Page 195 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

WHERE T O ST A Y  193

Room with contemporary design at Hollmann Beletage, a boutique hotel in Stephansdom Quarter (see p196)
How to Book
With the widespread use of a continental breakfast and
VOIP apps like Skype, few guests pricier hotels offering hot and Easter, May, June, September,
make use of in-room phones cold breakfast buffets. October, Christmas and New
for international calls, and such Hotels that are located in Year are considered peak
calls are expensive. Many hotels old buildings tend to have a season, when accommodation
offer free Wi-Fi, but others touch of character, and no two may be fully booked as early
charge by the day. bedrooms are the same. The as three months in advance –
Many hotels allow pet dogs rooms almost always have especially if an opera, ballet
to stay in the rooms – for a fee. a phone and usually a TV. or conference draws in more
Mid-range hotel rooms often than the usual number of
have cable TV, a mini-bar and foreign visitors.
Facilities
a bathroom with either a Vienna hotels offer price
Hotels are rated one to five shower or bathtub. Many incentives to those who book
stars and pensions have a four- Viennese buildings look onto early using the hotel website.
star system; a three-star hotel quiet courtyards so you can Such direct booking saves the
corresponds to a four-star select a peace ful room or hotel commissions on travel
pension. The rating also one with a view. websites. There are many
attempts to cover the quality In the 19th century there general travel websites and
and ambi ence of the hotel or was a restriction on building hotel websites that will find
pension. Five-star hotels are heights. To circumvent the hotels according to location or
upmarket and well-run. Some regulation, lower floors price – or for smokers or those
three- and four-star hotels refer were (and still are) called with pets or children. Wiener
to them selves as Palais, which Hochparterre and Mezzanin. Tourismusverband (Vienna
equates to a fine town house. Consequently, guests may Tourist Board), which is located
At the cheaper end of the scale, find that the “first floor” is on the corner of Albertinaplatz,
small pensions above two stars actually up three flights of Tegethoffstrasse and Meyseder-
are often more salubrious than stairs. Additionally, in pensions gasse, can reserve hotel rooms
cheap hotels. One- or two- a communal lift serves the in advance on your behalf.
star hotels and pensions are whole building.
generally very basic and are The quality of service in the
a good choice for travellers best luxury hotels is as good
on a budget. as anywhere in the world.
Large hotels have the full Wherever you stay, it could be
range of public rooms – well worth befriending the
restaurant, bar, coffee shop and concierge (an early tip may
lounge. Smaller establishments help) as their local knowledge
usually have lounge seating in and contacts are invaluable –
the foyer. Even if there is no bar, from helping guests find
drinks are often served. Almost interesting restaurants and bars
all hotels and pensions have a or conjuring tickets for the
breakfast room, with lower- opera. Most hotel staff speak The comfortable bar are of the famous
priced establishments serving good English. Hotel Bristol (see p199)

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