This is one time when TripAdvisor wasn't all that helpful since there seem to be so many hotels people rave about.

But, we like to be in the cenet of things and within walking distance of public transport (and I do not mean walking for 15 minutes, either, lazy good for nothing that I am!)

We like luxury but I want to at least THINK I am getting something wonderful for all those bucks.

WE've stayed at every level of hotel and at various levels below "hotel" too as in huts and tents.

Naturally, I was drawn to the Grand Hotel Wien and the Sacher but as in Paris where I'd much rather stay in the Pavillon de la Reine than the Georges V, i also liked the Kaiserin Elizabeth.

Any help would be appreciated as would alternative suggestions to get this adventure started.

BTilke, if you are out there please chime in with all of your Vienna experience, please.

Hi there!
The KE and the Grand Hotel have very different vibes. The KE is a smaller hotel, doesn't have the amenities that the Grand does, and the rooms are comfortable but not luxurious (note: not all rooms have AC, so make sure you get one that does if you're traveling in warmer months). And the singles are just that--singles, with single beds. Also, some of them have superb views of the roof of St. Stephan's; others have lackluster views of the glass domed interior courtyard. Breakfast pretty standard. Computer for free Internet access. Superb location. The same front desk team have been there for years. Overall, I do like it very much though. The hotel had major renovations last year.

I just plain loved the Grand. I liked the piano bar in the lobby area; the access to the Ringstrasse shopping gallery; the plush rooms with twice daily maid service and the way you could even open and close the drapes with the bedside phone; the interesting, expansive breakfast buffet with both traditional Austrian and Japanese selections; very good concierge service; the exercise room (with free bottles of sparkling and still water, so you can avoid hefty room mini-bar charges); even the goofy hotel "infomercial" that runs on one of TV channels. What I didn't like was the fact that the main English language news station was Fox News (ugh).

I prefer the Grand to the Imperial or Sacher--the Sacher often has hordes of tourists lurking around its entrances. The Imperial is also an outstanding hotel but it just didn't float my boat. However, both the Imperial and Sacher have more luxurious public rooms. (I have no experience with the Bristol.)

If money were no object, I'd stay at the Residenz Palais Coburg. Uber luxe with uber prices. You definitely "see" what you're paying for at every corner. But no discounts and no pets

However, if traveling as a pack (that is, myself, DH and the cocker), our hotel choices would be Grand first, K&K Maria Theresia (sp) second--they both have parking (valet parking at the Grand) and take pets. The K&K MT has private terraces in a few upper floor rooms. The decor is contemporary business, however, not Viennese traditional. And I'd only stay at the Grand if we could get a deal, never at rack rates (our motto: always try for 5 star luxury at 4 or 3 star prices, hence our frequent stays at the Dorint/Sofitel in Baden-Baden).

Anyway, a rundown on the 4 and 5 central star Vienna hotels I've stayed at in recent years:
Imperial, Grand and KE (reviewed above)

Le Meridien: So-so. Too much white, too much blond wood, their flat screen TVs are a little outdated and don't have the resolution of newer models. HATED the showers...water sprayed everywhere in the bathroom. "Free" minibar was ok--but they forgot to re-fill it twice and then replaced the sparkling waters with flat water (for flat water, I'm fine with tap water). Good concierge, arrogant bar staff. Also, it's more corporate than chic these days. For that kind of hotel, I'd pick the Radisson Style Hotel instead. Or maybe the new Do & Ko hotel (but I have no experience with that one).

Sofitel: Fine, but not luxurious. Not one of Sofitel's better hotels.

Intercontinental: My room was just plain vanilla, could have been any chain hotel room anywhere. Didn't like the service. Or the location. Doesn't rate 5 stars IMO. But the bar had a cool foreign correspondent vibe.

Hotel Viennart: Doesn't deserve its 4-star rating. Stuffy, minimal amenities, no AC (fine in winter, miserable in summer as the rooms are not well ventilated and they have wall to wall carpeting). Not suited to the disabled, mixed quality of service.

I've stayed at some other 4 star Vienna hotels, but they were either not central (out by Austria Center) or weren't memorable (I've completely forgotten the names of at least two of them).

Forgot to add that the Sofitel gets a lot of mid-level business travelers, tour groupers, and Priceliners.

This is EXACTLY what I was hoping to hear..likes and dislikes with RATIONALE..

I am so glad you saw this and thanks so very much for taking the time to respond...really deeply appreciated..oh, and give the pooch a kiss for me XXX

We liked the Kaiserin Elisabeth very much, because we wanted a smallish hotel that felt Viennese, which this one does. We were glad we'd chosen it for our first visit to lovely Vienna.

I have to differ with BTilke on the breakfast being 'standard'. Maybe compared to the five-star hotels it's standard, but we thought it was more than that: a very nice, full hot & cold buffet, served in a very pretty room, hot eggs and coffee made to order, and served until a decent time in the mid-morning.

The location is amazing. A U-Bahn stop is about 30 feet outside the front door. The location can't be beat. We were glad we were there, versus a more huge and grand hotel, and we didn't need the amenities of an on-site restaurant, or a gym.

>-

By "standard", it was typical of the breakfast spread that I would expect in any good 4-star hotel in Germany or Austria (or German speaking Switzerland, for that matter). I've had better breakfast buffets for that level of hotel, but also worse. The KE's fell into the middle of the pack.