maryanne1

Has anyone stayed at the Biedermeier Hotel in Vienna? What is your opinion of this hotel as far as staff, closeness to subway stop, breakfast, quality of rooms, nearness to the ring,etc.?
Thank you areo your reply.

RAR

No, I however stayed at the Drei Kronen and found it to be fantastic.

crazymina

Another vote for the Hotel Drei Kronen. Walking distance (10 min) to the ring, and excellent. We paid 74 euro a night for a nice sized double. Right near a outdoor market too!

Operaman

Try the Hotel Fuerstenhof. We stayed there and loved it. It is close to U-Bahn, Trams etc. Great staff, huge breakfast buffet included in the room price also.

Travelnick

The Biedermeier is a very nice hotel - Dorint chain is pretty good overall. It is quite an amazing set up as the hotel is in its own original arcade - and restaurants underneath.It certainly has some charm. Location wise it is convenient enough (5-10 minutes walk to Bus Air Terminal, ring and Landstrasse U bahn (although I have a very strong preference for the first (central) district), and nearby there is not a lot re: good restaurants and shops. Outside first district, I would say Biedermeier was one of the 2 - 3 best hotels, and definitely superior to those recommended.
As to those, Drei Kronen is right next to Naschmarkt, which is a great market (welcome to Turkey) but if you are into gay porno bars - they are just opposite to. The area, while interesting with an increasing number of trendy places to eat in the area is not to everyones taste. Drei Kronen is also on a busy street, so I would certainly not choose a street view.
Fuerstenhof might be a great hotel and I know operaman recommends it, but as to location - it is on the main ring highway of Vienna, near Westbahnhof station and its associated sleaze. If someone put me up in the area, I would be pissed off. It is not an easy walk to the centre - good 30 minutes+, down a main shopping street - which is a bit like Oxford St but without the real quality stores. My choice for my mum on a recent visit was Starlight Suites at Renngasse (there are 2 other not so good locations). Rack rate 166 euro, I got 100e - gives lounge and bedroom, air con, triple glazed, small fitness room - great value for money. But I would be happy with the Biedermeier.

rex

Travelnick - - this sounds like some great perspectives on hotels, their locations, values, etc.

We have (tentatively) settled on Pension Residenz - - www.residenz.cc - - for our two night stay in May with our family of five. Your input on locations, features, value (90 euro double, 110 triple) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance... and...

Best wishes,

Rex Bickers
Westerville, Ohio
[email protected]

Travelnick

Rex,
Location is pretty good - street tucked behind busy ones. Rathaus is worthwhile location - if you are coming in summer its great - all the food stalls go up, where you get a huge range of some of food (Carribbean, Argentinian,Indian, Austrian etc etc) including some of the best restaurants in Vienna.
Checked out website - looks OK, but may be a little chintzy. Some of these pensions are not quite what you hope for either - can be tattier inside than photos suggest. Beds look reasonable - height is Anglo-SAxon sit on it, not fall on it, as opposed to common 2 foot high things. Check out Starlight (www.starlighthotel.com) as a more modern alternative. I paid ?100 for my mum's room (rack rate 166) by contacting them directly.

Operaman

Travelnick;
I really think you are overstating your opinion of Westbahn area. We were there for 5 days and did noy notice any of the things you talk about. City Center is about 5 min. by U-Bahn, which is right across the square form Fuerstenhof. I know you are a downtown snob, but I have known many people who love the Fuerstenhof and have never given a complaint about the area. Not starting a war with you, just trying to give people different options.

Travelnick

Operman fair enough - but direct opposite westbahnhof there are 2 - 3 bars of a really dubious variety (and they are pretty obvious at night) - and progress all the way around the Gurtel near there - the busiest road in Vienna. Comparing to London, Wbh is like staying at Kings Cross. As a tourist why choose to stay there when you can stay in the centre which I am sure 98% of people would prefer. Why spend the time on the underground going back to your hotel in an area where locals do not choose to go socially (in any numbers), unless budget or other necessity requires it.

Operaman

Travelnik;
Okay. like I said, I've had many people who really enjoyed the Fuerstenhof. We never stay in the Center,(nothing against it though)usually out in Sievering(Zur Agnes).
Two months ago we rented an apartment for a week in Floridsdorf and found it to be the best experience yet. But between us both, I'd say we certainly give many options to the posters.
Have a glass of Blaufrankisch for me.
have you ever eaten at Witwe Bolte?

bettyk

Nick, do the "girls" still hang out on the Gurtel? I remember driving by there at night in the winter and we'd see them with their short little dresses and thigh high boots! What a sight!

rex

Travelnick:

Even If we got as good a rate as you mention, it would surely be $250 or more for 5 people. Not a big jump up, but budget discipline is something we have promised ourselves. We're okay with a little chintzy.

There is one good comment about the place here.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=1314089