What's New: An Online Update for Frommer's Vienna

Vienna now boasts all new train services because of the unbearable amount of travelers from the airports to other cities in Europe. It now takes only 16 minutes to get from downtown Vienna to the Vienna International Airport, half the time it would take if the commuters were still taking a taxi or a bus. The train runs every half hour daily from 5:37 am to 11:36 pm.

Opening in June 2005 is the Austria Hotel Messe Wien, 2 Messestraße (tel. 01/727-270; www.austria-trend.at). Located directly across from the Messe Vien Neu, Vienna premier fair and convention center, this hotel is quickly becoming one of the most recognizable in Austria because of its rounded shape and ultra-modern architecture. There are 243 rooms that feature French windows with a view of the fair ground. The top two levels of the hotel house 66 business units and two suites with panoramic views of the city.

Located on the Ringtrasse, just a short walk from the Vienna State Opera House and the Imperial Hofburg Palace, is Le Meridien Vienna, 13 Opernring (tel. 800/543-4300; www.vienna.lemeridien.com). The 294 modern, minimalist-style rooms have lighted headboards and complimentary high-speed Internet access. Shambala, the hotel's bar and restaurant, is run by acclaimed French chef Michael Rostang. The Café Boulevard, the hotel's other on-site restaurant, is the perfect place to appease your caffeine addiction before heading out into the city. The hotel is equipped with a fitness room, an indoor pool, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, and a solarium.

The Falkensteiner Hotel Am Schottenfeld, 74 Schottenfeldgasse (tel. 01/546-5181; www.falkensteiner.com), has opened, and almost instantly has become a hit with the below thirty set. The design of the hotel is young, modern, and chic. The lighting seems to set the stage for every room in the hotel, from the colored lights in the lounge to the natural light in the meeting rooms. The highlight of the 91 rooms, and 4 suites, is a series of bathrooms. With marble floors, a basin-style sink, a large mirror, and a view, the bathrooms are the very picture of elegance. There is a sauna, solarium, Turkish bath, lounge, and a bistro in the hotel.

If you're looking for the most spacious guest rooms in Vienna and spectacular views of both the Danube River and the city, check into the Hilton Vienna Danube, Handelskai 269, (tel. 01/727770; www.hilton.com). The grounds house two tennis courts, a track, a fitness room, an outdoor pool, solarium, sauna, and a whirlpool. The hotel will set up sightseeing tours for guests and provides a babysitting service. The guest rooms are 40 square meters (131 square feet) and are equipped with air-conditioning, a minibar, cable TV, dataport, and a unique laptop safe for the modern traveler.

Located just a ten-minute subway ride from the city center is Crowne Plaza Vienna, Wagramer Strasse 21 (tel. 01/260200; www.vienna.crowneplaza.com). In Vienna's fastest growing business area, Donaustadt, this hotel is very popular spot for conferences and business meetings because of the large amount of meeting space. The 252-room hotel has a plethora of modern amenities, including air-conditioning and heating, minibars, safes, high speed Internet access, voicemail, and safes. More than half of the hotels guest rooms are non-smoking and there is a bar and restaurant on-site.

Atop Wilhelminenberg Hill, surrounded by the Vienna woods and an array of vineyards, is the former castle of Gray Lascy, now the home of the Austria Trend Hotel Schloss Wilhelminenberg, Savoyenstraße 2 (tel. 01/4858503; www.austria-trend.at/wiw). This elegant hotel offers the décor of the château life with the modern amenities of a 21st century hotel. The hotel contains 50 studios, 33 guest rooms, and four junior suites. The hotel is about half an hour from the city center and guests enjoy spectacular views of Vienna. Breakfast is served in the Schloss Restaurant, the winter garden, or the sun terrace.

Looking at the robin's egg blue siding of the Hotel Mercure Nestroy, Rotensterngasse 12 (tel. 01/211400) one would think they were looking at a dollhouse rather than a hotel. The new 87-room hotel is within walking distance of the city center and houses a restaurant, garage, sauna, and a glass-covered courtyard. Guest rooms here are midsize and comfortable, but there aren't many amenities, just the basics.

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