Like an Emperor and other Vienna, Austria Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

If you visit the Emperor's apartments in the Hofburg and in Schoenbrunn and wish you could have such lodgings, the Imperial is the nearest thing money can buy.
The impressive stairs, the bright chandeliers made with Swarovski crystal (even the ones in bathroom!) will make you feel like royals.

Unique Qualities: The Imperial is real luxury in every detail, not only in its furniture, for instance rooms have stereo CD players (Bang & Olufsen) the toiletries in the bathrooms are Bulgari's, and most important of all, the service is superb.
A historical bit: after WWII, when Vienna was divided, the Imperial was in the area controlled by Russians, and the Russian headquarter was in this hotel (if you want to know, the Americans were at the Bristol and the British at the Sacher).

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 501100
Address: Kaertner Ring 16
Directions: Back-to-back with the Musikverein
Website: www.starwood.com/luxury

Two elegant palaces of the 19th Century have been combined to create this hotel. The entrance, the halls, the charming breakfast room in a glass-roofed courtyard, all contribute to form an impression of aristocratic life-style.
Here you will find the service and all the comforts of a 5-star hotel, but the bill is more reasonable than in other 5-star hotels in Vienna, especially if you can take advantage of one of the various discount formulas available with the Radisson Sas chain.

Unique Qualities: The location is great, in one of the elegant avenues of the Ring that encircles the oldest part of Vienna. From the windows of the front side you can see the monument to Johann Strauss, and a short walk along the Weihburggasse will take you to the Cathedral and the Graben.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: (01) 515170
Address: Parkring 16, 1010 Vienna
Directions: On the Ring, opposite to the Stadtpark
Website: www.radissonsas.com

The name Mercure is a guarantee of good quality, and you will not be disappointed.
Among the services you will find here are a beauty salon, hairdresser, newspaper shop, florist and a delicatessen shop.
An aficionado of the Mercure chain may find it comparatively small, but this is due to its location in a small street of the city centre.

Unique Qualities: The location is ideal for those who want to live the city by day and also by night. In fact it is close to the Bermuda Triangle, the area of Vienna where the nights are more lively.
For the day-time tours, most of the main monuments are at walking distance, and for the other ones the underground and tram station of Schwedenplatz is conveniently near.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: (01) 534600
Address: Fleischmarkt 1, 1010 Vienna
Directions: In the oldest part of Vienna, three blocks away from Stephansdom
Website: www.accorhotels.com

When I first visited Vienna I was a student, and my accommodation was at a Studentenheim, ie a students' residence. Now I have an apartment in the same street of that Studentenheim, and I have noticed it is still there, but renovated. There are several more such residences in that nice and central area, near the Parliament and the Rathaus..
They have also maintained the tradition of operating as hotels in summer (July through September) when the students are not there.
The Atlas is just one of several hotels of this kind. Other ones, even cheaper, can be found through the website I am quoting below.

Unique Qualities: The Atlas has more facilities than most student's hotels: it has a bar, a restaurant and a garden café. The front desk offers some concierge services such as currency exchange and tickets for the theatres. All the rooms have private bathrooms.
The location is great, close to the Parliament and with all the major sights at walking distance. There is also an underground station really close.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: +43 1 52178
Address: Lerchenfelderstrasse 1-3
Directions: In the 7th District, close to the Parliament.
Website: www.academia-hotels.co.at

Location is always important, but on some occasions it is especially so. For instance when I had only a night and a few hours to spend in Vienna, so I wanted to be in the city centre, but with easy access to the airport. This hotel happens to be near the downtown station of the express train from the airport (the CAT) so this was my reason for choosing it, together with the fact that I trust the quality of Mercure hotels.

Unique Qualities: I found all the qualities I expected from a 4-stars Mercure, but here I found something more! The architecture, the furniture and decoration are true to the hotel's name, and the atmosphere was genuine 19th Century Vienna, but with 21st Century amenities too.
Another aspect that I have liked very much is that my room was a decent size, a quality that is not frequently found in the hotels of old Europe.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 43-1-716710
Address: LANDSTRASSER HAUPTSTRASSE 28,A-1030 VIENNA, A-1030
Directions: Arriving with CAT use the exit marked Landstrasser Hauptstrasse - Beatrix Strasse. On the street turn left and walk for about 200 metres: the hotel is on the other side of the street. Through the archway you will get into an alley: the reception is there.
Website: www.mercure.com