Hotel Villa Excelsior - Bad Gastein

This was our first time in Bad Gastein. The town is built on the skirts of a very steep, high mountain. Because of this geographical characteristic, getting around the town is not easy and especially driving can turn into a nightmare. It took us an hour to figure out how to get to our hotel. However, once we found an information center, this problem was resolved. Americans may get unpleasantly surprised if they expect the type of spa resort experience they normally get in USA. Bad Gastein is as the name says a "bath" place not a spa resort. At the time we visited which was mid June, most of the town's visitors were older people in their 70s plus. We later learned Austrian Government actually pays for their citizens' "bath" vacation. Also so "unAmerican". We thought "lucky Austrians". The hotel we stayed was a very old facility with an old world charm. However the furniture was very old. Upholstery on most furniture was worn out. Baths in the hotel were very old as well. However, it is a charming place to stay. Food was excellent and so was the service. At the time we stayed the receptionist was a gentleman named Christo. He made our stay very enjoyable with his endless smile, friendliness, humor and impeccable service. It seemed like he was doing almost everything in the hotel -- waiter, host, bellboy, bath attendant and being anywhere and everywhere when we needed someone to help us out. We even joked if Christo had a twin or a clone....We got massages in the hotel but the massage was just o.k. not too good. All in all, we enjoyed our stay there but expect to see an older and more worn out property than what you see in the photographs on veneer.

Very good hotel. A little excentric but all the better for that. Staff and service very friendly

There was two degrees centigrades temperature difference between bedsides and the room was not too hot to start with.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hotel Vila Excelsior. The hotel has a old world charm complemented with excellent service and the meals outstanding!

Bad Gastein is a truely amazing place and Villa Excelsior is a lovely, old-style hotel. The manager Christof was very helpful and meals in the restaurant were of excellent quality and only 7 euro per person! No tea/coffee making facilities or mini-bar/fridge in the rooms, but if you leave your drinks out on the window sill in the snow they get cold very quickly...;)