Policies & FAQ
The rules are short. The answers are honest.
Everything you’d want to know before booking — and a few things guests always ask at check-in.
House policies
The short list that keeps 34 strangers happy
- Check-in 3pm–11pm, checkout 11am. Late arrival? Call or email ahead and we’ll send the door code and a bunk map. Early arrival? The yard, the lounge, and the luggage room are yours from 8am.
- Quiet hours midnight–8am. East 6th is loud enough for all of us. Inside the house after midnight: whispers, headphones, and the yard instead of the lounge. The roof deck closes at 11pm.
- Guests of guests until 11pm. Friends are welcome in the common rooms during the day. Overnight guests need a booked bed — no exceptions, even for touring drummers.
- 18+ in dorms. Travelers under 18 stay in private rooms with a parent or guardian.
- No smoking inside. The yard is the smoking area; that’s half of why it exists. Vapes included.
- Cancellation: free until 48 hours before arrival. Inside 48 hours, the first night is charged. Festival weeks (SXSW, ACL, F1) are 7 days, and we’re upfront about that at booking.
- Maximum stay 21 nights per calendar month — the house stays a travelers’ house. Longer arrangements exist; ask us directly.
- Pet-free dorms, pet-friendly privates. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the private rooms for $15 a night. Service animals always welcome everywhere, of course — give us a heads-up so we can room you thoughtfully.
Questions we hear at check-in
The FAQ
Is East 6th safe to walk at night?
The strip stays lit and busy until the venues close, and the walk from downtown is a straight shot down one of the most-trafficked streets in the city. Standard city sense applies — walk with people after midnight, skip the unlit shortcuts, keep your phone pocketed when you’re dancing. We’ll mark the well-lit routes on your map at check-in.
What’s actually included in the rate?
Linens, pillow, blanket, towel, locker use, coffee all morning, full kitchen access, Wi-Fi, luggage storage on your travel days, and every house event — including Sunday breakfast tacos. The only things that cost extra are laundry ($3 a load, soap included) and the honor-system beer fridge.
Do you have a women-only dorm?
Yes — the 4-bed dorm is women-only, at $42 a bed. Select it when booking; if it’s full, email us and we’ll tell you honestly when a bunk opens.
Can I cook? Is there really a free dinner?
The kitchen is fully equipped — two stoves, a cast-iron wall we’re mildly precious about, labeled shelf and fridge space for every room. Sunday breakfast tacos are a $5 suggested contribution, not free, and they feed whoever’s in the house at 10am. Nobody counts the jar.
How loud is it, honestly?
We’re on the East 6th corridor — you’ll hear the city on weekend nights, mostly as a low hum through brick walls. Inside, quiet hours are real and enforced kindly. Light sleepers: ask for the 4-bed dorm or the yard-side Private Double, and take the free earplugs at the desk anyway.
Is there parking?
Free street parking on the side streets and a small two-spot guest lot behind the house, first come first served. During SXSW, ACL, and F1, street parking fills by Thursday — park once and don’t move the car until you leave.
What’s the deal with SXSW and ACL bookings?
Festival weeks carry higher rates, 3-night minimums, and 7-day cancellation — all shown clearly before you pay. They also sell out: SXSW by December, ACL by early summer. If the calendar shows nothing, join the waitlist — cancellations happen every year.
Can I work remotely from the house?
Half our long-stay guests do. Wi-Fi runs 400+ Mbps throughout, the yard table stays laptop-friendly all day, and the quiet lounge is calls-okay until 6pm. After that, take video calls to the yard so the lounge can be a lounge again.
Still wondering something?
Call the house — a human answers from 8am to 11pm, and it’s usually Mars.