jahlie

I'll be in Vienna this September for a week and have booked a room at the Hotel Erzherzog Rainer in the 4th district. Has anyone stayed there? Tripadvisor has great reviews and the website looks good. Also, I'm wondering what's nearby - restaurants, grocery stores, delis, shops, and anything I shouldn't miss.

tipsygus

I stayed there about three years ago, it quite central easy walk to the nearest u-bahn station and the centre of Vienna, i didn't eat dinner there prefering to eat out the breakfast wghich was included in the price was very good. The room although fairly small, a single) was perfectly adequate, and although there was no air conditioning, I was there in August, they provided a fan.Oh and the room, which was at the side of the hotel was quiet. Put simply I'd go back there.

jahlie

Thanks tipsygus. That's pretty much what the Tripadvisor website led me to believe, but since I've been fooled by those reviews before, I just wanted to double check. It has been 35 years since I've been to Vienna and I am looking forward to returning.

tipsygus

Just a point, I did buy a 72 hour travel pass for the transport system which I found very good value, I was there for four days so the last day I bought a 24 hour pass which I used to go back to the airport.

jahlie

Is that the same as the Vienna Card, which also gives discounts at some tourist sites?

yk

No, the 24, or 48, or 72 hour pass is just for transportation. The Vienna Card is really not a good deal, as it cost almost twice the price of a 72 hour transport pass; yet it only offers 10% or 20% discount off admissions to most major museums. You'd have to visit LOTS of museums in those 3 days to get your money back.

molker

I would not quickly dismiss the idea of the Vienna Card.

It does not cost twice as much as mentioned above

the 72 hour transport only card

13,60 euro

The Vienna card costs 18,50 euro-
it includes the 72 hour transport and many discounts - not just for museums.

The extra 5 euro cost can be quickly recovered and then good savings begin.

They advertise more than 200 discounts. These not just museums.

Some examples-
Transport

CAT train from airport to city or return 7,50 euro without this card 9 euro.
Airport transfer bus 5 euro rather than 6.

Shopping

Examples- Aigner - 5 % discount

Geisswein ( famous austrian wool clothing) 10% discount

Volksoper - 10 % discount

Mozarthaus concerts -10 %

Discounts or a free something at numerous restaurants, cafes or special offeres there.

This in addition to admissions discount to palaces, museums etc.

Schonbrunn discount for grand tour and audio guide.
Thus if you are actively enjoying the many things of Vienna including shopping concerts and more the savings quickly add up .

Information on the ticket can be found on the tourist website of Vienna

www.wien.info

under travel info

can be purchased on line or upon arrival in Vienna.

Should add you must carry the discount coupon book with you for these things- some say they do not like this but for the savings a small inconvenience to me.

yk

Sorry for the misinformation. I was confusing the price of the Vienna card with the Budapest card (which is really twice the price of a regular Budapest transport pass).

Thanks for the correction, molker.

jahlie

Thank you for clarifying that for me, both of you. From what I've seen on www.wien.info, I can probably make up the difference on museums alone. I know I wouldn't "look" for the restaurants listed but I certainly saw a couple of shops that I might be interested in. It's been 35 years since I was in Vienna and am looking forward to remembering and misremembering!