Remarkable Rockport coastal condo sails to top of 2023's most hospitable Texas Airbnb list

stellar superhosts

Photo courtesy of Airbnb

Doug and Sandy, a Rockport couple that have been Airbnb-ing their condo since 2021, have been crowned the most hospitable hosts in Texas in Airbnb's nationwide report in 2023.

They received the award thanks to their 100 percent five-star ratings for top-tier cleanliness, check-in policies, and excellent communication skills at their Reel Paradise 507 condo. The couple have over 400 raving reviews between all three of their Rockport listings.

"Host hospitality can take many forms – a spotless listing, a quick response to a guest need, a seamless and straightforward check-in process that makes kicking off a vacation easy, and going above and beyond to prioritize health and safety," the report says. "Superb Hosts have always been what sets staying in an Airbnb apart from other travel experiences and it starts with the hospitality they provide their guests."

In their day-to-day lives outside of being Superhosts, Sandy is a special education teacher in Corpus Christi, while Doug is retired. The couple previously lent their condo to their friends and acquaintances prior to making the decision to list it on Airbnb.

"After a year of that and [those friends] telling us how wonderful it was we decided we could make more money and support our retirement by doing Airbnb," the couple said in a release.

Their breathtaking waterfront condo is the ultimate getaway from Austin's busy city living. The charming one bedroom, two bathroom home can accommodate up to four guests for a relaxing vacation with stunning panoramic views of Little Bay.

Rockport Reel Paradise Doug and Sandy Airbnb best hosts in Texas Watch dolphins from the deck. Photo courtesy of Airbnb

The listing says the condo is "perfect for outdoor enthusiasts," who can dock their own boat at one of the eight private boat docks offered on the property at no extra charge. Other outdoor recommendations include dolphin watching and fishing from the wraparound back porch, or kayaking to Rockport Beach.

Doug and Sandy said in the report that they don't just treat the money they make from their Airbnb as passive income, but as ways to improve experiences for their guests.

“We work hard to ensure we offer an experience that makes our guests want to return," they said. "We are constantly maintaining and upgrading. We don’t want our guests to arrive and feel they need to go to the store to get supplies that may be missing or forgotten at home (phone chargers, spices, cooking equipment, charcoal and grill supplies, plenty of towels, beach chairs and toys, plenty of coffee and tea selections).”

True Texas hospitality is not lost on Doug and Sandy. The couple added that they always try and meet their guests in person during their stay, as they only live 10 minutes from their Airbnb properties. It just goes to show how above and beyond Airbnb hosts can go to make a vacation more memorable.

More information about Doug and Sandy's Rockport properties can be found on their host profile, and the full report of the best Airbnb hosts around the country can be found on news.airbnb.com.

Rockport Reel Paradise Doug and Sandy Airbnb best hosts in Texas

Photo courtesy of Airbnb

Have a drink and enjoy the sunset from the back porch at Reel Paradise 507.

Photo courtesy of Inn Cahoots

New Austin hotel redefines group travel with speakeasies, music venues, and more

Home Away From Homes

Group travel is a chaotic endeavor in the very best of circumstances. The temptation to split up and chase individual goals is strong, but those goals are seldom as fun without friends. Inn Cahoots, a new multipurpose hotel and venue, is bringing everything under the same roof to solve that problem for Austin travelers starting on July 21.

The "inn" mirrors a food truck park, a festival, or an exceptionally well-developed hostel. Occupying most of the 1200 block of East 6th Street, it contains (by its own estimation) "the first-ever hotel designed specifically for group travel" along with three public bars, two gardens with stages, and an unspecified group of food trucks.

If that sounds a little rowdy, that's the idea. Founder and CEO Kristen Carson, a "longtime Austin resident," created this traveler's playground in response to "party houses" that were disrupting neighbors in residential areas. Hopefully, the new compound can host travelers with similar goals where they belong — on a street that's already partying with or without them.

