Hotel Zeitgeist Vienna Hauptbahnhof

The hotel's name brought back memories of my political science class in college, and I loved Vienna too. My wife and I spent two nights here, and I'd return in a heartbeat. The location is great, with shopping and good restaurants just a few blocks away. Breakfast was great and organic, the room was clean, the mattress comfortable, and the staff very helpful.

I had to leave after one night, but they wouldn't cancel or refund the remaining amount. The room smelled really bad, the floor was dirty, and there was no carpet. I couldn't sleep because of the smell, and it wasn't a normal room. When I told the receptionist, she was rude and said I could choose another hotel, with no available room offered. Her attitude was irritating and spiteful. I travel for work and stay in hotels often, and I've never encountered someone so rude and resentful toward a customer.

Claudia, who they call the Roadrunner, was wonderful at the breakfast buffet. She checked people in, cleared tables, and came around to see how guests were doing, basically covering three jobs. The hotel manager should recognize how valuable she is and give her a raise.

Breakfast was amazing, including for vegetarians, and the location is excellent: near the tram, metro, and bus station, just two stops from the center. The room layout was awkward, though. The shower enclosure had no door, which was uncomfortable when sharing the room and needing to step out for a towel or clothes.