Austria & Switzerland- winter or summer!
 

I have never been to Austria or Switzerland and I am deciding whether to do a December trip or summer trip. The trip will be with my husband and 17-year-old adventurous son. If we go in December we will have about 10 days. We will have 14 if we go in the summer. My family are holocaust survivors so I would like to see at least one concentration camp. Not sure if this is doable. Would love to see Vienna, Saulsburg and the Alps. I realize going in the winter or summer will be quite different. If we went in the winter would love to do some kind of sledding, skiing or outdoor activities. During the summer it a day hike would be nice. Would like to combine culture and recreation and enjoying the scenery. I also notice on Expedia and if we book in the winter and go to Vienna, we can get a flight and hotel for very inexpensive as a package. That however, would not allow us to change locations. Has anyone had any experience with this?
Thank you for your time and thoughts!

Hi, I am not sure where you may be flying from, but I would opt for the longer period in the Summer. Travel is costly, esp the flights, so I would make the most of more time. Vienna is a lovely city with much to see, Hapsburg Palace where Gustaf Klimpt painted/movie/Woman in Gold/ in the Belvedere Palace,painting now in NYC I believe. Probably more Klimpt in the Belvedere Palace as I recall, if you are into art. Great coffee houses, Opera House. If you can go up to Munich, Dacchau is easily attainable by train from Munich, in a short ride/20 min? from Munich. If on train go up to Wengen in Summer with the incredible amazing hiking from the lift up to the Mannlichen and just below the Monch/Jungfrau, and Eiger. Great village for hiking. Train would get you to all of this, esp in Switzerland with Swiss Rail Pass. Saltzburg is also accessible.....I just was in Wengen in July and have been to Vienna, Salzburg and Dacchu in the past. Sue Great itinerary.

Also I think this would be a bit difficult to do, and see each place with some relaxing time in 10- days, as there will be down time will on train. Sue

also since you have a good bit of time before next Summer, you could research hotels in each place and get suggestions from Fodors as to good places to stay in each city that are reasonable/clean/and fit your interests. It might be less costly than a tour. Sue again.

OK I got that wrong, The Hapsburg Palace is probably a place that you would want to visit in Vienna, and not the place where the Klimpt paintings are/were located, that is the Belvedere Palace, just a trolley ride to get there. The Spanish Riding School is connected to the Hapsburg Palace, and is a must to see, with the Lippizaner stallions, get tickets ahead for show there or training session. Your son would love the Spanish Riding School, and lovely horses with all gorgeous horses/riders/chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the ring. Sorry you've got me going on these destinations. The END I will shut up. Sue

Summer - More time, longer days, etc., especially if you want to see a lot, 14 days is a real plus. Also, not having to deal with more clothing, more time outside, eating outside, etc.
Winter can be fun if you want to go more for winter sports, but not sight see as much.

It has been years since I have been in that area, but I would not spend the whole time in one place and never take a tour there. It is beautiful, lots to see and easy to get around and do everything on your own. You are spending a lot just to get to Europe. Don't cheat yourself out of the best of experience possible to save only a little bit compared with the whole.

I think Sassafrass has just given you some great advice.

You might find some useful information in my trip report about my time in Switzerland:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...any-thanks.cfm

If a concentration camp is a high priority, you might consider Dachau, just outside of Munich....

A December trip can be lovely. If you are traveling before Christmas, a combination of Vienna and perhaps Salzburg and/or Innsbruck, or even Munich could be a sampler of Christmas markets and winter activities.

In Austria there is Mauthausen Memorial, the concentration and labor camp; outside of Munich is Dachau.

Check the location of the hotel in the "inexpensive" package; it could either be a great deal, or you will have a 30 minute commute into Vienna each day. I, personally, would not book a ten-day stay exclusively in Vienna in December.

If your travel includes Christmas, be aware of holiday closures and shorter hours between 24 December and 2 January. The ski resort towns will be livelier, however.

There are 20 holocaust memorials in Austria, 12 in the neighbouring Czech Republic, 3 at Budapest, 1 at the Austro-Slovenian border, 2 in South Tyrol (Austro-Italian border) and more than 20 in the German Laender of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg. Auschwitz (Poland) is closer to Vienna than Munich/Dachau.
May be you will have a look at http://www.gedenkstaetten-uebersicht...l/oesterreich/

There is no need to go to Switzerland for alpine scenery. You can have that in Austria as well.
https://www.austria.info/uk

we just came back from Switzerland where we had a great time, not least because the transport makes getting around so easy. However it's not cheap; IME Austria and Germany would offer better value for what you want to do.

if the Expedia deal is a real bargain, there's nothing to stop you vacating your accommodation there for a few days to go elsewhere; you're paying twice for each night you're away of course but it still might make sense, depending on the savings.

Thank you all so much for your incredibly thoughtful responses. I will read them all through and check out the links and places suggested. I am considering just going to Vienna and Salzburg for December. Since the value looks like it might be very good. It would be over Christmas however so it sounds like somethings might be closed ..perhaps we will do some skiing at that point. We wouldn't be able to leave until probably right before Christmas since my son is in school. Sounds like we might be able to visit a concentration camp too. My preference would be Auschwitz since that is where my family was and will check distances. Thanks again

It looks like we could fly from Boston to Vienna and stay in Schönbrunn for $1,200 person including hotel. . Would it make sense to stay in this area? Could use it as our base camp and travel to Innsbrook, Salzburg? Also has anyone had any experience nightime tobagoning? Thank you!

