Renaissance® Vienna Schönbrunn Hotel

The lobby looks presentable, but the rooms show the real state of the place. It’s dirty, badly managed and nowhere near a four-star standard. The convenient location near Schönbrunn Palace, just one stop away, is its only redeeming feature. Almost any other hotel in Vienna would be an improvement, and I’d strongly suggest looking elsewhere. Our room was filthy on arrival, with dirt and food on the floor that had clearly been left by earlier guests. Housekeeping never properly cleaned it during our multiple-night stay. They made the bed with the same dirty linens and left. We had to call the front desk repeatedly to get towels replaced, as even basic hotel tasks seemed beyond the staff. We also found someone else’s dirty underwear in the room. We hoped things would improve over several nights, but they didn’t. The hotel initially refused to honor the rate we booked through the Marriott app. They accepted it only after we pushed hard, though it should never have been an issue. I’ve seen the repeated replies from Richard Mar saying cleanliness complaints are taken “very seriously” and will be “looked into.” That wasn’t our experience. Nothing seemed to be taken seriously. The hotel advertised “bonus points” for Elite members who skipped room cleaning, with notices around the property. It felt less like a sustainability choice and more like an excuse, since the rooms weren’t being cleaned properly anyway. Our stay credits also appeared to be held back in retaliation for raising problems. As Marriott Elite members, we get complimentary breakfast or lounge access, but the hotel wouldn’t let more than two people in, even though we had very young children with us. That’s never happened to us at any other Marriott property worldwide. Richard Mar seems aware of the problems but wouldn’t help or take responsibility. His lack of concern showed in both the rooms and the overall experience.

For our last two nights in Vienna, we stayed at this hotel. It seems newly renovated, and our room was clean and nice, with a comfortable bed and working AC. The price was reasonable, and sometimes that’s all you need. I’d have given it four stars, but our room faced the train tracks and the noise woke us early in the morning.

There’s a breakfast buffet, though it adds to the room price, and the gym is good for a workout. The rooms are spacious, with daily housekeeping. Coffee and tea weren’t replenished every day, but when I mentioned it to reception, they were eager to help and gave them to me. Renaissance is a high-end hotel in a quiet part of Vienna.

I stayed at Renaissance Vienna Schönbrunn in early January 2026, and the experience was deeply disappointing. From the start, staff were hostile, dismissive and unprofessional when I tried to raise serious concerns. The most disturbing incident was on 02.01.2026 around the sauna and toilet areas. A member of the cleaning staff stared at me and followed me in a way that felt invasive and threatening. I felt unsafe and very uncomfortable. That’s unacceptable in any hotel. I also faced a false, unauthorized €160 claim through Marriott Bonvoy on 01.01.2026, even though I hadn’t made a booking. Management did nothing to clarify or address it, and seemed more focused on being hostile than resolving the issue. Their response to serious concerns about safety and well-being was completely inadequate. This hotel doesn’t provide a safe or professional environment, and I can’t recommend it under any circumstances. Guests should know about these problems before booking. Safety, professionalism and proper management aren’t guaranteed here. Shame! ¡