Austria Itinerary - 14 nights - Your opinions please?

Hi, I%26#39;m planning on vising Austria arriving on 27Sep and departing on 11Oct.

I can do an open jaw so was thinking of arrival in Innsbruck for 4 nights, renting a car upon Innsbruck departure and staying in Hallstadt for 3 nights. I%26#39;d then drive to Salzburg, drop the rental car, and stay 7 nights in Salzburg, flying out of Salzburg.

I%26#39;ve been to Vienna and Melk so don%26#39;t plan to go to these locations.

Thought I%26#39;d take some day tours out of Salzburg and maybe 1 or so out of Innsbruck. And some driving around Hallstadt to other lake towns.

Does this itinerary make sense? Am I staying in any one place too long? Any other suggestions, please?

Thanks very much!

Kind Regards,

Joan

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While other travellers do too much in too less time, you should add another region or destination. If you would not have assigned some days in Hallstatt in order to the region from Salzburg, I%26#39;d say okay. But seven days in Salzburg are not necessary by far. Seven days are the timeframe for New York! :-)

What about the city of Graz in the Styria province or places like Zell am See with great Austrian atmosphere with mountains in the background?

Furthermore, what are you interested in?

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First of all i have to ask if you plan to go hiking -because if not, then you stay way too long in one place.

- 2-3 nights in Innsbruck and Salzburg will be enough

- in Hallstatt I would not even stay overnight as it is tiny, I would either visit the Salkammergut area as a day trip from Salzburg or stay at another lake like lake Wolfgangsee (in St. Wolfgang or St. Gilgen) for one night

What about:

- Zell am See

- Grossglockner (highest mountain of Austria)

- Graz

- South Styrian wine country, %26quot;Styrian Tuscany%26quot;(especilly nice at that time of the year)

with ist hills, wineries, the stud of the Lippizan horses and thermal spas and the castle route

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Thank you both for your replies!

I%26#39;m laughing because I am one of those who usually does 7 cities/towns in 14 days with not enough time to truly see and enjoy any one place!!!

I thought I%26#39;d take it at a more leisurely pace on this trip!

From Innsbruck, I thought I%26#39;d do day trips to Igls and Hall. And from Salzburg, am planning to do the SOM tour and Berchtesgaden tour.

Now you have me rethinking... would like to see Graz but thought it might be too far. Also, am considering Zell am Ziller and St. Gilgen or St. Wolfgang! I am also a wine lover so would love to see the wine country.

Back to the drawing board, I guess!!!

Thanks again! If you have any further input, I would truly appreciate it!

Kind Regards,

Joan

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Hi Joan,

First, where are you planning to fly in/out of?

With that amount of time I have a suggestion for an itinerary:

Stay in Innsbruck 2 or 3 nights (we prefer staying in Hall in Tirol though and visiting Innsbruck from there).

Get your car, drive south (Brenner Pass) with a stop in Sterzing/Vipetino, Brixen/Bressanone and stay 2 nights in one of the three villages (Ortisei, St. Christina and Selva) of Val Gardena amongst the spectacular Dolomites. Great cable car ride up to the Seiser Alm from Ortisei (closes end of Oct.).

Drive through the Dolomites and spend a night in Heiligenblut, Austria, at the start of the Grossglockner Road. You can easily drive the Grossglockner and spend a night or two in Hallstatt or go directly to Salzburg (although, again, we prefer staying in Ramsau (by Berchtesgaden, 20 min. drive to Salzburg). From here you could do your daytrips, as there is so much to see and do. Examples:

From Ramsau (Salzburg) Hallstatt is 1:30 min. drive.

Ludwig%26#39;s Herrenchiemsee is 1 hour drive.

Just some things to consider.

We have pic%26#39;s of these area%26#39;s at:

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/travel11.html

We%26#39;ve found that flying into/out of Munich works best for our trips to Bavaria, Austria and the Dolomites (7 so far and 5 in the last 7 years).

Hope this helps.

Paul

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Hi Paul,

Thanks so very much for your reply and sharing your photos! Your photos are fantastic!

You certainly throw a lot more into the mix for me to think about, don%26#39;t you? LOL! I certainly appreciate it and will look into your suggestions. Although... based on some of your photos, there are some roads that I don%26#39;t want to drive!

I%26#39;m using frequent flyer miles so I can do an open jaw ticket. My original thought was to fly into Innsbruck and out of Salzburg.

With everyone%26#39;s suggestions, I now don%26#39;t know where I will fly into or out of!

Thanks again!

Kind Regards,

Joan

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Hi Joan,

Sorry to add to your confusion! Just so you know, Salzburg and Innsbruck are about 2 hours drive apart. Also, and this is just my opinion, 4 nights for Innsbruck is too much and could be better spent elsewhere. Just about wherever you go in Austria, it%26#39;s all good.

Just a note, Mittenwald, Germany is about 45 minutes from Innsbruck and is probably the prettiest Bavarian village we%26#39;ve ever been to. Easy by car or train.

Paul

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We are going to spend a bit of time in Bavaria seeing as its just over the border in Germany when we go - maybe thats an option?

We are going to the lake at konigssee, which by all accounts its very picturesque

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Hi,

Thanks very much for your reply!

I was in Bavaria and along the Rhine last October for two weeks... one of my seven cities/towns in 14 days trips where I seemed to spend toooo much time in my car! It was beautiful and one on the reasons I don%26#39;t want to overbook myself this year. I%26#39;d like to be able to relax and enjoy it!

I%26#39;m now thinking of flying into Graz then work my way up to Hallstatt, St. Gilgen/St. Wolfgang (any opinions on which to stay for a night or two?), Salzburg and finally Innsbruck/Hall before flying out of Innsbruck. But... haven%26#39;t made the final decision on this yet!

Thanks again! And, have a wonderful trip!!!

Kind Regards,

Joan

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Removed on: 11:20 am, October 04, 2009

Austrian Food by the Fortess

Can anyone recommend a good place to dine and enjoy local Austrian food near the Fortress?

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As you come out of the exit from the cable railway, turn right. 50 yds within the fortress walls you have Stieglkeller. Great place.

It%26#39;s a huge place, they have a covered garden terrace with several tables looking over the roofs towards the square. I%26#39;d recommend calling in before taking the rail up to the fortress, and reserving a table with a view. We did just that one lunch and returned the folowing evening for dinner. :-)

They are very friendly, excellent service. All local dishes. Nice ambience.

Stoofer

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I completely agree with the recommendation for Stieglkeller. We were there last week. There are a variety of places to sit and if it%26#39;s warm head for the roof terrace to enjoy the views.

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Liz, was it hot?

We hit a heat wave on the previous Fri/Saturday, around 35 degreee! It was too hot for enjoyable city walking. Still, a beer or two on the terrce was compensation:-)

Stoofer

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Hi Stoofer, yes, it was hot!!! We spent many days just lazing by the hotel pool, under the trees. We went into the city to take photos at 6.30am one morning,to avoid the heat, and again in the evening :-) My friend there emailed yesterday and said it%26#39;s lovely but a little cooler now.

