Move In Information

We take a great deal of pride in the product and services we provide for our residents. We like to think of The Castilian as an important stepping-stone to independence, yet we still provide the help and support from our staff.

The following information should be helpful as you prepare to settle into your new home. We have tried to answer the most frequently asked questions, but please let us know if you have any additional questions that we may not have covered. You can reach us by phone at (512) 478-9811 or (800) 334-5320.

Move In Dates: 2011 through 2012

Summer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 (Summer I)
Monday, July 11, 2011 (Summer II)

Fall
August 20-21, 2011 (Academic Year and Fall Only)
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Spring Only
Saturday, January 14, 2012 (Spring Only)

To help avoid any undue congestion in the building, we will be staggering all move-ins by the first letter of your last name. You may move in on or anytime after your assigned date, but remember classes start on the 24th of August!!!  Please make note that the cafeteria will not be open until August 22rd, 2011 at 7:00am with breakfast as the first meal. *If you are graduating at the end of your lease term or plan to stay past your lease term, you must inquire about the possibility of staying later by sending an email to the resident manager.

Please read the following to see when you are scheduled to move in:


Saturday, August 20, 2011 – Last names beginning with A – L.
Sunday, August 21, 2011 – Last names beginning with M – Z.


Room # / Mailbox # / Roommate Assignment
You will receive your room number, mailbox number, and roommate information in late July or early August. Please remember that room, roommate, and suitemate information is subject to change prior to move in.

Packing Tips
You will be provided with one bed, one dresser, and one desk. We would advise you to pack your belongings in cardboard boxes, if possible.  You may not have enough space in your room to store bulky suitcases. Boxes with end slots for ease of movement are great. As fire codes prohibit the blockage of any passageways, please do not put your empty boxes in the hallways. A dumpster will be placed near the rear entrance stairs for box disposal. Please make sure that you break down your boxes so that we have adequate space for all new residents to dump their boxes.

What You Should Bring
1. Backpack & School Supplies
2. Alarm Clock
3. Bed Linens (extra-long twin)
4. Pillow
5. Toiletries
6. Toilet paper
7. Ice Trays
8. Stationary/Stamps
9. Iron/Mini Ironing board
10. Telephone and telephone cord (if needed)
11. Radio
12. TV / TV (coaxial) cable / DVD / Blu Ray
13. Laundry Basket/Laundry Supplies
14. Towels
15. Bike Lock
16. Ethernet Cable (Cat 5 cable) /Networking Card
17. Shower Curtain / Shower Curtain Liner
18. Clothes Hangers
19. Surge Protectors
20. For extra under-bed storage space, you may wish to purchase “bed-risers”.

What You Shouldn't Bring
Do not bring these items – they are strictly prohibited!
1. Weapons/facsimile weapons – all firearms (including bb/pellet guns), bladed/serrated edge instruments, and all martial arts devices.
2. Pets (except fish – see lease Rules and Regulations)
3. Hot Plates
4. Toaster Ovens or other cooking appliances (a microwave and mini-refrigerator are provided in your suite)
5. Candles, incense, etc.
6. Coffee pots having a hot plate – please only bring coffee pots that brew into a carafe or thermos

Directions to The Castilian:

From IH-35 going North: Exit Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., take a left onto MLK and go West, just after the 6th traffic light make a right onto San Antonio St. and go north, drive through 3 stop signs - The Castilian is at the end of the street on the right, take the 2nd ramp entrance. Our office is on Level 1.

From IH-35 going South: Exit Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., take a right onto MLK and go West, just after the 6th traffic light make a right onto San Antonio Street and go North, drive through 3 stop signs - The Castilian is at the end of the street on the right, take the 2nd ramp entrance. Our office is on Level 1.

From the Airport: Take a left onto 290 West, take a right onto IH-35 North, exit Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., take a left onto MLK and go West, just after the 6th traffic light make right onto San Antonio St. and go north, drive through 3 stop signs - The Castilian is at the end of the street on the right, take the 2nd ramp entrance. Our office is on Level 1.

Move-In Parking
During the Move-In weekend only, we will be allowing residents and parents to park for free in our garage. You can park anywhere except for the fifth floor. Please avoid parking in front of the building or in the parking lots across the street, as your car may be ticketed or towed. We do not own or monitor those lots.  After the move-in weekend, only those who have purchased a parking space from The Castilian will be able to park in our garage.

