Steigenberger Hotel & Spa Krems

“A Curate's Egg of a hotel - Good in parts !”

The service and food are excellent. A should iut to the barman in the Sky bar and the restaurant tea. Breakfast is excellent and the dinner we had in the restaurant was very good too. We were recommended the local Buchecker Zweigelt Exclusiv red wine and we were impressed. There is no air-condition… Plus

The service and food are excellent. A should iut to the barman in the Sky bar and the restaurant tea. Breakfast is excellent and the dinner we had in the restaurant was very good too. We were recommended the local Buchecker Zweigelt Exclusiv red wine and we were impressed. There is no air-conditioning in this hotel. The Wachau Valley is always hot in the summer and this August it was in excess of 30C /90F and humid. The rooms are looking tired too. Previously I have stayed at this hotel in the winter and this has not mattered but with climate change (is that ironic?), this needs to be addressed.

Moins

“Beautiful grounds and spa, but the service and room comfort were underwhelming”

My wife and I stayed at the Steigenberger Hotel & Spa Krems during our honeymoon. Overall, the property has some genuinely beautiful elements, but the experience was uneven and fell short in several important areas. When we arrived, our room was not yet ready. Reception was polite and kind, though… Plus

My wife and I stayed at the Steigenberger Hotel & Spa Krems during our honeymoon. Overall, the property has some genuinely beautiful elements, but the experience was uneven and fell short in several important areas. When we arrived, our room was not yet ready. Reception was polite and kind, though fairly reserved, and there was no verbal acknowledgment of our honeymoon at check-in. The lobby itself felt noticeably dated, which was a surprising contrast to the newer Goldberg wing and the hotel grounds. The grounds are easily the strongest feature of the property. The setting above Krems is breathtaking, with landscaped outdoor areas, vineyards on the hillside, views over the town, and the Danube visible in the distance. The pool area is gorgeous, and the sanctuary-style garden with loungers was especially peaceful. The spa facilities were also very well done. There is an indoor pool, outdoor pool, several saunas, relaxation areas, and a hot tub, although the water was not particularly hot by American standards. The spa staff were on holiday during our stay, which I knew in advance, so treatments were unavailable, but the facilities themselves were excellent. Our room in the Goldberg wing was beautiful and looked exactly as depicted in the photographs. We had a lovely view of the hillside and vines, and the hotel provided champagne and cookies as a honeymoon welcome, which we appreciated. The biggest problem was the air conditioning. Despite adjusting the reservation specifically to ensure that we had an air-conditioned room, the system cooled very poorly. My wife and I slept uncomfortably hot both nights, and it often seemed that opening the balcony doors would have been more effective than using the AC. This was a significant disappointment, particularly during a summer stay. Breakfast was very good, with a generous spread of meats, cheeses, breads, pastries, and a dedicated egg and omelet station. We also dined at the hotel restaurant one evening. Service was quite slow. We were initially told that outdoor seating was unavailable due to capacity, yet another couple arriving after us was asked to wait and was later moved outside. That inconsistency was frustrating. Our server eventually helped us move to the terrace, where the views and atmosphere were very enjoyable. The food was good, though not especially memorable, and the evening became a long, leisurely dinner. Overall, the hotel has an exceptional setting, beautiful grounds, attractive newer rooms, and excellent spa facilities. The weaker points were the underwhelming service, inconsistent restaurant handling, dated lobby, and ineffective air conditioning. Would I stay again? Possibly, but I would also explore other upscale spa options in the Wachau region before returning.

Moins