Because of a 2-day business meeting, I was booked into the Hotel Bohlerstern in Kapfenberg, Austria. Though I am very frequently in Austria, I had never been to the town of Kapfenberg (or this hotel). As one who heavily relies on (and has great confidence in) Trip Advisor reviews, I was disappointed to find no mention of the hotel on the TripAdvisor.com web site. However, the web presence of the hotel looked promising, so I looked forward to what I hoped would be at least an "adequate" stay.

To my surprise, the hotel proved to be a delight. The nearly hundred year old building is grand, has been recently renovated, and is quiet, spacious, and quite modern, with very high-tech touches comfortably existing within its classic design. A range of rooms is available, and mine, a single, was one of the smallest rooms I've stayed in (even in Europe), but it was "big enough." Everything worked, and worked well, and the decor is bright and friendly, fostering a very airy environment. The flat screen TV, the modern plumbing, the high-tech door locks, the in-room safe (with electrical connection inside) and many other features demonstrated that those who had remodeled this hotel did so with comfort and convenience in mind. The double set of windows ensured a peaceful night's sleep. The members of the staff were efficient and friendly, and their English was impeccable.

Dinner in the hotel restaurant (which serves typical local foods) was very good, with high quality, attractively served, and very moderately priced. Similarly, the morning breakfast was varied and pleasantly displayed and served. A great deal of attention to detail is evident in the food service at the Bohlerstern.

Kapfenberg is a pleasant town less than an hour from Graz and less than an hour and a half from Vienna. In contrast to those cities, Kapfenberg is a quiet oasis of tranquility (though in the summer months the local castle has many varied events and activities).

While there are other towns in the area that boast more touristic attractions and are more slick about dealing with tourists, if one has business in or near Kapfenberg (or simply wants to get away from it all in a pleasant and peaceful environment), then the Hotel Bohlerstern is surely worth consideration.