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Give advice on Austria trip in the fall.....

Give advice on Austria trip in the fall.....

Old Mar 25th, 2017, 01:19 PM
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Give advice on Austria trip in the fall.....

We are doing a version of the trip posted by mdciti leaving Sept 9 and returning the 20th, flying in and out of Munich. We actually plan to be in Austria the whole trip other than the night before leaving Munich. We have no accomadations yet other than the final night in Munich. We had planned 3 nights Salzburg and 3 in Vienna with some stops elsewhere for one nighters maybe in the Salzgammergut region and maybe even in Passau. We have looked at St Gilgen, Wolfgangsee, Melks as possibilities.

Based on forums posts I have read, it seems some choose not to stay in Salzburg, but in Bavaria even though visiting Salzburg. We have been to the Fussen area and don't want to go there, but have not been to the Berchtesgaden area and would like to see this area. Should we stay in Salzburg and visit Berchtesgaden or the other way around? Of course, we want to do the sound of music tour and visit any Mozart sites.

We will probably rent a car, but I love trains and want to work some in this trip. Maybe train to Salzburg and rent car there for driving in Austria. Or rent a car in Germany and have it during the whole trip.

We are looking at the boat cruise for a day on the Danube and maybe biking as well. We are late 50s, my husband and I. We have been vacationing recently with other people, friends and family, so are looking forward to the two of us

Any recommendations for stays or transportation or things to visit?

Thank you !
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Old Mar 25th, 2017, 02:22 PM
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I worried ahead of time that I'd hate Salzburg because it was too touristy, but I really liked it - didn't seem as busy in September as I thought it would be (though it also rained while I was there). Then again, I like cities and towns, as much for "city" experience as to see sights and museums and then leave. But I think staying in Salzburg makes a lot of sense especially if you don't have a car.

I think Berchtesgaden is easier to explore if you have a car. I visited by bus from Salzburg mostly to see the Nazi documentation center. I might have gone up to the "Eagle's Nest" above there, but the day I visited it positively poured rain, and I couldn't see much of anything, so I spent my time indoors mostly. The area looks very pretty from the pictures!

You could rent a car for just part of the time, too.

Training from Munich to Salzburg, I did notice how lovely the countryside looked and how fun it might be to explore the little towns by car. So...tough call, really depends what kind of a vacation you want! You could train to Salzburg, rent a car for a few days there, then train to Vienna - best of both worlds.
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Old Mar 25th, 2017, 11:28 PM
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We live in Vienna and travel quite a bit around our adopted home country, and I hope our personal experiences and impressions will be useful.

Given that you are traveling in September I would base in Salzburg with a car to tour the Salzkammergut (Wolfgangsee) and Berchtesgaden for a couple of days. Drive to Innsbruck and explore for a couple of nights, perhaps timing it to see one of the Almabtrieb (Reith-in-Alpbach has a spectacular parade and festival if the timing works). From there enjoy some Fahrvergnügen on the Autobahn (totally boring scenery east of the Salzkammergut toward Vienna.) Drop the car in Vienna, or keep it for the Wachau Valley and return to Munich. Please, though, do not drive while in Vienna. Public transportation is superb.


If you are of the mind in Vienna, a walk through the autumn vineyards with lunch at a heuriger is about as Viennese an activity as waltzing.

For a lovely day trip, and one that we've done a couple of times, take the train to Melk. Tour the abbey, then collect your rented bicycles and peddle along the mostly flat trail that follows the Donau toward Krems, stopping in the several picturesque vineyards and villages for photos and lunch at one of the open heuriger (the one in St. Michael's is our favorite). Peddle on to Krems, drop the rented bicycles, and catch the train to Vienna. This can also be done with a car if desired.

Now. Here's where impressions will be varied. DH and I are about your age, and can not imagine the mind-numbingness of a Donau cruise through the Wachau Valley. Whether you choose to drive or cycle through the Wachau, the "decadence" of stopping wherever and whenever is in no way matched by the strict cadence of the day-trippers who shuffle between cities on a schedule. I will neither confirm nor deny that DH and I may or may not have sat at a terrace restaurant in Durnstein enjoying lunch and Sturm, inwardly laughing at the day trippers who can only walk back and forth through the town, buy some marillen products, and then hurry to catch their bus/boat...

I hope this is helpful. Happy Planning!
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 05:00 AM
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Thank you, Andrew and Fourfor, for your insights. Two votes for staying in Salzburg with a car for seeing the area. I also like cities as you do Andrew, for the same reasons, but also to be able to walk out each day and buy coffee or pastry for breakfast with those who live there. I hope we do not have allot of heavy rain as you did.

By the way, I love your photos which I admit to taking a peek at on your website link!!!

Fourfortravel we have not been thinking in terms of Innsbruck - but now will consider making that part of our trip. I will do some research.

I love your recommendation on the Melk abbey and biking day. Thank you very much. Can bikes be returned at a different location from where they were picked up, or are we to bike back to Melk at the end of the day to return them?

Perfect combination of driving and traveling by train. Do you suggest train or fly to return from Vienna to Munich?

Any recommendations for accommodations in Salzburg or Vienna? We like to stay in smaller family run establishments, but would also consider larger hotels. I think we may need laundry facilities either in Innsbruck or Vienna as we pack light when we travel.