Check-In
Our staff will try to make the check-in process as easy as possible for you. Prior to unloading your car, please go to the 11th floor check-in stations. This is where you will obtain:

1. Your room number
2. Mailbox number (residents in a double occupancy room will share a mailbox.)
3. Meal Pin Number and Meal Picture
4. Your room key and mailbox key

Time to Move
We recommend that everyone try to bring a dolly to ease their moving load. In order to accommodate our residents, we will have a few carts available for you to use free of charge. If you would like to use one, simply look for the table in the 11th floor lobby that is marked “Cart Rentals.”

Room Dimensions
1. Large Part of Room: 11 ft x 11.5 ft
2. Hallway near vanity: 8 ft x 4 ft

Room Condition
The Castilian staff always endeavors to make sure our residents have the best experience possible while they are here. If at any time there is a problem with your room (for example, a light has burned out), just come to the service desk on the 11th floor and fill out a Service Request.

During move-in, we will have a station on the 11th floor to assist you with any requests of this nature.

Furniture
The furniture in your room is moveable.  Feel free to arrange your room as you wish. However, we do not allow furniture to be removed from the rooms. Any personal pieces of furniture brought into The Castilian must fit with the standard furniture provided in the room. Please do not move furniture into the hallways.

Roommate Issues
We have made a concerted effort to ensure that all of our residents have been paired with a compatible roommate. If you and your roommate are having problems, please go to the RA on your floor. Our RA’s are always equipped and prepared to help resolve issues of this nature.  During move-in weekend, we will be taking care of roommate problems at the “Room Issues” table or the main desk in the lobby on the 11th floor.

Utilities / Phone / Ethernet / My Computer
Electricity, water, trash removal, and basic cable with HBO are all incorporated into your pre-set lease amount. However, if you would like to have a phone and/or internet service in your room, you will need to sign up for these services separately. Apogee, our phone and Ethernet provider, will be present during move-in so that you may sign up for a phone and/or Ethernet service account during move in. One of the great things about Apogee is the fact that they use an Ethernet connection instead of a dial-up connection and they provide wireless access throughout our building. You will need a network card and an Ethernet (Cat 5) cord if you are planning to sign up for wired service. You will also have a choice between a local and long distance phone line with Apogee. There’s no need for an answering machine either, as Apogee can set you up with a plan that offers voicemail. Please contact Apogee at (877) 276-4339 or http://www.myresnet.com for more information.

Assigned Parking
If you signed up for parking with The Castilian, you can receive your parking assignment in the Leasing Office on the 1st floor during office hours. You’ll be notified during the week after move-in as to when parking stickers will be available.  After Move-In, only those residents who have a paid parking lease will be allowed to park in our garage. Unauthorized vehicles will be towed. Also, for your convenience, there are parking meter spaces available on Floor 2 that all guests may utilize while visiting.

Bike Storage
If you bring your bicycle with you to The Castilian, you will be required to store it in the designated bike storage area.  We do not allow for bicycles to be stored in the resident rooms.  There is no charge to store your bike in our storage area/bike cage.  The bike cage may be accessed with a bike cage card only; this card may be picked up at the desk on the 11th floor. Don’t forget to bring your lock for the bike racks. Per The Castilian Rules and Regulations, “The Castilian is not liable for any loss or damage to your bike.”

Meal Pin Number
This pin number will need to be entered for each meal. Photos for your meal pin number are taken during move-in.  You may pin number at the 11th floor service desk. Please arrange to pick up your meal pin number at your earliest convenience.

Time To Change Your Address
All mail and packages that you receive this year need to be addressed as follows:

Your Name
Box # ***
2323 San Antonio Street
Austin, TX 78705

*** - Indicates your 3 digit mailbox # assigned at move in.

Should you receive a box or envelope that is too large to fit in your mailbox, we will put a notification slip in your box and keep the package behind the desk. A government issued ID is required to pick up packages. Newspapers can be picked up at the 11th floor front desk as well.

Renter’s Insurance
The Castilian does not assume any responsibility for the actions of any residents, guests, or acts of nature.

The Castilian strongly recommends that residents obtain personal property and/or renter’s insurance. If you are a dependent, you may be covered under your parent’s personal property or homeowner’s insurance. If you wish to shop around for a renter’s insurance policy, double check that they will cover property stored in a residence hall; some policies exclude such living arrangements.

Alcohol & Illegal Substances
The possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages within The Castilian must be in full compliance with local, state, and federal laws and in accordance with The Castilian rules and regulations. Within those limits, the decision to drink, and how much to drink, is a personal one.

Alcohol related conduct which infringes upon our resident’s right to a quiet, orderly living environment is not acceptable under any circumstances.

No kegs are allowed on Castilian property. The consumption of alcohol is not permitted in the common areas of The Castilian. The Castilian reserves the right to confiscate any alcohol when it is determined that the resident in possession of the alcohol is in violation of the Lease Agreement, local, state, and/or federal law.

