december skiing?????

can you tell me what resort would be the best for skiing on 11th december - i am also looking for one that will have good apres ski as it is my stags party. we will be flying into munich airport and are only staying for 4 days, so don%26#39;t want too long of a transfer.

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Mid December is not a popular time for skiing holidays in Austria so the apres-ski will be more quiet than normally - season usually really starts after Christmas.

Another problem is the snow - in December you can only choose villages located high in the mountains or with a glacier nearby.

Some choices would be:

St. Anton/Arlberg

Ischgl

Soelden

Obertauern

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Removed on: 8:16 am, October 05, 2009

getting accomodation upon day of arrival in towns

My husband and I and 2 teens will be in Austria in late July-early August. We are driving and are unsure of exactly where we will be and when. Years ago we got accomodation when we arrived in a place, is that still possible or would we be stuck with very expensive, poor quality or nothing at all this time? Also will we need 2 rooms generally?

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If you were satisfied years ago, you will be it again. Frankly I have no personal experiences to offer, but friends repeatedly told me that they successfully vacationed that way. If you don%26#39;t find anything suitable, you could still contact a local visitors bureau.

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Removed on: 2:17 am, October 05, 2009

Opera or Ballet?

Looking ahead to december, which would be better to see (for 2 people who have never been to opera or ballet!)

the Ballet Giselle:

wiener-staatsoper.at/Content.Node2/…

or

the Opera Götterdämmerung:

wiener-staatsoper.at/Content.Node2/…

I know this may be a subjective thing, but I just want the general concensus of which would be the better experience for a first timer.

Thanks!

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Are you aware that the Wagner Opera is a 5 1/2 hour marathon ? In my opinion not a good first visit to an opera.

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lol no I was not aware of that, and thanks for pointing that out!

Perhaps the ballet would therefore be a better choice...

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Giselle is one of the great ballet classics. Most people know about %26quot;Swan Lake%26quot; but in my opinion Giselle is just as good for a first visit. It has lots of dancing and a %26quot;white act%26quot;.

All 19th century ballets have silly stories, but in my experience if you%26#39;re lucky enough to see a great cast then %26quot;Giselle%26quot; involves you in a way SL never does.

Hope you enjoy it.

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Removed on: 6:23 am, October 05, 2009

Almbachklamm Gorge

On my latest trip I discovered a great excursion from Salzburg for those who like walking. Almbachklamm is a 3km long gorge just over the border from Salzburg, in Bavaria. It lies between Salzburg and Berchtesgaden, quite close to the pretty village of Marktschellenberg, and can be reached by public transport (Bus. No. 840 from Salzburg Rathaus). The bus takes less than thirty minutes.

At the foot of the gorge is a great restaurant called Kugelmuhle where you can enjoy lunch or just a drink. They serve gigantic, cream-laden desserts there!

We are not strenuous walkers as a rule and we found the walk to the Sulzer waterfall (an hour%26#39;s walk from the bottom) easy. You can go as far up the gorge as you like and there is lots to see all the way. There are lovely rock pools, the river is slow in some places and torrential in other parts. Waterfalls, particularly the very high Sulzer, are a feature of the gorge. Parts of the walk are quite steep but you can take your time. The walkways, bridges and paths are very well maintained. We saw scores of children and several dogs so it’s an excursion for all the family.

Here is a site in English which gives information:

tiscover.de/de/…intern.html

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There is also a gorge in St. Johann:

http://www.liechtensteinklamm.at/

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Removed on: 9:21 am, October 05, 2009

Renting Bikes in Krems

Greetings!

I am very interested in bicycling through the Wachau region. I read a suggestion from an earlier post to rent a bike at Krems, then take it on the train to Melk and ride it back, which I plan to do.

I believe that my passport is required in order to rent a bike. Do I need to leave my passport at the rental shop as collateral? Also, are locks provided to secure the bike when I am not using it?

Thank you.

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Several places to rent bikes in or near krems.