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Removed on: 11:19 pm, October 04, 2009

Opera House: ballet or opera? seating?

I plan to go to the opera house while I%26#39;m in Vienna but frankly am a huge ballet fan, not much of an opera fan. Is seeing an opera a %26quot;must%26quot; or is it more about going to the venue? Also, are the mid-priced seats decent or is it necessary to get the top-priced tickets for a good view? Thanks!

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The Staatsoper in Vienna is one of the world%26#39;s best opera houses. The ballet company, however, can%26#39;t quite match those in Paris or London, but it%26#39;s still very good.

Mid priced tickets should be fine, they%26#39;ll just be further away from the stage (higher up).

Operas are on on many more evenings than ballet, so you might not have a choice in the end, depending on when you%26#39;ll be in Vienna.

www.staatsoper.at/Content.Node2/en/index.php

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Also look at the schedule for the Volksoper for your time in Vienna.

www.volksoper.at

They have ballet offerings several times each month.

Several years ago the ballet companies of each were combined. Thus one company performs at both venues.

Volksoper tickets are less expensive also.

The Marinsky Ballet just visited for several performances of %26quot; Schwansee %26quot; there.

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Thanks very much to both of you. I definitely want to go to the Staatsopera, and I will have a choice between opera and ballet while I%26#39;m in town; really the question is, is it the opera company that%26#39;s spectacular, or the venue? Sounds like the ballet company isn%26#39;t considered all that great (though personally I don%26#39;t think the Paris company is among the best, but that may be a minority opinion).

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When are you coming? I could have a look into the season schedule to see if any of the operas are of particular interest. The orchestra at the Staatsoper is mainly composed of members of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra (for both, opera and ballet). The opera house itself has been bombed during WW II, but the facade and some of the rooms are in their original condition (not the auditorium, however).

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That%26#39;s very kind of you, nemorino79. Actually, I have taken a look (I%26#39;ll be there in late September), but neither the ballets nor the operas are well known to me. I didn%26#39;t realize that the orchestras were the same for both. Is it the acoustics that are really superior?

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You are right, in late September there are none of the very well known operas on the schedule. However, I think Romeo et Juliette should be a very memorable performance even for someone who isn%26#39;t too much into opera. The cast is good and I like the production very much. Unfortunately, I cannot give you any details about the ballet Onegin.

What%26#39;s special about the opera in Vienna is the acoustics, the orchestra and that the conductors and singers are top-end. You%26#39;ll find similar quality opera performances at a regular basis only at the Met in New York, Scala in Milan, Covent Garden in London and Paris opera.

As for the ballet, I am not too much into that but when people say that the quality of the ballet company (dancers) doesn%26#39;t quite match that of the opera casts, that doesn%26#39;t mean they are bad. They are still at an international level, maybe just not amongst the top 5 ballet companies.

If you are a huge ballet fan, you probably shouldn%26#39;t miss the ballet, but I can also recommend Romeo et Juliette very much.

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That%26#39;s very helpful, nemorino79 -- thank you! I was thinking of Romeo et Juliette, since even though I won%26#39;t know the language, at least I know the story! And it sounds like the mid-priced seats will be fine, which is important given the exchange rate!

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Romeo et Juliette will be sung in French, but every seat has a little display with German and English translations, which I find very practical.

The mid-priced tickets usually sell out well before the most expensive ones, and even within one category, there are always slightly better seats which sell first. Therefore, I suggest to buy the tickets as soon as you%26#39;re sure which performance you want to attend. Ballet usually doesn%26#39;t sell out as quickly as opera does.

You can check the current availability of seats online: there are %26quot;ticket%26quot; links next to each performance in the calendar section.

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Removed on: 7:17 pm, October 04, 2009

Salzburg 1-night stop (by car). Which hotel?

Hi. I will be doing a trip in southern Germany and northern Italy on next month. I%26#39;ll be staying for one night in Salzburg and I%26#39;m looking for a hotel with parking available nearby (free, if possible) within walking distance to local transport to city center. Any tip? Thanks in advance

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Most of the hotels in the suburbs have good parking facilities. Gasthof Doktorwirt in Aigen has parking outside the hotel, in a quiet street, and is a three minute walk to the bus stop. The bus takes about 12 minutes into the city centre.

http://www.doktorwirt.co.at/

Hotel Friesacher is in a suburb called Anif. It%26#39;s a luxury hotel and a bit more pricey. The bus is close by too.

ghotw.com/shotw/…hotel-friesacher.htm

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Removed on: 12:19 pm, October 04, 2009

Salzburg, Austria

I just got back from Salzburg, Austria and I had a marvelous time. Thanks to all your information regarding this very picturesque city. I stayed in Crowne Plaza Hotel - The Pitter and would highly recommend this hotel. I hope to return to Austria someday.

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Great to hear that you have enjoyed your stay!

Come back soon!

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Nice of you to post your thoughts. If you have any particular restaurant recommendations they%26#39;re always helpful.

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Removed on: 10:16 am, October 04, 2009

How bad is the area by the train station?

I made reservations for the Renaissance Hotel Congress Center with my Marriot rewards points, and a coworker was telling me that I shouldn%26#39;t stay down by the train station because it was unsafe, and there were prostitutes and drug addicts in the streets. Is that really the case? We have children, so I don%26#39;t want them accosted at night. I have trouble believing this is true in a city like Salzburg, but then again, I%26#39;ve been to Amsterdam and know that the red light district is close to the train station. However, you have to walk a ways to find it.

Of course, it would be nice to stay in the historic area, but the prices are very high, and we have a group of 5 which would require multiple rooms. And, we don%26#39;t want to stay really far out of the city either. I thought this hotel by the train station and close to a bus to the historic area was a good middle ground.

So, it is really that bad? Would you not stay there for that reason? Will my kids be scarred for life, LOL! My coworker seems to think they will be.

Thanks for any advice you might have.

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While the area around the main station in Salzburg is probably not the most scenic place to be, it%26#39;s easy to reach the histoic center by public transport or even walk and it%26#39;s certainly a safe place to stay. As Salzburg relies heavily on tourists, many of whom arrive by train, they certainly couldn%26#39;t afford an unsafe area around the train station. So, even if there were some strange looking persons around at night, as seems to be the case at or around most train stations I know, there is absolutely no need to worry.

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I would not stay in that area but certainly not for the reasons your co-worker describes. Your children will be perfectly safe! It%26#39;s not a scenic area at all and looks a bit down at heel and can be noisy. I never recommend it for that reason. I feel that if someone is coming a long way to stay in Salzburg I should recommend the nicest area and wish them to experience the better parts of the city. But having read your post I understand your situation. You can hop on a bus to Ferdinand Hanuschplatz which is in the old city and it will only take about ten minutes. You can also walk into the old town from the station, taking a detour through Mirabelgarten, which is lovely.

