I booked this pension on the basis of positive TripAdvisor ratings, which in the past have turned up some real gems....BUT not I am afraid in this case. There are some things in its favour, e.g. the location is good, you can get a bus from the airport to almost outside the door, and it's pretty handy for the centre of Vienna, and also the guy on night duty was really nice, other staff were OK..... but on most other counts Dr Geissler really failed. In particular we went to Vienna in winter temperatures of minus 15, and the heating and hot water were hopeless, in fact the hot water ran out totally one day, we were cold at night, it's so miserable to be battling freezing temperatures outside and then not able to have a hot shower and be shivering inside. Nowhere to sit that was warm. Decor shabby and a bit grubby, furniture chipped, the first room they gave us stank of drains or sewage or something (they did change it without arguing). Breakfast boring and not very good, the view uninspiring, towels thin, toiletries cheap, beds rock hard, some of the paintwork looked as if it hadnt been painted for 20 years.... It's kind of difficult to know what there is to LIKE about this place which is on the 7th and 8th floors of a boring apt. building with a too-small elevator. If you are comparing it with a hostel it is okay but then you'd have to pay hostel prices and this place costs quite a bit more than a hostel. So if you're thinking of booking to stay, do check other places. It's not a disaster but I'm mystified that so many people have actually recommended it. I just don't see what there is to like so much about it.

First things first: yes the room I had was plain, even stark, but it was warm and clean and the shower was great. It was just right for somewhere to drop your bags and rest your head. The staff could not have been more friendly and helpful and were handy with maps and advice. The location is ideal with the city spreading out from your doorstep - if you are reasonably fit and are only interested in Vienna itself then don't waste money on any kind of travel card as in my 2 day stay I only used public transport to get to and from the airport. Thankyou everybody at Pension Dr Geissler for a great stay - I will certainly be back.

Our stay was only for two nights, we were able to enjoy our time in Vienna immensely in large part to the convenient location of Pension Dr. Geissler. Having booked our stay more than a month in advance, and opting to visit in early November were likely reasons why we were treated to such a large apartment. Close to restaurants, transit and Mitte (train) were all pluses. When returning to Vienna, we will undoubtedly hope for a repeat stay!

I just returned from a trip where I stayed at this Pension. After looking at the rate we paid ($116 Euros per night), I can't say that this is a particularly good deal given the stark, utilitarian property. I would have rather paid an extra $50 per day to stay at a nice 4 star property.

On vacation, my room is important to me. Even though I'm not in it often, I like to feel like it's my home away from home. My room at this pension was quite small, although the bathroom was 'updated' which was ok, the linens had an interesting and pungent smell to them. The bath was clean however, but the carpet in my room was quite dirty, and I walked around in socks the whole time.

The closet took up 1/2 the size of the room so you couldn't really maneuver around once inside, and the beds were quite uncomfortable. The satellite TV only received 2 English channels.

The front desk staff were mostly not helpful (even a bit snooty at times). One man was very kind, but he was the only friendly staffer I found there. The 'included breakfast' was simply cereal and bread and butter with cheese or ham...nothing special. Same thing every day.

The location was good. The bus to the airport ($6 Euros) ran every half hour literally in front of the building. The tram was several steps away and a nice Internet cafe serving alcohol or coffee was on the corner within a few more steps which was nice.

If you're looking for any sort of comfort, this isn't the place to stay. I wouldn't stay again. Although there is an elevator, you have to walk up about 8-10 stairs to get to it. It is quite small so if you travel with another person, you have to take turns going up the elevator with your luggage.

My recommendation - look elsewhere.