After leaving the Palm Suites Rome, we had a short flight on Austrian Airlines for a one-night layover in Vienna. This was part of a larger ticket that got us back to the US aboard Austrian Airlines. However, the only way to do this was with a one night layover in Vienna.
My wife had never been to Vienna, and we got in around lunch time. Thus, for this stay, I chose to put us in the heart of the city at the Park Hyatt Vienna.
I had been to Vienna before but stayed in a hostel-like accomodation. The Park Hyatt Vienna is pretty legendary in the points & miles world, so we were excited to stay here. It’s located in the heart of Vienna, and you can walk to most of the major tourist sites.
We enjoyed the Park Hyatt Vienna. We are hoping to make it back to Vienna in the summer, fall, or Christmas-time to enjoy the weather and events there. We’ll definitely stay at the Park Hyatt Vienna again so we can have the full experience (we didn’t get to eat breakfast there, which we heard is fantastic).
Note that the Park Hyatt Vienna is in the process of being sold as a part of bankruptcy of the parent company. Who knows how much more time the hotel will actually be open as a Park Hyatt. If you get the opportunity, I would highly recommend it.
Booking the Park Hyatt Vienna
The Park Hyatt Vienna is a Category 7 hotel, with stays being between 25,000 and 35,000 points. For this particular stay, we originally had paid 25,000 points.
However, while we were in the Maldives, I realized I had a Category 1-7 certificate that was about to expire, so I rebooked it with my certificate, getting my 25,000 points back.
There is no destination fee, which is great.
Location
The Park Hyatt Vienna is perfectly situated in the heard of Vienna, about a 5 minute walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. You truly could not have a better location, as we were within a mile walk from all of the major sites, as well as fantastic shopping and dining.
The actual address is Am Hof 2, 1010 Wien, Austria.
I did not ask about parking, as there was no need to do that. We took a taxi from the airport, which took about 25 minutes or so (I think). It cost about 50 euros to get there. (Also, I learned that taxi drivers, and everywhere in Austria in general, hate credit cards, so have cash on you if you don’t want that glare).
Check-In & Lobby
Upon pulling up to the hotel, an attendant opened our taxi door and escorted us in, as a bell hop grabbed our luggage out of the car.
The front of the hotel is absolutely stunning. The building itself is more than 100 years old, as it housed the Austrian Hungarian Monarch Bank and is protected as a UNESCO heritage site (source).
Check-in was on the first floor directly to the left of the entrance. You’ll see how beautiful the hotel is as soon as you walk in.
We walked to the check-in desk. There, we were greeted and thanked for being a Globalist. The agent confirmed that we were staying for one night. She also let us know that we had been upgraded to a Park Suite Deluxe suite for the night.
After the rest of the check-in formalities, we were escorted up to our room on the single glass elevator (stunning).
Park Suite Deluxe Room
We were on the second floor in room 226. The hallways were absolutely gorgeous, with antique furniture thoughtfully placed in the hallway. The bellman placed our luggage in the closet.
Upon entering the suite, the closet was to the left and the bathroom was to the right, with a hallway leading towards the living room. The closet was massive. We had two large suitcases and two rollaboards. They all fit in there with room to move around and change at the same time. There were plenty of hangars, drawers, and space to store stuff. There was also a safe.
In one of the drawers, you could find a laundry bag, shoe mitt, sewing kit, and an adapter for if you forgot to bring yours.
Straight ahead was the main living room. Before hitting the living room, you had a fancy light switch and could control the cooling / heating. Windows lined the back of the room, with our windows facing the fancy shopping district.
The ceilings were at least 15 feet high. In the formal living room itself, there was a chair, a couch, and a coffee table with some fruit and a Park Hyatt Vienna chocolate bar waiting for us. The GM had also printed and signed a note for us, which were both a nice touch.
The space in front of the couch was massive. At the end of the room to the left was what appeared to be an old fireplace. This was closed off and replaced with mirrors, which is a fun place to grab a selfie.
The coolest part of this was that the mirror raised up and revealed the first TV in the suite.
To the left of the hidden TV was a hallway. I have no idea what this hallway is for – maybe to connect that room to the next room? It’s an old building, so who knows. I didn’t ask.
Next to the couch (as you can see in our selfie picture above) was the minibar. There was a single-pod illy machine and a kettle for use. There were also a ton of drinks and snacks for purchase.
Behind the couch before heading through the French doors to the formal bedroom was the desk. This desk was massive and had plenty of space to work. This is also where you found a collection of office supplies, including a stapler, scissors, tape, a staple remover, and a ruler. You never know when you’re going to need these items at your 5 star hotel!
Behind the desk was the formal bedroom. There was a king-size bed, and we slept like babies. There were lamps on each side – I do not remember if they had plugs (but I believe they did).
Across from the bed was a TV in one corner and a chair with ottoman in the other corner.
Overall, it’s a gorgeous room.
Park Suite Deluxe Bathroom
There are two entrances to the bathroom. First, you can take a left as soon as you enter the room. Second, you can enter in from the bedroom. I’ll explain the bathroom set up as you enter in from the bedroom.
Right across from the door was the bathtub. I loved the wall behind it.