Rund um Rad - Walter Vökl-

Steinerlandstrasse 103

this is the street that runs along the Danube. The location is not far from the Ship station - up stream several hundred meters- Impossible to miss normally a large number of bikes just outside. A ggod selection.

Not far from a train stop too.

www.rundumsrad.at

They may speak a little english -

across the river from Krems in the small town of mautern.

www.rentawachaubike.at

I think they will deliver bikes to you and also offer tours- I do not know much about them but sometimes see a small van of theirs in the area.

Formerly just across from the ship station was a small bike rental place at the Shell station- have not seen anything there this year and assume they are no longer operating.

I know nothing about having to leave a passport - I would make a copy just to have it anyway.

They most probably want some form of security as most bikes are good models and exoensive - perhaps a credit card.

I am sure they offer locks.

You can also take one of the sightseeing boats up to Melk - they permit bikes on board. A nice trip but more expensive.

www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

or Brandner

both have similar schedules.

The train stop is across the river from Melk- you can cross over by a bridge nearby .

Most think the let side of the danube is a better way to ride.

Passes more towns, vineyards, more places to stop and eat and drink.

Most of the route is paved, well marked and dedicated to bikes only - a really nice way to see he area.

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We used RentAWachauBike, who delivered to our hotel. Definitely did not take our passports. I assume they took our credit information, but not even sure of that. I arranged it over the Internet. They also provided a lock. We spent four days bike riding.

Highly recommend both the bike ride and RentAWachauBike.

Dream vacation!

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Thank you both for your quick reply and great information. I%26#39;m relieved as it sounds as though I was misinformed about the passport requirement (however, I plan on making a copy of it just in case - thanks, vertical).

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I don%26#39;t think that they would keep your passport and if they asked for, I would deny.

Trains from Krems that run along the river seem to terminate in Spitz/Donau. The other way to reach Melk from Krems would be the way via St. Pölten (first the train heads Southbound - transfer in St. Pölten - then another train goes Westbound).

On weekends there is special train departing from Vienna going through the Wachau Valley calling at all stops along. You could take an earlier, regular train to Krems, rent the bike, and then procced on this EZ-Train to a place located on the opposite side of Melk. Or you rent a bike in Vienna what would probably be even easier.....

For train schedules visit:

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

Be informed that you need a ticket that allows bicycle transportation.

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I believe that is is much more convenient and cheaper to rnet your bikes in or near Krems.

You can also look at the following -

a combination - boat- bike and picnic-

www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

under the Wachau section-

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Removed on: 5:24 am, October 05, 2009

salzkammergut - Wolfgangsee brief trip report

Following on from Visiting Salzburg %26amp; Vienna with interesting sights en-route we ended up based in St.Gilgen, no TA forum?, so post here.

Hotel Shernthaner, perfect position just off the main square. This place was delightful, has to be the most welcoming host I%26#39;ve met. Down to reserved welcome cards hand sketched on breakfast tables. Nothing too much bother, spotlesly clean rooms. Good size with balcony. nice breakfast too! Great value.

Honesty box Fridge in the hall. Water coolers, free bikes etc.

Had dinners at Kendler on the square and Seegasthaus

overlooking the lake. Both excellent, so much so we only used the two. The views from Seegasthaus lovely, the food great value.

We drove around all the lakes one day when it was very hot, we also did all the usual tourist things.

I have to say that ferries, trains, gondolas etc. add up to quite an expensive time for a family so bear it in mind when planning.

I won%26#39;t go into trip details, suffice to say that I%26#39;ve driven through parts of Austria before but was blown away this time by the beauty and tranquility around Salzkammergut %26amp; Halstadt. The villages spotlessly clean, the people so helpful and friendly. Good food %26amp; wine and great scenery.

We%26#39;ll be back! And I think St.Gilgen was a good choice of base, also liked Stroble a bit quieter. St Wofgange fantastic to see but too touristic to stay IMO.

Using the ferry day ticket a great way to see and move around the villages. Next time a relaxing long weekend in St.Gilgen is on the cards. Just swimming and riding bikes + eating!

