Vienna, Salzburg & Tirol Guidebook
Best and worst accommodations:
Best: Hotel Pension Mariahilf
Why: Exactly as described in the book. Nothing fancy, but very comfortable. It's located two flights of stairs up from the street. We asked for a quiet room and were accommodated. The location is very convenient: the Neubaugasse metro stop is right in front of the entrance to the hotel, which makes for easy connections to the airport and the Westbahnhof.
We stayed at the Star Inn Hotel Salzburg Zentrum in Salzburg. This is not in Rick's guidebook. It's a new hotel located just on the other side of the tunnel through the Monchsburg, which made it a very convenient stroll to the old part of the City. Rooms are very comfortable, breakfast buffet is excellent, and the staff is helpful. Reasonable rates.
Steve Macfarlane in Carmichael, CA USA 01/16/2012
Best: Gasthof Badl
Why: Wonderful location on river, comfortable room, good restaurant, great breakfast.
Worst: Hotel Trumer Stube
Why: Asked for payment upon checkin, small room, extra charges for breakfast. Not a good value at all.
R. Kanazawa in Saratoga, CA USA 10/27/2011
Worst: Hotel Trumer Stube
Why: The current owner is not the one recommended by Rick. Our groups checked in after 6 PM on a Saturday. The owner left a key for us outside the door and a map of where to park our vehicle. The rooms were terrible! We opened the windows to get some air in the rooms but had to close them because of the loud noises from one or two bars below. The beds were very hard and the ceilings very low. We were scheduled for 4 nights but checked out the next morning. The owner said we would have to pay for breakfast with cash but that the charges had already been made to our credit cards for the entire stay and she could not cancel it. I told her that I would refute the charges for all but one night's stay as soon as the credit card company opened for business on Monday. When I called my credit card issuer Monday I was informed that the hotel had tried to charge over $1,000 to my account that morning, but then only ran charges through for $537. Fortunately I have my account set up so that any charges over $1,000 require a telephone call from me to verify. Beware if you decide to stay at this hotel. We ended up staying at the Crowne Plaza and had a very enjoyable stay. It had air conditioning and there was no pressure from the staff to book tours, etc. I have stayed in hostels that were much more comfortable than the rooms we had. Beware!
Tom Dealy in Comanche, OK USA 10/10/2011
Best: Hotel St. Sebastian
Why: Rick described this exactly as it is. If you are looking for clean, economical, spartan lodging, this is it. The people at the front desk were very kind and helpful. Breakfast was meager but, we expecting that. Very well located and right next door to the charming St. Sebastian's Cemetery.
Worst: Hotel Trumer Stube
Why: I had originally booked a room at this hotel almost one month in advance of our stay. I secured the room with my credit card number. I decided to cancel our reservation just a few days later because I had repeatedly emailed and asked about staying another 2 nights and never heard back. In the mean time I had secured a room at another hotel and booked with them. Finally, after sending a notice of our cancellation, I was told by Hotel Trumer Stube that they had already charged us for one night and that it was NON refundable! I looked back through all my correspondence, thinking I had missed the fine print, but, couldn't find anything. I emailed back explaining that I felt that I had given more than enough notice - almost 3 weeks- and that I was expecting a full refund. Needless to say, I'm still waiting and have decided to let my credit card company deal with it. Later we read in Trip Advisory that this hotel is under new management. While visiting Salzburg, do not stay at this hotel!
Alexandra in Boise, Id USA 09/12/2011
Best: Romischer Kaiser - not in book
Why: great location, luxurious, excellent service, good buffet breakfast
Philip Braverman in New York, NY USA 09/05/2011
Worst: Corvinus Hotel, Vienna
Why: Heading back to our lovely room after our first breakfast, the desk clerk called my name and apologized profusely because, she said, a plumbing problem had developed and the people on the floor below our room were experiencing a leak in their ceiling. She said the plumber needed to work in our room if we would be so kind as to move to their sister hotel around the corner and accept an equally-valued "four star" room. For the inconvenience they would be happy to discount our second night by 10%. Eager to match courtesy with courtesy, we accepted and settled our bill for a two-night stay.
After re-packing and moving around the corner, we found the second room to be a big disappointment. Much older, much shabbier, much less conveniently designed, no view, and an air conditioner that labored loudly 24 hours a day to very little effect.
