Driving through Austrian Alps
 

My husband and I are planning a European tour for Nov. 2002. One of our stops will be in Austria- the heart of the Alps. First time taking such a trip I may add. I tend to get motion sickness at times and so I would appreciate any suggestions one could make prior to taking this trip. Thus I will be sure to enjoy the sights. Other than winding and steep are there any other "surprises" I should know about as far as the roadways are concerned? Thanks to all who read and respond.

Could you be a little more specific as to where you are planning to travel in Austria? Are you going over the Grossglockner? Are you traveling to Innsbruck? Not all of Austria is mountainous, so it would help if you could provide some details.

Part of the tour package includes a trip to Innsbrugk and the Voralberg. Did not read Grossglockner in tour description.

I don't think this will present any serious problems for you, but I would suggest that you take Bonine with you and take it at least an hour or two before traveling in the mountains. It really is wonderful stuff and does not make you sleepy. I would definitely suggest that you not read while you are traveling as this can also make you sick. Anyway, so many of these roads are major highways and are not the little winding roads you can find in the country. Sometimes you don't even realize how high you are climbing until you're already at the top! Just sit back and enjoy all the beautiful scenery!

The two most spectacular drives I know of in the Austrian Alps are (1) the Grossglockner Hochalpenstra&szlig;e and the<BR>road over the Timmeljoch between Solden in Austria and Meran in Italy.<BR>It is steep, but beautiful. <BR>Although the Ausrian Alps are not as high as the Swiss Alps, there are still some wonderful sights. The Grossglockner is one heck of a drive and one that I strongly endorse. The Timmeljoch road is a challenge, but not much more difficult than the Grimsel and Furka Passes in Switzerland.<BR>You can visit the Zugspitze north and a little west of Innsbruck from both the German side and the Austrian side.<BR>The Gletscherstra&szlig;e west of Solden in the &Ouml;tztal (Glaciar highway in the Otz valley) is a short but interesting toll road that leads to a glacial area where there is year round skiing.<BR>The area around Kitzbuhl is nice too, with some explorations possible in the area. <BR>There are all sorts of little nooks and valleys to explore between the area south and east of Salzburg and the Swiss border, but I think the ones named so far are the premier attractions.<BR>(Switzerland is not exactly next to Salzburg, even though the movie had the Von Trapp family escaping to Switzerland by climbing the hills outside of Salzburg. If they had actually taken that route they would have ended up in Germany!!)

My proof reading is slipping again.<BR>Glacier and Austria!!<BR>Groan!<BR>And Timmelsjoch. Joch is German for a notch or a pass in the mountains.<BR>

If you are driving, be sure to check which passes are closed during the winter months. Many of the high passes close in late Autumn(Grossglockner, Austria; Furka, Switzerland, Susten, Switzerland, and many others. The snow falls early in the season at those highs elevations. We often travel to Germany and Austria in November and enjoy the cozy feeling that time of year. Tell us your trip itinerary so we can comment further. Is Lech on the itinerary.