Christmas in Vienna then 3 weeks?
Dec 4th, 2015, 04:16 AM
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Christmas in Vienna then 3 weeks?
Hi All, We are a family of five (kids 15,18 and 20 so really adults) and have last minute booked flights in and out of Vienna from 21st December unitl10th Jan. Our children have never seen snow (coming from Australia), so we had hoped for a white Christmas, and some time to explore Austria and Germany. We have to book two rooms everywhere we go, so have already had a fright at expenses, particularly in Vienna. We plan to spend 5 nights in Vienna, and in some order would like to see Salzburg, Munich and some picturesque places in Germany, or possibly Prague. Travelling with five adults, what would be the best way to do things; is driving even a good idea to save costs (my hubbie is keen on this as he thinks we can wander around at our leisure in the small pretty towns) ? Is the fact that it will be very cold a disadvantage in getting everywhere by train? How do you get from the station to a B&B in places easily, with luggage? I would appreciate any thoughts on a basic itinerary that starts and finishes in Vienna. Sorry to sound so naïve, but I have never travelled in Europe with all the family. It's easier if there is just one or two of you! We thought it might be nice to spend 3-4 days in winter chalet somewhere and do some day trips from there. Any thoughts? Cheers, Sue
Dec 4th, 2015, 04:40 AM
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If you drive or take train depends in large part on your itinerary - and your willingness to drive in winter conditions, which is a totally differnt skill set. We have done many road trips in many parts of europe, including in the winter. But coming from NYC we are well used to driving in winter weather.
A couple of things to think about:
A car for 5 people plus luggage will have to be large (and even then you need to really hold down the luggage - more difficult in winter weather). This makes sense only if you want to spend a fair amount of time on the road to see countryside and small towns and have the opportunity to spend each day exploring whatever catches your interest. In 18 or 19 days you do have the time to do this. In these countries roads are well maintained in winter, but if you run into a storm while on the road conditions can be bad and you may need to make an unexpected stop.
Train has the advantage of being much less affected by weather, they should not be delayed except by a a truly huge blizzard, which is very unlikely. But then your trip is controlled by train routes and schedules.
Not sure about differences in cost for 5 people, esp since you can probably buy special packages for either car or train while you are at home. But a large car, plus very expensive gas plus parking costs (can easily be $40 per night in cities/towns) might make it a wash or be even more expensive than trains (since you are too late to buy far in advance for discounts).
I think you need to lay your trip out in advance to determine what/how many places you will go to. Vienna, Prague, Salzburg are easily done in the time you have along with some areas in the countryside or mountains (near Salzburg). f you want to add Munich plus town in Germany you are starting to have a very rushed trip, esp given the winter weather and short often grey days. You might want to visit some of the Bavarian countryside/mountains but not Munich - or spend some time in the mountains near Innsbruck - another very cute town.
In any case you do NOT need a car in either Vienna or Prague - but only for the part of the trip including countryside and smaller towns.
For a chalet type stay you might consider looking at some of the mountain towns near Innsbruck - they have a bunch of ski resorts - but many places may want you to rent for a week at a time and it may be very late (have not done this part ourselves).
I would assign a different area to each of the 5 of you and do a quick run though some guidebooks to determine how interested you are and identify lodging options.
Also have the kids look at the Let's Go Stuent Guides to identify plaes they would like to go to meet local kds.
And finally get your winter clothes organized since it will be chilly to potentially very cold with rain, sleet or snow. You each need a heavy winter coat, hat, scarf, gloves, booties with non-skid soles and warm sweaters and pants (perhaps cords?).
A couple of things to think about:
A car for 5 people plus luggage will have to be large (and even then you need to really hold down the luggage - more difficult in winter weather). This makes sense only if you want to spend a fair amount of time on the road to see countryside and small towns and have the opportunity to spend each day exploring whatever catches your interest. In 18 or 19 days you do have the time to do this. In these countries roads are well maintained in winter, but if you run into a storm while on the road conditions can be bad and you may need to make an unexpected stop.
Train has the advantage of being much less affected by weather, they should not be delayed except by a a truly huge blizzard, which is very unlikely. But then your trip is controlled by train routes and schedules.
Not sure about differences in cost for 5 people, esp since you can probably buy special packages for either car or train while you are at home. But a large car, plus very expensive gas plus parking costs (can easily be $40 per night in cities/towns) might make it a wash or be even more expensive than trains (since you are too late to buy far in advance for discounts).
I think you need to lay your trip out in advance to determine what/how many places you will go to. Vienna, Prague, Salzburg are easily done in the time you have along with some areas in the countryside or mountains (near Salzburg). f you want to add Munich plus town in Germany you are starting to have a very rushed trip, esp given the winter weather and short often grey days. You might want to visit some of the Bavarian countryside/mountains but not Munich - or spend some time in the mountains near Innsbruck - another very cute town.
In any case you do NOT need a car in either Vienna or Prague - but only for the part of the trip including countryside and smaller towns.
For a chalet type stay you might consider looking at some of the mountain towns near Innsbruck - they have a bunch of ski resorts - but many places may want you to rent for a week at a time and it may be very late (have not done this part ourselves).
