Our last night in Vienna was at the Boutique Stadthalle, a stone’s throw away from Westbahnhof and, therefore, imminently accessible from everywhere on Vienna’s impressive public transport system. We’d noticed that the Stadthalle promoted itself as an eco-hotel and we were interested if it was possible to combine being eco-friendly with comfort. It’s easy to be cynical with regard to hotels labelling themselves “eco” to cash in on the increased interest in protecting the planet, but Stadthalle have certainly proven themselves as walking the walk judging by their many awards over the years.

I had been focusing on the other aspects of our trip, and so didn’t have any expectations for the hotel room. First impressions were good as we dropped off our luggage at 10am (rooms are rarely ready that early!) – the front doors formed an airlock and a wall of greenery set the scene for the eco theme.

There was a funky contemporary vibe with the decor in the lobby and we were given the key to the luggage store in the basement and dropped off our baggage. A cool little pouch of lavender was in the lift, nicely scenting our descent. We didn’t come back ’til quite late in the evening and retrieved our luggage, collected the key and headed up to the room. I did notice that it was on the top floor, but that didn’t strike me as out of the ordinary.

The Breakfast

I’m used to vegans and celiacs not being able to find anything to eat at hotel buffets: not the case at the Stadthalle! There is something there for almost everyone (the only thing missing was bacon) and the food is well-labelled and clearly indicates whether it’s organic or not. there are even eggs three ways – scrambled, hard and soft boiled.

The Facilities

There’s time for us to have a bit of an exploration through the hotel after breakfast, and we’re glad we did.

Outside the breakfast room is a lovely courtyard – it’s a pity the weather is a bit inclement – when the sun is out it would be an awesome spot to eat or relax in the evening over a glass of wine. The garden meets the walls covered with ivy giving the impressions that you are surrounded by green in the middle of the city. Very relaxing!

On each landing between floors there is a feature wall with colour changing lighting in what Ange assures me are those eco friendly LED bulbs. On one landing are pillows, on one ceramic mugs with a single toothbrush, on another empty wine bottles. We’re trying to guess what will be on the landing for our floor as we ascend, but an empty wall with non-coloured lamps greets us instead. A bit of a let down after the funky styles of the other floors!

Pros and Cons

Would I Go Back?

Absolutely! Its great when the hot water is heated with a hotel’s very own solar power, and I would love to try the honey at breakfast now I’ve seen where it comes from. The lavender in bloom would be something to see also.

Boutique Stadthalle supported our Summer 2017: UNESCO tour by providing a complimentary stay. All opinions remain our own.

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There’s only one problem with our time at the 25Hours Museumsquartier – it went by way too fast. I envied Angela actually, she’d arrived earlier than me – just before lunch. Naturally the room wasn’t ready (check-in is from 2pm), but she’d got to do some work in the downstairs bar before the receptionist had come down and let her know that the room was now ready.

We’d stayed at a 25Hours before (the Bikini in Berlin, overlooking the Zoo) and so were expecting quirk with a capital Q and the Museumsquartier delivered in spades – the circus-inspired murals on the walls were the obvious part, but again design features infiltrated every part of the hotel.

When I arrived, the first thing I marvelled about was just how easy it was to find the place. It is right in the centre of the Museum area of Vienna, super easy to access from the Metro system, which was appreciated as the heavens had opened to welcome me to Vienna and the short dash from Metro to hotel was much appreciated. I had asked Ange if there was any trick to finding the entrance to the hotel and Skype had been unable to hide the wry grin as she had said I wouldn’t have any trouble.

From a block away I could see the neon lights of the hotel name and as I got closer the hotel slogan of “We’re All Mad Here” beckoned me closer.

The Bar

Once I was squared away in the room, we headed upstairs to the hotel’s rooftop bar (Dachboden) for a quick drink. Whereas the bar at the 25hours in Bikini attracted millennials and hipsters, the two bars at the Museumsquartier skewed towards a little older although no less hip.

I’d seen the bar menu online and Ange joined me in selecting a strong ginger beer based cocktail and we wandered between the two bars checking out the styles.

In one corner, two barbers chairs sat bathed under a strong spotlight, in another a bass drum served as a table. Above the bar a set of drums served as diffusers for lights and Victorian-era lampshades abounded.

