05-06-2015, 03:00 PM
Le Meridien across from the Opera is my favorite. Also stayed at the Marriott, Hilton, Intercontinental, and one Austrian 3-star hotel. The last one is something I would definitely not recommend, and in general you do not want to stay in any 3-star properties in Europe if you can avoid it. Vienna has a lot of wonderful coffee places with nice breakfast options and I would not insist on eating it in the hotel.
Air conditioning is a must and some hotels still do not have it, although the situation is much better than it was 10 years ago (Sacher got upgraded, I think Grand did, too).
I know some people prefer properties with local feel, but in my vast experience I found that potential frustration is not worth it. I want to see the city, not explore the interior of the hotel, and want to know what to expect and be able to relax in comfort when I come back to my room. That mainly means chains, or at least 4-star hotels in Europe. Novotel may be cheaper than those I mentioned above. Another mistake I made in the past: keep in mind that Trip Advisor and similar reviews are within the price range, and a highly reviewed cheap hotel is still a cheap hotel.
Air conditioning is a must and some hotels still do not have it, although the situation is much better than it was 10 years ago (Sacher got upgraded, I think Grand did, too).
I know some people prefer properties with local feel, but in my vast experience I found that potential frustration is not worth it. I want to see the city, not explore the interior of the hotel, and want to know what to expect and be able to relax in comfort when I come back to my room. That mainly means chains, or at least 4-star hotels in Europe. Novotel may be cheaper than those I mentioned above. Another mistake I made in the past: keep in mind that Trip Advisor and similar reviews are within the price range, and a highly reviewed cheap hotel is still a cheap hotel.