“The idea for Inn Cahoots came from my belief that bachelor and bachelorette parties shouldn’t be held in residential neighborhoods,” said Carson, who has her own experience as an Airbnb host, in a release. “I wanted to create a place where these parties and other large groups could have space to have fun while being in an area that would welcome them.”

The venue isn't new, but it is opening for the first time to the general public. The inn has been accepting bookings since 2019, but only via word of mouth. The event spaces were also reserved for more corporate needs; Formerly used for large-scale private events, the same seven spaces are now open to the public daily.

Now Inn Cahoots has five condo-style suites with common areas, kitchens, and multiple bedrooms each. A modular design with rolling walls can combine suites at the living room, as an accommodation for even larger groups. The inn also offers another edge over Airbnb or private rentals: dedicated hotel service.

The main recreational spaces are Bar Mischief, IYKYK, and Austin Garden & Studio. All three are bars — Bar Mischief pares things down to 20 seats and luxe cocktails, while IYKYK turns a rooftop into a speakeasy music lounge — but Austin Garden & Studio is the main event. Its scope contains the inn's third bar bar, the food truck lot, a yard, and a former radio studio that is "rumored" by neighbors to have an important Austin history as the home of the city's first Spanish-language station.

Photo courtesy of Inn Cahoots

Inn Cahoots was designed to accommodate groups traveling together, to lessen the strain of tourists on residential neighborhoods.

Austin Garden & Studio is also the only subspace with its own stated mission: "to maintain and bolster the city’s character and spirit while functioning as a backyard hangout for the community." Some of this commitment is made through booking acts, including a 10-piece band with a weekly residency. A "Sip & Support" initiative also benefits local nonprofits directly by donating a portion of its sales each month.

“The Inn Cahoots team has worked tirelessly to make this dream come to life,” said COO of Inn Cahoots Michelle Chuang in the release. “Whether you’re looking for a cozy cocktail lounge, a cool rooftop speakeasy, or a high-energy bar, we have something for everyone here — and we can’t wait to welcome Austinites to come experience it all."

Three days of grand opening festivities approach. Each RSVP (following the links) doubles as an entry to win the prize listed.

Friday, July 21, 5 pm to 2 am — Austin's Official Women's World Cup pep rally and watch party, live music, and DJ sets. Win an agave tasting for eight people.
Saturday, July 22, 5 pm to 2 am — Rotating DJ set. Win a VIP cabana and cocktails experience for 10 people.
Sunday, July 23, 2-11 pm — Live broadcast of 101X's Chillville, live music, drag queen trivia, and DJ sets. Win YUNGBLUD tickets for two people.

The team is already working on expanding the concept to Nashville, so Austin-based fans of Inn Cahoots may have a home away from home soon.

Photo by Mitchell Kmetz on Unsplash

Austin Airbnb prices are the 3rd most expensive in the U.S., report says

SUMMER TRAVEL SZN

Summer has arrived, and so have the summer tourists. For visitors looking to stay within their budget while traveling to Austin, or those who are looking for a staycation in their home city, you might want to allocate a little more for lodging. A new study by business website ChamberofCommerce.org has revealed Austin has the third least affordable Airbnb prices in the country, and was the only Texas city to make the top 10.

For the last 12 months, the average rate for "all [Airbnb] property types" in the city was $373 per night. However, the study did mention a dramatic decline of nightly rates as of May 22 to $243. There are a total of 3,761 active listings around town, which means there are 606 Airbnbs per 100,000 Austinites.

Looking deeper into average rates, a one-bedroom listing will cost you about $127 per night, while a two-bedroom will set you back $203 a night. The study says the average nightly rate for a three-bedroom Airbnb is $297.

This isn't the first time Austin-area Airbnb prices have caught the eye of budget-conscious travelers. In April, a Forbes Advisor study discovered visitors pay an average surcharge of 33 percent for an Airbnb in the city. At the time of Forbes' study, Austin Airbnbs cost an average of $244 a night.