We set to the ‘serious discussion’ of how to best describe the decor. We agree that it’s an interesting combination of old and new, like steam-punk, but while there is a nod to pre-WWI era style, there is none of the polished copper and gadgetry of steampunk. We settle on Neo-Edwardian, but then try to decide if that’s appropriate because it refers to English monarchy and we’re in Vienna. Not that we’re experts on interior design or anything.

The Room

The room is dominated by the artwork – I think every room has a different wall mural, but it’s the little things which add up and make this place so interesting. The shower is exposed to the main part of the room (as Ange said – the rooms aren’t designed to be shared with the boss on business trips!) but for me the best part of the room is the bed. It is like sleeping on a cloud – higher than I am used to, but with a softness which still somehow gives the necessary support. Hard to describe, but not as hard as it is to leave! The view from the window is pleasant enough (a park with museum buildings around it), but the interior of the hotel is much more interesting!

The Breakfast

We’ve been spoiled with breakfasts so far this trip, and the one at the Museumsquartier is no different. Like their sister hotel in Berlin, the spread is impressive, and features comb honey. Le Creuset crockery again holds the cooked dishes and the staff are attentive. We have two quibbles at breakfast – they bring me someone else’s coffee and Ange had to go hunting for a spoon for her cereal.

Human errors in an otherwise exemplary experience. We also miss the fact that Berlin’s hotel has the breakfast in the restaurant on the rooftop level whereas Vienna’s has it on the ground level. It feels silly complaining about that sort of thing when the spread is so encompassing – everyone is taken care of and the labelling means there’s no surprises. I’m tickled when I notice the little folders that bills are printed have “Pay or run fast” embossed on them.

Pros and Cons

Would I Return?

Hell yeah – where do I sign? Look, the hotel is in a great location, it’s funky as hell and the beds are very comfortable. The staff are friendly and the breakfast spread impressive. It’s another home run for the 25hour hotel chain – Ange and I are fast becoming fans!!

25 Hour Hotels supported our Summer 2017: UNESCO tour by providing a complimentary stay. All opinions remain our own.

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Day Zero

You’ve got to love a full flight – I’d booked the cheapest tickets because I pride myself I can pack smartly and fit everything in my cabin bag, but the airline insists I put my bag in the hold because the flight is so full. Grrr. I was miffed bacause the flight was scheduled to arrive at 10:30pm and there are only two airport train (CAT) departures per hour: at 9 and 39 minutes past the hour. With a 10:30 arrival time I was hopeful to make the 11:09. My last few flights had had queuing at passport control so I was expecting 20-30 minute waits at Passport Control and with the addition of time collecting my bag there it was a very good chance I would miss the 11:09 – maybe I should grab a cab?

Anyways, the planets aligned for me. First of all the pilot was able to get to Vienna 15 minutes early. I was in an aisle seat (I had tried to upgrade as soon as online booking was available but in the time it took to get my credit card from the other side of the room, all the seats ahead of my free seat were snapped up!) and there was a free passport booth available immediately.

The guy in the booth barely looked at my passport before sliding it back and my bag was number five off the conveyor belt at reclaim. So I grab a return CAT ticket from an automated kiosk beside the conveyor belt and then glance at the clock on the wall – 10.37pm. Can I make it to the platform and on the train in 2 minutes? The logical side of my brain says no, but the optimistic side says “try”!

One of the wheels on my suitcase has been partially worn away so it makes a kerthump kerthump sound as I wheel it and the rhythm gets faster as I fast-walk my way through the airport, keeping an eye out for the icon of the CAT on signage. The air feels cooler as I make it to the trains and I almost fly down the stairs onto the platform, willing the train to remain as I approach. I stab the button, expecting the train to pull away as my finger approaches and with unbelieving eyes the doors open, admitting me to a double decker train with luggage racks.

I stow my luggage and find a seat. There’s actually a two minute wait before the train pulls away and the onboard video screen shows the time at 10.41, so I’m pleasantly confused as to where the discrepancy is between the published departure time and the actual. Sixteen minutes later I’m in Wien Mitte.

Vienna has a very easily navigated public transport system with only one negative – for whatever reason Google Maps isn’t fed its data. This means that navigation relies on knowing the nearest metro or tram station and then referring to a metro/tram route map to figure out how to get there.

