Vienna’s Regel Residence – The Imperial HotelRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
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When
Duke of Wurttemberg came back from a business trip, he was dismayed to find that his backyard, which was essentially a park at that time, had been bisected with a new road. Not one to cross street to go to park, Duke decided that road had ruined his Vienna palace and put it up for sale. There are those who would say that it was financial woes, not dissatisfaction with progress, which caused Duke to hang "For Sale" sign in window. Still, whatever impetus, palace sold, Duke moved out, and in 1873 Hotel Imperial opened, just in time for World's Fair.
Time has not exactly stopped at Hotel Imperial, but no effort is spared to give visitor feeling that they are in heart of royal Vienna. From damask lined walls and heavy swag drapes to crystal chandeliers that illuminate every room, hotel expresses grandeur and elegance of an earlier era. Add to that seasonal touches that make Christmas time in Vienna like nowhere else on earth, and visitor is transported to a time and place of romance and waltzes and horse drawn coaches.
A room at Imperial is unlike any other room at Imperial. Each suite - and even standard rooms feel large enough to be considered a suite - is furnished uniquely. The style is baroque but facilities are modern. The recent 10 million Euro remodel of 5th floor shows off integration of modern amenities with baroque style.
Our bath featured heated marble floors, towel warmers, a large bathtub and "rainstorm" shower, and of course, plush bathrobes bearing Hotel Imperial logo. Decorated in pale yellow and gold with crystal chandeliers, style was antique, but heavy wood cabinet hid a CD player and television - with cable in several different languages. The elegant desk held creamy Hotel Imperial stationary, but also was a convenient location to hook up a laptop to provided data port.
High style and best of facilities are common denominator in all rooms at Imperial.
There's a reason hotel is choice of visiting royalty, of traditional and more modern kind. The Imperial Hotel has been home away from home to visiting dignitaries - from Queen of England to Prince of Pop. The first floor of hotel is designed to provide comfort and privacy to public figures. Underneath gold leafed ceilings, a sweeping marble staircase leads to Imperial Suite, two magnificent rooms with spectacularly high ceilings and portraiture of former Austrian royalty. The entire first floor is connected with floor to ceiling doors between each room, allowing those traveling with an entourage to keep them near at hand. The rooms in between regal corner suites have earned nickname "bodyguard suites".
Beyond style and amenities, Imperial is world renowned for its service. The royal suites have separate entrances for butler. Should you be traveling without one, hotel will be happy to provide you with one of theirs to attend to all of your needs, including ironing your morning paper! But one needn't be so grand to appreciate services provided by hotel. Fresh fruit and a plate of goodies await each guest when they check in to their room. Maid service arrives promptly in morning to make up beds and in evening again, with chocolates and mineral water, to turn them down for night. And while manner among hotel staff is formal, one mustn't mistake this for stiff - everyone we met, from front desk clerks to maids, was friendly and warm.