I would assign a different area to each of the 5 of you and do a quick run though some guidebooks to determine how interested you are and identify lodging options.
Also have the kids look at the Let's Go Stuent Guides to identify plaes they would like to go to meet local kds.
And finally get your winter clothes organized since it will be chilly to potentially very cold with rain, sleet or snow. You each need a heavy winter coat, hat, scarf, gloves, booties with non-skid soles and warm sweaters and pants (perhaps cords?).
Dec 4th, 2015, 05:14 AM
#4
For your time in Vienna, have you considered a self-catering apartment to help reduce costs and offer a little more space for the family?
Keep in mind, too, that much of Vienna will start to "close" in the afternoon of 24 December and remain closed through 26 December (St. Stephan's Day), so you will have to plan carefully for that time. If you intend to dine out, making reservations in advance (as in, like now) is suggested.
Retail, grocery, and many restaurants are closed on Sundays in Austria.
Depending on where you will be for NYE, NYD, and 6 January (Epiphany), consider your activities carefully for these public holidays.
This will be our fourth Christmas in Vienna, and I'm sorry to report that there was no snow for the first three. Regardless of whether there will be snow, however, Vienna is magical at Christmas time!
Keep in mind, too, that much of Vienna will start to "close" in the afternoon of 24 December and remain closed through 26 December (St. Stephan's Day), so you will have to plan carefully for that time. If you intend to dine out, making reservations in advance (as in, like now) is suggested.
Retail, grocery, and many restaurants are closed on Sundays in Austria.
Depending on where you will be for NYE, NYD, and 6 January (Epiphany), consider your activities carefully for these public holidays.
This will be our fourth Christmas in Vienna, and I'm sorry to report that there was no snow for the first three. Regardless of whether there will be snow, however, Vienna is magical at Christmas time!
Dec 4th, 2015, 01:32 PM
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Thank you so much everyone for your advice. I really totally underestimated the very short time frame, and have noticed most accommodation is gone already. Similarly, we have no winter clothing, and being summer here in Australia, have missed the chance to buy coats etc. Would it be feasible to buy when we get to Vienna? Fourfor travel - it sounds like you might know where to book a Christmas lunch for the 25th in Vienna?
Is anyone familiar with the best site to look for pre-paid train tickets if we go that way? A quick look at a Eurail pass seems very expensive.
Would an itinerary of Vienna-Munich (day trips from here say to Neuschwanstein for example)- Salzburg - Vienna be feasible, so dropping off Prague to make it less rushed?
Is anyone familiar with the best site to look for pre-paid train tickets if we go that way? A quick look at a Eurail pass seems very expensive.
Would an itinerary of Vienna-Munich (day trips from here say to Neuschwanstein for example)- Salzburg - Vienna be feasible, so dropping off Prague to make it less rushed?
Dec 4th, 2015, 02:01 PM
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We will be in Austria over the Christmas period in Solden and are traveling from Australia, too.
Re clothing. If you get onto it quickly you may be able to get clothing from Marks and Spencer online. They have free delivery to Australia until December 10 I believe. Check delivery dates on the site.
Have a look at the Ezybuy site which has winter coats in their sale area.
Also, join the Summit Club at Kathmandu and their discount make buying the layers of fleece etc affordable. You will need gloves, scarves as previous posters have said. It will be cold, but once inside you will be warm and so layers are the way to go. I wouldn't buy there unless you have to as I think the Aussie $ isn't going as far as it used to in Europe!
We are a family with adult children and are travelling from Zurich to Solden, then onto Italy by train. Although my husband loves to drive we figured with the mountains, unknown roads and wintry weather it would be safer and less stress free. We are staying in apartments and find this much less expensive than hotels, plus you have a lounge area generally. I booked them through TA and Air B and B.
We looked at small ski resorts around Innsbruk (Seefeld for example ) and some of them had a lovely authentic look, perfect for Christmas , but we want to ski so chose Solden instead. Good luck with the planning!
Re clothing. If you get onto it quickly you may be able to get clothing from Marks and Spencer online. They have free delivery to Australia until December 10 I believe. Check delivery dates on the site.
Have a look at the Ezybuy site which has winter coats in their sale area.
Also, join the Summit Club at Kathmandu and their discount make buying the layers of fleece etc affordable. You will need gloves, scarves as previous posters have said. It will be cold, but once inside you will be warm and so layers are the way to go. I wouldn't buy there unless you have to as I think the Aussie $ isn't going as far as it used to in Europe!
We are a family with adult children and are travelling from Zurich to Solden, then onto Italy by train. Although my husband loves to drive we figured with the mountains, unknown roads and wintry weather it would be safer and less stress free. We are staying in apartments and find this much less expensive than hotels, plus you have a lounge area generally. I booked them through TA and Air B and B.
We looked at small ski resorts around Innsbruk (Seefeld for example ) and some of them had a lovely authentic look, perfect for Christmas , but we want to ski so chose Solden instead. Good luck with the planning!
