About me:Frustrated rock chick, I console myself with reviews of books and films as well as music.
Member since:24.08.2007
Reviews:39
Members who trust:47
Review rated by 55 Ciao members on average: very helpful
In October of last year my husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. Astounded at how quickly the years had passed and determined to reward ourselves for our staying power, we looked for a suitably romantic/memorable way to mark the occasion. It was my husband who hit on the idea of getting the night train to Vienna (must write about this too) and I was tasked with selecting the hotel. Well, I really wanted to make sure I picked something special for the occasion. I work away quite a bit (only in the UK - nothing special) and get to stay in Hiltons and Crowne Plazas, and, whilst these are really good quality chains, I was really hoping to find something different so that I wouldn't feel like I was on a work trip! I found the Altstadt Vienna on tripadvisor where it was the 5th most popular hotel in Vienna.
Well, the Altstadt Vienna certainly fitted the bill. It was just right for a romantic stay and was the perfect base for our weekend.
Location ======= The Altstadt Vienna is situated in an old-fashioned Viennese apartment building. As you enter the hallway you have to go up the wide and sweeping stone staircase to get to the reception which is on the first floor. Also on this floor is the 'red salon' and breakfast area (more on this anon), the 42 rooms are spread across the 2nd and 3rd floors. Because it is not a custom built
hotel building, it feels like a slice of 'real Vienna'.
The hotel is just 5 minutes walk (to the west) of the famous Vienna Ringstrasse where all the grand buildings are and a further 5 minutes to the heart of the city. It is situated in the Spittelberg district, which is known for its 'artistic flair' and is made up of a number of small streets, mainly built around the turn of the century, which have recently been pedestrianised and restored. There are quite a few bars and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.
Arrival ===== We arrived at Vienna Westbahnhof early on Friday morning and walked to the hotel - we only had weekend bags so were happy to walk, but the area around the station is typically grim with 'adult' shops and bars. Not the nicest of welcomes, if we did it over we'd get a taxi. Thankfully, by the time we reached the hotel the area had improved significantly.
The welcome from the staff was very warm. We arrived far too early to check in, but our luggage was locked away and we were invited to come into the breakfast area to have something to eat and drink. When we returned to the hotel later to check in properly, the receptionist came out from behind the desk and gave us a tour of the hotel and then took us up to our room. It was a genuinely warm welcome and we felt very much at home.
The Room ======== I have to say, this was pretty special.
According to the reviews I've read of the hotel all the standard rooms are well furnished with arty touches, but as it was a special occasion, we selected (for a small premium) one of their recently renovated rooms, design by Matteo Thun. The design is inspired by that period of Vienna, around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, where art and music flourished. The culture of cafés and concert halls that pushed the boundaries in art (think Klimt and then Schiele) are the inspiration.
The room had a high ceiling, silver/black flock wall paper, an elaborate chandelier, silver curtains, red velvet bedstead and a pretty erotic black and white photo on the wall. Think boudoir, but classy!
The door to the shower and toilet was glass (yes, pretty intimate stuff this!!!) and was all black tiles and shiny chrome. The shower had a huge rose which meant it was a divine experience. The products provided were all from the Provencal retail chain L'Equitaine.
What a great place to spend a romantic weekend away!
The rest of the Hotel ================ The hotel is pretty arty with lots of great photographs and artwork on the walls. The 'red salon' is a lounge where you can come and sit in comfy chairs by an open fire and have tea and cake FOR FREE in the afternoons. Yes, that's right, FREE CAKE. You can help yourself as many times as you like to the amazing array of different teas and the never ending supply of cake (as soon as all the slices of cake have gone, a new one appears). There's also a bar here for later in the evening. What more can a girl want?? This was a lovely place to spend a little time after traipsing round the city and before venturing out for an evening meal.
The corridor to the Matteo Thun rooms is pretty stunning, too, all deep reds and clever lighting and large black and white prints of photos of glamorous young ladies that look like they're from the first few decades of the 20th Century. So classy and (dare I say it) erotic.
The Breakfast =========== This was simply the best I've had anywhere. There was an incredible array of cheese and cooked meats (very Austrian) with all different types of bread. Alternatively, you could have muesli or any other kind of cereal, various fresh fruits (both prepared for putting into a bowl as a salad or adding to your muesli/cereal and not-prepared). There were various pastries and the facilities to make toast along with plenty of different kinds of jams and spreads. If you really couldn't find anything to tempt you in all of this, you could order hot food, which would be prepared for you - none of that sitting on a hot plate getting dry business here.
Now, I like my food and so being able to return as many times as I liked to try out as much of the various options available was just too good to be true. There are not superlatives enough to describe this breakfast….
The Rates ======== OK, as you will probably have gathered from this review, this is no budget hotel.
A standard double room costs between 139 Euros and 179 Euros depending on when you stay.
The Matteo Thun double rooms cost between 169 Euros and 209 Euros depending on when you stay.
Given the poor exchange rates right now you're looking at somewhere between £120 and £180 depending on what you go for.
We paid £150 per night. It's not cheap, but I definitely didn't feel I'd been ripped off - the hotel and the room were well worth this price. It's also not much more than you'd pay at a quality hotel chain, such as the Hilton (whose standard rooms are 119 Euros and whose Deluxe rooms are 139 Euros).
I notice also that Ciao is giving a price of £94, so it may be that you can get some better deals than the prices shown on the hotel's own website.
Conclusion ======== The overall design of the place was pretty classy, but it still had a really comfortable and welcoming feel to it. The staff were very friendly, attentive and welcoming. The room was luxurious. The breakfast was to die for. They give you free tea and cake, for heaven's sake!
I would not hesitate to recommend this hotel if you are looking for something special when staying in Vienna. For me, it was a key part of the success of our weekend (along with the superb weather and the good company) and well worth spending a bit more.
Quite simply, it is the hotel I have most enjoyed stayed in.
suites in a renovated historical building in the Spittelberg quarter, only a few steps from the major museums and the Ringstrasse.The English-style Red Salon serves a su...
all rooms. Each room has a unique style and the Red Salon with open fireplace offers a cozy atmosphere. City: Hofburg, Castle Schönbrunn, opera, theatre, museums
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15.01.2009 20:44
nicely reviewed. Em x
15.01.2009 17:46
Great review :)
14.01.2009 18:10
Great Review :D