jsblan---no need to buy those tickets in advance. I believe there are actually 2 trains per hour.

This is so cute.

TravMimi, you scolded a poster on a recent thread for not reading through all the replies. Now here you do it yourself.

The op finalized the plans on 14 Feb at 20.36 (see above). The op has posted a new question today.

s

I do read them all, but I'm a very slow typer and was probably still typing at 3:18

I vote for Luzern .... take the boat ride to Burgenstock .. take the funicar (Burgenstock Bahn)up the steep hill and then a short hike to take the elevator up to the top of the mountain (Hammertschwand). The view is spectacular and there is a little restaurant at the top so you can enjoy a bite to eat. You can take the elevator back down or walk .. we took the elevator down but then walked the rest of way back to the ferry dock to catch the next taxi back to Luzern. There is the Burgenstock Hotel at the back of the mountain (I think they put in the elevator) .. can't imagine what the nightly rate will be but it might be worth looking into -- since it's early in the season.

We left Innsbrook in the morning after visiting Europe's highest botanical garden .. riding up the cable car (Patscherkofel Bahn)where the Olympics were held in the 60's. Views of the Austrian Alps fantastic and many folks go up with walking poles and hike around the moutain tops. We continued onward to Salzburg but only toured the fortress and Mozarts house. Salzburg was a busy place - not as relaxing as Lucern. We didn't stay the night but drove on to Vienna and it was a very full day.

When we went in 2001 Switzerland was more expensive than Austria -- so if cost is a factor than you may want to stay in Salzburg. If not -- stay in Luzern and enjoy.

Like where in the Austrian Alps?
That term covers a lot of territory that has only one main east-west route along the Inn River.

Some nice visits can be had in such widely separated places as Heiligenblut, Sölden, Kitzbuhl, and Zell am See.

Plan on driving the Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße? Or going over the Timmelsjoch at the head of the Ötztal?

Have you considered a visit to the Krimmler Wasserfälle and taking a drive along the road that leads west through Gerlos? It is a bit on the twisting side, but scenic.

The Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße should be open by mid May, but it closes at 8 pm through June 15. After that date it is open until 9:30 pm until September 16.

We will be staying at the Interalpen near Telfs for two nights. We are looking forward for some relaxing time hiking in the alps. We will also be making the drive from Berchtesgaden to Telfs and were wondering if there are any good sights to see along the way or slightly out of the way, or are we better off spending our time touring innsbruck?

jsblan00,

Oh. My. Gosh.

I had coffee & cake at the Interalpen with my landlady during a month's stay at Mittenwald last Dec-Jan.

Wow.

The hotel is incredible -- views to die for.

The garage is better appointed than most homes in the U.S.: carpets, chandeliers and blond-wood panelling. It is a truly awesome place.

Enjoy it!

s

swandav2000,
thats awesome, after seeing the pics on their website we couldn't help from staying there. I hope it lives up to expectations.