Your children would never be accosted at night, even that part of the city is safe to walk around in. Their memories of Salzburg will be good ones, I%26#39;m certain.

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Train stations seem to be attractive to strange people, but you don%26#39;t have to worry. You will be definitely safe. Train stations and vicinities in cities aren%26#39;t the nicest places during night, but no reason to have concerns. This is Austria, although even here you have to use common sense. Just make a little detour if you see a certain type of person being loud or obviously intoxicated.

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Removed on: 10:18 pm, October 04, 2009

Where to stay near Salzburg

Hello All,

Please can you help we are looking at visiting Austria for a few days at the end of July. We would like to stay outside of the center of salzburg purhaps around the lakes? Can you recommend anywhere within easy reach of the center?

Thanks

Kev

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What do you mean by easy reach of the center?

Public Transportation or just the distance?

The lake region doesn%26#39;t start the municipal border of Salzburg City, so you need to be aware of the distances.

What about %26#39;Fuschl%26#39;, %26#39;St. Wolfgang%26#39; or %26#39;St.Gilgen%26#39;?

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Removed on: 9:16 pm, October 04, 2009

salzburg to switzerland

We%26#39;re going to be in Salzburg for 3 days next week, and then we have about 3 days and then we%26#39;ll be in Switzerland for a week. We were planning on going South to Venice and over to Lake Como for those 3 days, but is that the best use of our time? Would it be better to go more directly to Switzerland (Luzern and Interlaken area) and just stop on the way somewhere?

Thanks for your input!

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Are you still in the US?

Do you wanna go to Italy first and then to Switzerland or reversely?

What are your airports of departure and arrival?

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Removed on: 12:17 pm, October 04, 2009

choice of these hotels

I have a choice between am schubertring and Hotel Austria. Both around the same price and both in the area I would like to be. Which would be a better choice and is there anything about these hotels I should be aware of, mainly noise factor. Hotel Austria are offering a non smoking room which is what I would prefer. I also received an offer from Kaiserin Elisabeth, looks nice but pricey. have read the reviews and it is a tough decision, please any advice appreciated.

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Hotel Austria is definitely calmer as it is embedded in the old town structure, while Am Schubertring is located at the Ring Street (a very broad street with multiple lanes and trams beside).

But both locations are great!

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Thank you, I booked the Hotel Austria and after much resesarch of very many hotels decided that this is the right one for me, I even managed to get a non smoking which was a major factor for me, thanks again for your reply.

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Removed on: 12:15 pm, October 04, 2009

Boat trip from Vienna to Budapest

Hi TAers,

My wife and I want to take a boat from Vienna to Budapest this August. Do you know which company does that, how expensive it is, and what the departure times are like?

Thanx in advance,

GA

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Insert %26quot; boat to budapest %26quot; in the search box-

you will find many discussions regarding this subject.

also check

www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

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Sorry, I hadn%26#39;t seen any information recently on this topic, and I assumed things might have changed, as they often do in parts of the world.

As to the link you provided, I see only 2-day-trips to Budapest. We%26#39;re hoping to go directly as we have hotel reservations already.

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My apologies, after checking the website again, they do have the 5.5 hour one way trip for a whopping 95 euros. Not exactly a bargain, we will probably take the train and save time and money.

Thanx for your help,

GA

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I believe that you make a good decision.

In my opinion and as mentioned many times before-

The train is much faster , more comfortable and much cheaper.

Your time and money better used in either city for good sightseeing.

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Shipping always sounds extraordinary but isn%26#39;t worth the money and time. As mentioned, trains depart quite often and are more comfortable. If you wanna ship the danube, you should contemplate taking a tour through the Wachau valley with its vineyards and cozy villages. This would probably take your breath.

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Considering doing some kind of boat trip out of Vienna, Budapest, or both. Will depend on our schedule and just what happens.

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One of the best tours - a day to Melk and a cruise on the Danube through the Wachau

check the ddsg website again for this.

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Removed on: 8:19 pm, October 04, 2009

car to carry skies

Hallo!

Don%26#39;t know what type of car to rent to drive to ski resort. We are going to buy skies in Vienna (by the way where is the best place to do it? Just cheap, basic models), so will have to carry them somehow.

Should we take station wagon, or you can put ski racks on a compact car? And how these ski racks working? I need two of them for two pair of skies?

Thank you for your help!

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You could rent a station wagon, a car with a larger trunk or request a car with racks on the roof that can accommodate the equipment.

Just to inform - it is possible to rent necessary equipment in the various winter sports villages!

If you still wanna buy them, you can go to numerous shops like Intersport or Hervis. But I don%26#39;t know wether they are they are the cheapest in town...

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Most all skis will not fit in a trunk of an auto.

Most rental firms can provide ski racks for the top or back of the rental auto for a fee.

Most all racks will hold 2 or more pairs of skis. You do not need 2 racks.

They simply bolt in to the mountings for such storage racks.or frames of doors.

Austria as you know is a country of skiers - so this is not an odd thing here.

Just be cetain the rack has a lock as skis are sometimes stolen from autos especially in some resorts.

But why buy skis in Vienna.

Yes, shops like Hervis and Intersport will sell inexpensive ones - often a combination of skis , bindings, poles even boots at a fair price.

example in easily found places

Intersport / Eybl

Mariahilferstrasse 138

Hervis

Alserstrasse20

But you can also find many sport shops in the resorts to sell same or similar at surprisingly good prices. Some are even Intersport shops depending on the resort.

They will mount the bindins in a short time and can service if anything happens.

They are often much more knowledgeable about the products they sell - placing you in skis best suited for style and ability.

Also saves tansport too.

be certain that your rental company knows that you need a winterized auto.

snow tires- perhaps chains if going to some resorts.

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Removed on: 12:31 am, October 05, 2009

Rail or Car, Munich-Salzburg

I am travelling with my 4 sons for a day trip to Salzburg from Munich (meeting up with friends). Our Munich hotel is relatively near the Munich train station. Would it be easier/more fun to hop on the train to Salzburg? Or is the ride the same view by car? FYI, our travel would be on a weekday. Any help is appreciated - thanks.

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For me there is no reason to take the car if you don%26#39;t want to make any sidetrips. Well, if you are already in possession of car, it doesn%26#39;t actually matter...

But before I have to search a parking space in Salzburg, I%26#39;d take the train. Maybe your sons travel free of charge because of the summer holidays?

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We rode the train Salzburg-%26gt;Munich last year. It was a double decker, so the view was good but I do not remember much special to see, though the country is generally pleasing.

The five of you can travel on a single Bayern-Ticktet of 29 euros if you travel by Regional Bahn, Regional Express or other local travel.

I have read that you need an Austrian Vignette for your car to drive on major roads in Austrian. I have no experience but you might research this.