Fortunately the lines run frequently enough that I’m not spending a long time on the platforms, but it’s an interesting shortcoming of an otherwise modern city. We’d been given Visit Vienna cards which, like their Berlin counterpart, provided free transport in addition to a plethora of discounts, but we’d gotten them delivered to our hotel, necessitating a single ticket purchase for me to connect to the hotel from the CAT station. I forget to validate the ticket before riding so if I’m caught there’ll be a €50 fine – doh!

I arrive a lot earlier than I thought I would and head up to the rooftop bar at the 25Hour Hotel MuseumQuartier for a drink with Ange. We discuss what we want to see and do and make a list:

• Schönbrunn Palace (UNESCO World Heritage site)
• Mozart’s House (part of the Historic Centre of town, which is also an UNESCO World Heritage site)
• Orchestra
• Opera
• Bratislava
• Sausages
• Cake – sachertorte

Day One

After breakfast the next day, we head off to the Hotel Fürstenhof. It’s right beside Westbahnhof, the Viennese train station servicing the west-bound traffic (mainly domestic locations) and also serves as a hub of metro, tram and bus lines – so we check out the train situation for our next stop which will be Budapest. Unfortunately the Budapest trains leave from Hauptbanhof in the centre of town, but because of the myriad of choices to get around it’s still a great location. We check into the hotel and then head straight out into the city.

We validate our VisitVienna cards, and head into the city proper. Getting off the metro, we’re amused to see a public pay-toilet with Mozart playing – the “Opera Toilet”.

We exit for the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera) beside which is Bitzinger Würstelstand, a permanent stall selling what are supposed to be the best sausages in Vienna. It’s fascinating watching the guys behind the counter prepare the Käsekrainer, – and then we stand at the counter and enjoy the hearty goodness in the cold.

Then we head towards Stephensplatz and its church and stick our noses in. It’s an impressive old cathedral but seems piebald due to the renovations which have been going on for years. The cleaned exterior is a sandy khaki colour, but the rest is black except where the rain has managed to keep the soot and pollution from impregnating the stone.

We weigh up going up the tower of the spire but at 300+ steps we figure we’ll save our feet for possibly going to the opera in the evening (Ange found out that you can queue an hour and a half before the performance for tickets to the Opera in the standing section for €3).

Instead we head to Mozart’s House. For a museum all about Mozart there is very little of him in there – very few pics of him which is surprising as he was supposed to be the public figure of his time. Ange draws parallels with the paucity of detail about Schindler in the Museum bearing his name in Krakow.

After the visit to Mozart’s House we have a little time before the queuing will begin for the State Opera (Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro), and the weather is starting to turn from fresh to bitter, so we keep our eyes out for a cake shop so that we can try the sachertorte. We find cake shops on the main route between Stephensplatz and Karlsplatz but they’re all very touristy, so we brave the cold for a little longer and head off the main drag to one of the streets parallel to the main commercial shopping street and find an unassuming cafe with sandwich boards out the front listing their cake offerings.

Lo and behold we pick out “sachertorte” amongst the hand written goodies and head inside. The place is close to empty – an American couple sit talking quietly and an elderly woman behind the counter bids us sit anywhere.

Ange gets the sachetorte and I get the apfelstrudel and we engage the proprietor in some light-hearted banter. The topic of conversation finds its way to the refugee situation, and looks likely to develop in an area we’re not altogether comfortable with, so I attempt to change the subject and mention that New Zealand has a lot of space and not much history, whereas Austria seems to have the opposite. This seems to derail the conversation and she heads over to talk to the American couple. A few minutes later we hear her use my line to them. I smirk to Ange and mutter under my breath “at least wait ’til we’ve left before reusing my line!”

Amused, we head out to brave the cold and queue for our tickets. There’s already a line down the length of the Opera house, and so I hold our place in the queue and Ange goes for a wander to check out the lay of the land. She comes back and mentions that there is a lady at the head of the queue checking people’s shoes. Ange is in walking shoes, so there’s a moment of panic that she’ll be turned away.

We look up and down the queue and every other person is sporting trainers of some description, so figure we’ll be alright. Ange had counted 150 people in front of us and we look online to see what the capacity of the standing section is. Comforted that there are supposed to be 600 standing room tickets available, we settle in to wait. Soon a suited rotund man comes down the queue offering single tickets for €35. As Ange wryly puts it, we’d have to wave to each other – not exactly a shared experience, and not really a bargain considering that was the face value of the tickets in the first place.