Dec 4th, 2015, 02:17 PM
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You'd need a large vehicle I think for five adults and bags - a mini-van perhaps. Trains can be cheap - Westbahn in Austria offers cheap walk-up fares - book anytime or just show up I think - competes with parent company (I think) Austria Railways - trains in Czech Republic are cheap.
And in Germany if say going to only Bavaria - a pretty large German state with oodles to see and do - younguns will love Munich, especially if into nightlife for their ages - anyway Bavaria has a Lander Card or regional pass where all of yous could travel for around 30-40 euros total unlimited for a whole day all over Bavaria on regional trains - even going to or starting from Salzburg. Can go to Fussen for Mad Ludwig's Castles - to Rothenburg, an iconic walled town, Nurnberg - a neat large city with also the largest remaining intact Third Reich relics like the stadium balcony Hitler used to famously review goose-stepping troops from and the vast Nazi parade grounds below it
or Regensberg with they say more medieval buildings than any town in Germany - on the Danube or Linderhof or Herrenchiemsee - two of Mad Ludwig's other fantasy castles - or to Garmish (lots of nice guesthouses here) to go up the Zugspitze, etc. Or even over to the Czech Republic border from there and then onto Prague, etc.
For loads of great info on trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - check their free online European Planning & Rail Guide's Germany section of lots of places accessible by rail.
In Munich be sure to check out the BMW Museum and the famous science museum and of course the Haufbrauhaus for beer and good old downhome German food - pretzels and radishes to boot. See the gals carry an unfathomable number of humongous loaded beer steins in each hand without spilling more than a few suds if any at all - the oompah bands belt out German beer hall favorites like the perpetual old favorite "There is no beer in Heaven tht's why we are all down here"!.
And in Germany if say going to only Bavaria - a pretty large German state with oodles to see and do - younguns will love Munich, especially if into nightlife for their ages - anyway Bavaria has a Lander Card or regional pass where all of yous could travel for around 30-40 euros total unlimited for a whole day all over Bavaria on regional trains - even going to or starting from Salzburg. Can go to Fussen for Mad Ludwig's Castles - to Rothenburg, an iconic walled town, Nurnberg - a neat large city with also the largest remaining intact Third Reich relics like the stadium balcony Hitler used to famously review goose-stepping troops from and the vast Nazi parade grounds below it
or Regensberg with they say more medieval buildings than any town in Germany - on the Danube or Linderhof or Herrenchiemsee - two of Mad Ludwig's other fantasy castles - or to Garmish (lots of nice guesthouses here) to go up the Zugspitze, etc. Or even over to the Czech Republic border from there and then onto Prague, etc.
For loads of great info on trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - check their free online European Planning & Rail Guide's Germany section of lots of places accessible by rail.
In Munich be sure to check out the BMW Museum and the famous science museum and of course the Haufbrauhaus for beer and good old downhome German food - pretzels and radishes to boot. See the gals carry an unfathomable number of humongous loaded beer steins in each hand without spilling more than a few suds if any at all - the oompah bands belt out German beer hall favorites like the perpetual old favorite "There is no beer in Heaven tht's why we are all down here"!.
Dec 4th, 2015, 06:00 PM
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Thank you again everyone. My stress levels are gradually dropping! Great idea about Kathmandu Lizzy; I think it will be borderline too late to order online, but I'll have a look now.
Thankyou for the itinerary suggestions PalenQ, these were exactly all the spots we had a cursory look at on the map, and thought would be great to see. I'll let you know the final plan and see what you think!?
Thankyou for the itinerary suggestions PalenQ, these were exactly all the spots we had a cursory look at on the map, and thought would be great to see. I'll let you know the final plan and see what you think!?
Dec 4th, 2015, 10:30 PM
#9
Perthfamily, not knowing your lodging preference or budget, I did find a self-catering apartment still available in Vienna with a quick look at VRBO:
http://www.vrbo.com/2037526ha?unitId=2187504.
I wish I could offer suggestions for Christmas Day lunch reservations, but we are usually enjoying our meal at home!
As others have suggested, if you can purchase your warm clothing in advance, do so. Vienna is an expensive shopping city, with not much to offer in the mid-range that is of good quality.
Happy Planning!
http://www.vrbo.com/2037526ha?unitId=2187504.
I wish I could offer suggestions for Christmas Day lunch reservations, but we are usually enjoying our meal at home!
As others have suggested, if you can purchase your warm clothing in advance, do so. Vienna is an expensive shopping city, with not much to offer in the mid-range that is of good quality.
Happy Planning!
Dec 5th, 2015, 06:36 AM
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Dec 5th, 2015, 11:55 AM
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Buses are the best and fastest way between Nurnberg and Munich and Prague - trains also run the route but are slow and take a round-about route. check www.bahn.de/en for schedules and fares with some cheap advance fares - go from Nurnberg perhaps - the main route and then to Vienna or back to Munich.
Dec 5th, 2015, 12:57 PM
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Be sure to hit a Christmas Eve Mass in some large Catholic cathedral and Jan 6th also has special masses - I will never forget hearing Silent Night in German in Munich's main cathedral on the eve before Jan 6th.
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