Regards, Gary

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The autobahn between Munchen and Salzburg can be very busy. Last September we sat in a traffic jam for about thirty minutes and then decided to exit and use the local roads instead. The previous poster is right that you need the vignette to drive on Austrian autobahns. The police have been doing a lot of roadside checks this year and the penalty for not having the vignette is high. The trains are frequent and efficient and you wouldn%26#39;t have to pay the very high car parking charges in Salzburg city.

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Removed on: 9:19 am, October 04, 2009

Football paraphernalia

Hi Ladies %26amp; Gentlemen,

Will all the football stuff round the Ringstrasse and Schonbrunn etc., be gone by July 15th so as not to get obstructed photos etc.

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We were told that it will take a week to dismantle the stages and stuff what was commenced one day after the final game on June 29th. Hence July 15th will be fine!

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Many thanks Mikey.

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Removed on: 12:31 am, October 05, 2009

Car hire

We are a family of 5 travelling to Graz in a few weeks time. We need to hire a car at Graz airport and would like advice as to the best (and cheapest)company to provide this

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Avis

0316/812920

graz@avis.at

www.avis.at

Europcar

0664/8258639

0316/821364 (Stadtbüro)

grzt01@europcar.at

www.europcar.at

Budget

0316/722074

office@budget.at

www.budget.at

Hertz

0316/243432

grazap@hertz.at

www.hertz.at

Denzel Drive / National / Alamo

0316/050105/4130

office.stmk@denzeldrive.at

www.denzeldrive.at

Sixt GmbH

0316/283600 (Stadtbüro)

ap803@sixt.com

www.sixt.at

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Have a look at my post yesterday on Salzburg forum regarding car hire.

If you book in the U.K. through Holiday Autos, you will save around 35% on the cost of booking directly from the airport. Same companies and same cars - but you have to pay on booking.

I assume Graz is no different to Salzburg.

Stoofer

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Removed on: 11:17 pm, October 04, 2009

Skiing/Boarding, new years, which resort in Austria??

Can anyone help me! A group of us want to head skiing/boarding for New Years to Austria. We are aware that this time of year is one of the busiest, is there such a thing as a resort that might not be as busy as the others, or a bigger resort that can accommodate for bigger crowds, more lifts etc?

We would love -

- ski in/ ski out location, or very close to lifts

- apres ski

Thanks.

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some suggestion:

Ischgl

St. Anton

Saalbach

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Hi! we are looking for the same now. Which resort have you chosen? We tryed to book apartments or rooms in Ischgl, but everything is booked already (((

what do you think about saalbah - would there be enough snow around New Year??? I am afraid that it is not at hight altitude...

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Another choice would be Obertauern.

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dude you can never be sure about the snow unless you go to the kitsctienhorn or howevr its spelt!!?@)*%26amp;% that place is the big one and its so massive even in season with all the kids it has loads of space and if you like your off peist stuff this is the place .

i have been there in high season and you can still fly by the other people especialy if you go off the beaten track. this place has snow all year round so jan shouldnt be a prob at the top and if you are lucky and the powder is evrywher ...then.. head on to salbach which is again a good size and has plenty of runs. and as for the night life head to resi bar in peisendorf and get totaly tanked up.

where evr you go at this time of year in europe you will have crowds but with these places at the top not evryone goes up there so you should get a bit of space . as for resorts you have zelemsee and kuprun which are both pretty good size and good for bevvies

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Kitzbühel has been a good selection the past couple of years. If it snows everywhere is good. But at least if you are in Kitzbühel you can grab a bus to several other areas if you wish.

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Removed on: 4:24 am, October 04, 2009

Do I need reservation for Prague - Vienna Train

Hi

We have Eastern Europe pass, do we need reservation for Prague - Vienna train (July 22nd %26amp; First class). Should I buy the reservation now in the US or wait till I get in Vienna (July 17th). Heard prices are much cheaper in Prague.

Thanks

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How do you get from Vienna to Prague?

Buy the reservation before departure in Prague. As you will take 1st class, there is absolutely no need to do that earlier.

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Hi Mikey

I%26#39;m going from Prague to Vienna around 10 am July 22nd. I have an Eastern Europe Pass. Do I really need a reservation for this trip? I wasd told for the fast the train I need reservation. Don%26#39;t know which one is the fast train!.

Thanks

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The faster train which takes 4 hours instead of 4h30min requires seat reservation regardless of the type of use entitlement.

http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en

The trains with code SP (Super City) are the Czech tilting trains (Pendolino) with mandatory seat reservation which can be bought just before departure or a the day before if you wanna have guarantee. No need to do that far in advance!

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Removed on: 3:16 am, October 05, 2009

Apartment neded for a season starting in Nov/ Dec 08

HI there

My son did a season in Morzine last year and would like to go to Mayrhofen this year. ideally they are looking for an apartment for approx 4 people, ideally with twin beds.

Does anyone know of a good place to rent.

Any ideas would be great

Many thanks

Brown5

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A full season rental in mayrhofen can be a real problem as owners can make much more money on individual short term rentals.

probably best to seek a place outside of town in the smaller villages like Hippach or brandberg.

Perhaps best place to start is to inquire of the tourist office in mayrhofen

or for the whole of the valley

www.zillertal.at

there is also a small weekly newspaper for the area with a good circulation - the Heimatstimme - you could always place an ad.

I believe the tourist office could give you phone or fax number.

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Removed on: 4:22 am, October 05, 2009

Driving information to / from Slovenia - new vignettes

Beginning July 1 Slovenia will begin a traffic toll system with the need for those driving to buy vignettes ( traffic toll stickers ) to be placed on your windshield.

They will be sold by gas stations , some post offices and other places.

Signs to advertise this will be posted.

This requirement applies to all autobahns and other major roads in the country.

A six month vignette - 35 euro.

No information on vignettes for shorter periods.

fines if driving without 300-800 euro.

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I just bring this back to the top for information

Our local TV had a news story on this last evening-

The slovenia police were actively checking near to the border for vignettes- many do not know about this and face large costs.

It appears only a six month and 12 month vignette is available .

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Good information. Thank you.

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Hi,

I%26#39;m glad that this story was run on your TV, Vertical. And I know it%26#39;s also a big story in Croatia. But I%26#39;m not sure if people in Italy are aware of this. I can imagine that Germans and Czechs are not interested.

There were some tourists interviewed for a national TV who claimed they had never heard they had to have a sticker. Well, I cannot see how to send this information to every human being on this world directly to his/her mailbox. This is why we have internet for and Google makes wonders.

Just a litle correction:

till December 2008 only half a year vignettes are planned. Those yearly stickers will be valid for a calendar year and not from a date of purchase - just like in Austria.

And... yesterday the police more or less just warned drivers without a sticker. Be aware of those DARS inspectors! :-) (DARS == ASFINAG)

Cheers,

Beni

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Good heads up, this was mentioned on Belgrade forum

and it%26#39;s quite a shock to have to pay such a large sum as a passing through tourist.

