Hotel Villa Rckert

I rented one of the single room apartments behind the hotel through Airbnb for four months. It seems suited to very short stays, and I wouldn’t recommend it for a long one. The bedding was deeply uncomfortable: the pillow was so thin it gave no support, the twin bed was uncomfortable, and I regularly woke with neck and back pain because I could feel the mattress springs each night. There was also frequent cigarette smoke coming in when I opened the windows. The host required me to open them four times a day to prevent mold, and smoking around the property was common. Noise was another ongoing problem because the walls are thin. Loud neighbors, hotel guests, or staff often disturbed my sleep, and weekend parties in nearby apartments could get loud, with shouting and blaring music. That happened a handful of times and made some nights hard to sleep. The apartment was dirty when I arrived: stains on the chair, headboard, mattress and bed liner, dirt and dried liquid on the floor, and brown liquid marks on the walls near the bed. There were cobwebs, pet hair, bugs in the corners, and mold behind the toilet.

For a week, the room was perfectly fine. It was a good size, with a comfortable bed, dependable hot water, and AC that worked well and was much needed in the summer heat. I did miss having a mini-fridge for perishables. Soundproofing wasn’t great, so footsteps and slamming doors carried easily. It would also have been ideal to have someone at reception in the afternoon.

For what it cost, I wouldn’t recommend it. The rooms were dirty, with dust everywhere and blood stains on the sheets. The light switches were so filthy I was afraid to touch them, and the doors to the Juliet balcony wouldn’t close properly.

We had to leave before reception opened on our last day, and they had made sandwiches for us. That really showed they take care of their guests. The rooms were clean, breakfast was plentiful and you could eat as much as you liked, and the prices were acceptable. It was a very nice hotel. If you’re planning a visit to Graz, I can recommend Pension Rückert. I’m planning to visit again too.