Page 194 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

192  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS WHERE T O ST A Y  193
WHERE TO STAY

With more than 500 hotels and pensions, cater to a mix of business and leisure
Vienna offers accommodation to suit clientele while Vienna‘s numerous
travellers on every budget. From palaces pensions offer simple bed-and-breakfast
to simple lodgings, it has some of the accommodation. The hotels on pages
grandest European city hotels as well 196–9 include a selection of the best
as numerous small boarding-houses and boutique, contemporary, family-friendly,
self-catering establishments. Hotels are luxury and pension accommodation, listed
generally larger and better equipped to by area and by price category.
Hotel Prices
As in other cities, Vienna
accommodation prices vary
according to centrality of
location and opulence. Hotels
without air conditioning or
swimming pools will always
be less expensive, as are those Room with contemporary design at Hollmann Beletage, a boutique hotel in Stephansdom Quarter (see p196)
even a short tram ride away How to Book
from the Ring and, most With the widespread use of a continental breakfast and
particularly, across the Danube. VOIP apps like Skype, few guests pricier hotels offering hot and Easter, May, June, September,
Upmarket hotels offer make use of in-room phones cold breakfast buffets. October, Christmas and New
luxurious suites, some taking for international calls, and such Hotels that are located in Year are considered peak
an entire floor and including a Penthouse suite No. 663 in the Hotel Bristol calls are expensive. Many hotels old buildings tend to have a season, when accommodation
private butler. In general, there in Belvedere Quarter (see p199) offer free Wi-Fi, but others touch of character, and no two may be fully booked as early
are ranges of rooms dubbed charge by the day. bedrooms are the same. The as three months in advance –
“standard” or “deluxe”, with size Hidden Extras Many hotels allow pet dogs rooms almost always have especially if an opera, ballet
and opulence, as well as a view, Apart from some five-star hotels, to stay in the rooms – for a fee. a phone and usually a TV. or conference draws in more
determining the prices. Family breakfast is included in the tariff Mid-range hotel rooms often than the usual number of
rooms, some with cooking for most establishments. Rates have cable TV, a mini-bar and foreign visitors.
facilities, are available in price- will always include taxes such as Facilities a bathroom with either a Vienna hotels offer price
Baroque façade of the Mailberger Hof in conscious hotels. VAT (or MWSt). Hotels near the Hotels are rated one to five shower or bathtub. Many incentives to those who book
Stephansdom Quarter (see p197) Vienna‘s low season is airport offer free shuttle service. stars and pensions have a four- Viennese buildings look onto early using the hotel website.
November–March (excluding Some hotels have private star system; a three-star hotel quiet courtyards so you can Such direct booking saves the
Christmas and New Year) and garages and most will suggest corresponds to a four-star select a peace ful room or hotel commissions on travel
Where to Look July–August. Few hotels drop a nearby underground car park. pension. The rating also one with a view. websites. There are many
One of the perks of visiting prices in summer, although It is impossible for guests in attempts to cover the quality In the 19th century there general travel websites and
Vienna is that guests can stay some lower their winter rates by central hotels to find parking and ambi ence of the hotel or was a restriction on building hotel websites that will find
in either grand or modest 25 per cent. Most of the large on the street. Many hotels offer pension. Five-star hotels are heights. To circumvent the hotels according to location or
accommodation right in the chain hotels reduce the room valet parking. Underground upmarket and well-run. Some regulation, lower floors price – or for smokers or those
city centre. Many of the most tariff during quiet periods and hotel parking can easily cost three- and four-star hotels refer were (and still are) called with pets or children. Wiener
famous historic hotels, such as offer weekend specials. €40 a night. to them selves as Palais, which Hochparterre and Mezzanin. Tourismusverband (Vienna
the Sacher, Bristol and equates to a fine town house. Consequently, guests may Tourist Board), which is located
Imperial (see p199), are on or At the cheaper end of the scale, find that the “first floor” is on the corner of Albertinaplatz,
just off the Ringstrasse, as are small pensions above two stars actually up three flights of Tegethoffstrasse and Meyseder-
many of the large chain hotels. are often more salubrious than stairs. Additionally, in pensions gasse, can reserve hotel rooms
There are also a number of cheap hotels. One- or two- a communal lift serves the in advance on your behalf.
less expensive, comfortable star hotels and pensions are whole building.
hotels and pensions in the city generally very basic and are The quality of service in the
centre, most on fairly quiet side a good choice for travellers best luxury hotels is as good
streets. The Museum and on a budget. as anywhere in the world.
Townhall Quarter has some Large hotels have the full Wherever you stay, it could be
good small hotels and offers range of public rooms – well worth befriending the
affordable lodgings for budget restaurant, bar, coffee shop and concierge (an early tip may
travellers. A few hotels on lounge. Smaller establishments help) as their local knowledge
Vienna’s outskirts are also usually have lounge seating in and contacts are invaluable –
included in the listings. the foyer. Even if there is no bar, from helping guests find
The Österreich Werbung drinks are often served. Almost interesting restaurants and bars
(Austrian Tourist Board) all hotels and pensions have a or conjuring tickets for the
publishes information on breakfast room, with lower- opera. Most hotel staff speak The comfortable bar are of the famous
over 500 hotels and pensions. Opulent lobby of the Imperial in Belvedere Quarter (see p199) priced establishments serving good English. Hotel Bristol (see p199)
Bustling Mariahilfer Strasse in the Museum Quarter

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