Our recent stay at the renowned Hotel Sacher was a far cry from the luxury and comfort we anticipated. For an establishment that boasts a storied history and membership with the Leading Hotels of the World, our experience was profoundly disappointing. It seems the hotel is resting on the laurels of its past glories, rather than striving to maintain or elevate the standards associated with such a revered alliance. The recognition that comes with being a part of the Leading Hotels of the World carries an implicit promise of excellence, a promise that, in our experience, Hotel Sacher failed to deliver on. Instead of enjoying a stay befitting a prestigious hotel, we found ourselves navigating a myriad of oversights and shortcomings. It's disheartening to see an institution of such reputation not living up to the grandeur and service it once epitomized. Personal Belonging Incident: Upon our arrival and settling into the room, we ventured out for a few hours, expecting to return to a neatly serviced room. To our dismay, we were met with a sight that left us both shocked and distraught. My prized Yves-Saint-Laurent purse, which I had carefully placed away from potential harm, was now found crushed behind the TV. It was abundantly clear that during either the housekeeping or the turndown service, some unintentional yet careless act led to this unfortunate situation. What was more disheartening, however, was the hotel's subsequent handling of the situation. Rather than receiving an immediate acknowledgment or an apology for the evident mishap, the hotel's response leaned more towards skepticism. We were confronted with dismissive remarks, suggesting that the incident might not have occurred as we described. Phrases like "housekeeping doesn't recall anything" were thrown our way, and subtle hints were dropped implying our account was merely "our perspective" or "our point of view." Such reactions were not only unexpected but also deeply unsettling. Our interactions, particularly with Mrs. Schwarz, further deepened our doubts about the hotel's dedication to guest satisfaction and service excellence. Instead of being provided with a straightforward solution or at least a genuine gesture of goodwill, we found ourselves caught up in a tedious back-and-forth with the hotel. To add insult to injury, despite the clear evidence and our genuine concerns, we haven't received any form of compensation as of now. Their reason? The hotel claims they're waiting for a response from their insurance provider. This left us bewildered. Were we guests of Hotel Sacher or of their insurance company? Such a bureaucratic approach to a genuine guest concern was both baffling and immensely disappointing. We left the Hotel early as soon as we realized that deputy management, Mrs Schwarz, was unable to provide ANY solution.
Considering the unfortunate experiences we've endured, I feel it's my duty to caution future travelers about considering Hotel Sacher for their stay in Vienna. It's easy to be swayed by long-standing reputations and tales of historic grandeur, but one must dig deeper to understand the true essence of a hotel in the present day. It's vital for establishments to not only cherish their storied pasts but also to consistently reaffirm their worth in the contemporary hospitality landscape. Hotel Sacher, regrettably, seems to have lost its touch. Its facilities now feel conspicuously dated, evoking an era gone by without the charm one would expect. More alarmingly, the significant slip in guest service we experienced was both surprising and deeply disappointing. A hotel that was once emblematic of Vienna's luxury hospitality now seems like a pale shadow of its former self. I strongly encourage potential guests to do thorough research and perhaps consider alternative accommodations. Vienna boasts a plethora of exceptional establishments that seamlessly blend tradition with modern standards, ensuring a stay that truly honors the city's reputation for world-class hospitality without going to...
