SKPKCP11

Dear Fodorites,

We are planning our first trip to Austria in May 2012.

We are 2 adults and 2 kids below 10 years.

We will be arriving in Vienna. We are considering staying at Hotel Donauwalzer or Hotel Pension Continental. Kindly advise which one would be more convenient to attractions and budget eating places.

Is Vienna transportation expensive? We will be staying for 5 nights. What is the most cost effective way to move around? Any advise will be of great help. We do not want to save on hotel and spend a huge amount on travelling around.

Are both the hotels in safe neighbourhoods? Which is the area in Vienna which we should avoid?

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Chism

Trams are the best way to get around Vienna. They are everywhere and cheap. Your kids will like riding in them.
Don't miss a trip via subway to Schonnbrun Palace. Your kids will love it as well as you adults. The grounds are wonderful and there is a zoo. I don't know about the hotels you mentioned but be sure to stay on the Ringstrausse.

easytraveler

For the least expensive and best transportation deal within Vienna, get one Vienna Card for each adult.

The Vienna Card is good for 72 hours and entitles you to unlimited travel on public transportation and one child under the age of 15 to travel with you for free. The Card also comes with discounts to numerous museums, etc.

It also saves time without you having to buy single tickets each time you need to take public transportation.

If you order the card online, you also get a one euro discount off of the transportation from the airport into the city.

For your other two days, you can either get a Day Pass per day or purchase single tickets.

http://homepage.univie.ac.at/horst.p...ish/fares.html

easytraveler

For one of the two "free" days without the Vienna Card, you might consider getting the "combi" ticket with the Vienna Ring Tram.

This ticket allows you unlimited travel on public transportation for the day as well as allowing you to take the Vienna Ring Tram, which is the hop-on-hop-off tram that goes around the Ring to the some of the most important and major sights in Vienna.

Be sure you get on the yellow TRAM and not the yellow bus, which is also hop-on-hop-off, but is a private business and costs more than the tram.

http://www.wienerlinien.at/wl/ep/pro...rogramId/19580

Michael

For an inexpensive restaurant, Google <b>Kent Restaurant, Vienna, Austria</b>.

We had a great combination platter sitting in their courtyard, but that was a few years ago.

elberko

The 8th paragraph in this link explains your transit options:

http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/a...p_2191996.html

Also, it would be helpful if you could give us an address or website for the hotels...

Liz

easytraveler

elberko, it looks like the Donwalzer is outside of the Ring and really isn't that great a location nor a hotel.

Between the two, the Continental looks better and it's right off Mariahilfer Strasse, which is where the Viennese themselves go shopping. It's a very busy street and I remember seeing a McDonald's there.

However, there might be better choices than these two.

SKPKCP11: Try going into tripadvisor.com and enter "Vienna hotels". Then narrow down your choices: price, $0-$100, and click on "B&Bs" instead of "hotels".

You should have a better selection with B&Bs. Read the reviews carefully, they provide a lot of information. E.g., some of these B&Bs may be very nice but may be a bit inconvenient in terms of location, etc.

PeaceOut

The Hotel Kaiserin Elisabeth is a great boutique hotel nearby St Stephens' and the Hofburg complex. It is not cheap, but they do have a nice large family suite, with breakfast included. If you contact the hotel directly and ask for the best price, they may give you a 10 percent discount.


If you like horses, the royal lippizzaners are probably still in Vienna, at their winter riding school. The morning exercise with music is very interesting to see, and less expensice than a full-dress show. You can tour the stables, too, but it is not fancy or exciting unless you are a horselover.

almcd

Check out the Hotel Alstadt. It is a terrific place and the staff are fantastic. It is very close to the city centre and the Metro. My wife abd I love it. From the front, it looks like nothing, but once inside, it is a gem.

SKPKCP11

Thanks to all of you for your very useful inputs. I will check out the Hotel Alstadt.

We are not into shopping but require a place which is easy to get around and has budgetlocal Austrian food available nearby.

I have read that the Beisls are the cheapest and best place to try out the local food. How does one know that the restaurant is a Beisl? Is it indicated outside? Any advise for travel and food is welcome please.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

SKPKCP11

Address of :
HOTEL-PENSION
CONTINENTAL A-1070 Wien, Mariahilfer Straße 50 / Kirchengasse 1
www.hotel-continental.at
OR

Hotel Donauwalzer
Hotel-Tradition seit 1901
Mag. Katharina Kluss
Ottakringerstrasse 5
1170 Wien

Kindly recommend which one to go for.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Cathinjoetown

Have a look at Pension Pertschy, great location, you will save by being able to walk to so many things.
I've stayed there myself.

Can't add anything to the comments you already have on your two choices.

molker

Donauwalzer is not in a good location for sightseeing.

Either a very long walk or transport ride to most sights.

Not a great neighborhood - this on a wide major roadway with constant traffic and public transport including elevated U Bahn.

Lack of good dining choices.

of the two mentioned places , the Continental is much better.

Many restaurants in easy walking.
Short walk to many sights including Museum Quarter , Spittelberg district, Hofburg, Ringstrasse

Ubahn line U-3 close by if wishing longer ventures - Stephansdom in 3? stops .


A beisl will generally have the word have the word Beisl attached to its name

example

Reinthalers Beisl
this a good place in the city center.

Most dining places will have their menu posted outside of the door- easy to inspect choices and prices to see if it is for you.

Kent mentioned above is a turkish restaurant -
3 restaurants now none toward the city center.

SKPKCP11

Dear Molker,

Thanks for your intervention and giving me a clear picture.

