lush grounds where you can revel in all the luxe offerings of the Saint Cecilia. (For more information contact: jenny.coambs@hotelsaintcecilia.com or call 512-852-2400.)

Enjoy the ultimate relaxation package
What: 12 deluxe treatments at Hiatus Spa + Retreat
Cost: $895

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... 12 treatments at one of Austin's most celebrated spas. Hiatus Spa + Retreat is offering limited edition packages that feature 12 of its signature treatments including a Hiatus massage, Hiatus facial, revitalizing body wrap, acupuncture, hot stone retreat, eco-gel manicure and spa pedicure with PediSonic treatment, among others. (For a full list of treatments, visit the Hiatus Spa website.)

Embrace your inner speed freak
What: Private track rental at Circuit of the Americas
Cost: $55,000 per day

For speed freaks and car enthusiasts this the chance of a lifetime, and no detail is left undone with this ultimate racing fantasy. COTA will help coordinate getting your vehicle to the circuit where you can take a lap (or 20) around the track. Enjoy a private pit (just like the Formula 1 drivers!), a concierge staff, catered dining and official lap timing. Pretend you're the big winner with a Champagne celebration at the tower deck, hang out on the winner's podium and enjoy professional input from track and corner marshals, operations team and medical staff. (To reserve a spot, contact Eric Paradis at COTA.)

Bring the bartender home
What: Private, in-home tutorials from the celebrated staff at drink.well
Cost: $1,000 per class

Everyone knows that some of the best drinks in town come from the award-winning staff at drink.well. Now you can bring the bar directly to your home with a private class led by drink.well bartenders. Enjoy a class for eight people where you will learn to stir, shake and blend the cocktails that made this North Loop joint famous. The drink.well staff will bring all the supplies, you just bring a few of your booze-loving friends. (For more information call 512-614-6683 or email info@drinkwellaustin.com.)

Sparkle all year
What: Diamond bracelet stunner from Benold's Jewelers
Cost: $24,900

Diamonds aren't just a girl's best friend — they're everyone's best friend. This bracelet from locally owned Benold's Jewelers is an 18-karat white, rose and yellow gold piece dripping with more than seven karats of diamonds. This sparkler will liven any party — or even a routine trip to the grocery store. (Benold's Jewelers is located at 2900 West Anderson Ln.)

The best box of chocolate ever
What: Wayward Chocolat's 30-count Dark Chocolate Ganache
Cost: $75

Another Austin-based company, Wayward Chocolat is the perfect gift for the chocolate lovers on your list. One bite of this rich, velvety ganache covered in a thin, dark chocolate shell and you'll be a Wayward fan for life. Bonus? Each piece has the same amount of antioxidants as a half cup of blueberries — so it's basically a health food. (Order directly from Wayward Chocolat here.)

Indulge in the most luxurious vacation of all
What: 10th Annual My Yacht Monaco
Cost: $13,000 per person, $25,000 per couple

As anyone who has attended the My Yacht Club parties during Austin's Formula 1 weekend knows, this group knows how to throw a party. Spend four days and nights during the Monaco Grand Prix on a superyacht "moored in a prime trackside berth." Have your every whim catered to during a weekend that also includes access to the My Yacht Monaco Royal reception and party, one of the most exclusive parties of the weekend. Hollywood celebs, athletes and even royals like HSH Prince Albert II and HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco have been known to take part in the festivities, so dress accordingly. (For more information visit My Yacht Monaco.)

Enjoy four days in Monaco on a superyacht.

Photo courtesy of My Yacht Club

Enjoy four days in Monaco on a superyacht.

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Self-driving Roller Coaster

More self-driving cars expected to roll out in Austin for 2025

Photo courtesy of Waymo via KVUE

Various brands offering self-driving cars are on-and-off in Austin.

Expect to see more self-driving rideshare vehicles, also known as robotaxis, on Austin roads next year.

Robotaxi company Waymo, which you may have already seen on Austin's roads, is partnering with Uber. At some point next year, customers will be able to use the Uber app to call a self-driving ride.

Austin-based company Avride is in the testing phase and plans to roll out its robotaxis next year.

Currently, Volkswagen ADMT and Amazon's Zoox are in the testing phase in Austin, while Hyundai's Motional is in the mapping phase.

Last year, robotaxi company Cruise paused operations in Austin after the California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the company's permits to operate driverless vehicles in the state. And last week, General Motors said it would no longer fund the company because of the time and resources needed.

This way of getting around has come with its safety concerns and issues. The city is tracking those concerns. According to the Transportation Department, the problems span from blocking the roads and parking in front of people's homes for weeks with lights beaming through their windows, to actual wrecks.

Since July 2023, robotaxis have been involved in 75 incidents. Only 21 of those incidents happened in 2024. It's important to note that Cruise has not been operating in Austin this year.

Since July 2023, driverless rideshare vehicles have been involved in 22 near collisions, eight collisions and seven instances where driverless taxis ignored directions from the Austin Police Department (APD).

According to the data, at least four of those Austin police incidents happened in recent months. The issues varied from driving through police checkpoints, to malfunctioning and getting stuck at an APD road closure near pedestrians, causing safety concerns.

A Waymo spokesperson said their vehicles have gesture recognition capabilities, which they've been training APD officers on using.

As the report shows, sometimes it does not work and Waymo said it is working to improve that. The spokesperson said that as of just last week, Waymo's First Responder Program has been independently verified by TÜV SÜD, making Waymo the first autonomous vehicle (AV) company to receive third-party validation for our emergency response protocols. They also said the data to date indicates the Waymo Driver is already reducing traffic injuries and fatalities in the places where the company currently operates.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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