Al Pesce d'Oro, Graz

Advantages: Useful location for transport; clean comfortable
Disadvantages: Smoky lobby; over-priced if no offer available

...If like me you are the sort of person who prefers to stay in more moderate hotel accommodation in order to have more money to spend on things like eating out (or the purchasing of horrific souvenirs) you may be interested to know that to celebrate their 30th anniversary, some of the brands that fall under the Accor umbrella are offering a limited number of rooms at special rates this year. It does mean that you can't alter your reservation and won't qualify for a refund if you cancel but for those travellers who are willing to risk that, there are bargains to be had. In mid-June we are going to Hanover and have booked a double room in a very central Mercure hotel for just 39 Euro per night and have just stayed in the Ibis Graz, the subject of this review, for 59 Euro for a double room, a saving of some 20 Euro based on two people... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Small yet lively, a variety of things to do and a great place to be based
Disadvantages: none

...Graz is Austria’s second city, with around 260,000 population, as well as 100,000 students which boost the population in term time. For a second city, that is not exactly massive, but nevertheless Graz has a certain je ne sais quoi. Having lived in Vienna for four and a half years, I have often headed down to Graz and have friends there, to revisit the city I first discovered in 1997-8 when I lived in Judenburg. Getting there: Graz is 2:30 direct by train (fahrplan.oebb.at has an online timetable) from Vienna (leaving from the Südbahnhof), with hourly trains, although every second hour you have to change in Brück an der Mur. The journey itself, over the Semmering pass, in particular the stretch between Semmering and Gloggnitz is well worth it. Unfortunately, when the Semmering tunnel is completed, some of this breathtaking journey... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: attractive scenery, nice people, lots to see
Disadvantages: no direct flights from the UK

...I have been to Graz for several days earlier this year and I can tell you that this town has much more to offer than just the famous Clock Tower (Uhrturm) for which it is known. Graz is the third-largest town in Austria, it is located about 200 km south of Vienna, it is the capital of Styria (one of the nine provinces of the Republic of Austria), and there is also a univeristy in Graz. Football fans might remember that one of the teams based here (Sturm Graz) played (and lost) against Manchester United in the Champions League. Other than that, Graz is not very well known in the UK. But it is certainly worth to spend a few days here to explore the attractions, to do some shopping or simply to enjoy the scenery and relax. If you drive to Graz by car, please bear in mind that - unlike in other Austrian towns - there is a very... Read review

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