Any use or storage of an illegal substance can and will result in eviction.

Payment Reminder
Your payment amount is printed on your Lease Agreement. If you need confirmation of the amount due, please feel free to call us during business hours (9am-7pm, Monday through Friday).

Payments received after the 1st of the month are considered late. Please note that accounts with late payments will incur a $55 late fee on the 4th of the month, and an additional $10 per day until the payment is made in full.

When mailing your rental payment, rent shall not be considered late if it is: 1) mailed to LANDLORD by U.S. Postal Service and is postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than the 1st day of the month due; or 2) is received by LANDLORD by the 2nd day of the month due.

If all required payments were made prior to move-in you should receive an Express Check-in Ticket.  This ticket allows you to skip our accounting station on move-in day – thereby speeding up your check-in. 

If you have any further questions regarding payments, please email us at info@thecastilian.com.

Let’s Party!
Here at The Castilian, we’re known for our great resident events. During the fall, we have our broomball event at Chaparral Ice. For this event, we strap on our helmets, use no skates, and grab our broomstick and hit the ice for a few rounds of broomball. Broomball is much like hockey, and the residents love it.  In the spring we will have our annual Casino Night. For one night we will play casino games, giving our residents chances to win great prizes. We have also hosted an annual Luau, Poker night and Chocolate Festival!  There is always plenty of fun and great food to keep you smiling all night long!

*In addition to all of our big events, we will have floor events that are planned by individual RA’s.

School Books and Supplies
Lots of people preorder their books either online or from a bookstore on campus, but if you didn’t, you still have time. University Co-op on the Drag (Guadalupe) is the closest place to find your books and any supplies you need. You can also visit the CVS Drugstore on Guadalupe for smaller purchases (pens, pencils, etc.). If you need directions or transportation information, stop by the desk on the 11th floor or ask any RA. You can also pick up a city bus schedule at the 11th floor desk.

New to the area?
There’s always something to do in Austin! Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World! Here are a few things that might interest you. Visit www.austin360.com or www.austin.citysearch.com for details and listings of current events. If you don’t have access to a computer, grab a copy of the Austin Chronicle.

Here’s a list of just a few things to do in Austin:

• Walk, jog, or bike the Hike and Bike Trail along Town Lake (512.499.6700)
• Attend an outdoor concert at Symphony Square (512.476.6064)
• Go sculling, paddle boating, or canoeing on Town Lake. (512.478.0098)
• Tour the State Capitol Building (512.463.0063)
• Enjoy legendary blues music on “The Drag”. (512.478.0098)
• Play Frisbee Golf at Zilker Park or Pease Park. (512.477.7273)
• Enjoy a performance by Ballet Austin. (512.476.9051)
• Watch a professional Ice Hockey game by the Austin Ice Bats (512.927 PUCK(7825))
• Stop by on a Monday and tour the Austin Museum of Art for only $1.00.
• 6th Street is the where you’ll find a variety of clubs, bars and eating establishments.
• Visit the Student Union for lots of campus related activities such as movies and bowling.

Remember: If you don’t find anything that interests you here, ask your RA for some suggestions.

Tanning Bed
For those who may be interested, there is a tanning bed located on the 11th floor. We want to make sure our residents get a great deal on tanning services. At move in you will be given the option to sign up for a membership ($60/year or $35/semester). If you decide to sign up later, you can, but we want you to start benefiting from unlimited tanning as soon as you move in.

Holiday Breaks
Per your lease contract, you are not required to move out during these breaks. You must simply provide notification of your intent to stay. For Spring residents, if you renew for a consecutive term (Summer Session), you may continue to reside at The Castilian but may be required to relocate to another room.

For The Parents
Feeling left out? We didn’t forget about you!  Each fall, we host a very special Parent’s Weekend Brunch.  The date corresponds to the Sunday of UT’s Parent’s Weekend – typically late October. Stay tuned for additional information. 

If you plan on staying in a hotel/motel, we recommend that you make your reservations early. For your convenience, we have listed below several area hotels along with their contact information:

Four Seasons
98 San Jacinto Boulevard
Austin, TX 78701-4039
Phone: (512) 478-4500

Omni
700 San Jacinto at 8th
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 476-3700

Holiday Inn- Town Lake
20 Interregional
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 472-8211

Double Tree
303 W. 15th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 478-7000

Marriott
701 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 478-1111

Ramada Inn
1212 W. Ben White Blvd
Austin, TX 78704
Phone: (512) 447-0151

AmeriSuites
7601 E. Ben White Blvd
Austin, TX 78741 US
Phone: (512) 386-7600