Hotel Hafnerwirt

Getting around was easy from Hotel Hafnerwirt: it’s near a main road and a short walk from the local train station, with plenty of free parking. The staff made check-in and checkout smooth, and our dated but clean, comfortable room had a rustic feel. We chose it as a base for exploring Salzburg without staying in the city itself. The fan in our room couldn’t make up for the lack of air conditioning on hot summer nights, and we didn’t sleep comfortably. At breakfast, the food was generally good but there wasn’t much to choose from. We only found out near the end that we had to ask for things like eggs and coffee, and the staff often seemed in a bad mood, so we hesitated to ask. It’s a convenient, comfortable base near Salzburg, though the air conditioning and breakfast service could be better.

Tepito, the Mexican restaurant inside the hotel, was a colourful surprise. The food was really good, even by our standards as two Italian food enthusiasts. Breakfast was more than satisfying, and the friendly waitresses served it in a cozy little wooden room with a Stube. The location worked well for Salzburg and other nearby sights, especially with a car, though we saw plenty of people using the bus too. We didn’t get the Salzburg card mentioned when we booked. We didn’t really need it, but it would have been a shame if we’d been counting on it. Our room stayed pretty hot even with the heating off, probably because of the pipes and decent insulation. Better than being cold, but the lack of cold air conditioning could be a problem in summer. Cleaning was fine, and 70 per person per night with breakfast from 30/12 to 2/01 was a fair price, one of the lowest around, without service feeling cheap. Thanks for everything!

My parents and other guests thought they could take extra dishes and cutlery from an unsigned shelf beside the breakfast buffet. A woman working breakfast service suddenly started shouting at them. My elderly parents didn’t understand the language and were left intimidated, afraid to get up and take anything from the buffet. Her behavior affected the other guests too. That incident changed how I felt about our stay. Before it, the young receptionist had been very helpful, and the old, outdated rooms were clean, which mattered most to me. Breakfast itself was ordinary, with no hot meals or eggs, though that wasn’t the main problem. I’d been ready to give the place five stars, but by the end felt pushed to one. I’m writing so the manager can see where service needs work if they’re wondering about low ratings. There’s potential for a great stay, but customer service needs serious attention.

I have never run into such unprofessional service, and I can’t recommend this hotel to anyone expecting respectful, reasonable treatment. On the night of January 1, the administrator told me to leave with my two children if something didn’t suit me. The exchange ended in rudeness and shocking remarks. It started with a question at reception about whether my card had been charged for the room. I was willing to pay right then and let Booking.com sort out the error. The administrator reacted aggressively and insisted she wasn’t lying, even though I hadn’t accused her of that. I wondered if she might be the owner rather than an ordinary employee. Some of what she said could suggest national discrimination, which made the encounter especially upsetting. That kind of conduct has no place in hospitality.