Overall, California dominated the top 10 in the Chamber of Commerce report with three cities total making the list, and Oxnard ranking ahead of Austin in first place.

The top 10 U.S. cities with the most expensive daily rates are:

No. 1 – Oxnard, California
No. 2 – Scottsdale, Arizona
No. 3 – Austin, Texas
No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 5 – Honolulu, Hawaii
No. 6 – Virginia Beach, Virginia
No. 7 – Nashville, Tennessee
No. 8 – San Diego, California
No. 9 – Santa Clarita, California
No. 10 – Miami, Florida

The next Texas city that appeared in the ranking after Austin was Houston (No. 27), with their average rate for any Airbnb type at $224. Over in San Antonio (No. 32), their average rates are even lower at $218 a night.

In a separate ranking of cities with the most Airbnb listings, Austin ranked No. 12. The report looked at over 160,000 Airbnb listings within the largest American cities, analyzing the average daily rate and the total number of listings per 100,000 city residents.

Photo courtesy of Casa Kumwesu

Sweet Texas couple's new Waco Airbnb is an over-the-top ice cream dream

sprinkles of fun

A dynamic Texas couple is promising some sweet dreams with their new dessert-themed vacation rental in Waco.

Jessica Serna and Ismail Mpiana, wife and husband behind My Curly Adventures travel blog and My Culinary Adventures food blog, respectively, have debuted an ice cream-themed rental home called “Casa Kumwesu.”

The name pays homage to Serna's Hispanic roots and Mpiana's Zambian-Congolese heritage. It roughly translates to “our place/our house/our village.”

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom house spans 2,300 square feet on several acres of land, and can accommodate up to eight guests.

Highlights from the listing include:

one king-sized bed, one queen-sized bed, and two single beds
kitchen with stainless steel appliances
formal dining table and long island with seating reminiscent of a soda fountain
coffee bar stocked with syrups and toppings in a nook with seating
large soaking tub
plush bedding in each bedroom
four parking spots
two outdoor security cameras

But beyond the nuts-and-bolts, it's the Instagrammy design details that make the house a whimsical wonder. It's sprinkled with ice cream decor throughout, from ice cream cone seating and bathroom wallpaper to dish towels and pulls on the kitchen cabinets. On the walls, bright pastel colors and quirky patterns (one looks like "melting" ice cream) would make Willy Wonka proud. A photo-worthy ice cream cart bearing the name "Casa Kumwesu" stands outside on the patio.

Other fun features include a full-size Ms. Pac-Man machine and a super trendy flower wall with neon sign that says, "Treat Yo' Self" over a bed.

Mpiana says the ice cream theme wasn't due to any great love of the frozen treat (although Serna did recently have an ice cream named after her at Picole Pops). It was essentially marketing presentation that came to life.

“Jessica was doing a keynote seminar to destinations about the importance of owning a particular niche and going all out with it,” Mpiana says. “She ended up using an example of an ice cream theme."

As she was researching, she ended up falling in love with the colors and fun of ice cream and "just ran with it,” he says, adding that they both ended up enjoying the design process.

It was important to them to fill Casa Kumwesu with pieces and products that support Texas businesses, they say, from beautiful custom artwork created by local artists to personal care items by H-E-B’s Field and Future line. Many items were sourced through Etsy and Instagram. For instance, kitchen towels were designed by artist Volta Voloshin-Smith (@colorsnack on Instagram), a fringe wall was done by Oh My Darling Party Co (@ohmydarlingpartyco); and Home Airbnb designer Erica Dike (@ericaoohdesigns) helped bring it all together, with a cherry on top.

But, why Waco? Serna says its proximity between Austin and Dallas made it the perfect location for them.

“We spend so much time passing through Waco on all our travels across Texas, and we just started to fall in love with it,” she says.

