Five Star Stay in Innsbruck

Marketing Manager Lars & company of the Grand Hotel Europa treated us to a fabulous evening of more Austrian fare last night. Do I dare say that I ruined my appetite a few hours before at Burger King? It was the skiing that did it! Still, the 3-course meal was enjoyed by a grateful press crew followed by an apricot dessert with a dollop of fresh Bavarian cream.

Hotel Europa, the only 5-star hotel in Innsbruck, is a 140 year old gem undergoing an extreme make-over to be completed in the Spring, 2009. Tens of millions of euros are helping refurbish outdated furniture, the exterior facade and the spa/jacuzzi/pool room.

A well-known Italian architect from Rome is helping meld the cherished traditional look of yesterday with the new polished tech-savvy contemporary rooms of today. There will even be I-POD stereo sound availability in every room.

Famous peeps like The Rolling Stones, Cher, the Prince of Monaco, Sting and Queen Elizabeth II have stayed here but that doesn't mean the common proletariat can't afford luxury. Lars says prices vary but typically rooms are no more than 160-200 Euro a night. Doing the math that translates to a reasonable rate.