Haus Wartenberg

We were on the second floor in a very cosy room with a fridge, kettle, and bathroom. There’s a reasonably priced bar, plus tea and coffee throughout the day, and the buffet breakfast was nicely presented and well worth it. The staff were perfect and welcoming. I love the old fashioned, quirky, homely feel of the place. If you want alternative accommodation with traditional values, this is a good fit, and it’s not too far from the centre of Salzburg.

The room was simple but fine, and that’s part of the hotel’s charm. Cleanliness was poor, though. The shared bathroom had no toilet paper, and the same shit stain was visible on the side of the toilet for two days, suggesting it hadn’t been cleaned. The internet issue caused me a serious problem. I came back after midnight one evening to find the WiFi was down, and it stayed off until 7:00 the next morning. I needed to book a flight and couldn’t. Booking didn’t say the internet shut off at night. The next day I politely asked the hotel manager why it had happened, but instead of calmly answering, he got defensive and aggressive. He said I was the first person in years to ask and scolded me about what the problem was. I explained that tourists use WiFi for practical things: letting my mother know I was back safely, booking a flight or train, or even just using Facebook and reading email. Why is that his business? He said their arrangement with the Bishop only allowed internet until 00:00. I couldn’t get him to explain why internet at 1:00 or 2:00 was a problem when 11:00 wasn’t. When I pointed out that Booking didn’t mention this and asked how guests were meant to know, he tried to quiet me with chocolate, as if I were a four-year-old who’d stop complaining if given a treat. I said it was unacceptable for a hotel anywhere in the world to shut off internet at night because of a religious directive. He replied, “okay, okay, I’ll write a note so people will know,” and started handwriting something on paper, as if people booking through Booking would see a note on the counter. To be clear, it’s his hotel and he can decide to have no internet at night for whatever bizarre reason. But guests need to be warned in advance, on the website or Booking. Otherwise it’s misleading. Bad manners, bad management, and zero respect for guests.

I’m giving it five stars, but that doesn’t mean it’s a five-star hotel. It’s advertised as two stars, and it met all my expectations for that rating, then some. Don’t come expecting spotless perfection. Come for something different, an interesting atmosphere and a quirky experience. Five-star hotels have their time, but they can get boring. My room was at the top of the house, and with it around 30 degrees outside it got a bit warm. I dampened the sheets and slept well with the windows wide open. Thankfully I had mosquito repellent. There’s no AC, so don’t expect any. The house feels like a kind of shrine. I’m not Catholic, but I believe in Jesus, and I feel comfortable in places like this. There’s a shady garden to sit in and a handy Greek restaurant a couple of minutes down the road. Breakfast is adequate and buffet style. Bernd, the shy manager, was accommodating and didn’t say anything when I accidentally stayed an hour too long and helped myself to a second breakfast. I recommend the place, especially for budget travellers and adventurers with a thirst for life.

The owners were so kind, and they even fixed my bike 😅. We loved the warm atmosphere and the clean rooms, which have a rustic feel. It’s only a 10-15 minute walk to the centre, so getting out to enjoy the nightlife was easy. If we’re back in Salzburg, we’ll stay here again.