We just returned from Vienna last Sunday. We spent 4 days there, prior to that, we stayed in Melk, Salzburg, and a week in Brugge. I would be glad to give specific details on all our stops. Last year we also stayed in Hallstatt, which is very beautiful. There were demonstrations in Vienna on Saturday by Serbs who are "guest workers" in Vienna and the people of Vienna are quite disturbed by their presence, but we enjoyed our visit nonetheless. I will be glad to provide details to anyone who posts a reply message.

Hi Diane, <BR>I am planning to go to Europe in Sept. Any hotel suggestion in Brugge? Did you go to Brussels? How do you compare the two cities? Thanks a lot. <BR>Oh, have you tasted the Belgium chocolates ? <BR>

Ricky, I don't know how long you plan to stay in Brugge, but we spent one week (7 nights) in a lovely apartment (4 of us) for 19,000 BEF (approx. $491.00 USD). The website for the apartment is: www.holiday-rentals.co.uk, then select Europe-Belgium. The apartment we stayed in is the first one listed with photos. You may want to check out some of the others listed as they have some smaller flats with less min. stay. We had stayed in Brugge the prior year and saw this website and quite frankly it looked to good to be true, so we checked it out on that trip. It was everything the website showed and more. We loved it. As for Brussels, it is about 55 minutes by train from Brugge, and although a large city, the inner old city is unbelievable. The display of food there along the small side streets at the restaurants is worth the trip itself, but the city center is magnificant. Another side trip we enjoyed very much was to the Wildlife sanctuary on the North Sea, about a 15 minute train ride + another 15 min. on bus from Brugge. If you are interested, I would be glad to provide you with more details. We have also found a very good beer store in Ghent that has become an annual stop. Any other questions you may have I would be glad to answer.

We are going to be in vienna and salzburg at the end of july.Many hotels will not accept a one night reservation in Salzburg during the music festival. Blaue Gans (Blue Goose) which is on Getreidstrasse near Mozart's house will and Sheraton near Mirabell Gardens. We will be arriving and departing by train and going to the opera that sat. night. Any recommendations or considerations to either choice? In Vienna, did you take a boat down the Danube or go to the Heurigens. Again any recommendations in Vienna. Lastly, we are also going to Prague. How disturbing were the demonstrations to you- ?

Ricky--we loved the Belgium chocolates. There is this wonderful chocolate store in Bruges that you absolutely must try, it is Maitre Chocolatier Verbeke, only a block away from the Market Square, located at Geldmuntstraat 25. They are closed Sunday and Monday. We only wish we had purchases more !!!!

Hi Diane: <BR> <BR>Did you purchase a Vienna Card or any other form of U-Bahn or express train pass? If so, what did you think about it? I noticed the Vienna Card is only good for three days of transportation, and only seems to offer discounts to certain attractions, not automatic admission like the Carte Musee card in Paris. Just wondering what your experience was. Thanks!

Liv, I am not familiar with either hotels you refer to. We stayed in the Gasthaus Zur Goldenen Ente for one night. Have stayed there before, rooms a little on the small side, but the restaurant food, in particular, the Salzburg Nockeral is wonderful. We did not take a boat ride down the Danube, but some of the Vienna sights we saw were spectacular - the Schonnbrunn Palace was unbelievable, particularly the grounds. We did have tickets for the Vienna Boy's Choir (which I purchased through the internet many months in advance). It was a very nice afternoon but not at the top of my list of memories. We were unable to obtain opera tickets at the main Opera House, but we were fortunate on two evenings, to arrive just in time (about 1 1/2 hours before start) to obtain standing room tickets - cost about $4 each. Our legs would only hold out until intermission but it was a wonderful time. As for the demonstrations in Vienna, they were not overly disturbing as they appeared to be orderly, with the police keeping a friendly distance. I have no idea what it would be like in Prague. <BR>Lynn - As for the Vienna Card, it turned out to be a real money saver for us. We like to travel by underground/trolley and we certainly got our money's worth. The discounts received at most attractions was not a lot, but eventually it adds up to where it almost pays for the Card. Hope this information is helpful.