The hotel is a 30 min tram ride from the centre of Graz but it is in a very quiet and peaceful location. If you are looking for a quiet relaxing place and don't mind the tram ride it is excellent. If you hate the idea of a 30 min tram ride each way to get to the city choose elsewhere.

It is reached by tram 1 line, which runs near the hauptbahnhof, through the main town and out to the outskirts of Graz to its final stop (Mariatrost). The hotel is located on top of the nearby hill behind the Basilica. The stairs (217 of them) leading up to the basilica and hotel can be just about be seen from the tram stop. We walked up with our bags the first day so it is doable but certainly strenuous. We left fitter than when we arrived. An 11.20 Euro 7-day public transport pass (obtainable from tobacco kiosks and the like) quickly becomes worthwhile if you are staying more than three days.

The hotel was very quiet (neighbours are the basilica and a graveyard). Our non-smoking room showed no residual cigarette smell (even though there was still an ashtray mounted on wall in bathroom). The rooms were large and comfortable. The housekeeping was good and the room was clean. The breakfast, included in our rate, had a good variety and quality. The free wired internet was reliable and relatively fast (they provide a cable if you need one). There was also a wifi signal that worked fine in our room but since they don't mention it I am assuming it doesn't cover whole hotel.

The bathroom was a little tired with the grouting around the bath/shower stained dark but no musty smells. One problem with the bathroom was there was no ventilation in the completely windowless room. This meant smells and moisture lingered for hours. The other problem with the bathroom was the glass screen for the bath/shower was a three panelled folding glass arrangement that you could position along the edge of bath. There was no way to keep this in place and with the position of the shower head being mid-bath it was difficult to shower without flooding the bathroom.