Do Step Inn

Do Step Inn bills itself as a hostel (dorms) and hotel (private rooms), but really there’s little difference and it’s far more of a hostel than hotel. It's clean and characterful, with some nice details like exposed brick work, vaulted ceilings, and brightly painted walls. There’s a youthful feel here: the staff is young and it’s clearly aimed at groups of students and backpackers, though we did see guests of all ages during our visit. The hostel tries hard to up the fun factor. Signs are dotted around directing guests to a free beer when they post a "schnitzel selfie," an enclosed courtyard has giant chess, and there are the typical hostel trappings like billiards and darts. However, as most guests are out exploring during the day and night, there’s a lack of atmosphere and meeting people can sometimes be a challenge.

The property is located in the multicultural Rudolfsheim-Funfhaus district just behind Westbahnhof station -- so close that you can see the train lines from some rooms. It fronts a fairly attractive tree-lined street that gets busy during the day but quiets down at night, and the surroundings are mostly residential buildings with a few fast food restaurants and popular backpacker bars. Westbahnhof station is just a five-minute walk away, where the U-Bahn (U3 and U6) and S-Bahn (S50) stations make getting around Vienna easy. It takes around 10 to 20 minutes to reach most of central Vienna’s tourist sites like the Hofburg Palace and Vienna State Opera House. Schonbrunn Palace is a little farther -- around 30 minutes away. Vienna's airport bus also serves Westbahnhof, with connections to the airport in around 45 minutes. 

There’s a good range of rooms here, from private doubles to mixed eight-bed dorms. Hotel-style rooms are in the main building where guests check in, while the dorms are in a separate building about a block away. All rooms are done up in cheery decor, with exposed brick and bright yellow walls. Dorms come with metal bunk beds, plenty of outlets, and lockers (the lockers are free, but you’ll need to bring a padlock). Linens and towels are provided, but there is no air-conditioning (fans are available). It's also worth noting that the dorms are small. The six-bed dorm that we photographed was a particularly tiny, with the beds placed close together and making it a challenge to fully open any doors without bumping a bed. Communal bathrooms are gender separated and have shower stalls with handheld showerheads. Private rooms are similarly decorated -- except pale wood bed frames replaces the cheap metal of the dorms -- are more spacious, with plenty of storage space and TVs. These rooms also include private bathrooms (again, though, only handheld showerheads are offered). Previous guests comment on a lack of soundproofing, including noises from the hallways and bathrooms. Additionally, rooms over the entrances and roads will pick up noise from nighttime revelers.

The hostel has all that guests would need for a practical stay, though it's not exactly geared for those looking for late nights spent getting boozy with fellow travelers. Two common kitchens are well equipped with ovens, cook tops, microwaves, fridges, crockery, and utensils. The front desk doubles as a bar during reception hours; outside of hours a vending machine is available for drinks and snacks. A range of simple breakfast items are also available for guests to purchase if they don’t wish to self-cater. A couple of nice extras include a lounge with billiards and a dart board, plus a cute outdoor courtyard with potted plants and giant chess set. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hostel. Bike rentals are available for a reasonable fee and the property offers free luggage storage.