Space Homes Hostel – Landstraße

Getting around was easy, with metro, tram and bus stops close by and supermarkets next door. The hotel also has two elevators, which is useful. Our room was spacious, but the beds weren’t made each day, and the corridors smelled quite bad. The carpets definitely need replacing. At checkout, the receptionist was impolite. I asked for a receipt and she said it would come by email because I’d paid online. When I explained I’d paid at reception on arrival, she checked and admitted I was right. She handed us the receipt without thanking us for the stay or saying goodbye.

The hotel staff deserve a lot of credit. They were friendly, professional and courteous. Our room was spacious and very clean, and the breakfast was high quality. The location worked well too: the metro is a few minutes away on foot, and the city centre takes about 25 minutes to reach walking. We had a wonderful weekend in Vienna, and the hotel added a lot to it. Highly recommended!

The hotel’s handling of our booking was deeply unprofessional, and I’m still shocked. A group of teenage rhythmic gymnasts and their coaches were travelling to a competition. The athletes have a strict schedule, and we’d never had accommodation problems before. We booked well ahead through Booking.com, and the confirmed reservation had been active for nearly a month. Just over a week before the event, when we were about to pay in full, the hotel messaged us through the platform saying they couldn’t accommodate the group. Finding another place for 21 people at such short notice is almost impossible. Their alternative was that we could stay if we paid an extra €50 in cash for each teenager. They said they’d refund it later if everything was fine. I can imagine how that might go when everyone is rushing to the airport, with staff delaying things until guests give up and the extra cash staying in their pockets. This is unacceptable and unethical. It seems the hotel cares more about squeezing money from guests than hospitality or professionalism.

The family room felt cozy and roomy, with three beds, and there’s plenty of shopping and food nearby. We also found paid parking under Penny's, a few minutes away, for €8 a day, half the hotel parking price. My one concern was the bathroom’s sliding door: it has no lock and a gap where someone can look in while you’re showering, which isn’t comfortable with kids in the family. Otherwise, it’s a great property.