Yes, people must research, but it%26#39;s not always easy to have this info., especially if driving through before without this toll, many won%26#39;t think about it.

If tourists are being stopped and charged heavy fines so early into this phase, it%26#39;s very poor and relfects badly on Slovenia IMO. For visitors, the charge is far too high and penalties just a money making sceme.

Stoofer

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Removed on: 4:40 pm, July 03, 2008


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Beni

I think that you miss the intent of the original posting - merely to inform those using this forum and perhaps traveling south that the new vignette system exists.

It is not a political comment on the country system- only information.

I would not be so defensive about the issue - If you do not like the methods of the existing government , I assume the best place to vent your dislike is the ballot box in a few months.

The vignette and maut system in Austria simply places the cost of building and maintaining these roads on the wallets of the users - hopefully not the public treasury.

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I think Beni was replying to my comment about reflecting badly. It was poorly phrased as I didn%26#39;t mean in the political sense. Simply that if they wish to attract tourism then it%26#39;s the wroing way, however from Beni%26#39;s comments, he advised it%26#39;s no loss to Slovenian people:-)

Any way you look at it, for foreigners it%26#39;s expensive for a weekend break by car across the border, to say Bled for example, unless you do it all the time.

Anyway, a good information O.P. regardless of comment.

Stoofer

|||

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Removed on: 5:17 am, October 03, 2009

Vienna visit 8/1 - 3

My daughter and I will be visiting Vienna, arriving from Prague via train on 8/1. Our hotel reservations are at the K%26amp;K Hotel Maria Theresia. We are in Vienna until 8/4. Any recommendations on the best way to spend our time at this time of year would be greatly appreciated. We have never been to Vienna (or Austria) before.

Should I look into taking any tours or is it easy to get around ourselves with a tour book and map?

Should I purchase any tickets in advance?

When would you advice visiting Schronbrunn Palace? Looks like I should order tickets in advance but I am having trouble understanding the website.

Is the Spanish Riding School open in early August?

Any recommendations near our hotel for a restaurant - good Austrian food, not too expensive? Also want to find a nice restaurant to celebrate my daughter%26#39;s birthday while in Vienna.

Should I consider planning a day trip to Salzburg?

What is the best way to get to the airport to catch an early flight back home to the States on 8/4?

Lots of questions, I know, but any help you can give would be wonderful. We have never traveled to this part of Europe and want to see a lot and have fun.

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Should I look into taking any tours or is it easy to get around ourselves with a tour book and map?

Basically it is easy to navigate as Vienna has a good public transit system and residents will help you whenever necessary.

----------------------------------------------------

Should I purchase any tickets in advance?

Depending on sight - I would normally prebook tickets for concerts but as it is summer most of them are closed until September.

----------------------------------------------------

When would you advice visiting Schronbrunn Palace? Looks like I should order tickets in advance but I am having trouble understanding the website.

Schönbrunn Palace is a very popular sight but I am not sure wether it is recommendable to prebook tickets. If you arrive there in the morning it should not be a problem.

----------------------------------------------------

Is the Spanish Riding School open in early August?

During summer closed!

----------------------------------------------------

Any recommendations near our hotel for a restaurant - good Austrian food, not too expensive? Also want to find a nice restaurant to celebrate my daughter%26#39;s birthday while in Vienna.

How old will she turn?

----------------------------------------------------

Should I consider planning a day trip to Salzburg?

For most visitors it is a must! But in your case it would take precious time from your stay in Vienna, therefore I wouldn%26#39;t do that.

----------------------------------------------------

What is the best way to get to the airport to catch an early flight back home to the States on 8/4?

You could prebook a shuttle service for 29€/car(dedicated service) offered by a few companies like

http://www.airportdrivers.at/

http://www.ck-airportservice.at/

If you are rather the price-conscious traveller you could walk to either subway station [line U3] %26quot;Neubaugasse%26quot; or station %26quot;Volkstheater%26quot; with the same line calling. From there go to %26quot;Wien-Mitte%26quot; [4-5 stops depending on actual embarkation point], where you can transfer to rail line S7 to airport [3.40€/person]. Departures only every 30 minutes at 22 and 52 past the full hour. I suggest to leave the hotel 30 min before airport train line departure at %26quot;Wien-Mitte%26quot;.

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http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en

From: Volkstheater U3

To: Flughafen Wien

The system will also offer the express train (CAT) for 9€/person extra.

But I just learned that CAT also offers a reasonable combo ticket for a flat rate of 24€ (Car pick-up and transportation to CAT-Terminal in Wien-Mitte). If you are booked on an airlines that cooperates with CAT (Star Alliance and a few others) you could check your luggage throughout the United States.

http://www.cityairporttrain.com//langen/

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Regarding a good birthday dinner...

We visited Vienna in the summer of 06 and are returning in Sept. During our last visit we celebrated our anniversary at the Sky Bar %26amp; Restaurant. Here is the link I found http://www.skybar.at/index_webpage.html

I see now that it is listed on the Vienna Tourist Information page, but I had just stumbled upon it when I was there. It is on the top floor of a mall complex and the views out on the balcony were amazing. We went on a week night a bit early, about 5 or 6 and were able to get a table outside.

The food was wonderful, although not especially Austrian, just international. I think it would be the perfect place for a birthday dinner.

I was there exploring the city by myself for a week and didn%26#39;t do any organized tour. I found everything with a map and public transportion. The transportation system in Vienna is wonderful. It is so easy to get to everything.

The Spanish Riding School will be closed for performances, but you can still go in and check out the grounds. It is worth a visit.

Have a wonderful trip!

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Many major tourist sites are realatively close together. No need for an organized tour- expensive and it limits your time in any one place.

Good tourist maps available - some probably at your hotel- easy to find your way.

Your hotel is well ocated for chances for good dining

not far away

Zu Den 2 Lieserln

Burgasse 63

vienna style great schnitzel nice surroundings

www.2lieserln.at

Zu -ebener-und erster stock

www.zu-ebener-und-erster-stock.at

with a name that long - food must be good or they could not stay in business.

Siebensternbrau

www.7stern.at

good food fair price

various restaurants and cafes in the Museum Quarier complex

www.mqw.at

including

Glacis Beisl

nice surroundings.

Spanish Riding school and stables ae open afternoons daily during your visit for tours-

www.srs.at

for music

look on this website

www.info.wien.at

under events

just insert your dates of visit

much good music available

Mozart Requiem at the Karlskirche August 2

www.karlskirche.at

Sunday afternoon concert at the Liechtenstein Museum

ww.liechtensteinmuseum.at

combine a concert with a visit to this beautiful palace with one of the best private art collections in the world.

