Holiday Inn Salzburg City

In a city known for its centuries-old architecture, the Holiday Inn Salzburg City appears more like an office building made from stone and glass. The lobby of the Holiday Inn Salzburg City is designed for functionality. Its puffy, white-leather chairs and sofa are comfy enough for waiting while a room is prepared, or lingering with a friend, but chances are most travelers won't be spending a lot of time soaking in the ambiance generated by the white walls and gleaming black floors. Next to the long wood and marble reservation desk is a small bar and a business center (a desk with a computer and printer). For those who need brochures of Salzburg activities, plenty are available. Holiday Inn Salzburg City's restaurant has a similar combination of contemporary furnishings complemented with plum and pea-green walls.

Not far from the eastern bank of the Salzach River, the Holiday Inn Salzburg City is within a couple of blocks of Kapuzinerberg hill, where the earliest settlements in Salzburg were established. Getting to Salzburg's historic sites from the Holiday Inn isn't much of a problem since the city isn't very big. However, reaching the Old City does require a 15-minute walk. Mirabell Palace and Gardens are only a 13-minute walk away. The Mozart-Wohnhaus museum at the composer's home is a 15-minute stroll. For those arriving by plane, the Holiday Inn is a 15-minute ride from the airport. Anyone planning to travel regionally will be happy to know that the train station is only a 13-minute walk away. 

The Holiday Inn chain does a nice job of appealing to fans of consistency. Anyone who's stayed in one of the chain's properties won't be surprised by the rooms at this Salzburg outpost, which have plenty of sturdy, dark-wood furniture, cream-colored walls, and mattresses thick enough to make Americans happy but not so cushy they'll annoy Europeans. Expansive headboards with rustic wood panels provide a decorative accent to the space. Each room has a coffeemaker, safe, and flat-screen TV with cable. Some rooms have green mountain views, and a few include furnished balconies. The bathrooms are spacious enough for a family and include an eco-friendly bottle of all-in-one body soap. Wi-Fi is only free for a guest who's a member of the IHG group. Everyone else pays a surcharge.

Depending on the type of room purchased, breakfast may be included in the stay. Guests who get it for free note that it's a good, hearty meal. Others who pay are less impressed. For travelers who want to work off the calories that come with rich Austrian meals there's a fitness room with several machines, including bikes and treadmills. The meeting rooms will suffice for an off-site space, but most executives probably won't be impressed by the budget-friendly furniture.