Following our instincts, we made the best of it, but later got to wondering: Had we seen any evidence of the leak? Were we offered any evidence? Was a 10% discount an adequate compensation for the inconvenience and the downgrade? The rate card on the desk at the Corvinus listed a price for our room that was considerably higher than the one we were paying. Would it be to a hotelier's advantage to resell that room at the higher price? All good questions, don't you think?
Our time in Vienna was short, and we had already wasted a good hour or more moving, so we never went back to verify the facts.
This posting is not meant to accuse our hosts at the Corvinus of hustling us. It's only a caution to future guests of this establishment (or others). By all means match courtesy with courtesy, but we're reminded of Ronald Reagan's comment after a visit to the Soviet Union, "Trust but verify."
R. Hawkins in Seattle, WA USA 07/28/2011
Worst: Pension Nossek, Vienna
Why: Had 2 rooms. Ours #27 was good, my sister's #26, bad. Shower overflowed & flushed toilet came up into shower. Were told it would be fixed; it wasn't, complained again, then told by owner it was normal for that type of toilet to feed into shower! Be sure to have hepatitis shots or boots if in Room 26. Not accommodating at all!
Sharon Armann in Phoenix, Az USA 07/18/2011
Worst: Pension Nossek, Vienna
Why: Had 2 rooms. Ours #27 was good, my sister's #26, bad. Shower overflowed & flushed toilet came up into shower. Were told it would be fixed; it wasn't, complained again, then told by owner it was normal for that type of toilet to feed into shower! Be sure to have hepatitis shots or boots if in Room 26. Not accommodating at all!
Sharon Armann in Phoenix, Az USA 07/18/2011
Best: K & T Boardinghouse
Why: In June, 2010, we spent five days in Vienna at the K & T Boardinghouse. We were so smitten by both the city and the room that we returned this June and stayed for an entire month – and could not have had a better time or better accommodations. Our hosts, Tina and Kaled, provided us a big, quiet, clean room with comfortable beds for a very reasonable rate. Yes, there are flights of stairs to climb, but they too added to our visit by helping to work off the daily extra wine, pastries and ice cream we consumed. Even after four weeks, we found leaving The Green Room to be sad and difficult, especially since we’d come to love Wien, and had gotten to know and enjoy our hosts and their lovely daughters. As seasoned travelers we know the risk in going back and hoping to repeat a good thing. This one worked out super splendidly!
Bill Gordon & Nancy Weiss in Miami, FL USA 07/17/2011
Best: Apartement Fallenhauser
Why: See above.
Kathleen Waton in Jackson, GA USA 07/14/2011
Best: Pension Hargita and ChristKonig
Why: Both were great - good locations and good price. Granted they are not comparable to any North American style b&b but if you go in without high expectations you will not be disappointed.
Karen Lee in Calgary, AB Canada 06/10/2011
Worst: Christkonig-Kolleg
Why: My sister and I stayed here last June, when Salzburg was in the midst of a muggy heat wave. There was no one at the hotel when we arrived, but our key was in an envelope, so that was fine. We tried to use the elevator- and wound up stuck for several minutes before my sister figured out a way to free us. Our room was TINY. There was a twin bed against one wall, and a fold-out chair against the other. Also crammed in the room was a table and chairs. The result was we were constantly climbing over our bags and each other. The bells of the cathedral started ringing early in the morning and rang about every 15 minutes.
On our last day, we decided to sleep in and skip breakfast (not too exciting in the first place). At 8am the door to our room swings open- the woman didn't even knock! She asked in German if we were coming down to breakfast. I told her we weren't (I speak enough German). She seemed confused, but left. A few minutes later the room phone rang. It was another woman asking if I could come down now and pay. I responded that I thought check out wasn't until later (I think 9:30). She said that was true, but she wanted to leave for the day, and could we pay now?
In the end, we left early, with no breakfast, but it meant we got to Hallstatt earlier than we planned, which proved to be the cure for our Salzburg blues.
Allison FL USA 01/07/2011
Best: the rooms bed&breakfast
Why: Excellent, individual B&B in quiet streets North of central Vienna. Really well decorated with individually themed rooms and a lovely breakfast/relaxation room and terrace. Not really within walking distance of the centre, but only a couple of minutes walk from Kagran Ubahn stop on the U1 line straight to the centre of things. Given Viennas excellent transport this mean The Rooms is a perfect base to explore Vienna and relax as the mood takes you! Really friendly owner (Eva) and excellent home made breakfast Muslie, eggs, bread, cheese, fruit and yogurt, - means there's not much more you could ask for!
keren dworschak in Boston, MA USA 12/16/2010
Best: Mariahilf Hotel Pension
Why: We were very happy with this pension, very clean and confortable, great location on MariaHilferstrasse, with lots of shops and eateries.