Photo courtesy of Casa Kumwesu

Guests can share a meal at the large island, which resembles an old-fashioned soda fountain.

The home is located minutes away from a few of Waco’s most popular spots: Magnolia Shops at the Silos, Lake Waco, and Baylor University.

Casa Kumwesu has quietly opened for reservations via Airbnb and Vrbo. According to the booking sites, pricing starts around $550 per night (before cleaning and service fees), with a two-night minimum.

Photo by Max Miner on Unsplash

Austin visitors pay 33 percent on average in Airbnb surcharges, Forbes finds

FEES ARE MY ENEMIES

We’ve all been there: You find that perfect Airbnb with the right price for your travel dates, only to be deterred at the checkout page when you witness the total skyrocket to an incomprehensible amount after the cleaning and “service” fees. Oh, and you’ll still have a laminated list of chores to complete before you leave, otherwise the hosts will charge you extra after your stay.

The latest findings from Forbes Advisor discovered Austin travelers pay an average surcharge of 33 percent for an Airbnb in the city, which is only slightly lower than the nationwide average of 36 percent. Forbes’ expert analysts looked at 32,000 listings across 100 of the most popular markets on Airbnb to find common trends.

The average Airbnb stay in Austin is $244 a night with a 12 percent cleaning fee, a 15 percent service fee, and an average 7 percent tax rate. Though that seems high, Austin is only No. 71 on Forbes’ list.

Unfortunately for Houston visitors looking for a vacation, Airbnb’s fees are not financially friendly, either. Houston ranked as the Texas city with the highest fees, and No. 8 overall with their average surcharge at 45 percent. Though their nightly rate is lower than Austin’s at $193, they pay 15 percent in both cleaning and service fees, on top of another 15 percent in taxes. That’s a good dent in your wallet.

The Texas city with the lowest fees is Fort Worth, appearing lower than Austin at No. 77 on the list. The average Airbnb costs $225 a night, with 12 percent in cleaning fees, 15 percent in service fees, and 5 percent in taxes.

Here’s a look at every Texas city that appeared in the top 100:

No. 8 – Houston: 45 percent total fees
No. 33 – Galveston: 39 percent total fees
No. 47 – San Antonio: 37 percent total fees
No. 67 – Dallas: 34 percent total fees
No. 69 – South Padre Island: 34 percent total fees
No. 71 – Austin: 33 percent total fees
No. 77 – Fort Worth: 33 percent total fees

Atlanta is the U.S. city with the highest percentage in fees for the average Airbnb stay, totaling an unfathomable 48 percent. Surprisingly, an Airbnb stay in New York City will only come with 23 percent in total fees, making it the lowest percentage out of all the top 100 cities.

In the report, Publicist Tracy Lamourie criticized Airbnb hosts and property managers for charging excessive fees, calling it "disingenuous."

“I’m old enough to remember when Airbnb was a more wallet-friendly alternative to hotels. That’s only rarely true these days,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dustin Abney, the CEO of vacation-rental management company Portoro, defended Airbnb and praised the company's transparency around its listings with the fee breakdown. He explained "most guests" are charged fees without knowing where that money truly goes.

“Most guests also assume that property managers or hosts are trying to price-gouge them, when this usually is not the case,” Abney said. “In reality, there are many hidden costs that go into running a short-term rental, and these costs fall on property managers to pay.”

The full report and its methodology can be found on forbes.com.

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Tasteful Austin ice cream shop starts crowdfunding to scoop up new cities

Tastes Like Profit

We're not sure how many licks it takes to get to a popular Austin ice cream shop into new markets, but a crowdfunding campaign gives fans a chance to find out.

Lick Honest Ice Creams, known for interesting, mature flavors (without getting too serious), has launched a campaign via MicroVentures that will allow onlookers a chance to support the business with small investments of $100 or more. Ice cream never goes out of style, and the company is hoping to appeal not just to repeat customers, but anyone who thinks the sweet treat has growth potential.

