Austria Trend Hotel Europa Wien - Vienna, Austria     

The location of this hotel is hard to beat. In the middle of the shopping district within walking distance of the Opera, the Dom and all the other sights. The quality of the room is really good enough, nothing to complain about. Prices in downtown Vienna are very high and this hotel is at least of the Bristol or Grand. Don’t expect to be spoiled in luxury, but it is efficient and clean, and the shower was just great. I didn’t eat in the café and restaurant myself, but they were very busy and seem to attract a lot of non-hotel guests, so I assume they are of decent quality.

The Austria Trend Euorpa is located in the center of Vienna, one block off of the major pedestrian shopping boulevard of Karntner Strasse and two blocks from the main subway entrance at the huge Stephanplatz church. It's a block from an active area: quiet but easily accessible to shops, restaurants, and transportation. It's easiest to tell the taxi to take you to the 5-star Ambassador hotel, right next door: it seems to cause less confusion. The hotel is a business / tourist hotel, clean ande modern, not pretentious. There is a friendly check-in desk where we had to leave our bags (no check in before 2), and a lounge and restaurant on the main floor. Elevators serve the upper floors with a dedicated one for the executive floor and lounge. The facility is clean and quiet: there is early morning street noise ffrom the square below as deliveries get made. The room is generous by European standards, with two twin beds pushed together to make a queen. There is a TV with 30 German channels and one CNN and BBC, and a minibar in the 'fridge below. The wireless internet worked well and costs 24 euro for 24 hours (time only accumulates when you are connected). The bathroom was good: there was a tub / shower combination and a small selection of toiletries. There is an in-room safe, no coffee. The only issue with the room was with the housekeeping: toiletries were not replaced, used glasses were not cleared, and I couldn't get a dry-cleaning bag. The breakfast buffet was included with the room and was open for light continental breakfast from 6 am to 7, then for full buffet with cereals, meats and cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, breads, and fruits from 7 to 9:30. You get a pot of coffee when you arrive, and tables were cleared as you finished plates. This hotel is a good base for seeing the many attractions of Vienna close by. The wine bars (Davy's Weinbar) located a block away across the square are also superb, as are the local chocolate shops.