Marina in Washington, DC USA 10/18/2010
Best:
Why: Not in the book, but check out the Rathhaus Park hotel in Vienna. We've been there twice and like the rooms and the location.
R. Gardner in Cleveland, OH USA 09/26/2010
Best: 1. Gutshof Zum Schluxen, Reutte; 2. Pension Suzanne, Vienna 3. Gasthof Zauner, Hallstatt
Why: 1. Our favorite hotel for the whole trip. Beautiful setting, friendly staff, great room (heated bathroom floor!), good food, all at a great price. 2. Great location to the inner city - easy walk to major sites, helpful staff, and a good price for location. We had the family apartment, which was like three rooms with a shared bathroom, and one converted to a living room. In retrospect would probably have saved the money and taken the 4 person room. 3. Great location, good price. I was a bit disappointed with the family appartment with "a specatular view of the lake" which was really a peek-a-boo view between the church and the Gruner Baum. TV didn't work. In retrospect I would rather have saved money and taken two rooms on the top floor. Staff were "unaware" that the Gruner Baum had a laundry service available for non-guests. Parking EXTREMELY limited. Had to park in a lot that said two hours only, but was not ticketed. Gruner Baum guests have parking lot.
Lloyd in Mill Creek, WA USA 09/23/2010
Best: Pension Nossek in Vienna
Why: This pension was really central to the old town in Vienna. The rooms are VERY QUIET despite the location. The only quibble is the breakfast, which is really second-rate, and the fact they charge for Internet access.
Mike Atamian in San Diego, CA USA 09/19/2010
Best: Hotel am Stephensplatz in Vienna
Why: This was absolutely the best recommendation you have ever given us, and you have given us some wonderful ones. The room was wonderful and very, very clean. The staff helped with everything--way beyond expectations. The location was perfect. The breakfast and its location were spectacular.
Betty Francisco in Chapel Hill, NC USA 07/29/2010
Best: Pension Sarstein in Hallstatt
Why: Incredible lake view from our balcony, friendly hosts, great location
Diane and Bill in Carmel Valley, CA USA 07/27/2010
Best: Hotel Trumer Stube
Why: Great hosts, so very helpful of where to go visit, how to get there absolutely anything you needed they had an answer. Great location! The room was nice and clean. Would definitely stay here again.
melinda jarrell in san marcos, ca USA 07/22/2010
Best: Not in guidebook, but Haus am Moos in Salzburg was a great B&B.
Why: Very reasonable, spacious accommodations with a great breakfast and friendly hosts. The romantic suite on the second floor is ideal for a family of four or two couples (two separate bedrooms, shared bathroom, commom living room with refrigerator). It is located near the end of Moostrasse on the outskirts of Salzburg, #21 bus nearby. http://www.ammoos.at/en-home.htm
Mark and Doreen S. in Pittsburgh, PA USA 07/21/2010
Best: Gartenhotel Maria Theresia, Hall
Why: Beautiful, clean, comfortable rooms (although a bit warm without A/C but it was 37°C that day). Cooled down when we opened the large windows to let in the fresh mountain air. Lovely view from our room. Manfred at the front desk was one of the most useful human beings we met on our trip. A true host; helping us with all kinds of advice. Dinner at the restaurant was yummy too!
john in whidden, ab Canada 07/20/2010
Worst: K & T Boardinghouse 2
Why: This is a nice place to stay, but it is covered in scaffolding and under construction (outside) until October 2010. The workers start at 6:30 AM and it is impossible to sleep once they start.
Michael Sherwood in Prescott Valley, AZ USA 06/30/2010
Best: Pension Pertsky
Why: Room was quite large, desk staff very helpful
Worst: Hotel Trumer Stube
Why: The staff was very friendly and accommodating and breakfast was very good, but the room was warm and we would have liked to keep the windows open but the street was very noisy, especially on Saturday night when the bar across the street stayed open until 5 am. They also asked for cash to settle the bill but did not offer any discount.
Nina O in Roswell, Ga USA 06/10/2010
Worst: Hotel Wolf Salzburg Austria
Why: Unfriendly, inflexible, rude. Due to the Volcano our trip was disrupted and we had to cancel with 12 days notice. They are the only hotel in our European itinerary who would not accept the cancellation due to the exceptional circumstances, and charged us for the stay. The surname of the family Rottensteiner says it all...they are rotten! Avoid this hotel, there are so many beautiful and friendly places to stay in Salzburg, try them.