The line starts moving and we make the reasonable assumption that it won’t be too long before we’re through the door and into the queue in the warmth. Just as well really because I could feel myself starting to get snarky with Ange because of the cold.

We notice a group of young guys in front of us – from smatterings of their conversations I’m guessing Spanish speaking. Two of them are in Adidas track pants – the triple white stripe bright against the black of the fabric. The lady that Ange had seen looking at people’s shoes pulls one of them out of the queue and explains that he can’t wear trackpants to the performance.

He mentions that he has a spare pair of pants in his bag and hurries off to change before they reach the head of the queue. We frown slightly wondering why she doesn’t say anything to the other tracksuit wearer, and then notice that he has a shopping bag held to cover one leg while he carries his jacket in such a way as to cover the other. His mates move closer to make it harder for anyone to see his trousers and Ange and I silently nod to each other that the ruse seems to have worked.

Until they reach the head of the queue and a security guard stationed there notices and indicates that he won’t be able to get in. Grimacing at the fact that they have just waited for 90 minutes in the cold to be pipped at the post, we have a look at the options ticket-wise. There are three slots: Terrace, Gallery and Balcony. Terrace has “aus” beside it, others have €3. Figuring that aus means out, we can either stand at ground level or in the balcony. We choose Balcony, pay our money and then we’re in.

Life is all about making mistakes. We head up stairs and spend five minutes finding out how to get up to the balcony level, and then ten minutes taking a hundred photos of the gorgeous main stairwell. We then enter the Balcony level and see bars which you can lean on festooned with scarves, the helpful usher tells us that the scarves reserve the spots and that we can stand anywhere else.

It looks like we should have dashed up the stairs immediately upon arrival and grabbed a good place and then gone out to take photos. The bar has a subtitle LED display and we have a choice to make. Picture the layout of the building as the letter U. We can stand behind people in the centre of the U or stand at the front of one of the arms. I can pretty much see over anyone but Ange doesn’t want to have spent two hours in the cold only to see someone else’s back for the duration.

We decide to be at the front with a view of only half the stage by standing at the bar on the side. Ange suggests that if we don’t like it we can leave at one of the pauses in the performance that they use to allow people into their seats should they arrive after it starts. Three and half hours of standing doesn’t sound like a whole heap of fun, but I’m willing to give it a go.

There’s a row of empty seats in front of us that I am sorely tempted to invade but my legs aren’t sore yet, so I bide my time. After the first pause they are filled by a teacher and eight of her preteen female students. They immediately start waving at their friends on the other side of the room and generally behaving like preteen girls do. The opera itself is great but does drag in parts. There’s an interval where we stretch our legs (picture a much less flexible ballerina at the barre) and Ange gives me the option of leaving but I’m keen on seeing how the farce plays out and so we stay. By the end we are rather stiff and hobble back down the staircase and out into the freezing air.

We head back towards the hotel and arrive about 11pm. The Italian restaurant across the road from the hotel has just closed, but there is a place beside our hotel which is open ’til midnight. It has real old school charm, and the waiters are fully suited and booted. The menu is huge – like a phone book, and we feel a lot better with a light meal under our belts. We head next door to the hotel, happy that we ticked 4/7 things in the first day.

Day Two

I’d been to Vienna a few times before and Ange was keen on us visiting places that I hadn’t been before, but I had insisted we go to Schönbrunn Palace. It’s definitely worth the trip! We get the combo ticket which gets us into everything and we have to queue to get it.

The VisitVienna cards get us a nice discount and they have a timed access to the State Rooms to control the crowds. We have 90minutes before our allotted time, so head out to explore the grounds. They’re gorgeous and we explore the mazes before heading up to the top of the hill to the Galette and enjoy the magnificent views before we have to hustle to make it back in time for the entry.

There is a secret spot behind the fountain where you can get a great shot through the water looking back at the State Rooms, and we decide the shots from there are worth the slight delay in getting to the entrance. They don’t allow photography in the State Rooms so we concentrate on trying to figure out the family tree of the Hapsburgs and who was who’s mother. We don’t quite figure it out and have to ask my sister-in-law afterwards! Basically the two important characters are Marie-Theresa and Sisi, her daughter in law. Once you’ve got that sorted in your head everything else makes sense. The audio guide is a must, and the timed entrances make the bottle necks manageable.