Traditional military band music in uniforms

Saturday at 11:00 in the courtyard of the Hofburg Palace- free

this is the Hoch and Deutschmeister band- excelent music.

many other Church concerts

Music at the Mozart haus too-

While Salzburg is beautiful - with just 3 days to visit I would limit my time to Vienna.

The trip to Salzburg makes a long and full day- perhaps saved for your next visit.

Schönbrunn - opens at 8:30 if you go then not too crowded shortly after especially on a weekend , many ,many bus tours arrive and a very crowded situation-

or go later in the afternoon.

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Note for Schönbrunn-

it is possible to purchase tickets on line ( some say a problem lately ) - this advoids having to wait - just walk in.

Also if you are flying with a Star Alliance partner ( Lufthansa , Austrian and others or several other airlines you can check in, get boarding cards and also chaek luggage at the CAT Station in Vienna Mittee- then a quick 16 minute ride to the airport. some like to do this as it often avoids waiting to check in at the airport lines can often be long.

check with your airline

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Vertical - I tested the online ticket buying facility for Schönbrunn and I could not get the ticket booking page to open instead getting a message saying %26quot;There is a problem with this website%26#39;s security certificate%26quot;. It%26#39;s strange that you had no problem in Austria navigating to this page and yet people overseas are having difficulty. I wonder if Schönbrunn are aware of this!

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Hello Norman:

I had already contacted Schönbrunn regarding this problem- no idea if that will assist- given a stock answer - %26quot;we will look into it.%26quot;

I have gone to the Schönbrunn site 2 times - went to the order ticket section - picked number and type of ticket then saw notice %26quot; Proceed to e- payment-was forwarded to a %26quot; secure website %26quot; - qenta.at to list my credit card , expiration date- obviously did not proceed with final booking but the site opened for me without problem-

It seems if ordered locally - no trouble to proceed - auslander useage is apparently the problem - but I am no computer wise person.

I will advise if I get added info.

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Norman - I return home tonight and found a prompt answer to my inquiry.

A Frau Drucker, IT Administration and Development -Schloss Schönbrunn Kultur und Betriebsges.m.b.H. forwarded this kind answer.

She advises that she has tested the system. All is now in order and working correctly. Several tickets just recently purchased on- line today.

It is very nice to see that Schönbrunn and Frau Drucker responded so quickly and efficiently.

She also offered to assist anyone that has a future problem.

I keep her name and e-mail address in my record.

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Thank you to all for the wonderful information. I appreciate your help in planning our trip. Wish we had more time to spend in Vienna!

I have one question on the express train (CAT) to the airport. I have a 7:00 return flight to the US. What time would I have to catch the train? My airline is listed on the website so I guess I could check in before boarding the train. My daughter is flying a different airline that is not listed. She would check in at the airport - correct? That seems very convenient. I just want to make sure the trains run early enough in the morning for me to catch my flight.

My thanks again for your advice.

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The first train leaves Wien-Mitte at 5:38a arriving 16 minutes later. Mimimum check-in time is 75 minutes before scheduled departure.

I suppose you will take the combo, so the driver will know when to pick you up. I think between 5:00a and 5:15a will be the pick-up time. Driving duration is short as it is quite early and the CAT-Terminal not far away from your location.

If your daughter%26#39;s flight departs later than yours it is gonna be okay.

Train from Vienna to Budapest

I%26#39;m not sure which forum should i post this question, here or Budapest! Anyway, i tried here first. I will stay fly to Vienna and ride a train to Budapest and stay there for 4 days. After that, i will come back to Vienna by train for another 4 days. After Vienna, again will ride a train to Prague. What i like to know in detail is the train. I read through www.raileurope.fr and www.oebb.at but still don%26#39;t understand. According to raileurope.fr, i should buy European East Pass but there is no detail of how to book the seat. When looking at oebb.at, there are a lot of info in it and try looking for what i need but still got nothing. I only need as simple as what train from Vienna to Budapest and to Prague!! What kind of pass should i buy? Can i only buy from my country or i can buy in Vienna? And very silly question, how to make reservation after i get the pass? Do i overlook of any website? It seems that there are many information but don%26#39;t know how come i can%26#39;t find my answer. Kindly suggest. Thank you. :-)

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Do not buy anything from Raileurope - their prices are much more than buying directly at the station. Their train schedules and information often incomplete or not correct.

Just look on

www.oebb.at

just insert departure and arriving cities , day and time you wish to travel- you will find trains available.

for train schedule- go to the sparticular station in sufficient time to buy your ticket and board the train.

Individual tickets are most probably much less expensive than a pass for your stated travels.

No need for a reservation - trains run very frequently on these routes.

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Thanks :-). You help me again. I just run quickly through oebb.at, it doesn%26#39;t show the cost of each journey. Where can i find about the cost? I just want a rough calculation for my trip so to exchange the currency.

No need for reservation!! Even the cross-country trip, Vienna to Budapest, Vienna to Prague!! Thought at first that there will be so crowded and reservation is a must like in Japan.

Can i go into more detail, for my first, I arrive Vienna and will go direct to Budapest. I just simply go to the train station (which i believe it%26#39;s easy connected to the airport right?), buy ticket, wait for train and board. I think i may keep some of my luggage in the locker, if any. Very sorry for my keep repeating. Just don%26#39;t want any unexpected thing happens. :-P

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Your route seems to be the same as mine.....

After landing in Vienna, I plan to go to Budapest from Westbahnhof, around 07:52 and will arrvie Budapest before 11:00.

As per my research, no reservation needed.

Just wondering if I can leave my luggage at Westbahnhof overnight? or should I leave it at the airport locker?

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Thank you for sharing. WHat i understand is there are luggage storage in the major train station but dont know about airport.

BTW is Westbahnhof station near airport i.e. in walking distance? As suggested by ‘Vertical’, we can buy individual ticket at the station and board. No need for any long tem pass.

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From the airport, you can go to either Westbahnhof or Sudbahnhof by airport bus, 6 euro, riding for half an hour. To Budapest, there are trains leaving from both Westbahnhof or Sudbahnhof as per oebb website.

For me, I prefer leaving at Westbahnhof, cause I am quite familiar in that neighbourhood.

My flight lands at 05:30, then to Westbahnhof, buy a train ticket then hope to arrive Budapest around 11:00.

I am not sure if we can leave luggage at the train station overnight, cause i saw a previous post stating that it is only for 24 hours.

|||

one more stupid question, i can carry/bring my luggage into the airport bus right? As my luggage is going to be not a small one (for my 14 days trip) :-P

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The Airport Bus can accommodate the luggage in the large trunk below the seating area.

