Can anyone give a good recommendation for a hotel or pension in Vienna that is within reasonable commuting distance of the main attractions? I did a search and turned up the Altweinhof and Ibis. I am searching for something under $130 a night. We will be there in late July, if plans materialize.

Bob, <BR>My wife, I and another couple stayed at the Altwienerhof in October this year. <BR>The hotel is reasonable in cost, $92.00 including a buffet breakfast of boiled eggs, cheeses, meats and baked goods served in a "wintergarden". It is not centrally located, being about four blocks south of the Westbahnhof train station. It is within 200 yards of the Gumpendorferstrasse Ubahn station and the same distance from the bus line that within ten minutes leaves you on the Burgring adjacent to the Museums of Art and Natural History. With one change of subways, you're four stops from Schonbrunn Palace; you're one stop from the Westbahnhof train station and connecting Ubahn lines; the line at Gumpendorferstrasse will take you to buses 38 and 38A which lead to Grinzing. The rooms at $92.00 were adequate in my personal opinion, though my wife coerced me into upgrading to a "suite" which gave her more elbow room for putting her face on each morning. The suite had a small room with toilet, sink and bidet, a large bath room with huge tub, separate shower and dual sinks (though poorly lit) an alcove with double bed and excellent night table lighting and another spacious area with desk, couch and easy chair. Cost? Slightly less than $140.00 including taxes and breakfast. Ursula, the proprietress, speaks excellent English and was most accommodating in arranging concert reservations for us and securing a taxi to the airport. One word of caution, the Altwienerhof is listed in the Baedeker Guide to Vienna, not for its hotel but its restaurant which is superb but truly pricey. Dinner one night, not ala carte, cost the four of us a little over $440.00. I can recommend a couple of much less expensive restaurants within a three block walk or less of the hotel if you're interested.

Hi Wes. I got the name of the Altweinerhof from your trip report and looked at the website. The rooms look fine, but pictures are always a little deceiving. I would be interested in getting the names of less expensive restaurants. We are wanting to visit Europe several times soon, so expenses are something we need to control. <BR>We are hoping to meet some friends there who will be on an extension of a tour of cities like Prague, Warsaw, and Budapest.

My husband and I stayed at the Altwienerhof in August of this year. We opted for the regular room which turned out to be fine. The breakfast there was excellent. Their restaurant was well above our budget (and we didn't have the clothes to wear to it) so we used our Rick Steve's guide to help us pick restaurants. One of the restaurants we ate at was "Zu den Drei Hacken" which was several blocks from St. Stephens Platz. We also ate at a restaurant called Pfurdl which was very good.

We have been to Vienna twice over the past several years and it is without question one of our favorite big cities. Both times we stayed at the Pension Nossek directly on the Graben (no. 17). Almost everything is just outside the front door with Stephansplatz only several blocks away and it is a lovely old hotel with sound proofed windows. We paid $109 per night - private bath, with modest breakfast included. I will be glad to provide you with any other particulars.

Pension Pertschy is a very good establishment in an historic building right in the centre of town in a small street off Stephensplatz. Very convenient for almost everything. The price was reasonable back in '94. Breakfasts were great, there was a tour desk if you needed it and for the area it was very quiet. Can highly recommend it.

Bob: We stayed at pension Nossek am Graben in September. It is charming, the rooms are very nice, the staff very helpful, the location for sight seeing is fantastic. It was 1300 shillings, a little over $100. Here are the down sides. <BR>One they do not accept credit cards. This means sending a deposit in advance and checking out with cash. We found that the exchange rate utilized with our deposit was not at the best rate available at the time which probably cost a few dollars more. <BR>Two - The breakfast was basic. Cereal was extra. <BR>Three - Parking is a real problem. The pension is surrounded on 3 sides by pedestrian areas. We did not plan well. We had asked in advance by fax where to park (the response was nearby). They do not have e-mail. After driving for 30 minutes we dumped the car in the nearest parking structure and walked 10 minutes to the hotel. They then informed us that that lot was too expensive and to move the car. When we did, that lot was about a 15 minute walk. You are allowed to bring cars in closer in the morning, but with one way streets and related, we found it easier to exit by going back to the car park. <BR> <BR>Although the placw was very nice, if we go back to Vienna I may try another place, especially if we have a car. Our daughter stayed at Pension Neuer Markt which is not far from the Nossek but not directly (I believe) on the pedestrian streets. She said they had a great big breakfast included and the prices are about the same. So location is great, food was and parking may be a little bit closer if that was a consideration. <BR>Either of these are within walking distance of the Opera, Hapsburg, St Stephens, etc. Of course Schoenbrun is a commute regardless, and don't miss it, I liked it better than Versailles. And do not miss the cafe by the Opera for Chocolate Torte, it was wonderful!!!

Bob, <BR>Regarding restaurants. One of the reasons we chose the Altwienerhof hotel was that it seemed far removed enough from major tourist attractions that we'd probably be in a residential area, with non-touristy priced restaurants. And so we were. While checking the weather each morning I spied a parade of youngsters strolling off to the three schools in the immediate neighborhood. The hotel was fine due to its proximity to bus and Ubahn lines that got us where we wanted to be within ten minutes or so. We found some perfectly fine inexpensive restaurants in the immediate area. If you stay at the hotel, exit and walk left towards the Ubahn station, turn left on Sechshauser and walk three short blocks You'll pass a Chinese (!?!) restaurant (which we did not try). After three blocks, on the far corner you'll see the Soysdorfer Weinhaus with the name Fischer over the portal. We lunched there on the daily special: soup, salad and a huge slab of vienerschnitzel for under $5.00. Noticed the same price on the sidewalk blackboard at night. <BR> <BR>Again, leave the hotel and turn left to the corner, cross at the pedestrian walk and continue under the Ubahn tracks. You'll be on Gumpendorferstrasse. Continue one short block to Wall Gasse and turn left. (There's a post office on the corner in Secessionist style architecture. You'll be heading towards the Raimund Theatre) On the far corner you'll see a small white Italian restaurant, the name of which escapes me. While it has a sign indicating "Pizzeria" it also serves fine, typical trattoria cooking. Disconcerting to see an Italian menu in German! <BR> <BR>If, instead, you continue on Gumpendorferstrasse for another block or two, in mid block you'll find an unpretentious, rustic Austrian restaurant. Once again the name escapes me, though it was two words both beginning with "B". A small sign at the entrance in English indicates that it's a family run restaurant with all of its foodstuffs, including beer, coming from the family farm. Its sausages were impressive; its beer not so. When we finished dining, we noted that the restaurant was packed with young people with not a table to be had. <BR> <BR>For certain, don't dine in the hotel! I suppose you could settle for an entrée off the ala carte menu, but I'm not sure you wouldn't have to take out a second mortgage on the old homestead. <BR> <BR>Remember too, if all else fails, there's a "Hooters" in Grinzing! <BR>