My expert review of the incredible Hotel Imperial:
https://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revi...ial-suite-2198
The Hotel Imperial now joins my list of the top 12--now 13--hotels that we consider to be the most amazing in the world. It truly was that amazing.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28680884-post203.html
Originally Posted by
bhrubin
These are not only the best and most amazing places where we've stayed, but also the only places to which I'd consistently consider returning.
Amanjiwo, Indonesia
Singita Boulders, South Africa
Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace, India
Amangiri, USA
The Upper House, Hong Kong
Peninsula Shanghai, China
Gritti Palace, Italy
La Residence, South Africa
Amankila, Indonesia
Cavas Wine Lodge, Argentina
Cayo Espanto, Belize
St. Regis San Francisco, USA
I also shared in my expert review that I visited some of the other top hotels in Vienna, including the Park Hyatt Vienna, the Sacher, and the Bristol. We also saw the DO & CO. Bolding added below by me.
Originally Posted by
bhrubin
The Park Hyatt Vienna is a very beautiful, modern hotel with spacious rooms with all the amenities--but with absolutely no sense of place whatsoever. It could be anywhere. The rooms and suites were wonderful and modern. It had nice service, but even in the short time we visited, we were let down a few times: the staff member who said he'd be ready in 30 min never came to find us in the cafe, the drink order came wrong in the cafe, and it was a long wait for the correct drink. You can't go wrong with the Park Hyatt, but you'd go better with the Imperial--especially in terms of service (and likely food/beverage).
The Hotel Sacher is a beautiful but more traditonal and clubby feeling hotel with quirky spaces and rooms/suite with varying decor schemes, but still very Viennese. The suite we saw was beautifully and surprisingly modern but not as spacious as I would have expected. The Blaue Bar truly is adorable, though, and a bit less ostentatious than the Imperial bar. Service was to a high standard here. We loved the Sacher torte more than the Imperial torte. You definitely can't go wrong with the Sacher, but you'd be looking for something a bit less grand and perhaps a bit quirkie than the Imperial.
The Hotel Bristol is a lovely hotel, but its rooms and decor and ambience just aren't in the same league. Not even close. Service was to a good standard, and the public areas were fresh and modern, but the rooms and suites looked like they were seriously dated and in desperate need for a refurbishment. This felt more like a business hotel or for the well traveled tourist who doesn't way to pay top billing or use too many points. A nice hotel, but not close to the Imperial, Sacher, or PH.
The DO & CO looked like a grandiose modern monstrosity in the core of Vienna--it really stood out as a bit garish. I love modern design hotels, but its exterior appearance did nothing to invite us in. Our guide shared that the owner never wants to pay enough to keep staff so service suffers and is seriously lacking. It looked it.