Staying near Schönbrunn can mean a 20-25 minute connection to reach the Inner Stadt. The Christmas market will be lively at Schloss Schönbrunn in the evenings. Personally, for a first time visit to Vienna I might stay closer to the Inner Stadt at this time of year just to be "in the heart" of the city.

Are you contemplating a day trip to Innsbruck? The train travel is 4+ hours one-way. Salzburg can be manageable as a long day trip (I've done it several times with visiting family and friends), but Christmas time I would suggest spending the night. Both trains will depart from Vienna's main train station, which would also require a 20-30 minute connection to reach.

Our children have been on the Rodelbahn at night at Zauberberg; there are lights and music and it is altogether a grand time. DH and I wisely sat in the chalet with dinner and a glass of red wine, having our own fun. :)

It looks like we could fly from Boston to Vienna and stay in Schönbrunn for $1,200 person including hotel. >>

you have probably done this already but have you priced this with flights and room separately. Normally european rooms are let per room, not pp, so you may find that you can do it cheaper that way, especially if you [and he] are happy sharing a room with your son. Most hotels have some family rooms with at least one extra bed.

For a nice medium price hotel in the centre of Vienna I can recommend the Hotel Austria; on their own website they are showing a room for three including breakfast [which was very good when we were there] from 23/12/ - 30/12 [7 nights, Saturday to Saturday] for €1,313 with free cancellation]:

https://www.hotelaustria-wien.at/en/...30%2F12%2F2017

you could check TA to see what else is available in the centre or whether you could get that cheaper; you might also book it as a holding position while you check alternatives and flights.

Thank you! These replies with ideas and links are so helpful!!

We've visited Switzerland in both summer and winter...as well as spring and fall, but more often in winter.

We had a fabulous time during our late May early June trip this year - lovely time to visit, early enough to not be inundated with tourists (although we tend to avoid tourist busy areas anyway), wildflowers in bloom, green, green, green. A few days of way too hot weather - an unexpected heatwave - but otherwise lovely weather.

Yet, we're going back again in December, as we also adore Switzerland in the winter, even though we don't go to ski, but rather to winter hike and soak up the winter alpine scenery.

The disadvantages of winter - short days, expensive accommodation in ski areas.

The disadvantages of summer - busy to the point of suffocating in popular areas, possibility of too warm weather (too warm for me anyway) expensive accommodation.

"The disadvantages of winter - short days, expensive accommodation in ski areas.

The disadvantages of summer - busy to the point of suffocating in popular areas, possibility of too warm weather (too warm for me anyway) expensive accommodation."

Melnq is right, BUT

1. There are tons of small ski areas (like Saas Grund, Rosswald, Giw, Albinen, Grossalp....) where accommodation isn't particularly expensive.

2. the best bases for spectacular winter hikes are seldom identic with ski resorts.

3. The so called popular areas cover only a few per cent of the Swiss alpine territory. It's easy to find well signmarked panoramic trails of easy reach where it's more likely to meet a chamois or a marmot than a human being, even in high season.

Yes indeed neckervd - we've learned this ourselves after many, many visits to Switzerland.

Unfortunately, first time visitors seem intent on visiting the very places we now try to avoid, hence my general remarks.

(And thank you for your specific list of small ski areas, I shall note them for our next visit).

We'll be spending some time in Lenzerheide in December, perhaps not off the beaten path for the Swiss, but definitely new to us. When I posted questions about Lenzerheide on several websites, all I got was silence...which was a good sign.

Thanks Melnq8.
Lenzerheide (called Lai (Lake) in the local Rumantsch language) is very popular with Swiss people indeed. It's linked with the ski area of Arosa.
It's only 1500 metres above sea level (ski area up to 2500 m). So check the snow conditions before starting your trip.

Climate change doesn't mean only more avalanches and landslides (5 within the last 3 weeks) with closed hiking trails and evacuated villages, but also less snowfall (above all at the beginning of winter).

As to the small to tiny ski resorts popular with Swiss families, you may check
Champery
Champoussin
Ovronnaz
Haute Nendaz
Veysonnaz
Anzere
Zinal
Chandolin/St. Luc
Albinen
Wiler im Loetschental
Unterbaech/Eischoll
Graechen
Saas Grund
Visperterminen/Giw
Belalp
Riederalp/Bettmeralp
Fiescheralp
Bellwald
Rougemont
Saanenmoeser
Lenk im Simmental
Adelboden
Soerenberg
Hasliberg
Melchsee-Frutt
Stooss (Schwyz)
Hoch Ybrig
Braunwald
Elm
Flumserberg
Wangs-Pizol
Unterwasser/Wildhaus
Malbun (Liechenstein)
Disentis
Breil/Vuorz
Obersaxen
Spluegen
Savognin
Scuol/Ftan
Samnaun
Nauders (Austria; Rumantsch name: Danuder)
Gaschurn (Austria; Rumantsch name: Gavadura)
Bosco Gurin
Macugnaga (Italy; German name: Z'Maggenen)

Here too: lack of snow is not uncommon at all these places, however

Holy moly, that's quite a list!

I've been to a few of them, but will print the list for future reference (our primary interest is hiking, not skiing).

Thanks for taking the time.