Thanks for all who helped our plans.

Stoofer

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I%26#39;m going to be spending 3 days in St Gilgen and would appreciate any suggestions.

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Very glad to hear you enjoyed it - the Salzkammergut certainly is eyepoppingly gorgeous, isn%26#39;t it? Thanks for the tip about the Seegasthaus - I%26#39;ll make a note of that for future reference. I agree about St Gilgen vs St Wolfgang as a base - St Wolfgang is a lovely place to visit but having now visited it once in August, I think the shoals of tourists would get on my wick if I stayed there for the whole holiday. I would like to try the Gasthof Furberg on the lake (short ride on the ferry from St Gilgen)- maybe next summer!

You%26#39;re right too about the cost of excursions etc mounting up - I%26#39;ve been pricing some trips for my forthcoming visit to the Salzkammergut (next week, woo hoo!) and it can get expensive if you plan on a big excursion every day. It is certainly worth getting the Salzkammergut card (4.90 euros per adult from any tourist information office in the Salzkammergut, duration as long as your stay - you write your trip dates on the card). The card gives a couple of euros discount on entry prices/fares each time you use it, at tourist sights like the Kaiservilla in Bad Ischl or when using the ferries or cable cars around the region. For example the day ticket on the Wolfgangsee ferry costs 18 euros for an adult but is reduced to 15.30 euros with the card. I got a Salzkammergut card last time I was in the area and I found that the card soon paid for itself, and I managed to save some money to boot.

Your description of the Hotel Schernthaner in St Gilgen sounds great, and typical of the hospitality I%26#39;ve experienced in the small, family-owned hotels and pensions in the Salzkammergut and the Tirol. The standards are generally very high, even in the modestly-priced places, and the owners usually go out of their way to help visitors make the most of their holiday. It%26#39;s one of the reasons I enjoy going back every year!

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Fracophool

I can recommend the places we stayed and ate as above.

For a great day out:

Definitely get the day ticket for ferry and start early in the morning. Take the ferry it%26#39;s full route and get off at Stroble, (taks about 1 hr.) ,have an hour there, maybe tea, and then pick up a ferry getting you to St. Wolfgang for lunch.

Have lunch, then take the train up to the summit, return on ferry back to St. Gilgen.

A great day out. To guarantee this, you%26#39;d need to get the train ticket in advance, to avoid dissapointment, depending on how busy time of year.

It sounds a lot, but apart from exploring the two small villages, there is no walking involved. The ferries are running about every hour or so.

Perhaps Roley can help with how to get advance tickets for the train?

There are also gongolas on the other side of town to the lake, another 1/2 day. With exploring on foot. A bus or car trip to Halstatt, that%26#39;s 3 days done.

Hope you have a great trip Roley, thanks for all your help in past, you were instrumental in our choice of base and you were spot on!:-)

yes, I agree, hospitality in that area is great - puts average U.K. service industry to shame.

I can%26#39;t imagine beer and wine in %26#39;honesty fridges%26#39; here LOL

Stoofer

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Can you give me a few details about taking the schafberger train from St Wolfgang Please? We are going in September staying in Salzburg and will not be using a car. So, public transport to St wolfgang and then how do we get to where the train goes from? There is a web site with the times and it looks like trains go on the hour eg: 11 am, 12 noon. Will we be able to get to the train from the salzburg bus and then take the lake steamer afterwards do you thin? we are trying to dod the train and boat in a day from Salzburg so do you recon this will be possible ?

Thanks

Beverley

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

Abtenau - One week holidays

Hi folks,

We will spend one week in Abtenau (in August this year) and I am just searching what to do there, where to go. Any idea what is worth it? I have read something about caves near Salzburg. We definately want to spend some time hiking... where is the most suitable place in a short distance??? Any idea is welcome! Thanks.

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Some useful links:

http://www.lammertal.info/en-index.shtml

www.salzburgerland.com/abtenau/eng/index.html

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Removed on: 1:17 pm, October 05, 2009