We stayed in nine hotels during our 3 week vacation and rate the Hotel Gasthof Zauner Seewirt “fair” from the perspectives of accommodations (it had smaller, somewhat crowded, rooms), comfortable beds and semi-friendly staff. This was my sixth trip to Europe and my first time staying at this hotel (2 nights, 16 – 18 June 2011): I would personally not stay at this hotel again. Hallstatt is a lovely little Austrian village adjacent to a pretty lake and surrounded by mountains. The hotel is adjacent to (not directly on) the village’s Market Square. We wanted a view of the lake so our two rooms (Room Number 26 and 27) cost us 114 Euro for a Double and 61 Euro for a single, we were on the third (top) floor which meant climbing with our luggage up five flights of stairs (no elevator), and also one smaller stairs flight at the lobby entry area: My 70 year old sister who uses a cane was able to negotiate her way to her room. While we did have somewhat of a view of the lake, our balcony was small, part of the view was blocked by a neighboring towering building, and we overlooked many black tin building rooftops. Note: There are not many rooms with a lake view, and I think they are priced slightly higher, so be sure to specify exactly what you would like. Parking Issue: At the time of my booking (Approx Feb 2011 timeframe for my June 2011 stay), the hotel’s WWW site said they had on-site parking. When I arrived at the hotel, the owner advised that “all of Hallstatt’s hotel parking spaces had been taken away by the city, so now I would have to park on the outskirts of town and ride a complimentary shuttle van back to the hotel”. As I departed the hotel to drive my rental car back out of town, I noticed other patrons getting things from their car located in a small parking area next to the hotel. I asked if they were Hotel Gasthof Zauner-Seewirt guests and they said yes. Although I did not raise the issue with the hotel owner, I felt that either I significantly misunderstood him, or he was “less than honest” with me when he stated “all of Hallstatt’s hotel parking spaces had been taken away by the city”, because clearly they had not been. Pro’s: Reasonably priced, good complimentary continental breakfast, clean rooms, clean bathroom with private toilet/shower, satisfactory TV with a small variety of channels, and generally friendly staff. The hotel’s continental breakfast (located on second floor) was always freshly prepared with a good variety of Deli meats, cheeses and rolls, great coffee and hot chocolate, and a choice of juices (all hosted by friendly staff). We didn’t dine in the hotel except for breakfast, but we did discover three great places in Hallstatt. While facing the lake while standing at the Market Square: 1) To the left there is was a quick service “walk-up style” sidewalk café stall named “Hallstatt Imbiss” that offered hot sandwiches, hot dogs, and “Middle Eastern Swarmas” (beef or chicken type wraps), 2) in the right hand corner of the Market Square (while facing the lake) there is a wonderful Ice Cream shop named “Hausgemachtes”, and 3) To the right down the street a couple of blocks (while standing in Market Square facing the lake) there is a very nice lake side “sit down” type restaurant named “Brau Gasthof Restaurant”. Note: If you want to picnic by the lake or pick up snacks, continue further down the street where “Brau Gasthof Restaurant” is located, towards the entrance to Hallstatt: There is a very-very nice grocery with pre-made sandwiches and/or anything you might want to snack on or make a meal of. While in Hallstatt I stopped in to look at the SeeHotel Gruner Baum: This hotel would have cost me about 56 Euro more (total) per night for a double (Approx $85 US more), they had large high ceiling more sophisticatedly decorated rooms, located right on the lake, no elevator, beautiful dining room with huge glass windows overlooking the lake, lake-side bar area with a small boat dock, and actual “nearly on-site” parking next to the church. Makes one wonder why the City of Hallstatt didn’t take their parking spots away???