Where to stay in Vienna
 

Has anyone stayed at the Tabor Hotel in Vienna? Is it in a good location? Can you reccommend another hotel that is decently priced?

I'm not familiar with the location of this hotel. However, you might want to check out the Admiral Hotel where we have stayed on our last 2 trips to Vienna. It's a very clean, comfortable hotel right behind the Museum Quartier and a 5-minute walk to the Ringstrasse and the old town. A double room should be between $70 and $110 (including tax and breakfast) depending on the season. Their website is http://www.admiral.co.at/index1.htm.

Tabor Hotel is in 2nd district on the other side of Donaukanal. It is on a fairly busy street in a bit grimy area. It is on the way from centre to the prater funfair/ferris wheel - the immediate area is pretty horrible although the park on the other side is nice. I would certainly not choose to be there just from a location point of view - dead at night as it is a very untouristy area. Bettyk always praises Admiral Hotel from her +ve experience, and its location is certainly better than Tabor. I always say go for 1st district. Admiral is as Bettyk says very close and convenient to museums but I still much prefer the ability to walk around all the small streets in the centre. If you type in Austria and look for a string called "neighbourhood", I have given a list of hotels that I have checked out. My choice for budget accommodation is Starlight Suites, Renngasse location - get full bedroom and lounge with microwave with small fitness room. My mum paid euro 100 per night incl breakfast earlier this month.

I know of a wonderful and charming, beautifully furnished large rooms and excellent baths hotel in the heart of the city for about 200 euro per night. In my way of thinking that is not only "decent priced", but an outstanding bargain if you like nice hotels. Are you interested? Or by "decent priced" did you really mean a cheap hotel and a cheap price?? I'm really not sure what "decent price" means.

<BR>Seconding Travelnicks advice, we stayed at Starlight Suites Renngasse in June 2002 and found it clean, comfortable and inexpensive.<BR>Located on quiet street, a couple blocks from tram lines.

Nick, I can only recommend what I have actually experienced just as you do. <BR><BR>We stayed in a spacious double room at the Admiral in May, which is the beginning of the high season, for a very reasonable 110 Euros. The Starlight Suites shows a rate of 166 Euros for May 2003 for a double. The Starlight does have more amenities than the Admiral but a plus for us was parking for our rental car just a 1/2 block from the hotel. You know how difficult it is to find a hotel with parking in Vienna!

Bettyk,<BR>Absolutely no sarcasm meant in saying you always recommend Admiral (just in case taken that way) - totally reasonable with the good experience. As I have said I am a first district snob! You are 100% right re: web site for starlight suites. We got the price direct from hotel and were really pleasantly surprised especially as in real life, rooms are better looking than on internet or brochure(often the other way around). Shows you how it can be a productive use of time by speaking direct to the hotel. Renngasse is pretty good area for relative ease of parking, so you may want to check it out if on another trip. Certainly not like places such as Pension Nossek. I will check out Admiral for myself sometime soon out of curiosity.

We stayed at the admiral last may.95 E with great breakfast and located in a nice area.

I have cancelled the Tabor and I now have a choice between the Pension Suzanne and the Starlight Suites. Please let me know what you think between the two of them.

Before you choose check out the Fuerstenhof<BR>http://hotel-fuerstenhof.com/default.htm<BR>We stayed there and loved it! Staff is great and excellent breakfast buffet.

3 op us stayed at the Hotel Papageno in September 2000. Very comfortable, quiet, clean and great service; the breakfast room has a waterfall. Can't remember the exact price but about $100 a night with breakfast. Near the State Opera and walking distance to Karlstplatz staion; also trams outside. see their website at www.nethotels.com/papageno <BR>

Pension Suzanne is on a fairly busy street - but very central, but does have rooms out the back. Located in an incredibly ugly building - 60s block which has not been painted for years. I have seen one room when a friend stayed there and I thought it was frankly horrible - really old 60s - 70s style. I am surprised when I hear recommendations for it. Starlight Suites obviously I recommended earlier- it is a little Ikea style in furniture, but there is just no comparison. SS Renngasse is about 2 years old, has air con (Suzanne does not), triple glazing etc - it is simply a completely different standard. For your money you get a normal size double bedroom and full lounge suite - 2 seater sofa and 2 chairs in black leather, plus coffee tabel, TVs in both rooms, micorwave, small kitchen sink, and mini bar. Call them direct and see if you can get a good price like we did - all the reception staff speak very good English.

In 2000 I stayed at the Hotel Austria, a budget hotel located in the Inner Ring, a few blocks from St. Stephens Cathedral. This hotel is on a pedestrian-only street, so it is away from traffic noise. I found it to be clean, comfortable, and quiet.<BR><BR>A Web link is http://members.eunet.at/hotelaus/eng/home.htm

Thank you all for your help. You have truly helped me in my decision making process.

Nick, I have to admit that the Starlight Suites does sound like a good deal IF the price is negotiable. I like the part about air conditioning. The Admiral does not have AC and when we were in Vienna last May, it was very hot for that time of year. We opened the two large windows but would have killed for some really cool air!