Accomodations in Vienna, Prague and Salzburg
My wife and I will be traveling to the aforementioned cities in July and I'm looking for hotel recommendations. Our priorities are to be near the train station and/or just off a subway line and near the various important sites. We don't need the Ritz but a certain clean comfort (AC is a definite plus). Our budget is around 100 Euros per night, though we are certainly open to a little bit less or more. Many thanks.
Brian
McCoy 10/22/09
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Best you can find are in Rick Steves' books, here's links to some previews...
Vienna: http://books.google.com/books?id=2k_uZmFrUb4C&lpg=PP1&dq=rick%20steves%20vienna&pg=PA141#v=onepage&q=sleeping&f=false
Salzburg: http://books.google.com/books?id=2k_uZmFrUb4C&lpg=PP1&dq=rick%20steves%20vienna&pg=PA255#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Prague: http://books.google.com/books?id=ETcP9AroOYAC&lpg=PP1&dq=rick%20steves%20prague&pg=PA115#v=onepage&q=&f=false
I've stayed in several of his picks in all the cities and can recommend most all of them. They will all have what you are looking for, near transportation, inexpensive, and near where you want to visit.
Consider one of the homes that rent rooms on Moosstrasse in Salzburg, just a bus ride from the train station.
In Vienna, try to stay within the Ring, or just outside to cut down on walking.
In Prague, the closer you can get to the main square, the better for visiting the city.
One block from Vienna State Opera House: www.pension-suzanne.at
Right in old city center of Salzburg: www.weissetaube.at
As far as AC is concerned, you won't find many places that have it, and you probably won't need it. We were in Austria in July/August a few years ago, temps were in the 70's during the day for the first few days, then didn't get above 60 after that.
For Salzburg, we stayed in a B&B in Moosstrasse. It's a 10-minute bus ride from town.
In Prague, we booked a room through the room-finding service that Rick suggested in his book. It was close to a tram stop and very clean and updated.
Just an idea, too -- if you're taking the train to Prague, I'd definitely consider getting a taxi to your hotel. My husband was pickpocketed there when we were taking the subway to the main train station with our luggage. The suitcase made us big targets.
In Vienna (at least) there are several train stations. Which one(s) you will be using will determine where you want to stay. On our last trip there, we stayed at the Mercure near the West Bahnhof (train station),it was nice, very close to trams, and just a short 10 min. walk to center of city and Ring Strasse. We have also stayed at the Hotel de France. It is just off the Ring Strasse and very convienet to trams/subway but it is not near a train station.
The Hotel Metamorphis in Prague is a great hotel. It's very close to the Old Square
In 2004 we stayed at Pension Nossek in Vienna which we highly recommend. It's right on the Graben, close to St Stephen's. The price was right, the breakfasts were wonderful and both Frau Bernad and Gundolf were charming and very helpful.
In 2005 we stayed at the following:
Salzburg - Zum Hirschen - a Best Western easy walking disatnce to train station
Prague - At the 3 Drums (U tri Bubna) just off the old Square. A bit of a walk with luggage, but I advise against getting a taxi at the station. We walked across the park and picked oneup for about 20% of what we were quoted at the station - even after haggling.
Vienna - Pension Pertschy, near the Hofburg, but not near a station.
For best value, you wont find anything better than Hostel Ruthensteiner which we visited in September. They have a wonderful self contained penthouse apartment if you are staying at least 4 nights, 5 minutes walking distance to the Westbahnhof and Metro, walking distance to Schonbrunn, and a large supermarket is round the corner. All this for less than 100 Euros per night. Every facility is available including an in-house travel agent.
We used Priceline for Vienna, Hotels.com for Prague, and stayed out on Moosstrasse in Salzburg--very happy with all of these,