If you go into the bathroom and turn either way, there are his-and-her sinks against the wall shared with the bedroom. One side (pictured below) had a makeup mirror with a stool.
Directly across from this sink was a massive shower. Toiletries were in bulk containers, but were high quality. It was so big, I probably could have laid down in it (which I did not do). Shower pressure was good.
The other sink had a small old-fashioned clock and a TV.
Across from this sink was the toilet room.
It was a luxurious bathroom, which was really great for relaxing. I took a nice long shower to relax after several days walking around Rome. It was a luxurious way to end the vacation.
Dining at the Park Hyatt Vienna
We did not eat here, as we wanted to get to the airport early (we got their too early and should have eat breakfast at the hotel). You can find the page detailing the different offerings here.
As a Globalist, we would have been entitled to the buffet and anything off of the menu in the The Bank Brassiere & Bar. I have heard the food is great, but the service is wildly inconsistent. I look forward to trying it eventually.
While I did not eat at the hotel, as the Professor of Points (Ph.D. in psychology), I did get to try Cafe Landtmann. This place is famous for being Freud’s favorite coffeehouse. It was a fun experience, and I’d highly recommend doing it when you’re in town. I won’t need to dine in again. The coffee was delicious, so I’ll grab something from their to-go counter next time. I love coffee house culture in Austria.
It’s not too far a walk from the hotel (maybe 15-20 minutes?). We did have to wait in February for about 15 minutes at 3PM in the afternoon, so I can’t imagine the lines over the summer.
Park Hyatt Vienna Arany Spa Complex
For my wife and I, this was the highlight of our stay. As far as I am aware, these are traditional German saunas. I am woefully uncultured in this, so I cannot speak to whether it’s a proper experience. (The closest I’ve gotten is spending a fair amount of time at the baths when volunteering in Ukraine in 2019.) Having said that, we found it super relaxing.
You can find the website here.
All of the following amenities can be accessed from the spa lobby, which is down a floor from the main lobby. If you don’t know where to go, just ask the receptionist. We were lost, and they were kind enough to tell us where the different amenities were.
I will note this for Americans, where Puritanism runs deep: these areas are mixed-gender and allow full nudity. You absolutely do not have to do that (I did not), but it’s good to be aware of.
Park Hyatt Vienna Pool
The pool at the Park Hyatt Vienna might have been the most beautiful city hotel pool that I have ever seen. I’ll let the picture below speak for ifself.
The pool was technically closed while we were there for it’s once-per-year draining and deep clean, so we couldn’t get in. However, it was very much a part of the full spa, so it was a very tranquil environment. Kids would still love it. However, note that children under 16 are only allowed between the hours of 11AM and 6PM to keep the tranquility of the environment.
There were a couple of loungers around the pool, but they were full (so no pictures). I would have loved to have laid there with my headphones in and listen to a meditation. That’s how tranquil it was.
At the bottom of the stairs were some additional loungers. We were able to hang out down there for a bit, which was almost as relaxing as being by the pool itself.
Park Hyatt Vienna Spa
The spa has 6 treatment rooms. We didn’t get any, but you can find the full spa menu here.
We did take part in the rest of the facilities. Before accessing the rest of the facilities, you need to enter through the locker rooms. They have proper lockers where you can store your belongings while enjoying the facilities.
There are plenty of robes and towels, as well as a changing room, if you are like me and wish to change privately.
There is also a machine to dry your swimsuit (or “bathing costume,” as my British friends call it). I used this to dry my swimsuit so it wasn’t wet when I flew the next day.
It was quite easy to get a glass of chilled water at different areas around the spa.
The spa had a full suite of experiences. In particular, they have a sauna, a sanarium, steam room, vitality showers, and relaxation zones. I’ll post photos from that area below.
Park Hyatt Vienna Gym
The gym was quite nice and well-appointed. Unfortunately, I could not get pictures as the gym was constantly full in the 3 times I went to take pictures. It overlooked the pool, which was cool.
They had a variety of cardio and strength machines, and they even had a Peloton. You could easily get a good workout here.
You can see some pictures on Hyatt’s website here.
Service at the Park Hyatt Vienna
Generally speaking, service was very German-like. People were very direct and not as warm and friendly as you would find in the Maldives.
With that being said, the front desk was very professional and kind. They did a great job of explaining benefits and proactively offering different ideas of what we may need or giving directions on where to go. I always think it’s a good idea to ask locals where to go, as they know the area better than anyone. They were always willing to give a recommendation.
The nicest person at the hotel was easily the attendant who opened our taxi door and took our bags. He was incredibly kind. I also loved how he wore a proper long coat and top hat, which is what you would expect at a refined city hotel. When I called down the next morning for help with our bags, he came up and said, “We hope you enjoyed your stay Mr. and Mrs. Threadgill. I hope you can stay longer next time.” He was awesome! I wish I had remembered his name. Hats off (pun intended) to him!
Conclusion
The Park Hyatt Vienna is a fantastic old-world, yet modern, hotel in the heart of Vienna. If you have the points, I absolutely endorse staying there as a home base to explore the city and too relax after a long day of sightseeing.
What do you think about the Park Hyatt Vienna? Is this a place you would like to stay?
Not a subscriber? Subscribe below!
Comment (1)