Our room was large and comfortable, and the pension has a great location. But we had problems. We decided to eat at the restaurant, and walked into the dining room, which was full of cigarette smoke. We said "too smoky" and started to walk out. The proprietess, who was standing behind a low counter, said "but this is the non-smoking section". She was smoking a cigarette when she said this. This is just an example, I could tell other stories, but this place would be good only for smokers.

I should also point out that the breakfast was pitiful: cold-cuts and breads only. (Eggs available at an extra charge.) And check-out time was a surprising 10:00 am. I'm pretty easy to please; if you look at our other hotel/pension reviews, you'll see that they are overwhelmingly positive. This is the only place we stayed that I would strongly recommend against.

The staff is nice, outgoing, and speaks English. The reservation process over the internet is quaint - you get an exhaustive description at least 5 pages long... in German. But it's no big deal to navigate it and to secure reservation.

The room was really small, but exceptionally nicely done - they really pursue a romantic style. View from the window is at two pedestrian streets. I wonder if during the busier time of year there's any noise from the hotel's restaurant tables outside and the street below.

The hotel has a restaurant, and it serves good dinner when most other places are already closed. I've read complaints about the breakfast here, and the breakfast indeed is not a buffet, but we found the provided amount to be just right, and the choice good.

The hotel offers have bicycles for hire (recommended, if the weather is good - the trip along the Danube to Krems is not to be missed) and wireless internet (didn't work for us - 2 different devices).

Parking is tight at the hotel - maybe 3-4 free spaces on a narrow street - but there are short-time parking places nearby, or you can just drive right to the hotel if you need to drop down luggage (it's a side street, no traffic). We parked at a free city parking maybe 5 minutes of walk away. The parking card can be had for free at any gas station - there's one on approach to the city.

Kurt and Regina couldn't have made us more welcome. The ghastof is spotlessly clean with comfortable en suite bedrooms with a wonderful view over the old town of Melk. Each bedroom has a themed colour and is named after an important person. Breakfasts were very good with a never ending supply of coffee, and each day they varied slightly. Evening meals were also both traditional Austrian food and very good indeed. All the staff could not have been more friendly or helpful. The ghastof has so much character as it is the oldest hotel in the town and the Schmidts have captured this with their decor in both the dining room and the hallways. Stayed there with our Canadian friends who loved it too. Definitely would go back. Surprised to read some of the unkind reviews, but they are so old that they should be ignored.

We received a very warm welcome on our arrival and were shown to a very comfortable room with plenty of space, a comfortable bed, plenty of table space and a good bathroom. Breakfast was excellent and the owners were most helpful, eager to supply all our needs and give helpful information. Nothing was too much trouble for them. Our room had a great view over the town.

Doug and June, Sydney, Australia