Vienna a great city for a break from the Gulf
Posted on 22 September 2009 with no comments from readers
Opec clearly knew what it was doing years ago in establishing its headquarters in Vienna, although in the Cold War this was a very different city.
Today both the short flying time and endless imperial splendor provide excellent reasons for Gulf residents to head up to Vienna for a long weekend or more. This is also a remarkably convenient and safe urban environment with fabulous public transport and seemingly no poverty.
Tramp free
Indeed, there was an almost total absence of the sort of dispossessed folk who hang around many European cities these days. Perhaps the Viennese are less tolerant of such individuals but you see very few police, and they are not needed because of the absence of beggars and street peddlers.
You also see very little sign of the global recession or credit crunch in Vienna. The only tell-tale indicator is the low prices of hotels where offers and discounts are the order of the day.
If tourism is down from Europe and the US then it is definitely up from Russia and China. Bar tenders speak Russian, and of course the Big Bear is not far from Austria as the fountain and statue of a Russian soldier celebrating the ‘liberation’ post World War Two reminds you.
However, there should be more visitors from the Gulf. Stay at the Imperial Hotel if you want the last word in old world luxury, and hire a horse-and-carriage, no other European capital still has so many horses on the streets.
You also have a tremendous array of art galleries and luxury shopping. There are restaurants, bars, clubs and casinos to suit all tastes.
Sight-seeing
This time of year the climate is warm but with fresh air for sight-seeing, and you will certainly have plenty to see. The palaces and gardens are delightful, and everything is within a fairly compact area called The Ring, so you do not end up with the route marches of Paris.
My only quibble would be the 12 euros added to the taxi bill ‘for the return from the airport’ that is helpfully stuck on the back of the front seat so that you only read it after the journey has started.
The Hotel de France also got you to sign for breakfast at 26 euros and on check-out this became a per person charge, so it is worth keeping an eye out for unwelcome additional charges. Otherwise go and enjoy Vienna!