Read moreI have stayed in many beautiful places, and the Hotel Sacher Wien wins for being my favorite hotel of all time. My husband and I enjoy staying in several different hotels if we are in a city for awhile, and so we stayed at the Grand Hotel Wien and also the Hotel Imperial, both of which are fine and lovely. However, the Sacher is in a class all to itself. There is a positive energy amongst the entire staff that feels contagious. From the moment you are greeted at the door, you feel it. There is pride, excellence at every turn, and a genuine warmth and hospitality that many 5-star hotels lack. Here are a few examples: We were traveling with our teenage daughter, and we wanted a separate room for her but one that was close to us. Most hotels will "try" to give you adjoining rooms if available. However, the Sacher reserved a setup for us that was beyond perfect. There was one door with two separate hotel rooms behind it. Both keys (luxury items in and of themselves as opposed to the now-popular plastic credit card things) were programmed to open the main door, and then the other key opened the specific room door. We could keep the doors open throughout the day to make it feel like a suite and then close everything up at night for privacy. Genius. Like some luxury cars, everything just felt like it was made as high-class as it could be. The moldings, the heavy doors, the decor, the paintings, the bathrooms, the towel warmer, I could go on and on. But what makes this hotel special is how special they make every guest feel. I am not famous, but I felt treated as if I was a star pictured on their many walls of past guests. Examples: We were coming back from the opera on a rainy Friday night, and despite the hotel being literally across the street, we saw a doorman RUNNING with two open umbrellas for each of us -- with a smile and a "welcome back" in English. We had dinner in the gorrrrgeeeouus Red Room, and (no lectures, please, as anyone who has ever been a parent has likely been in this situation) our daughter did not care for the high-culinary experience found on their menu. This is the difference between nice places who exude class vs snobbery. Our waiter was so kind and so accommodating. He asked if she might like pasta, to which her eyes lit up. He asked what she wanted with it and offered multiple suggestions which were all terrific, and it made our meal joyful instead of obligatory on her part. She loved how beautifully the pasta was presented and how good it was. Isn't that how you should feel when you go out to a nice meal, especially as a family with younger ones in tow? And the breakfast... I have never in my life seen such bounty laid out with such beauty. With one gorgeous piece of china after another, there were trays and serving dishes and glass domes with artistically arranged meats, cheeses, yogurts, breads, pastries, cakes, champagne, fruits, vegetables, and dozens and dozens of incredible jams, preserves, spreads and more... and that was just the "cold buffet." From the table we could order eggs of any kind, including eggs benedict. Suffice it to say that the Hotel Sacher has a special place in my heart. I yearn to go back, and I hope I will! If you have a chance to...
Read moreWe recently stayed at Hotel Sacher Vienna and while the location is absolutely exceptional — walking distance to many of Vienna’s key attractions — a few aspects left us underwhelmed, especially given the price point (nearly €1,000 per night) and the hotel's prestigious heritage.||Location & Cleanliness:|The location truly cannot be beat. If you're only in Vienna for a short time, this hotel puts you right in the heart of everything — steps away from the Opera, Albertina, and pedestrian areas. The rooms and bathrooms were impeccably clean (10/10 for cleanliness), though both were on the smaller side, likely due to the heritage nature of the building.||Rooms:|While the rooms were beautifully maintained, they lacked several basic amenities we would have expected at this level. There was no dental kit, shaving kit, iron or ironing board, or even extra pillows in the room. While it's true that you can request these items, at this tier of hotel, they should be readily available without having to ask.||Breakfast:|Unfortunately, breakfast was a major letdown. The quality and service were not at all in line with the hotel’s reputation. Service was inattentive and unprofessional. Most waiters were teenagers. One morning, a teenage waiter (likely not older than 16) removed my coffee cup without asking while I was still drinking from it. The food itself was also disappointing: the Egg Royal we ordered arrived cold and inedible, and no one ever offered us water. For a hotel of this caliber, this was truly surprising and subpar. I would not recommend including breakfast in your stay — it's simply not worth the additional cost.||Service:|That said, the concierge team was truly outstanding — knowledgeable, accommodating, and proactive. The doormen were also extremely polite and helpful, making arrivals and departures smooth and pleasant. The reception area itself smells delightful, which was a small but memorable touch.||Overall:|While we appreciated the immaculate cleanliness, unbeatable location, and excellent concierge and front-of-house staff, the disappointing breakfast experience and lack of basic in-room amenities were hard to overlook. At this price and with the Sacher name, expectations are naturally high — and unfortunately, not all of...
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