Due to flight cancellations into Vienna by Delta, I am having to reorganize our ten day Christmas trip for late November and early December.

We are flying into Munich, heading straight to Salzburg for 4 nights and the ending the trip with 4 nights in Munich. We have two nights in between and are looking for some options.

We are not interested in renting a car so will be traveling by train. My 78 year old mother will be with us so I want to keep it fairly simple and limit the train travel to trips no more than 2 hours and with no connections.

St.Gilgen looks lovely and we are considering the Hotel Hollweger for a stay as this is convenient to Salzburg but looks like it might give us more of a village atmosphere.

Is this a good option? Is there a better choice? We would like a town with a small Christmas market and with enough options for food and drink.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

I love St. Gilgen but have not been there in the winter. It is well located on the lake for day trips by boat on the lake. The train is only :30 into Salzburg. We liked the Garni Schernthaner for great value.

I have been to St. Gilgen on a day trip from Salzburg last March. It was pretty much shut down, hotels and restaurants closed.

I don't think I would want to stay there in winter. Berchtesgaden or so would be much better.

I.

Berchtesgaden may be a good option. We would like something central, reasonable and with great views.

Any thughts?

We stayed across from St Gilgen last summer and loved it. There is no train from there to Salzburg, just bus 150.

Well, I just posted on KayF's trip report about your staying in St. Gilgen.

Let me repeat:

kfusto, have you considered staying in St. Gilgen on Wolfgangsee for a couple of nights? Small town, but you can take the boat to St. Wolfgang, which is a larger town with lots of shopping and restaurants. All easily walkable.
And you wouldn't need a car. You can get to St. Gilgen from Salzburg either by bus or train I believe.

I imagine it would be lovely in winter. We were there last Sept. We stayed at the Hotel Schernthaner.

http://www.wolfgangsee.at/en/5-00-0-...rt/winter.html

http://www.hotel-schernthaner.at/sei...e_winter_e.htm


If Bob says there is a train, he should know.

I know they do have a Christmas market because there was info at our hotel. I would imagine Christmas time would be more busy than in March also.


Berchtesgaden is also gorgeous if you decide to stay there. It would be a toss up for me as we loved them both.

bettyk, there is a train to Bad Ischl and on to Halstatt, but there is no train to many of the lakes in Austria. I was there for 2 weeks last summer and my husband and I hiked and traveled by bus and train only. Bob may be confused about connections to other towns, but I assure you there ain't a train near the Wolfgangsee! There used to be a local train to Strobl, but that closed down. The bus 150 runs from Salzburg to Fuschl, St Gilgen and Strobl. From there you can take the bus to Bad Ischl or take the other bus over to St Wolfgang. Here is the Austrian train site:
http://www.obb.at
The bus takes about 40 minutes and it's a pretty ride.

http://euroalps.eu/countries/austria...st__gilgen.htm


Scroll down and you'll see the info about getting there.

Thanks everyone.

We would actually take a cab as it is easier on my mom than steps on and off buses or trains. It is not to expensive and worth it for comfort.

I do stand corrected !
It was the convenient bus service that I noted for future reference.

Sorry, LlindaC, but Bob's never been wrong -- until now.

Oh well, it happens to the best of us! Next time I'll check MY facts before I open my big mouth!

Dear Kfusto,

You have just given me a heart attack! We are suppose to be flying into Vienna by Delta on Nov 29th. I better go check my reservation and see if they have made any changes to it. If I have start all over again I am just going to scream. Our plan was to start in vienna work our way to Munich for the christmas season/markets. I am also taking my 78 year old mother. Thanks for the heads up.

dear kfusto,

I just checked my reservation on Delta's Website and sure enough there is a message to contact delta about the altanta to vienna portion of our trip. I am so glad I decided to read the travel board and you post tonight. Of course it is to late to call which means I will be unable to sleep with this glick in our planned trip. By the way have a wonderful trip

Delta's reservation agents can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I would call immediately.

to Bob and betty...did not mean to offend in any way, just wanted to make sure all was straight!

It's OK LLinda, no offense taken. I was afraid I had offended YOU!!

klm cip, yes, that is how I found it, when I was checking on a waitlist and happened to see the "contact Delta" message.

I have been scrambling since trying to piece the trip back together. We were scheduled to fly out of Vienna on 7 December.

I am now wondering whether we should jsut extend in Salzburg and do a daytrip to St. Gilgen to avoid the packing and unpacking.