# Grand Austria Hotel: Let's Waltz!

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2021
- **BGG Rating**: 8.4
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 60-120 min
- **Weight**: 3.27 / 5
- **Designers**: Simone Luciani, Virginio Gigli
- **Artists**: Klemens Franz
- **Publishers**: Lookout Games, CrowD Games, Engames, Korea Boardgames, Maldito Games
- **Categories**: Economic, Expansion for Base-game
- **Mechanics**: Action Drafting, Contracts, Dice Rolling, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Once-Per-Game Abilities, Set Collection, Variable Player Powers, Variable Set-up

## Verdict
A must-have for base game fans looking for more strategic depth and a solid solo experience.Engaging solo campaignsNew strategic layers via ballsModules that boost replayabilityPreserves the elegant original designIncreases management complexityRequires the base game to playHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
If you're already managing your hotel in Vienna, get ready because ball season has arrived! 'Grand Austria Hotel: Let's Waltz!' is the first expansion for this sophisticated Euro game, adding an extra sparkle to the Viennese night. Now, your guests aren't just looking for a cozy room; they crave glamour, champagne, and, of course, dancing until dawn in the city's most famous ballrooms.

This expansion is far from just a cosmetic update; it introduces five modules that significantly expand the strategic possibilities. The main highlight is the introduction of the balls, which open up new ways to score and interact with guests, forcing you to balance internal hotel management with the hectic social life of high society. If you enjoy optimizing every move and creating efficient combos, you'll love the new layers of depth that 'Let's Waltz!' provides.

The icing on the cake for solo gamers is the inclusion of solo campaigns. Through the 'Séparée' system, you can experience hotel management in a narrative and challenging format, turning the single-player experience into something truly engaging. It's the perfect expansion for those who felt the base game had room for more complexity or for those who wanted to test their hosting skills without needing a full group.

In short, the expansion maintains the essence of Simone Luciani and Virginio Gigli's design — that intelligent approach where every decision matters — while adding the elegance of the balls and the convenience of a solo mode. If the base game was already a feast, it has now become a full gala ball. Get your outfits ready, organize your guests' schedules, and try not to step on anyone's toes during the waltz!

## How to Play
How to Play Grand Austria Hotel: Let's Waltz!  

1. Objective of the Game  
In Grand Austria Hotel: Let's Waltz!, players compete to manage the most prestigious hotel in Vienna during the ball season. Your goal is to attract elite guests, fulfill their orders, and send them to glamorous ballrooms to dance the waltz. The game ends after the 7th round, and the player with the most Victory Points (VP) wins.  

2. Preparation (Setup)  
Follow these steps to set up the game:  
  
  Shared Game Area:  
      
      Place the game board centrally.  
      Add ballroom boards (if using Module 1) and place round markers on them.  
      Set up the action board with dice (replace 3 white dice with colored ones if using Module 2).  
      Place food, drinks, and champagne tokens in supply areas.  
      Shuffle and place guest cards, staff cards, and objective cards.  
      
    
  Personal Game Area:  
      
      Each player takes a hotel board, money track, and markers.  
      Start with 1 strudel, 1 cake, 1 wine, 1 coffee, and (if using Module 1) 1 champagne in your kitchen.  
      Draw 6 staff cards and choose starting guests.  
      If using Module 1, place 10 dancer tokens on your rehearsal room board.  
      
    
  

3. Game Flow  
The game is played over 7 rounds, each with these phases:  
  
  Roll Dice: The start player rolls all dice and places them on the action board.  
  Player Turns: In turn order, players select a die to perform an action (see Section 4).  
  Round End:  
      
      Resolve Emperor scoring (if triggered).  
      Resolve ballroom scoring (if using Module 1).  
      Pass the start player token and advance the round marker.  
      
    
  

4. Actions and How to Play  
On your turn, choose a die from the action board to perform one of these main actions:  
  
  Take Dishes/Champagne: Gain strudel, cake, or champagne (minimum strudel ≥ cake ≥ champagne).  
  Take Drinks/Champagne: Gain wine, coffee, or champagne (minimum wine ≥ coffee ≥ champagne).  
  Prepare Rooms: Pay coins to flip rooms to their occupied side.  
  Gain Coins: Earn money based on the number of dice in the action space.  
  Advance on Emperor Track: Move your marker for bonuses.  
  Play Staff Cards: Pay coins to activate staff abilities.  
  
Additional Actions:  
    
    Send a Guest to a Ballroom (Module 1): Pay champagne to move a dancer from your rehearsal room to a ballroom, earning rewards and VP.  
    Take a Colored Die (Module 2): Pay 1 krone per remaining die to recruit a celebrity with special abilities.  
    
  

5. End of Game and Scoring  
The game ends after the 7th round. Final scoring includes:  
  
  Rooms: 1–4 VP per occupied room (by floor).  
  Leftover Items: 1 VP per leftover dish, drink, champagne, or krone.  
  Penalties: Lose 5 VP per guest remaining in your café.  
  Ballroom VP (Module 1): Score based on dancer placement.  
  Staff Cards: Score VP for cards with the symbol.  
  
The player with the highest VP wins. Tiebreaker: Most leftover items + coins.  

6. Tips to Win  
  
  Balance Resources: Prioritize fulfilling guest orders to free up café space and earn VP.  
  Use Ballrooms Strategically (Module 1): Send dancers to ballrooms with high-scoring row bonuses.  
  Leverage Celebrities (Module 2): Recruit them early for powerful one-round abilities.  
  

For details on specific modules or components, consult the manual.

## FAQ
### Do I need the base game to play?
Yes, absolutely! This is an expansion, so you must own Grand Austria Hotel to use any of the Let's Waltz! content.

### Is the solo mode actually good?
Yes, it's one of the highlights! The expansion introduces solo campaigns via the 'Séparée', making the single-player experience much richer.

### Does it make the game much harder?
The complexity increases slightly because there are more options and goals (like the balls), but the core game logic remains the same.

### How much extra time do games take?
The average time remains between 60 and 120 minutes, but with the expansion, games tend to lean closer to the upper limit due to the new options.

### Who would I recommend this expansion to?
Anyone who enjoys management Euros, loves planning combos, and wants to breathe more life into their Grand Austria Hotel.

## Price Comparison
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