family trip for Labor day. Kids are 5 and 7, another family going with same age kids and a 3.5 year old as well. Just looking for a weekend getaway to relax soon after school starts. Any thoughts on which is better or another place all together?

We're from Temple and want to keep the drive just a couple of hours

TIA

Stayed at both in the last year with similar aged kids.

JW Marriott is AWESOME for their water park and slides. My 4 yr old was tall enough to ride all but the biggest 2 slides as long as he was with me.

My 9 yr old was tall enough to ride everything.

The water park at JW blows out Lost Pines.

Where Lost Pines might be a bit better is if you like biking, hiking, "sports," etc...

Lost Pines also has animals they bring out for kids to pet / paint, and Lost Pines also has horseback riding for an extra cost.

For me, I liked JW better for the summer and Lost Pines more for cooler weather.

Both are really nice and would go back to both.

JW over Hill Country Hyatt. It's newer and the pool/slides are better. I also really love the area it's in.

The Hyatt is still very nice and you won't go wrong staying there. I just think the JW is in a better location. I'm a bit biased, though, since I live right near the resort .

Haven't stayed at Lost Pines so can't comment.

If you want to go to SeaWorld, Hyatt Hill Country is super close. Otherwise, I agree that the JW is better.

Ive stayed at all many times. The Hyatt Hill Country is the best. You will absolutely not be disappointed.

Haven't been to JW, so this is comparison of just LP and HC.

Been to LP many, many times and went to HC for the first time over the 4th. Both are excellent and have subtle differences. LP is more sprawling and has certain activities that HC doesn't have, like kayaking and horseback riding. HC is older and more compact, so you are always a lot closer to activities for the kids and pools. Also much easier to get a drink at the pool bars, and they also had little bars set up outside on walking paths every night, and a "float up" bar on the lazy river. The trees and natural beauty at HC seemed more mature. Lots more shade.

After being to both, I lean slightly toward HC being better. The proximity to "the action" was better. It had a better water slide for the kids (not JW, but better than LP), and the lazy river, "beach" and pools were better and had more natural shade.

Another big plus for us was the proximity to Sea World and other things in general. At LP, you are pretty secluded and resort-bound. It takes 10 minutes just to get back to the highway near Bastrop. At HC, it is no big deal to get off the property and you can be at Se World in 5 minutes and at the River Walk in probably 15.

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If you want to go to SeaWorld, Hyatt Hill Country is super close. Otherwise, I agree that the JW is better.

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True.

I think Hyatt could be closer to downtown than the JW also, but the JW isn't terribly far either.

Do the JW. It is perfect for what you are looking for. If you are going with another family rent a cabana. We just did it it this last weekend. Having a spot that is yours all day with shade and service is worth it.

JW and IMO it's not very close.

Love the s'mores and outside family movie at night at the hill country.

JW has a much larger water park, slides, lazy river. If the kids are young and you want them close, either Hyatt is good. Their water features are smaller, but they have other activities (like sitting on a cow, s'mores, etc.).