Posted by Day 16 of 18… The day was spent mostly on the train from Vienna back to Munich for the last leg of our holiday. Our train tickets were part of our Germany-Austria Rail Pass which we bought from Rail Europe (Singapore). We pre-booked our seats because we wanted a ‘Quiet’ cabin and we didn’t want to spend 4 hours not seated together.
I like train rides, but I don’t remember much about this one. All four of us were zombies from lack of sleep, partying the night before. I took a few photos on the train in between periods of slumber. They all looked either dreary, or wet. My husband would say it’s typical winter in Europe, I’d say I liked it anyway. 
Before I finally end my blog on Vienna, let me share with you my experience in looking for a hotel there.
I started searching for our accommodation for Dec 30 to Jan 1 in early September. I had to study the characteristics and the pros and cons of the different districts, like I always do when we go to a new place for the first time. And my conclusion was that we have to be in District 1, the Innere Stadt. I wanted a hotel just around the Opera House or just a few hundred meters to the Hofburg compound.
To my horror, most of the good ones were already fully booked. Those recommended by my friends were sold out. The most challenging bit was that many wouldn’t allow 4 people in one room. And booking 2 rooms would be way too expensive at that time of the year. Prices were double. There were still Airbnbs (I found a nice one in Graben) but my husband wanted a proper hotel.
I widened my search and found Hilton: Vienna Plaza. It’s not a stone’s throw away from Holfburg but it’s still in District 1. It’s 700 meters to Rathaus (City Hall) which was walkable even with a 9-year-old, and about 1km to Hofburg. The location turned out good. It was quiet, an escape from the crowded Graben and other popular locations.
The thing that we liked about Hilton, in all their locations worldwide, is that they allow 2 parents and 2 kids in one room. When we checked-in in Vienna, they realised that my older kid is ‘oooh your boy is tall, let me check if we have a bigger room available’, and since we are loyal members, they upgraded us. Yoohoo!
The hotel has this elegant, timeless classic appeal but the rooms are modern, especially the bathroom. We had a great stay. Good sleep. Clean and spacious bathroom with my favourite Crabtree and Evelyn amenities. The desserts at the restaurant on the ground floor were good too. So yes, I recommend it! But please book early. (Note that Hilton Vienna Plaza is different from Hilton Vienna Park)
Here are the earlier blogs on our Bavarian and Austrian Holiday:
- Munich: Start of our family’s tales from last winter
- Munich: Viktualienmarkt Biergarten
- Munich: BMW Museum and BMW Welt
- Munich: Theatine Church and Odeonplatz
- Munich: Christmas Markets
- Munich: Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall
- Munich: City Aparthotel München
- Salzburg: Birthplace of Mozart and Silent Night
- Salzburg: Hohensalzburg Fortress
- Salzburg: Residenzplatz Christmas Market
- Salzburg: Salzburg Cathedral
- Salzburg: Silent Night 200 at Salzburg Museum
- Salzburg: Silent Night Tour by Bob’s Special Tour
- Salzburg: Silent Night at Oberndorf and Laufen
- Salzkammergut: Road Trip to Hallstatt
- Salzkammergut: Christmas Market at St Wolfgang
- Salzburg: Krampus Run at Hellbrunn Palace
- Salzburg: Imlauer Hotel Pitter Salzburg
- Obergurgl: A Week in the Austrian Alps
- Obergurgl: Chalet Obergurgl Luxury Apartments
- Obergurgl: Hohe Mut Alm Mountain Restaurant
- Obergurgl: Snowstorm on Christmas Eve
- Obergurgl: Day After the Storm
- Obergurgl: Snowshoeing
- Hochgurgl: Tobogganing
- Hochgurgl: Hochgurgl Cable Car Ride
- Vienna: First Impressions and Vienna Christmas Market
- Vienna: Hofburgkapelle and Imperial Armoury
- Vienna: Schönbrunn Palace
- Vienna: Imperial Treasury and Hofburg
- Vienna: Prater, Before Sunset
- Vienna: New Year’s Eve Fireworks and Waltz
- Vienna: Hilton Vienna Plaza
- Stuttgart: The Mercedes-Benz Museum
- Stuttgart: The Porsche Museum
We Travel Happy 
Ah the joy of putting up in a hotel in the heart of the city! We put up in Le Méridien which was also almost across the Rathaus. It makes exploring a city easier and then staying out late too if you fancy it. The photo of your husband with the bottle of bubby is lovely. Must have been one hell of a new year’s eve celebration just by dint of being in Vienna. 🙂 xx
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Hahaha that champagne came with us from the Alps. The chalet owner there was so kind to give one to us. But yeah even the very expensive hotels were booked for that period. It was crazy!
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Champers from the Alps. Nice. Has it been cracked already? x
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It has! Hahaha
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That hotel sounds delightful. Love the extra help from reception and that bay window. What a treat!
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I think after this trip, I will not be able to get away with 2 kids in the same room anymore 🙂 My teen’s turning 18 soon.
I was just going through your blog and I noted that you’ve been to Austria, too! In Salzburg! I’m excited to read your posts, I love Salzburg. 🙂
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Thank you. The Austrian posts are very old posts androgen I first started blogging many years ago and need quite a bit of revising and reformatting, I think.
My youngest is now 20 and memories of travelling with them throughout Europe and Scandinavia are some of my best memories.
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I still enjoyed reading your old posts yesterday (I even copied your daughter’s scones recipes). I wish we could visit Scandinavia with our kids someday (maybe next year if our Norway/Finland plan pushes through). I will go through your Scandinavian countries posts next 🙂
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Thank you for the lovely comment and for persisting with reading my old posts. I am envious that you are going to Norway and Finland next year. I have visited more of Norway than I have of Australia, so if you need any suggestions, do ask. Snow and Suvi comment here, both bloggers from Finland. Do you follow them?
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Oh yes I know Snow 🙂 I was telling her about our plans to go to Finland this year, but yeah most likely next year now.
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Such a shame that travel plans are put on hold. Sad for the travel companies and for the travellers too. However, on the flip side it means that we get to save money to spend on a later trip or to plan more detailed itineraries, travel virtually or around our home areas. I am glad I did many of my big trips overseas when I was a bit younger. One never knows what will happen in our world now. We need to live each moment!
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Exactly, we could save more this year. That’s what I was telling my husband too hahaha! 🙂
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Always look for a silver lining!
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Very nice! Never been to Vienna yet but to Venice yes haha! Stay Happy!
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Hahah and I’ve never been to Venice. Vienna is is great we enjoyed our stay there, and they do the NYE countdown in their unique classy way. 🙂
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