Although this could be a long-term holding, the root idea is to eventually trade back the stake for a financial gain once the company has grown. In less than two days (since the campaign launched on September 28), Lick has already sold stakes worth more than $66,000 from 90 investors.

“This isn’t just an investment in terms of capital," said CEO Anthony Sobotik in a news release. "It’s an opportunity to own a piece of your favorite ice cream shop, shared memories, and a piece of Lick’s future. By investing, you’re supporting our dream and commitment to spread the Lick experience further, enabling Lick to support family-owned farms in a more significant way, and ensuring more people can truly know what they’re licking."

The ice cream shop has been in Austin since its inception in 2012, and now operates three stores in the area, plus stores in San Antonio, Houston, and College Station. The total store count is currently at eight, with a ninth coming to Houston's Autry Park "soon," according to the website. The release states intentions to use the crowdfunding to "build more scoop shops and expand into new markets," but does not specify which cities the brand is eyeing, or even if they are in Texas or farther away.

Some of the flavors pay homage to their Texas roots, like "Caramel Salt Lick," "Hill Country Honey & Vanilla Bean," and "Texas Sheet Cake." It is easy to see where ingredients come from, as suppliers are listed on the menu. Seasonal flavors right now include creative twists like "Back Porch Iced Tea" and "Fig & Fromage," sticking to Lick's script of interesting and local ingredients. The menu also includes a small number of dairy-free flavors.

“From our first scoop shop opening in 2011 to where Lick is now, it’s been an extraordinary journey. We’ve now served over a million scoops, and with each one, we’ve shared our commitment to and love for thoughtfully crafted, ethically, and sustainably-sourced and produced ice cream,” said Sobotik.

“But beyond just charming your taste buds, our flavors tell stories," he continued. "Those are the stories of favorite dishes, the family and friends we shared them with, and the farmers we work with. It’s a special connection that ice cream grants us, and it’s what really makes this our story, not just Lick’s story.”

More information and links to contribute to the campaign are available at microventures.com.

Hopdoddy mooves toward regenerative meats, nixing plant-based substitutes

86 the Beyond Patties

Hearty Austin-based chain Hopdoddy Burger Bar has unveiled a new lineup of regenerative burgers that are supposed to be better for the planet and the consumer.

The term ‘regenerative burger’ could cause a few head-scratches: Some may think of lab-grown or 3D-printed meat, while others think of plant-based alternatives but it’s neither. It is grass-fed meat, sourced a bit differently. "Regenerative farming" is a term used to describe farming and grazing practices that claim to restore and rebuild degraded soil, resulting in better-quality air and water.

Hopdoddy’s vice president of culinary Matt Schweitzer explained that it all began with with a sense of obligation to do better as a brand for the consumers and the ecosystem.

“We felt like we could really take a stand and look to move our entire supply chain in a regenerative fashion, so we could really be proud of the work we’ve done and we could hopefully leave the animals, the farmers, the ranchers, the native grasslands, and our planet a better place than before we started,” says Schweitzer.

The new menu items include the "Roosevelt Burger" with grass-fed regenerative bison; the "Nashville Hot Sandwich" with regenerative raised chicken; the "Regenerative Royale," which is a play on a classic double quarter-pounder with cheese; the "Mother Nature" with grass-fed regenerative beef; and the "Buffalo Bill" also uses regenerative bison, but appears not to be grass-fed.

The five burgers are available at all Hopdoddy locations nationwide. The beef and bison are sourced from Texas-based regenerative company Force of Nature, while the chicken is from Cooks Venture.

With this launch, Hopdoddy removes all plant-based meat substitutes from its menu, significantly reducing the options for vegans and vegetarians. The company felt the ingredients and ethos of the alternative meats — describing some such as Beyond Meats as "falsely advertised" regarding nutrition in a press release — no longer aligned with its values and mission. However, the house-made veggie patty remains on the signature "El Bandito" burger.

