Hello everybody! We will be staying in Vienna using our Marriott points and would like to know which one of the following hotels is a better choice:

1)Vienna Marriott
2) The Imperial Riding School Vienna, a Renaissance hotel
3) Renaissance Wein

Thanks,

Clau

We have stayed in all three hotels.

The Vienna Marriott is the best of these hotels, a real five-star hotel. It is very popular with guest from Arabia, since the OPEC is nearby. It is really funny to watch the sheiks with their families in the hotel's restaurants and public areas. The location is excellent, practically at the fringe of the Old Town with short walks into the City Center and lots of restaurants nearby.

The Renaissance hotels are on a four star level.

I clearly prefer the Renaissance Wien Hotel. It has a modern ambiance and a very nice (covered) rooftop pool. The location is not as excellent as the Marriott's location but still good. It is located at the Wienzeile, the street along the river Wien, where a colorful market is located. You have good access to the underground railway system.

The Imperial Riding School I did not like at all. The historical entrance looks impressive, but otherwise it is a soulless modern business hotel. The hotel is managed rather poorly, e.g. expect all kinds of junk in the pool area, no towels when you are swimming in the morning etc. And the location is not the best. The neighborhood is kind of run-down, with rather dubious bars in the vicinity. You can reach nothing on foot; you always have to take the underground railway - which will cost you 15min each time.

I assume the Vienna Marriott costs more points but it is probably worth it, alone for the location. The Renaissance Wien offers good value for money.

But I would never return to the Imperial Riding School and would not recommend it to anyone.

Thank you so much for your prompt response! It really helped me a lot! Actually I need the same number of points for all these hotels, so I will make a reservation at the Vienna Marriott.

Thanks again,

Clau

Great info! We have considered these same hotels for a trip next Spring! - using our points...

I had a terrific weiner shnitzel and the restaurant in the Vienna Marriott.

We stayed at the Vienna Mariott last fall and are returning in October--both times we used priceline and got great rates. We liked the nice large bed with good linens and lots of pillows. Pool and gym are nice features also.

You will enjoy the Vienna Marriott. The hotel restaurant is good, but if you prefer more traditional dining, there are lots of options round the corner:

- Zu den drei Hacken. Typical Beisl (bar/restaurant) which was a favorite of composer Franz Schubert. Traditional, rustic cuisine. Price level low.

- Plachutta. The best place to eat Tafelspitz - THE Vienna specialty dish. It is boiled beef and the serve it as a three-course menu. You have the choice of about a dozen different pieces of beef. Price level medium.

- Pfudl. Traditional cuisine, somewhat refined. Price level medium.

- Gulaschmuseum. Specializes in Gulasch. Price level low.

- Café Diglas. Typical Vienna-style Coffehouse with excellent cakes.

All these places are less than 5 min walking from the Marriott.