How is the Appartements Augarten in terms of location and area? Are there budget eateries and super markets in and around the appartement where we can take our breakfast. The price fits into our budget. Euro 99/- for 2 adults and 2 children.

Appartements Augarten
1020 Wien
Obere Augartenstrasse 72
www.appartements-augarten.info

This is our first trip to Vienna and any inputs from your side as a local are welcome for bringing down our cost.

One more query - my children are 11 years and 9 years if we buy the Vienna card for our travel on some days will they be free? or do I need to buy a card for 2 adults and 2 children? Please clarify.

From Vienna we plan to go to Salzburg. Any recommendations for budget accomodation in Salzburg are welcome. We plan to use the Einfach Raus ticket. Can I get this ticket at the airport or Vienna train station. Please advise.

we are very interested in local Austrian food (budget) with good serving portions. Are there any places which are conveniently located where we can go.

Are Children allowed to see the Vienna Choir boys singing? How do we go about it? Where do we go to hear them and is it very expensive? Not sure if children are allowed in Opera and I understand that tickets are very expensive. Please confirm.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

northie

Pension Suzanne is very central and near a supermarket and a little walk from the nachtmarkt. Also serves breakfast and has a kitchen

elberko

SKPKCP11,

While Molker is a WONDERFUL resource, it sounds like you need lots of basic advice, which might be better answered with a guidebook.

Since you are stressing budget alot, I highly recommend you have a look at the Rick Steves website and guidebooks. I think they'll help you get a handle on things.

~Liz

molker

While guide books are good for some things, realize they are obselete in many instances by the time of publication.

For example - the publiv transport rates are scheduled to have price changes in May 2012.
These already announced - single ride ticket now 1,80 euro will be 2,00 euro.

If use wish public transport info.

use their website

www.wienerlinien.at

Many find the Vienna Card not the best bargain.

info on kids there too. and when they ride free.

The Opera offers Childrens Operas many times throughout the season this perhaps an alternative
Good state opera tickets can be found in all price ranges , so it does not need to be expensive - but with performances usually about 2 1/2- 3 hours an average child finds it very hard to sit this long for something perhaps to them not so interesting.
information on the State Opera website.

www.wiener-staatsoper.at


another option is the Volksoper

www.volksoper.at

usually lighter - fast paced offerings - with tickets much less expensive too.
Young families more often seen here.


Vienna Boys Choir

look here for their schedule children permitted.

www.wsk.at

They perform as part of the Mass at the Hofburg most sundays among other performances.

If you plan to use the einfach raus ticket for the train Vienna to Salzburg.

This ticket is only good for regional trains- this means your travel time is probably twice as long or more with transfers during rhe journey. No fun with kids and luggage.

New ticket prices have been announced recently for the trip Vienna - Salzburg - some as low as 19 euro with advance purchase.

You can find info on
www.oebb.at

In addition a new train service will begin on this route in December 2011 by a private firm- Westbahn

you can see their offers

www.westbahn.at

I believe some kids by age can travel free and their regular ticket prices are competitive.

The Augarten Apartment is found in the 2nd District - out of the city center, by a busy main street.

The recent extension of the UBahn line U-2 with a station near to this apartment( Taborstrasse I think ) allows quick easy access to the area of the center and the Ring.

The area is not that great - many shops , commercial buildings.

Some resturants but many will offer ethnic food reflecting the nature of the neighborhood. Depending on location , many turkish places.


I would consider spending a little more and having a better place, better locasted for sightseeing, shopping etc.

SKPKCP11

Thanks Molker for the fantastic info. I usually depend on Fodorites like you before making a decision.

Finally I have to make a choice between
PENSION KRAML - A 1060 Vienna, Brauergasse 5
OR
Hotel Pension Continental A-1070 Wien, Mariahilfer Straße 50 / Kirchengasse 1.

Any insights which of the two to opt for?

We prefer something close to the underground so that we can move easily and also that has easy access to local Austria eateries/konditorie. Turkish and Italian food is okay but would definitely prefer Weiner Schnitzel with beer on a regular basis for our 5 days stay. Any info into good local budget eating out places would definitely help and a safe neighbourhood. Not close to the red light areas.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

molker

The choice of one over the other is hard.

Both are basic " no frills " accomodations

Kraml is located between the Mariahilferstrasse area and that of the Naschmarkt-

Omn Mariahilf you find the U-3 Ubahn line for quick access to very city center -
walkinig distance to Museum Quarter.
Naschmarkt direction finds the U-4 - easy way to Schonbrunn Palace.
Naschmarkt an open air food market , famous with various small eateries too.

Kraml has buffet breakfast included in rate I think.

Continental - closer to Westbahnhof trasin station- directly on Mariahilf

U-3 UBahn stop Neubaugasse close by - this one stop further from city center.

Continental probably has more varied eating choices close by walking distance to Museum Quarter

Breakfast included ?

some dining choices walkable from both places- many in Spittelberg arera.


Siebensternbrau

www.7stern.at

Zu Ebener ......
austrian specialties

www.zu-ebener-erde-und-erster-stock.at ( I think )

Amerling Beisl

www.amerlingbeisl.at

Witwe Bolte

www.witwebolte.at

I would consider all neighborhoods in this area to be safe.

SKPKCP11

Thanks Molker for the your useful info.

I have also got an offer from
Appartements Augarten
A-1020 Wien, Obere Augartenstrasse 72

Any idea if this place is well located near U Bahn stop and eateries.

Also, is the Spittelberg area close to any of the options we are considering? Kindly advise.

Thanks a ton.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11