Debbie in Mukilteo, WA USA 05/26/2010
Worst: Pension Sarstein
Why: Reservatons at Pension Sarstein in Hallstatt were problematic and ultimately unavailable. I wrote in November 2009 for two nights in June 2010, but was told that I was too early. I then asked when I could make reservations? The answer was in May, which did seem unreasonable, so I checked in April 2010. Of course, they were full by then, for my two requested nights as well as for two alternate pairs of nights. I would have thought that the Fischer family would have kept the reservations on file and at least notified me that they were taking reservations for June 2010. Very unhelpful and perhaps saving space for local tours and groups!
bruce neumann in boulder, co USA 04/20/2010
Best: Hotel am Stephansplatz, Vienna
Why: This is a fantastic hotel, location is great, rooms are great. The breakfast is fantastic..and they make eggs to your order at no extra charge. The staff is also very nice and helpful. We currently live in Budapest, Hungary and go to Vienna regularly and consider this hotel our home away from home. The bartender at the hotel knew us by name after our first stay. The price/value is very good at this hotel. It's only about 20-30 euros a night more than your other $$$ hotel..the Pension Pertschy...and they are worlds apart!!
Worst: Pension Pertschy, Vienna
Why: We started at the Pension Pertschy on our first trip to Vienna. From the first step into the place it was a downer. The courtyard was full of cars, and several guys sitting at a plactic table smoking. The clerks at the front desk were curt...and when I went to have a look at our rooms I was horrified. They were musty, and not so clean. The light/fan in our room was so loud it sounded like a plane taking off and when I called the front desk they didn't believe us - so my husband had to hold the phone up to the sound. The night lights by the bed were barely hanging on the wall. The room my parents had was little better. There were no flowers in the flower boxes around the courtyard - just dead plants and dirt. Breakfast the next morning - yuk. Bananas in the fruit salad...that had been there a few days. We ran from this hotel first thing the next morning..and headed to the Stephansplatz...and never looked back. And the Stephensplatz...for a courtyard room was only 20 to 30 euros a night more. I would take this hotel out of your recommended list. We have stayed at many hotels in your guidebooks...and they have always been as described..but not this one. If it had been 80 euros a night perhaps this could have been excused..but at 170...expect a lot more.
Linda Hoffman in Budapest, Hungary 01/31/2010
Best: Pension Suzanne
Why: Very helpful owner/managers. Perfect location and reasonable price.
Steve Krom in Seattle, WA USA 11/02/2009
Best: Gruner Anger in Hallstadt
Why: No smoking, non-allergenic bedding, with EXCELLENT wifi access on evey floor. Additionally you could enjoy an authentic Austrian dinner in a non-smoking restaurant. He is a great host with a successful long-running business. It is an international destination with guests from Asia, America and Australia all at once.
Isabel Davenport in Glendale, AZ USA 10/25/2009
Best: Hotel Simony, Halstatt
Why: Great view.
Raul Sahagun in Hacienda Heights, Ca USA 10/18/2009
Best: Christkonig-Kolleg
Why: Wonderful setting near Salzburg Cathedral. Very quiet except for the lovely church bells that ring frequently. In the evening, you can hear singing from one of the dinner/concert places nearby. Sits above and behind the attractive cathedral square.
Worst: Christkonig-Kolleg
Why: Yes,also the worst! Tiny beds in our twin room, o.k. for me but not for my six foot two grandson. Inadequate attention to the rooms..we had to ask to have our wastebasket emptied. The only person on duty for most of our stay was a woman who, though very pleasant, spoke almost no English. We had to write a note to get the wastebasket emptied and a lightbulb replaced. Her lack of English also made checkout more difficult than need be. Stingy breakfasts!!
Paula Harris in Milwaukie, OR USA 09/04/2009
Best: In Salzburg I would recommend staying at the Gaestehaus Steinerof. (Moosstraße 138, A-5020 Salzburg, Telefon 0662 / 826280; http://www.gaestehaus-steinerhof.at )
Why: This guesthouse is exactly what you would imagine an Alpine house to be. It is located out of town a mile or two (very peaceful and quiet), but is beautiful. A 100 yd walk from the #21 bus stop. Our balcony had a view of the Alps.
Jack Smith in Batesville, IN USA 07/06/2009
Best: Maria Trausners b and b in Halltatt
Why: charming and well located
HELEN STEELE in KESWICK, VA USA 06/07/2009