Hotel Bristol, Vienna, Austria

Ordered via in-room dining at the incredible and lovely Hotel Bristol in Vienna, Austria.

We had planned this trip 6 months prior, but it only truly came together in the days leading up to it. If you have points on Star Alliance, generally speaking, a lot of international availability opens up within 24-78hrs prior to departure.

Who has the ability to book such last minute international trips?

This guy, traveling with just one other friend, not on business, and with no family in tote. That’s basically the best and only way for a married, employed, parent with young kids to take advantage of last-minute incredible deals using points.

And that’s how I ended up in Vienna on the first night of our trip.

I had always wanted to see Vienna, and it surpassed the expectations I had.  Gorgeous, clean, safe, livable and walkable city that provides a fantastic lifestyle to both its residents and tourists. I ate and drank my way through coffeeshops, beer gardens, wine bars, cafes, and of course, the birthplace of wiener schnitzel.

I stayed at The Bristol, half because I absolutely loved the Grand Dame vibe it gave off coupled with the recommendations I received for it, and half because the property took Marriott Points. And I fell in love with it immediately upon entering, being greeted by both the concierge and front desk agent with kind appreciation. My room, the restaurant, the bar, the ambiance, the history – this was such a great property!!

I relaxed in my hotel room, letting the moment sink in of being on vacation with no commitments, and ordered “The Bristol Club” – a meal with no description would arrive to my room in 20minutes. I was pleased, relaxed, and excited to eat a club sandwich in a city I was already falling in love with.

Not exactly the club sandwich I was hoping for, The Bristol Club fell quite short in a city full of culinary delights. Overly sauced, really poor ratio of ingredients, and tired looking with an oversized toothpick to keep it together, this was not a meal to be proud of. Literally everything else about The Bristol Hotel I was head-over-heels in love with, but this club sandwich, gosh, it needed reinvention. And no, that’s not schnitzel in the center, it’s a flattened piece of bread smothered in melted cheese.

I didn’t each much of this club sandwich. It didn’t taste bad, there were actually some good flavors resonating through the limited ingredients, it’s just, it wasn’t exciting, palate pleasing, or creative in any way, and neither embodied the property nor the city I was in.

Alas, I would fill my stomach with other items on this trip, and simply have this moment to look back on.

Location