Grand Hotel Wien

With its mansard roof and yellow masonry exterior, the five-pearl Grand Hotel Wien is a striking property on Vienna's Kaerntner Ring. Magenta-coated bellhops greet guests at the revolving door, leading into the vast lobby with a big chandelier suspended from a vaulted, coffered ceiling. Palm trees and wooden columns break up the space that also features a wide marble staircase and dramatic balcony. There are leather sofas and wing chairs providing spaces for guests to relax. This property has generous common spaces, including a variety of restaurants, such as the elegant Le Ciel with spectacular views and a sleek Japanese bistro, Unkai. For a Viennese kaffee und kuchen (coffee and cake), guests should try the Rosengarten and its sister outdoor space, Schanigarten; these venues are the spot to try the hotel's signature g_uglhupf _(coffee cake). With such a wide range of facilities -- plus a nice combination of a retro feel and modern conveniences -- this property attracts both well-heeled leisure travelers and business travelers.

The Grand Hotel Wien, in the Innere Stadt neighborhood of Vienna, sits on a road with cars, trams, and horse-drawn carriages. From here, guests can walk to many of the city's attractions. The Vienna State Opera is a five-minute walk away, the gold orb-topped Secession Building is an eight-minute walk, and the stables of the Lipizzaner horses are a nine-minute walk away. The Spanish Riding School (where the Lipizzaner horses dazzle crowds) and the Hofburg Palace are both an 11-minute walk away. Travelers who wish to ride the ferris wheel like Orson Wells in "The Third Man" can walk 13 minutes to the Prater. For the Schonbrunn Palace, it's a 14-minute drive. Train travelers can reach Karlsplatz Station in a four-minute walk from the hotel, and Vienna International Airport is 23-minute drive (if there is no traffic) or a 35-minute train ride. 

The rooms at Grand Hotel Wien -- with their brocade and damask in coordinating jewel tones or pastel florals -- are straight out of another era. These traditionally elegant spaces have heavy, tasseled drapes, crystal chandeliers, and crown molding, but they can feel a bit old fashioned to some guests. Rooms are spacious, and include antique armchairs, loveseats, and marble-topped tables along with stocked minibars (complete with alcohol, snacks, and electric kettles), big flat-screen TVs (guests can request CDs or DVDs from the front desk), and free Wi-Fi. Patterned bedspreads are still in vogue here, but the hotel will send up alternative style bed linens upon request. The bathrooms are marble with big marble countertops, brass fixtures and towel racks, scales, and magnifying mirrors. Some rooms have shower/tub combos, while others have whirlpool tubs and separate walk-in showers; many of the rooms have bidets. Toiletries are from Penhaligon's of London and bathrobes are available. Turn down service is offered nightly.

This five-pearl property offers a wide range of features, including five restaurants, two bars, and four outdoor cafes. A variety of cuisines are on offer, from the elegant fine dining of Le Ciel to Japanese fare in the sleek bistro, Unkai. Room service is also available 24 hours a day. For after dinner pleasures, including cigars, Kavalierbar is a cocktail bar on the first floor, decorated as a wood-paneled British-style lodge. There's also a modern fitness center, a comprehensive spa with saunas, and a business center that's free to guests (and offers workstations, Internet access, fax and copy machines, and for a fee, secretarial service). Wi-Fi is free throughout. Babysitting and laundry services are offered, for a fee. There is a doctor on call 24 hours, wheelchairs are available upon request, and handicapped accessible rooms are on-site. There's a parking garage and limousine service for a fee. Pets are welcome at this property.