Schweitzer says the regenerative burgers have received positive feedback, as people are excited to know where their food comes from, how it gets to their table, and what type of impact it causes. Regarding the future of regenerative meat, he says there is no doubt it could become mainstream soon.

“I think the flavor profile, the eating experience, the story, the mission, the purpose, really speaks for itself," says Schweitzer. "So, I really think it’s a matter of time until 'regenerative' is talked about in the same way that 'organic,' or 'sustainable,' or those type of buzzwords are talked about."

To further show its commitment to regenerative agriculture, Hopdoddy is also one of the sponsors of Common Ground, a documentary about the pioneers of the regenerative movement, premiering October 4 in Austin. The "uplifting" film, according to a release, features well-known actors Laura Dern, Rosario Dawson, Jason Momoa, Woody Harrelson, Ian Somerhalder, and Donald Glover, emphasizing that this motley crew does share one thing in common: a strong belief in regenerative agriculture.

For more information about the new regenerative burgers, visit hopdoddy.com.

Rock star Bono's daughter makes her own sweet music in Flora and Son

Movie Review

The new Apple TV+ film Flora and Son centers on a single mother and her teenage son, a situation that typically calls for an uplifting story about the mother’s struggles trying to support the two of them, and the bond that develops between them as go through the troubles together. While that element exists somewhat here, it goes down a much different path that’s both saltier and equally as rewarding.

Photo courtesy of Apple TV+

Eve Hewson and Oren Kinlan in Flora and Son.

Set in Dublin, Ireland, the film follows Flora (Eve Hewson), a single mom to Max (Oren Kinlan), who gets in a fair bit of trouble. She shares custody with her ex, Ian (Jack Reynor), and their antagonistic relationship, along with Max being a teenager, likely has an effect on how Flora and Max get along. A typical interchange between mother and son has them calling each other all sorts of bad names, although there rarely seems to be any true animosity behind their arguments.

When a guitar Flora refurbishes for Max goes unappreciated, she instead starts taking online lessons herself with an American named Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). She’s no less brash with him, but her sincere interest in learning how to play and in finding out more about Jeff’s music opens a new door for Flora. Soon, a discovery that Max is making music of his own on his laptop helps them communicate better than they have in a long time.

Flora & Son is the latest music-focused film from writer/director John Carney (Once, Sing Street), and he once again finds the sweet spot in telling a personal story enhanced by song. Flora has more than a few rough edges, making her a less-than-ideal protagonist, but the heart of the character shines through precisely because she has no filter. Once music is added to the equation, it become that much easier to see the type of person she is and why you should root for her.

Both Hewson and Gordon-Levitt are charming actors, so they establish a connection through a screen well. Fortunately, though, Carney chooses not to leave it at that, adding a slight fantasy element to some of their scenes by having Flora imagine Jeff in the room with her. A romantic element naturally arises, but it’s the unexpected way in which two lonely souls find each other from across the world that makes them the most interesting.

There are a couple of decent songs that come out of the process of all of the music-making, but nothing that you could truly call an earworm. Instead, it’s the feeling you get seeing the characters interact when they’re sharing music with each other that makes the film sing. Only one character could be classified as a professional musician, with the rest of them making music for the pure joy of it, an emotion Carney translates well in his storytelling.

Hewson (the daughter of U2’s Bono, in case you were unaware) is having a moment after 15 years in the business. She has a boldness that serves her as well in this role as it did in the recent Apple TV+ limited series, Bad Sisters. This is Kinlan’s first major part, and he acquits himself well. Both Gordon-Levitt and Reynor are seasoned actors who know how to make the most of their limited scenes.

The depiction of a mother/child relationship in Flora and Son is atypical, but it still winds up in a great spot thanks to the power of music and some fine performances. Carney’s love for both songs and filmmaking has yielded some memorable movies over the years, this one included.

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Flora and Son opens in select theaters and on Apple TV+ on September 29.

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