After Schönbrunn we head across town on the Metro to Le Loft – the bar on the 18th floor of the Sofitel Hotel for a quick drink with my brother and his family. The views are quite stunning and the enormous windows really allow you to drink in the sights. They have ceiling art which at night gets reflected out onto the sky which is apparently quite the sight.

After that we head out for some ice cream at a Vegan ice cream place and then try to get served at some restaurants but they all seem to be booked up.

Eventually we say goodbye to the family and head back Westbahnhof and find a restaurant nearby. OMG, the wiener schnitzel is enormous! I make a good dent in mine but have to leave most of the dessert to Ange.

Day Three

We head out to change hotels again to the Boutique Stadthalle: this one is only a 5 minute walk up the road. The room isn’t ready because we’re quite early so we leave our luggage and head into town. We’re keen on getting tickets for an orchestra and in the cultural city that is Vienna we are spoiled for choice.

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons are being played in the Karlskirche which is the St Charles Church. We tried the previous night to buy tickets online but didn’t have any luck so we figured if we rocked up on a Sunday morning, someone would be there selling tickets.

Lo and behold there is, and we secure tickets in the third class section. the tickets aren’t numbered, so we enquire why and get told that it’s a free for all within the section, so we should get there early. We ask how early and are told that 45 minutes before the concert starts is a good time to come.

Orchestra arranged, we head off to Bratislava.

We get the train back with no problems and then head straight to the church where the concert will be held. We have 30 mins before we should queue and discover that the cafe beside the fountain in front of the church has put out bean bags beside the fountain to encourage their customers to relax. All their staff seem to be busy and nobody seems to be using the bean bags, so we plonk ourselves down and relax for a while. Nobody seems to mind so we use them until it’s time to head over to the queue. There are only one group in front of us so we are assured good seats.

It doesn’t feel too long before they let us in to the church and on the way in they give us a blanket each. The sun hasn’t gone down too long ago so it’s still not too cold, but I realise that churches aren’t known for their insulation and guess I will be grateful for it during the performance.

Inside we sit at the front of the third class section. High above the central bit of the church they are doing renovations and there is scaffolding holding up platforms high above the ground level. Apparently they allow tourists up the top to look at the panoramic view, and I misread the sign pointing to the lift as paranormal lift instead of the German panoramalifte. The music is great though the temperature does indeed plummet and I can’t see anyone not using their blanket!

Day Four

It’s our last day in Vienna and we check out the hotel in a bit more detail and then reluctantly have to get to the central rail station for Ange to head to Budapest and me to take a tram to the Mitte (kicking myself for missing the opportunity to go to a ticket booth and say ein ticket to Wien Mitte bitte. It’s the small things…)

We grab something to eat from the Subway in the station, and are inundated with people trying to sell a magazine, beg for a euro or even something to eat. One of the guys comes through twice – the second time he sees the couple beside us saving some food for later and leans across to ask for it. A young American guy coming from McDonalds kindly gives him a burger he just bought and then sits with friends in the Subway.

I bid Ange adieu and then head to the airport via CAT. There’s a guy at the station with a full wallet asking for  €5 to buy an airline ticket. I remember at Krakow train station there had been a comfortably dressed guy with a handful of coin asking for some more money. I guess they get more people giving if they already have money.

Would I Go Back?

Definitely – and I will again go to Schönbrunn when I do. I’ve been three or four times and am still discovering new things about it. Ange loved it too.

The post Summer 2017: Vienna appeared first on etrip.tips.

The first thing we notice about the hotel is that it’s chock full of character, it’s an older style building but well maintained and even has a black steel cage lift that Chris isn’t too sure about. Luckily we’re on the first floor so it’s not too many stairs to climb.

Room

After being checked in for two nights by the friendly man on reception and given instructions, we head upstairs to check out the room. It’s on the large side and fitted with the basics: bed, wardrobe, bedside tables and desk, there’s not a whole lot of personality but seems clean and comfortable and after my recent hostel experience I’m hoping there’s no bed bugs.

We head out to sightsee around Vienna and arrive back late from the opera around 11pm seeking a nearby restaurant. We try a pasta place across the road but they’ve closed the kitchen so settle for the homely looking Cafe Westend on the corner right next door to the hotel. After a cheap meal of omelette and pasta we stroll the few steps to the hotel.

I sleep fine, though Chris says a medley of church bells went off at around 7am, thankfully I didn’t hear them and the windows appear to be double glazed so would have blocked out some of the noise.

