Hotel de France, Vienna, faded glory for a reasonable price
Posted on 19 September 2009 with no comments from readers
Searching for a five-star hotel in the centre of Vienna I came across the Hotel de France at 126 euros and decided that this seemed a bargain too good to pass up. This hotel is on the ring around the central district and ideal for sight-seeing.
Sat at its free Internet connection I must say it has not worked out too badly. The hotel is not really five-star, but then who would expect that for such a low price? It is a clean and well run upper four-star with its own quirks.
Free mini-bar
Aside from complimentary Net access, there is a free mini-bar. This is recharged daily and modestly stocked with soft-drinks, water, beer and a shot of schnaps. Tea and coffee making facilities are also provided.
The interior of the hotel is one of faded glory. But the glass barrel-vaulted roof of the main bar creates an attractively well-lit space, and the shopping in the lobby is a feature.
For breakfast the very reasonably priced buffet has a full-cooked option including an egg station. Lunches and dinner can be taken in a spacious restaurant.
The 194 guest rooms are of generous proportions and there are a few mini-suites with additional shower rooms, sitting and dressing areas. Decor is basic and not really up to five-star levels. It must be the size of the rooms that brings the fifth star.
Certainly the bathrooms are lacking in luxurious finish and a little spartan with ubiquitous white tiles.
Efficiency rules
The staff have that air of efficiency that pervades every aspect of life in Austria, even though probably many of them do not hail from this country. Things do not get forgotten and everything works.
However, you are on the very doorstep of imperial Vienna with the splendid palaces, museums and art galleries just a stone’s throw away. The trams pass by the hotel and a metro stop is right outside, though you hardly need them as you can easily walk just about anywhere.
If this is the new world of near-luxury hotels in Europe then I like it. On this sort of holiday you hardly stay long in the hotel anyway and convenience is everything.
