StarwoodGuy: Around the World With Starwood Hotels in 30 Days

The Uber from the Bristol to the Vienna Hauptbahnhof was another Mercedes E-Class and I had a great talk with the driver about the city for only 13 Euros. Once at the station I looked into the OBB Lounge which was upstairs looking out over the promenade below and across to the train tracks. The red and grey Railjet/OBB colors were here as well, and at only a quarter filled, there was plenty of space to relax, have a cappuccino, and have more cake and cookies before heading to the train. The Regional Train is quite quick but a basic all economy train with 2-2 seating with most seats facing each other. The train was also only around a quarter full and some of those in my car did not seem to bother heeding the no smoking sign. No one came to tell them otherwise but it was only a quick hour journey and we were at the depressing looking Bratislava train station. I had read not to get excited about the station and to not judge the city by it, but having heard this I had preemptively booked the Sheraton Bratislava’s car service for the low price of 15 Euros. The driver was waiting for me and wanted to talk about the Canadian hockey team and the NHL since hockey was a big pastime here as well. A charity run was just concluding so I had to walk the last stretch to the surprisingly modern hotel attached to the conference center (also the run’s finish line) and shopping mall in this modern area of Bratislava, complete with casino, restaurants, and a board walk promenade. The front staff were very welcoming and told me I had been upgraded to the Executive Suite adjacent to their largest room, a wedding party was apparently in there and I was warned they had been a little noisy. Interestingly the driver, the staff at the Bristol, articles online, just about anyone and everyone local and foreigner alike warns you that Bratislava is not Prague, Budapest, or Vienna. They say it is smaller and a little rougher around the edges, now a favorite place for rowdy Brits to have bachelor and bachelorette parties. My first impression of Bratislava, once past the station itself, was of the Sheraton’s beautiful lobby, the excellent lobby bar, and then the massive suite with equally large terrace I was given. The room had a large sitting area, entry way, full table, and the equally large bedroom had a walk-in closet and a very large bathroom with separate shower and tub. The terrace was huge looking out to the castle and the hillside and the modern business complex and convention center/casino. Plus ironing board, iron, and in-room coffee were back, along with coffee and to go cups which I know Europeans loathe but I love for my walks. All this plus Club Lounge access and breakfast in the rate plus my 500 bonus platinum points for the low price of 90 Euros! Unfortunately I plugged my laptop in and blew the power…again, so it was off to the Club Lounge while the power was turned back on.

When I got to the Club Lounge I saw what the front desk staff had meant. The British stag or bachelor party had taken over most of the space. They had ordered in their own pizza and made a mess of it. The sole Club Lounge agent did her best to keep the unruly crowd (maybe I am just getting old) under control but from rude comments about women to belching it was not what you would expect from such a nice hotel. The Club Lounge itself is quite impressive with wine, sparking wine, juices and beers all out throughout the day. The food was a little meager in the snacks department, but traditional dumplings and pork was served which I was happy to see since I like to try the local food when I travel. The Club Lounge is almost an airport lounge, open to the hotel’s main bar below which was looking much more civilized. I was running out of power and did not want to blow it again in my room, but I was getting tired and if I was going to see the city by night it was now or never. I dropped my laptop in the room and headed out armed with my umbrella since a light drizzle had just started up.

The locals say the town is small and that there is not much to see but I found the old streets very charming by night. There are a few different pathways in and around the old town area with outdoor cafes and beautiful old smaller palaces of the Hapsburg Empire dotted throughout. The tiles on the walkways are uneven and often move when you step on them but it is really very charming. I got a great view of the town from the water and took a picture of the crazy looking restaurant that looked like the War of the Worlds aliens. It was a quick walk back along the waterfront at the end of the night before heading to bed.

The next morning I made coffee in the room and sat on my terrace. The fog was beginning to break as the sun came up so I headed down to the gym for an hour of cardio. Again only a max dumbbell weight of ten kgs. but the gym is beautiful with a nice outlook onto the indoor pool. I skipped the Finnish Sauna and headed right to the room to shower and then went down to the wonderful breakfast, same fare, German breads and cheeses and egg, bacon sausage offerings with an omelet station. The inside of the restaurant was nice but it was beginning to heat up and the sun was out so I sat on the covered terrace. After breakfast I charged my laptop in the Club Lounge which had a light breakfast of only pastures going and was empty, and I managed to get an hours worth of work done before I headed out to the city. I retraced my steps from the night before, walking the streets of the town. It is definitely not as polished as Vienna nor as big but I really did find it charming. And the prices in Euros were shockingly low, really a quarter of what you would pay in Vienna. I made my way past the many churches and the town square and eventually to the largest church which had a fascinated tomb that you could look down on through a glass floor that had been put in, and then climbed up the steps to the castle. I did not have time for the tour inside the castle itself but I took in the great view of Bratislava from the top before taking the boardwalk route home, stopping in the modern mall adjacent to the hotel. I had time for a quick snack in the Club Lounge before a different driver came and grabbed me, again 15 Euros and an amazing BMW 7 series.

I found the Sheraton in Bratislava a stand out hotel. It is brand new as is the neighborhood it is in, but really just a short stroll into town. The river is beautiful as is the old town, the main church and the castle. Certainly there is not as much to see and do as in Vienna or Budapest, but the price is right, the people are extremely friendly, and the town exceptionally nice. The hotel had everything I needed, I would have loved more time in the spa area, of course I like some larger weights, but otherwise the Lounge and staff were great, the restaurant and bar both lively and amazing, and the location in the shopping and casino complex was handy as well. My upgraded room was also wonderful. If there was a downside it was the obnoxious behavior of other guests, but besides that, I would recommend a stop in Bratislava especially if going from Vienna to Budapest and you cannot beat the Sheraton Bratislava, another great stay.