UA-NYC

Did 2 nights at the LM last summer...great property, got a nice UG to a 1 BR suite. I like new more than historic/classic in style...LM was very cool.

Riddell

I live in vienna, know all the properties - Bratsilava too (as written in the Sheraton Bratislava hotel thread)

Location:
all three really close. all at the "Ring" which is perfect for sightseeing.

Le Meridien:
Very cool, trendy and the only "modern" SPG in Vienna.
I always got upgraded to at leat a junior suite.


Imperial:
the most famous hotel in Vienna. Normally you get upgrades. This is an old hotel where most famous people and politicians stay.
If you want to feel the old austrian empire...this is the place.

Bristol:
Old one too, but has not the name, style and feeling of Imperial.
I stayed there, but in my opinion its not as good as the Imperial.

So for me its either the LM (if you like it trendy and sexy) or the Imperial if you want a typical old-style hotel.
to give yopu a personal example...after my the bachelor party i stayed in LM, for my wedding night in Imperial

tyn

I would split the stay between LM and the Imperial, so you can experience both modern Vienna and old Vienna.
I am biased against the Bristol as I had an extremely poor experience there two years ago.

Bratislava is doable as a day trip and one day is more than enough in my personal opinion.

MSPeconomist

LM is a different style from the Imperial and Bristol. I've stayed in both the Imperial (a while ago--I would have gladly returned but no rooms available for the dates I needed) and the Bristol (last month), and I've walked past LM a number of times. All things considered, I was quite happy with the Bristol for the price and found the building interesting. It is clearly not of the same category as the Imperial, which is one of Europe's iconic palace hotels.

LM seems to be a sylish modern large boutique hotel in a historical building. Most of the street level is a fashionable bar. It looks like all of the furnishings are aggressively modern and minimalist. It seems a lot like a W to me but obviously without the W trademark touches like whatever whenever. IIRC there are some sidewalk cafe tables on the side street but I'm not certain about that part.

Last month there were renovations happening at the Imperial. It looked like the main entrance to the lobby was closed. I didn't have any reason to enter the hotel (and I suspect that Clinton was staying there one night) so I don't know how extensive the work is.

The Bristol is trying to finish their room renovations with only a few of their base level rooms done and all other room categories apparently completed. I didn't notice any signs whatever of construction work: no workers, no noise, no dust, etc.

MSPeconomist

Somewhat OT, but a new Park Hyatt opened in the center (inside the ring in a historic bank building facing a square) of Vienna on about June 3. It looked impressive when I walked past the day before it opened. There's a FT master thread IIRC with some pictures.

supatight80

Hands down Hotel Imperial Wien. Plats get upgraded to Elisabeth Suite with Bulgari bath products.

FlyingDoctorwu

Just a SPG gold here but wanted some input.. my choices are Jr penthouse suite at the Bristol vs Executive room at the LM (roughly 4000 point difference for the 5 nights). Any thoughts? I think that the bathroom at the LM will definitely be bigger but didn't know how the bristol treated a lowly gold.. any chance of a further bump up? any experiences? thanks.. my alternative is to book a room at the RC, which lmtclub has for a great price...

FDW

supatight80

Flyingdoctor....every plat here started as a "lowly" gold. So please give yourself some credit, youre just as important as everyone else here as youre a paying customer.

Personally, i'd go for hotel bristol, if you like the old world feel. Close to all the sights too. You wont be disapppointed there. But that's just opinion. And a jr. Penthouse suite sounds fantastic btw. Perhaps u get nice view of opera house? Btw, no harm trying asking FD if you can get a further upgrade bump, charm your way through them...that's how i get my upgrades in Wien.

MSPeconomist

IIRC the RC is also located along the "Ring" on the other side of the Imperial from the Bristol and LM, which means that the RC is closer to the station for airport express trains (and a new shopping mall) and a park with an old casino. The walk to the main tourist sights in the old city such as the cathedral is roughly the same from any of these hotels as you're basically walking along the spoke from the circumference of a circle to its center. I just noted it on a quick walk along the ring in the rain, but it looks like a traditional RC so that it might be considered to be somewhat between the Imperial and the Bristol.

BTW the Bristol doesn't have a lounge, which IMO is the biggest Plat versus Gold benefit. You're less likely to get an upgrade and don't have the breakfast option (versus giving up welcome amenity points for a welcome drink or internet).

Note that there is a free self service business center in the Bristol on the top floor, just to the right of the enterance to the health club (which has interesting views of the roof of the opera house). There are two computers and a printer, plus some water, with no internet or printing fees.

zagy

If it's really just 4000 points, go for the suite at the Bristol. Executive room at LM (exec room not exec suite) is almost the same as a regular room - and sometimes those rooms get you the "lovely" inner courtyard view

I got a deluxe room last time at Bristol - with a view of the opera. It was amazing.

FlyingDoctorwu

Location does look great.. one thing that worries me is the bathroom situation in the jr.suites at the Bristol.. seems a bit old school.. but would love a further upgrade...

Thanks for the info. The RC is a new build so it has great looking bathrooms and rooms; plus a pool... The bristol definitely seems a bit old school... RC is probably a bit more generic but very very comfortable...



Thanks for the info.. it's an extra 4K for a jr suite at the Bristol vs an exec room at the LM. It does seem that there are more suites at the Bristol for a further upgrade path... And a view of the opera would be nice..


Thanks all for the help everyone!

FDW

mauld

It's been some time since I was last in Wien, but at the Bristol they gave me a suite in one of those round corner towers. It had a beautiful domed ceiling over the sleeping area, and a small step out balcony overlooking the opera house. Yes, the bath was a bit 'outdated', but a fantastic room none the less.

MSPeconomist

The rooms and suites have been getting extensive renovations and updates. I think the outdated bathrooms are gone.

kamel123

I have staid in all 3 Starwoods and, as other posters above, would either recommend the Imperial or the LM, but not the Bristol. I have staid in a Bristol Penthouse Junior Suite, and was quite disappointed. It was an upgrade, so no issue, but the name of the room category raises expectations that are not met in reality. In reality it is just one big room, don't know why they call it junior suite - probably because it has more square footage than the standard rooms, but there is no separate seating area or any other feature you would expect in a junior suite. Some of the rooms have an opera view, not all (mine hadn't). Decoration is old style, but not in a very good way (e.g., carpet really should have been replaced). There is a balcony with a table and two chairs but very small and not really inviting.

MSPeconomist

Was this before or after the room renovations at the Bristol? From your comments, I would guess before the rooms were redone in a major way.