Thank you again!
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 08:11 AM
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Cindywho, Almabtriebe, if you can experience one, is memorable. If the summer season in the Alps has been successful (no injuries to the livestock), the herders elaborately decorate the animals and parade them back into the villages. This, of course, is accompanied by plenty of food and alcohol. Here is the link to the Austrian Almabtriebe: http://www.austria.info/de/aktivitat...-in-osterreich

We take our bicycles from Vienna to Melk for the bike ride, but I know that there are a couple of companies that offer a Melk pickup/Krems return. If you end up renting your bicycles in Vienna, rent them the night before and plan to be at Westbahnhof early for the 1000 train for loading, especially on a weekend. All of the trains are bicycle-friendly, but...

If you have driven from Salzburg to Vienna, you will have seen the "scenery," in which case I would suggest you drop the car in Vienna and relax on the train from Vienna to Munich. As for lodging I can not offer anything in Vienna (since we live here), but in Salzburg (with a car) I can recommend Haus am Moos. The house is a tiny bit outside of Salzburg, though perfect for your proposed itinerary. The owners are wonderful (and bi-lingual with English).
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 12:45 PM
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HI Cindywho,

We love staying in the Berchtesgaden area and visiting Salzburg, less than 30 minutes away by car, for a day and evening. Sometimes we go just for dinner and a stroll afterwards, but love staying in the alpine area by Berchtesgaden.

So many places and things based here.
Berchtesgaden
Konigssee
Jennerbahn
Eagles Nest
Sommerrodelbahn (luge rides)
Eagles Nest
Salt Mine
Salzburg... Park in Monchburg Parking Garage.
Hallein, Austria.. Luge ride, Salt Mine
Werfen, Austria... Hohenwerfen Fortress, Ice Caves
Salzkammergut.... Wolfgangsee (spend a day out on a lake ship visiting St. Wolfgang, Strobl and St. Gilgen. Park in St. Gilgen.

Half day trip to Herrenchiemsee.
Day trip to Zell am See or Hallstatt.

Look at staying at:
Pension Mayringerlehen - Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden
Guesthouse Friedwiese - Schonau am Konigssee
Pension Grubenlehen - Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden

Paul
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 12:46 PM
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Forgot our pics:
www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 12:54 PM
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In 2011, I stayed at Hotel Pension Herbert in Salzburg. It too is on the outskirts of town; I didn't have a car so took a local bus into the old town (it would have been walkable but a very long walk). It was a nice little place, with free car parking as I recall. A glance at the TA reviews shows it still gets good reviews.

Without a car, staying in the old town directly would have been preferable just more expensive than the Herbert (at least in 2011). I stayed at the Herbert partly to save money, partly because it sounded great from the reviews. I didn't know if I was even going to like Salzburg - and it rained anyway.
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Old Mar 28th, 2017, 04:16 AM
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Thank you everyone for your input! We are still considering and researching what this trip will look like. We have looked at the Almabtriebe possibilities as it looks very interesting. Most of them are scheduled for after we leave, but there are two that may occur while we are there.

Thanks for the lodging information-seriously considering the Haus am Moos near Salzburg. I remember years ago (2008) when we were planning a trip that someone on this forum recommended this place and we ended up not going into Austria on that trip.

Also Paul, looking at those places you recommended in the Berchtesgaden area. Thank for the photos - it makes me want to be there! And all of the suggestions which reminded us to extend the number of days in that area.
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Old Mar 28th, 2017, 05:57 PM
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Fourfortravel, in case you are checking back, I have contacted an Austrian Tyrol Area tourism website for dates on the Almabtriebes in the area. They said they won't know until April exactly what the dates are, so I will wait until then to make final plans.
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Old Mar 28th, 2017, 09:50 PM
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I hope there is one the fits your schedule. Perhaps it's a little silly for a city gal to be excited about decorated cows, but if you have taken a peek at any photos on the Internet you'll understand my excitement.

Here is the link to Almabtrieb in and around Berchtesgaden. Most of the dates are still 2016, but you'll get a general feel for what might be happening around your visit.

https://www.berchtesgadener-land.com...mer/almabtrieb

Happy Planning!
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 09:36 PM
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What are the most scenic cable cars in the region?

I'm looking at Zugspitze, Five Fingers near Hallstatt. Also looking at St. Gilgen and the cogwheel train in St. Wolfgang.

I've also heard that Innsbruck and Salzburg both offer tourist cards that get you on several in each region.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 09:49 PM
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From the ones you mention, the Zugspitze. You can reach the top from either Garmisch, Germany OR Ehrwald, Austria. The Austrian side ascent is cheaper and just one cable car to the top, regardless of which side you go up on, they both go to the exact same spot. Top of the Zugspitze, where you walk between Germany and Austria as the summit is right on the border,
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Old Mar 30th, 2017, 12:31 PM
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Yeah I ascended from the German side last year.

I booked 3 or 4 nights in Lermoos, planning to go east to Innsbruck, Salzburg, etc.

The Ehrwald area has a combo ticket which includes one ride on Zugspitzebahn and rides on other cable cars in the other mountains.

Do you take a cable ca to reach the Eagles Nest?
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Old Mar 30th, 2017, 01:10 PM
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We will probably rent a car, but I love trains and want to work some in this trip.>

You could do it all by train and cars are rather useless in Salzburg and Vienna and most large cities - Austrian trains are tops- 2nd cl as good as first in many countries. Booking tickets well in advance at www.oebb.at -Austrian Railways site can yield nice discounts (but non-changeable non-refundable I believe from the exact train you book them on - unlike full fare tickets which can be used on any train and no need to reserve - especially in first class. anyway for loads of good stuff on trains - www.seat61.com - great advice on discounted ticket; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

https://westbahn.at/en is the English sit of Westbahn -which runs always cheap trains Vienna to Salzburg route.
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