Additionally, I recommend to take a train from Westbahnhof, as the ones from Südbahnhof (with one exception of a very slow ER-Train the early morning) require a change.

|||

Thanks for the info...very quick response.

|||

Lockers at railway stations are for a maximum time of 24 hours... Vienna Airport also has a storage facility for longer times.

|||

Again, thank you very much.

problem with schonbrunn online ticket buying

I am having problems buying online tickets for the grand tour for Schonbrunn Palace. I am able to click onto all relevant info but when I click onto buying online I can%26#39;t get connection. I don%26#39;t think It%26#39;s my computer.Am I doing something wrong? I would like to purchase tickets for Sunday 7th September. Just a quickie on this day, would I be better off going in the am or pm and do you think it will be busy. I won%26#39;t visit the zoo.I can%26#39;t go any other day, thank you.

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I tried the website and proceeded without trouble to pick ticket , number of persons - then clicked on the next section to buy on line - it took a few seconds of waiting as it appears you are transferred elsewhere to a secure site for actual purchase.

Of course did not proceed from there as do not need the ticket.

I would try again.

|||

Thank you vertical for your reply, I am going to try again but not on my computer, I%26#39;m still having no luck, I%26#39;ll try again tomorrow on another computer and see how it goes. I can send a booking form but still not book tickets on line. Hopefully, fingers crossed all works out.

|||

I, too, have encountered the same problem you have described. I will try again later. Glad to know it I am not alone!

|||

As I noted on another post. Schönbrunn has responded to my inquiry about problems with the on-line booking

A Frau Drucker, of their IT Administration and Development made a quick and helpful response- all is operating correctly - several on -line sales made just today .

Hope all works for you - if not please advise me my private message.

|||

I did manage to find a computer where I was able to buy online. The difference was the security program, I have windows vista on mine and the computer that allowed me to buy online has windows xp. Hope this helps.

|||

Thanks for the update-

enjoy your visit!

|||

Ah! I use Vista too!

If Schönbrunn%26#39;s ticket booking service doesn%26#39;t work with Vista or requires complex disabling of security systems then they%26#39;re going to miss out on a lot of business, especially as most new computers come with Vista.

Vertical, maybe you could copy this info to Frau Drucker.

|||

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Removed on: 1:20 pm, October 04, 2009

Guvtav Klimtz in Vienna

Is there any places apart from Belvedere Palace or the Secession that I can see works of Gustav Klimtz on Monday?

Unfortunately I will stop over Vienna for 1 day only, and it%26#39;s Monday. My partner would love to see any piece of his work.

Thank you.

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Why do you ask that? Do you fear to miss a paint of him? Well, you will be busy enough and very satisfied with the exhibition in the Belvedere. Frankly no idea wether there are other paints of him in e.g. Kunsthistorisches Museum....

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Unfortunately , you have picked the worst possible day to look for Klimt in Vienna. Many venues have his works.

The Belvedere open on Monday -is the best to visit as you already know.

Klimt can also be found at the Museum of Applied Arts on the Ringstrasse .

Unfortunaly closed on Mondays . Secession is also closed on Mondays.

Many ceiling panels were painted by Klimt in the Kunsthistorisches Museum ( Fine Arts Museum) They too closed on Mondays.

You could try for a tour of the Burg Theater on the Ringstrasse ( across from the city hall ) The tours are daily at 15:00 I think in english also.

I believe some of the ceiling panels there were painted by Klimt and associates.

I would contact them

www.burgtheater.at

|||

Thank you for all your help.

I visited Belvedere 2 years ago, and remembered it closed on Monday.

We will visit Belvedere to see %26quot;The Kiss%26quot;.

|||

If your trip includes a visit to England there%26#39;s a Klimt exhibition on in Liverpool!

|||

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Removed on: 3:18 am, October 05, 2009

Help with Hotel in Wachau Vally

I will be visiting the Wachau valley in mid june and am trying to decide between the Gourmethotel %26quot;Am Förthof%26quot; in Krems or Romantik Hotel Richard Löwenherz in Dürnstein. The Förthof is much cheaper but I can not find many reviews.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

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Richard the Lionhearted in Dürnstein is a better choice in my opinion.

It is in the middle of the town of Dürnstein. and makes a good base to explore the town- take the boat on the danube- better atmosphere - or ride a bike in the vineyards. Has a nice terrasse with good views of the danube More choices for different restaurants nearby - a pool also.

The Forthof is best known for good food rather than being a hotel.. It is on the road ( S-3 ) that runs along the Danube just outside of Krems- actually Stein- nearest neighbor is a gas station and traffic roundabout Perhaps 10 rooms - but not certain. View to the danube is across the highway and restaurnat parking lot.

Krems - Stein and Forthof is about 6-8 kilometers from Dürnstein.

Without an auto ,Dürnstein a much better choice also.

Also a nice place , but often fully booked - Raffelsbergerhof in Weissenkirchen.

www.raffelsbergerhof.at

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As a wonderful compromise, I would recommend the Hotel Saenger Blondel. It combines the location of the Löwenherz with the affordability of Am Forthof.

Quick reasons: View, location (within Dürnstein%26#39;s city walls), service, fabulous breakfasts, great dinners, and Dürnstein is an ideal place to stay in the Wachau. The family is the nicest!

We stayed in the apartment, which is where we want to retire! The apartment%26#39;s balcony give you views up to the Richard the Lionhearted castle ruins (fabulously lit up at night) and the Dürnstein monastery%26#39;s church. The balcony has lovely chaise lounges which allow you to soak in the scenery.

Big apologies for not writing up the Saenger Blondel. It is a real gem of a place. I promise to write it up in the next three days.

We stayed there for five nights last July. Truly the highlight of our 2 1/2 week trip.

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Well, by the time you receive this it will probably be too late - we just came back from Austria and I found this hotel to be %26#39;awful.%26#39; Austria is known for quaint rooms that oftentimes have lovely views and immaculate bathrooms. Not so for this one - the entrance is deceiving but the fact that it is on a busy road and next door to a a triple X %26#39;GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS%26#39; place ought to tell something of the place. The rooms are small and strewn with mismatched furniture that looks like it came from a %26#39;70%26#39;s garage sale. The bathroom was unequipped - no toiletries and mediocre in cleanliness. The tile floor had mismatched old fake orientals - reds, blues, with pink walls and Frommer%26#39;s guide is ridiculous. There simply are no balconies. Breakfast is good and served nicely; but the place is just a has been and not worth the time or money. With the poor US exchange rate, find other places to spend nearly $225.00 per night. They also charge 5 eruos per hour to use your own laptop - the pool is dirty and the towels are chintzy - this is NOT GOURMET - IT is GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!

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Above poster does not include the name of the hotel in the posting but obviously by the description refers to the Forthof.

Unfortunate that they did not use this forum before staying there.

The other hotels that were recommended are much better as poster unfortunately learns.

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Removed on: 6:21 am, October 05, 2009

airport to hotel austria

I am arriving in to Vienna International airport and would like to know how to get to Hotel Austria. After researching past forums I have found that a prebooked taxi service is a good option but how would I reach the hotel by public tranport. Any info appreciated. Thank you.

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Probably easiest route is to take the airport transfer bus from the airport to Schwedenplatz/Morzinplatz. cost 6 euro.