Breakfast

The breakfast costs 5.20 each and luckily Chris has a pile of coins that do the job. After staying in several nice hotels over the course of the month with breakfast included we’re expecting a little more for our money than the sparse selection of bread, jam, meat, cheese, juice and coffee that awaits. I’m surprised there’s no cereal but I can adapt. The bread rolls are fresh I’ll give them that.

The next morning we pay our money at reception again but the breakfast is even sparser, there’s no bread and no coffee. The man at reception hurriedly says the bread is coming so we grab a couple of juices and sit at a table to wait. Luckily we had huge schnitzels and I finished off most of the apple strudel at last night’s dinner so we’re not starving hungry. If we were we’d be out of luck.

Pros & Cons

Would I Go Back?

There was nothing particularly wrong with the hotel, it served its purpose purely on location so I wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again but would probably go out for breakfast.

The post Review: Hotel Fürstenhof Vienna appeared first on etrip.tips.

Turns out I’ve been waaay too confident, and make it to Karlsplatz but get foiled by the Opernring and the Operngasse which lead me round in circles. In my defence I’ve been travelling for 7 hours, I’ve only had a handful of nuts and it’s 8.30pm at night. Still, it’s embarrassing.

The highlight of this small adventure is a delicious sausage in a bun called a Käsekrainer, which I buy and devour at a Bitzinger (kiosk) near the Albertina at about 9pm. (I find out later on a walking tour that this is the only Bitzinger in Vienna that sells champagne).

Eventually I make it to the hostel which is situated down a long, dark street with some kind of market that’s shut up for the night. Nothing shut up about the hostel though, it’s lively with music and laughter and people hanging out on cushions in the lobby.

An enthusiastic young guy with an American accent checks me in for the designated three nights. He wants to know if I have a student card. I tell him that won’t be happening, so he dutifully takes a copy of my passport instead.

Room

I’ve been given a room on the 4th floor in the Pink Wing, which has 2 sets of bunks, so four beds, and there’s an ensuite bathroom. I immediately take a bottom bunk and spread out my stuff before seeing the locker tag hanging on the edge. I remember I’m meant to take the one without a locker tag. The only one left is a top bunk so I gingerly clamber up and make up my bed with the supplied sheets, duvet and pillow case. It’s a bit of a mission.

Then I try and figure out how the locker works. The instructions aren’t helpful, there’s a photo of a person holding an electronic box and putting their door key card next to it. After several tries of varying tactics I figure out the door key card acts as a lock when you push it down over the button. So to lock it you push the card down on the button to activate the lock, and vice versa to unlock it. I’m glad I had the Käsekrainer, otherwise this would not be making sense.

Next I try to connect to the WiFi, it doesn’t work. One of my roommates wanders in, a girl who’s in Vienna on a science conference and she says it doesn’t work for her either. Maybe there’s another trick. Giving up I head down to reception to speak to another guy who says it’s not me it’s them. The WiFi isn’t working for the whole building, but he lets me use his reception computer to send an email to Chris who’s probably wondering where the heck I am.

Though I’m left alone on the first night, the second night I’m visited by bed bugs, evidenced the next morning by a large red lump on my forehead. I know I’m allergic to them but I don’t panic, don a hat, put on my 1% hydrocortisone cream and hope that’s as bad as it will get.

The third night my right arm is attacked with several bites and swells up alarmingly so I guess in hindsight I should’ve asked to move to another room but I figured if they’re in one bunk there is no guarantee they wouldn’t be in another, and to be honest I couldn’t be bothered moving my stuff for one night. So I paid the price for this mistake by having to wear a hat for the next few days and itching a lot. Still, the fact the hostel has bed bugs at all is a sign it’s not particularly clean….

Breakfast

After an ok night’s sleep on the first night (it’s a hostel it was never going to be great) I head back down to reception to buy a breakfast ticket for €4.50. This gives you access to an all you can eat buffet which is usually wasted on me as I only have cereal and toast normally.

The breakfast room has an open plan seating area with white painted trestle tables in the main area and a carpeted lounge area with small white tables and green vinyl poufs to the left. I wander over to the staff area not exactly sure what to do, but I’m beckoned over by a staff member and given a plate, cup and bowl in exchange for my ticket. 

