I'm having a rough time finding a hotel in Salzburg for the first week of Aug. I had wanted A/C, but it seems to put the hotels out of reach budget-wise (wanted to spend $100-150 a night for a double, and the train station area possibly being a bit too far for us - however, I am going to have to reconsider everything at this rate)

Here's my question...was anyone in Salzburg the summer of the terrible heat wave in Europe in 2003? How hot did it get in there? Was it just as bad as it was in Italy, the south of France, and Paris? (my son especially wasn't too happy without the a/c back then!)

naturally, any other hotel advice is welcome! I've checked some of the ones recomended, but they are a bit steep in price for us. i'm nervous to give up the A/C, but maybe that's what it will take.

Thanks

According to weatherbase.com, the highest recorded temp in Salzburg over the past 29 years in August is 97 F.

The average number of August days above 90 is 0.5--1.2 in July (over the past 11 years).

The average August high over the past 27 years is 73.

That was a cool response RufusTFirefly! Thanks. I'll be making use of that website too.

Chances sound decent that we can survive 4 nights without A/C.

There are people like me and 90% of the population, who survive the entire summer without A/C. Now do I get a medal? ;-)

But for some people like me who have asthma it can be problematic. This June in London without A/C really put a damper on my trip. If not having A/C is a problem, I would suggest September.

If not for the heat, you might want A/C for the humidity! Salzburg can be extremely damp.

I'm not sure what the rate is, but check out the K+K. It was very comfortable and we could control the a/c temp. in our rooms. It's not too far to walk to the old town, but you will have to cross a bridge.

Have a great visit!

I have to confess, it sometimes gets hard in summer. It's only a few weeks and usually temeratures cool down considerable at night. Just sometimes you feel you were allowed to drill a hole in the wall and buy some huge, energy wasting, loud and inefficient A/C. But since almost nobody has one and it's far more important to have heating in winter, so what...

O.K., so I went looking for the Salzburg K+K and it seems they may only now operate a restaurant there. My next suggestion is to check out Best Western. Different properties have different amenities... you may find one that suits you. We've had good luck with them.

I feel your pain... I find it difficult to rest when it's warm, humid and the air isn't circulating; so I always try to look for hotels with a/c that you can control in the room.

It's a beautiful city... have fun!

This is a question that's near and dear to my heart...having sweated it out in many a room. I have travelled to this area extensively and here is my humble opinion..
Best choice -Pay the price for the air conditioned room if you really, really want/need to be in the city ( I know that you said hubby has concert tix)
Second choice - If you will have a car, stay in the outer environs of Salzburg where you will find an abundance of great hotels, guesthauses and zimmer freis that will be much more comfortable(and cooler at the higher elevations) with larger rooms and larger windows and much cheaper. These would include the smaller towns like St Leonhardt....and anything in that general area.
Third choice - pick a hotel that is in the city but on the outskirts ( quieter and maybe larger rooms) so that you can either cab/ bus it into the Zentrum - city center.
Although Salzburg is nearly surrounded by Alps, it sits on a large flat land mass and if it's hot...it's hot.
Good luck!!!

We were in Salzburg in an ordinary August and just about melted from the heat and humidity. I can't imagine what we would have done without a/c in our hotel room, as many other places did not have it.

My husband just checked out weatherbase.com (thanks RufusTFirefly) and he thinks we should chance a hotel in center city (within budget of course!) without A/C! Wow...he's the one who can barely stand summer heat and humidity. I'm a bit nervous about that decision, I was looking forward to the cool room, but Salzburg is his choice of city and he wants to be close to the concert venues, so I guess I'll defer to him (but he'd better not complain!)

Of course, I can still keep on looking just in case I find the perfect alternative ! It's definitely A/C when we get to Paris the following week!!!

You might check on the Best Western Hotel Elefant..it is in the "old town" section.

Of course, you could easily walk to that section from the nearby Crowne Plaza but it may not be within your budget.

Tell your husband that sweltering in nthe humidity is apparently, for some, part of the "charm" that comes with the hotel (believe it or not, they all actually have air conditioning in the Winter..but they call it HEAT!).

doesn't sound so "charming" to me!!!

If you feel you can't survive without a/c ,maybe this isn't the right place for you. Locals are still alive even though almost nobody has a/c in his/her home. Why do you feel you're different? Strange...

Well Logos999, It was only the image of DH sweltering away in the heat and humidity that didn't sound so charming! Sorry I wasn't clear I've lived without A/C myself and also survived, but given the choice, I guess I like to be cool as well as the next guy.

Open the window at night, it won't be a problem, even for the elder. Just imagine the amount of energy you would be wasting and another nuclear power plant being "planted" in the mountains ;-)

Check out the Novotel, which is just across the river from the town center.

We live in Europe and while we've never had AC at home (and seldom at work), we do like it when we travel. Logos999 is being a bit harsh and pedantic. Summer travelers often spend the whole day on the go outside, pounding the pavement, heading from one sight to another, jostling among the crowds instead of staying put in one place and moving slowly. They're not at home with their own things and rituals to help them relax from the heat. So AC comes in handy when they travel.
Salzburg in August can be hot and also muggy (and crowded), so spring for AC if you can.
Or better still, vacation a little later in the year. We plan to be in the Salzburg area in a few weeks--the weather will be much more cooperative then!

Wouldn't I love to be able to choose a month or two later to travel. Then I wouldn't have to bother anyone with all my questions (although I bet I'd have others, such as "do I really need heat in December?" or some such line).

The reality is that our kids are going with us and I have to work this in around school and in between soccer camp and marching band camp. Such is life with kids. In about 10 years I'll be able to go when I want. However, I'm thrilled to take my kids now and to share my love of Europe with them. August it is!