Bus is found just outside of the Arrivals hall runs every 30 +- minutes- The trip usually 30 minutes or less.

Several transfer bus routes leave from the same location look to the information signs to be certain you get on the correct bus.

plenty of storage under the bus for luggage .

from Morzinplatz a very short walk to the hotel.

If you go on the hotel website www.hotelaustria-wien.at

they offer a map showing the immediate area of the hotel and just how to get there . Morzinplatz is shown on the map also.

Walk is actually shorter than it may appear on the map.

While other routes could be used for this transfer , I think this way is most easy and practical.

Enjoy Vienna !

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Thank you Vertical, great help as usual.

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Removed on: 6:21 am, October 05, 2009

Innsbruck for the non-skier

I am planning to go to Innsbruck in January for the scenery. I definitely do not ski. What would be the best places to visit/go up as I do want to get a good view of the mountains all covered in snow. I will be travelling by railpass and will not have a car.

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Hi, no worries on the non ski issue, there are plenty of cable cars to take you to the peaks and at the top there is the mountain hut to have lunch. You could rent snow shoes and walk around at the hut but be sure to stay off the groomed slopes and be careful if you do not have much experience.

More than half the people in the city in Jan.do not ski. There are great sleding runs set up as well, they call it rodeling, recommended. From the main town you can catch the cable car up. There is the S ban and buses to get to other areas, Go to a couple to the ski sites and study the lift maps that will make you getting around and get the great views.

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Many things for the non skier

look at the following for information

www.innsbruck.info

www.tirol.at

fromthe center of Innsbruck next to the Congress center is the Nordpark lifts-

fantastic views , food and drink too.

nice sleigh rides - many like the torch light walks too.

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We also enjoyed the Alpine Zoo when we visited in January.

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Removed on: 3:18 am, October 05, 2009

Holiday with kids 6 & 9

We%26#39;re staying in Zell am See last 2 weeks in August this year. Any suggestions of what to do / see would be welcome.

Also is there a summer bob sleigh ride for kids anywhere near?

Any good cycle routes?

Any local festival celebrations?

Thanks

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Please visit the following websites for further advice:

tiscover.at/at/…home.html

www.zellamsee-kaprun.com/index.php?id=574%26L=1

Cycling Route? A full round along the lake shore!

For local festival celebrations contact the local tourism board!

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There%26#39;s a summer tobogganing ride in St Johann which is about 40mins away by train from Zell am See.

http://www.tirol.at/xxl/en/774621/_id/786171

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There is a Summer Rodelbahn (bobsleigh) in Saalfelden - this is c. 15km from Zell or say 20 mins.

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Re cycle routes - as previous reply said there is a route all round the lake which is great - if you go clockwise from the town you go through a wooded area which is a campsite, and reach the first village shortly after - there is a lovely cafe right on the lakeside which is great for lunch. Further round is another cafe, then continue to close the circle back to Zell. The freeies stop at various points round the lake but I don%26#39;t know whether you can take bikes on them.

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Forgot to say - a lovely and easy walk is to go up the mountain in the main cable car to the top station. Cafe there for drinks. You can then walk down a well made path (kids of all ages were doing it) to the next level, then down on a chair lift, then to the bottom in another small cable car. Scenery was fantastic.

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thanks - sounds great - just what I was after.

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Removed on: 1:18 pm, October 04, 2009

best location to stay

Where is the best location to stay so we can walk everywhere? Thanks.

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Without a doubt the first or central district (%26quot;Innere Stadt%26quot;) - just look out for hotels with the postcode 1010. Much of this district is pedestrianised or has light traffic and you can walk to almost all the major sights with the exception of the Palace of Schönbrunn, the Prater amusement park (ferris wheel from the Third Man), the Danube River itself, the Central Cemetery and the outlying wine growing (and drinking!) areas. But even all of these are accessible by a simple tram or underground journey at relatively little expense.

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Thank you, Norman. Do you know of a hotel/B %26amp; B that is 80 euro or less in the area that is clean? Thanks so much.

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As I have family in Vienna and stay with them I can%26#39;t readily advise, but there are many threads on this forum about hotel recommendations or you could use TripAdvisor%26#39;s hotel search for your dates or the Vienna tourist office%26#39;s search facility:

www.wien.info/article.asp?IDArticle=9010

there%26#39;s a hotel search on the right hand side.

A good search engine for cheaper rooms is:

http://www.eurocheapo.com/vienna/

A regular poster on this forum, Roley, frequently visits Vienna and stays in Pensions and better value hotels. Perhaps if she reads this she will give some advice.

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Pension Nossek was quite Grand for the cost, you won%26#39;t find a better local. It%26#39;s also a historic building for those interested in Mozart.

Stoofer

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P.S. I did indeed book on the back of Roley%26#39;s advice and she was spot on.

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Thank you so much everyone. I am going to the sites right now. Will let you know what I find.

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Removed on: 5:23 am, October 05, 2009

Road Works

I would advise anyone staying in St Johann in the next few weeks to check with their tour operator or hotel if the street works being carried out throughout the town affects there accomodation.

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Hi

We do not know where we are staying (Tyrolean Houses) but how extensive are the road works? Do they affect th village centre?

We have just spent a week in Majorca with roadworks so ths would be bad luck indeed!

Joe G

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Removed on: 2:21 am, October 03, 2009

tennis in st wolfgang

has anyone heard of the tennishotel at st wolfgang . Apparently it was voted one of the top ten tennis resorts in ace magazine but no one seems to have heard of it. we have booked to stay there in august and am a little worried.

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Hi there

Yeh i had problems finding out information for the tennishotel also. Don%26#39;t worry, its a lovely place!

The staff are super friendly, food is of a good standard for its star rating, the tennis courts looked huge (from what i could tell as a non tennis player! lol) there are indoor ones and i think there were outdoor ones too. You could see the indoor from the halls near hotel bedrooms! Swimming pool was lovely too.

I honestly can%26#39;t falt the hotel, especially as we got a free transfer with them from the airport and back. (I have been to a lot of hotels in Austria, most of them 5 star - and i was impressed with this one!!)

Most of the people there seemed to be German or French, not many English, hence the lack of knowledge about it on tripadvisor!

Nice distance from town too, beautiful walk down, takes about 10 mins.

Any other questions feel free to contact me at purplexprincess@hotmail.com

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mitch27, How did you get on in August? I%26#39;m thinking of booking for a %26quot;family week%26quot; next year. My kids are 10 %26amp; 7 - were there any other English speaking kids there during your stay?

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I have been to tennis hotel lots of times and it is fantastic. The family will make you very welcome, the food is the best I have ever eaten, the hotel is in a wonderful position with lake views and only a short walk to the village. The tennis coaches are all South African and are excellent. I have recommended this to many of my friends and they all love it too. There is nothing to worry about.

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Removed on: 8:20 am, October 05, 2009