I stake out a seat, and deposit my plate and cutlery and fill up my bowl with cereal and yoghurt. I’m quite late for breakfast and I think the feeding frenzy has already taken place judging by the lack of milk, bread and cold cuts. But I’m happy enough with cereal and discover that they have peanut butter (erdnussbutter in German) which makes me even happier.

The next morning I’m earlier for breakfast as I want to go on the free walking tour and there’s much more food available, though less seating options. It seems you have to choose your priority – food or quiet time.

But €4.5o is pretty good for a buffet breakfast so I end up eating there for the duration of my stay. There’s also a guest kitchen so theoretically you could cook yourself a meal if you wanted to with ingredients from the Naschmarkt.

Free walking tour

The free walking tour leaves every morning at 10.30am from the lobby and is taken by an official Vienna Tour Guide. Our one is called Barbara and she’s the perfect guide for a group of millenials (and one not so millenial), leading us on an energetic tour of the Naschmarkt (which turns out to be the largest food market in Vienna), then into the heart of the city with an aim to end up at St Stephen’s Cathedral.

On the way she gives us titbits about the Viennese culture, food, history and helpful hints like how to obtain €3 standing opera tickets, how to view the inside of buildings without paying for them and the iconic Viennese chocolate cake to try (Sachertorte). These titbits come in handy for later when I meet up with Chris.

The funny thing about the walking tour is that a lot of places look familiar and I realise I’ve seen them already in the dark when I was lost, so it’s good to know what they actually are in the daylight.

In the end the walking tour is not completely free as Barbara asks for a donation at the end and I only have a €10 note, but she’s been good value and totally worth it so I don’t mind paying it. I now know amongst other things, thanks to Barbara, that Weiner Schnitzel actually originated in Turkey, and that Adolph Hitler was rejected from art school in Vienna, had Jewish friends and spent two weeks in a homeless persons hospice because he couldn’t sell his paintings.

Pros & Cons

Would I Go Back?

For me the highlights of Wombats were the location next to the Naschmarkt, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise for someone on a budget, and the walking tour which imparted lots of interesting and helpful information. The only drawback was the bed bugs which marred an otherwise great stay, so because of this I probably wouldn’t go back.

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So as these blistering summer days go by, I begin to miss the Christmas markets of Vienna.

I miss the twinkling lights and warm gluhwein (or kinderpunsch), the delicious chocolate treats and all the interesting wares, along with the Christmas decorations of every kind. 

If you hate Christmas, people and eating definitely give the markets a miss.

However, if you don’t mind strolling around a platz (piazza) listening to music, drinking warm beverages and eating chocolate, freshly fried spiral chips or every kind of sausage you can imagine accompanied by a sprinkling of snow …

What are you waiting for?

Jump in the car, or book your flight or train now!

To help you out once you arrive, here are the 6 best Vienna Christmas markets:

1. Vienna Christmas World

Rathausplatz 1010

• 11 Nov-26 Dec 2016 – 10am to 9:30 (10pm Fri/Sat, 4pm 24 Dec)

wienerweihnachtstraum.at

This market is very central and features lots of beautiful lights.

It also had rides for children and lots of amazing food from different parts of the world.

Its main feature is the ice skating rink, where you can hire skates and spend the night on the ice.

Beware, on the weekends and holidays it’s packed!

2. Belvedere Palace

Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27, 1030

• 18 Nov-23 Dec 2016 – 10am-9pm

www.weihnachtsdorf.at

The market is quite small but it has great atmosphere.

It’s a bit of a hike on public transport, but if you are visiting the museum it’s definitely worth stopping at the market.

3. Old Vienna Christmas Market

Freyung, 1010

• 18 Nov – 23 Dec 2016- 10 am – 9pm

www.altwiener-markt.at

This market often has gluten free goodies, and lots of unique gifts.

It’s close to the Rathaus so it’s easy to do in the same trip.

4. Schönbrunn Palace

• 19 Nov- 26 Dec 2016 – 10am – 6pm
• 10am – 9pm (4pm 24 Dec, 6pm 25-26 Dec)
• New Year’s Market 27 Dec 2016 – 1 Jan 2017

www.weihnachtsmarkt.co.at

This is another beautiful market with a palace backdrop.

The Schönbrunn market has lots of unique stalls and is open until the new year.

It can get very cold when the weather is windy so rug up warm!

Even when there are lots of people around, there is a lot of space so it doesn’t feel too crowded.

