My room was a large L shaped space with an adjoining bathroom that was half the size again. Although the room was fairly spartan, the bathroom had been totally remodelled with tiled floor and walls, glistening chrome fixtures and sparkling glass that made me think the renovations were very recent. An electric radiator ran the length of one bathroom wall and came in handy for drying my hand washed laundry. Best of all the recessed windows with large marble ledges in the bathroom and bedroom opened and it was wonderful to get fresh air rather than the canned, recycled air in more modern hotels.

My room had twin beds at opposite ends of the room so may not have been desirable for couples but it made no difference to me. A small overhead TV, desk with chair and another wicker chair completed the furnishings along with family pictures from the 70s – a nice homey touch. There was lots of closet space in the wardrobe as well as extra blankets and pillows that would come in handy during a winter visit.

Breakfast was included in the price of the room and was served in the restaurant between 7 to 10 am. The selection was one of the best I’d had on my trip – sliced meats and cheeses, canned and fresh fruit, cereals, yogurts (plain and fruit flavoured), breads, breakfast pastries, jams and juice. The restaurant also served traditional Austrian specialities for lunch and dinner and prices were reasonable.

Check out was 10 a.m. My single room was €45 per night including breakfast and doubles started at €78. Traveler’s cheques are accepted but the owner offered me a discount to €43 per night if I paid cash. Not a big savings but for budget travelers like myself, every little bit helps.