How a Rookie is Getting a Luxury Weekend in Vienna on Miles and Points

February 8, 2013 - Bryce

In a few weeks I’m going to be taking my first trip as a full-time employee! I’m only going to be away for a few days, but I’m still looking forward to it and can’t wait to leave. I’m headed to Vienna and will be flying in business class, which I paid for with US Air miles that I earned primarily through their Grand Slam promotion or the Booking Buddy fiasco of a couple years ago

US Air charges 100,000 miles to fly to Europe in Business Class on one of their Star Alliance partners. One of the best deals around though is that US Air offers off-peak awards in the winter that charge only 60,000 miles to fly to Europe, but the catch is that it has to be on US Air metal, which I wasn’t flying. Austrian Air has a great direct flight from NYC to Vienna that leaves at 6:00 PM and arrives the next day before 9:00 AM. I had hoped to fly on the new Austrian Air business class product, but it seems that there have been delays so it won’t be ready by the time I fly, which is unfortunate but not a deal breaker by any means. What I am excited about is that Austrian is supposed to have some of the best food in the sky and I’ll make sure to take lots of notes . They have an on-board chef as well as an entire menu dedicated to coffee! I’ve never been to Vienna, but have heard some pretty amazing things about it so I’m really looking forward to it.

While we’re there we’ll be staying at the Hotel Bristol, which is a Starwood property. It is a Category 5 hotel, which means that it costs 12,000 points per night or 4,800 points plus $90. We’ll be using just the points option to stay at the hotel. There is another Starwood property in Vienna called the Hotel Imperial, but it’s a Category 6 hotel, meaning more points per night, and the Hotel Bristol is supposed to be quite nice as it is. They’re both very well located within the city with the Hotel Bristol being right across from the famous Opera House!

Have any of you been to Vienna? I’m looking for any and all suggestions or tips on what to do, where to eat, what to avoid, and everything in between. Before I did some research I had hoped to see the Vienna Philharmonic play, which is widely considered one of the top orchestras in the world, but it seems as though ticket prices can be a little ridiculous. We’re obviously going to see the palaces and the famous sites such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, but we’re also going to try to spend some time in one of the famed coffeehouses that Vienna invented!

I’m really looking forward to the trip and hope that it’s as wonderful as my trip to Paris was this past summer. If you had a few days in Vienna, what would you do?

Paul

“One of the best deals around though is that US Air offers off-peak
awards in the winter that charge only 60,000 miles to fly to Europe”

You should probably consider reading other blogs besides FTG, so that you won’t be left in the dark on important developments in the travel world

I recommend Wandering Aramean…. he was all over this
http://www.facebook.com/pnet.jain Pnet Jain

Did a giggly 10 year old right this? Or is it Rick’s booze and drug addled brain?
Curiousone

If you are traveling as an employee I am seeing this as a business trip. Why are you using points? I would expect your employeer to be paying cash and you earning more points for your accounts.
Ricardo Seir

I stayed at Le Meridien, another SPG property. It was fantastic, very close to the Bristol. It cost me 4000 points and $60. The room was beautiful and had free mini bar for beer and sodas. Best deal in town for sure for this top hotel. I also used some instant awards for a great breakfast.

Dont miss to have cake and coffee in the afternoon at one of their famous cafes. I went to Demel and it was great.

Also dont forget to eat the famous Wiener schnitzels which you can get almost anywhere. I went to the “touristy” Figlmuller and loved it. The biggest Schnitzel I have ever had, it was bigger than the plate. With a cold beer there is nothing better. There was a long line outside and many locals, so I dont know how touristy it is.

Also, go the the Opera. You can get inexpensive tickets if you are willing to be in the upper floor and standing up. But it is a fantastic experience.
I also went to a Mozart concert somewhere I dont remember. The Mozart house by the way is a rip off.
Ricardo Seir

I stayed at Le Meridien, another SPG property. It was fantastic, very close to the Bristol. It cost me 4000 points and $60. The room was beautiful and had free mini bar for beer and sodas. Best deal in town for sure for this top hotel. I also used some instant awards for a great breakfast.

Dont miss to have cake and coffee in the afternoon at one of their famous cafes. I went to Demel and it was great.

Also dont forget to eat the famous Wiener schnitzels which you can get almost anywhere. I went to the “touristy” Figlmuller and loved it. The biggest Schnitzel I have ever had, it was bigger than the plate. With a cold beer there is nothing better. There was a long line outside and many locals, so I dont know how touristy it is.

Also, go the the Opera. You can get inexpensive tickets if you are willing to be in the upper floor and standing up. But it is a fantastic experience.
I also went to a Mozart concert somewhere I dont remember. The Mozart house by the way is a rip off.
jmw2323

perfect opportunity to use points+cash. basically $90 for 7200 spy points. I’d buy points at 1.25 cents/point all year long
TravelBear

The Secessionist Museum is nice.
dhammer

Do a day trip to the Wachau (wine country). You can take the train to Melk, where there’s a beautiful cathedral in a small town. At Melk, there’s a boat that takes you down the river, passing low rolling hills with vineyards and castle estates. There are several cute town where you can get off the ferry and walk around. It was a pleasant day.
Paul Davies

Salm Brau, brew their own beer on site and the food is authentic and delicious. Recommend the bier suppe to start
sushiandstrudel

Yay, Vienna! I am an American who lives here and writes a restaurant blog at http://www.sushiandstrudel.com

How a Rookie is Getting a Luxury Weekend in Vienna on Miles and Points

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