5. Karlsplatz

• 18 Nov – 23 Dec 2016 – 12 noon – 8pm, food until 9pm

www.artadvent.at

There are children’s playgrounds right next to this market, and they also have rides and a petting zoo for kids.

This is a very arty market, with lots of unique and creative gifts for sale.

It is very close to the Ubahn and the centre of town.

6. Spittelberg

Spittelberggasse, Schrankgasse, Gutenberggasse, 1070 Vienna

• 12 Nov- 23 Dec 2016 – 3 pm – 9 pm (9:30 Fri)
• 12 noon – 9.30 pm Sat (9pm Sun and hols)

www.spittelberg.at

The cutest of them all, this market winds around cobbled lanes instead of being dwarfed by elaborate palaces.

Many of the stall holders are local businesses and there is also a basic children’s park off one of these streets.

The great thing about this time of year in Vienna is that as you make your way around the city, feasting your eyes on one Christmas light display after another, you will undoubtedly discover your own hidden market gems.

There are so many markets to find, see if you can find them all!

And have a Kinderpunsch for me!

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Often that thing is something that you had only ever dreamt about, or had read about, seen in movies, or thought wasn’t real. Until suddenly, something happens when you are travelling off your usual path and there you are, doing something, or seeing something that you never would have believed was possible.

Going to a Viennese ball was one of those moments for me.

I still look back and this smile comes over my face. Then this kind of girly giggle erupts and I nod to myself and think.

Yes. Yes that was real.

I was at a ball, a ball held in the Hoffburg Palace, the winter residence of the Hapsburgs.

Really, with that kind of set up, your adventure can go anywhere from Cinderella to Bond!

OK so how is this even possible?

Ball season in Vienna lasts for several months, from November to late February. The balls range from one hosted by the Red Cross to the Vienna Coffeehouse Owner’s Ball. Also if you work for a big company, sometimes they will host their own ball too.

Maybe you have even seen the Opera Ball on television one time? A beautiful ball rooms with the white dressed debutant ladies, dancing the Viennese Waltz (what else?) with their tuxedo clad partners.

It is such a fun time to be around the city. I enjoyed sitting on the U-bahn train with the carriage suddenly full of people dressed in tuxedos and full length gowns returning home after a night of dancing. It’s enough to make any grumpy one smile.

Maybe you are reading this and feeling a little like Cinderella, that this all seems very nice but a little out of reach for the ordinary person?

Well consider me your fairy Godmother!

Info about the Vienna Ball

As you would expect, tickets vary in price, and so does the theme as does the venue, and what the Ball offers in the way of entertainment and refreshment options.

Do your research, however, and you can find a ticket for €50-60, or even less for students.

For more exclusive and expensive balls, like the Opera ball, it is possible to get cheap tickets for the rehearsal. It is a magnificent show, the decorations are already up, and the best part of the rehearsal is that sometimes you get to see the acts more than one time!

Vienna Ball Dress Code

All you really need is a second hand full length gown, or an old bridesmaid dress, and a borrowed tux. Find a Youtube video on how to style your hair nicely, and put on some make up if you wish and you are ready! Ladies, you are in a full length gown so really you could probably get away with any shoes you like.

Don’t worry about your dancing prowess or lack of it, or your age. The balls are stocked with people of every age and dancing ability!

Yes, really, it is that easy to be on your way to a ball in a Royal Palace, or an Opera theatre where the great composers have stood.

Once the details are sorted, it’s up to you what magical spin you put on your night of fun, mystery, dancing, music and wonderfully feely dress material.

What will happen when you are taking a chance in the centre of the freshly cleared dance floor, dancing your cares away and looking a million dollars?

Make the Night Yours!

Although it looks a little crowed from the photo (it was the first waltz so everyone was excited), the Hoffburg venue has many ballrooms, so there is plenty of space to dance or chat.

If you really want to spice up the experience, even if you are sharing a hotel room with your partner, just tell them to meet you at Stephansplatz, and book a twilight carriage ride to your ball.

The next morning, enjoy an Einspänner at a Coffee House like Cafe Central, and maybe sample some Sacher torte too before slipping home to bed.

Your grin will be difficult to lose, Cinderella.

It lasts for a lifetime.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get you to the ball!

You can check out the balls this season here.

* If you are looking at flights and have a few days to spare, also consider flying into Bratislava. It’s an easy train or bus ride to Vienna, and depending on your location, can mean significantly cheaper flights.

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