Bruce

My wife and I will be in Salzburg fro a couple of days in October. Any hotel suggestions...we're looking in the $100-150 range. <BR>Any touring suggestions ? <BR>We would like to go to Eagle's NEst nearby...how long a trip and does train/bus go t here. <BR>Any help would be appreciated. <BR>Thanks !

tom

I have been to Salzburg twice and am going again next Spring. We have stayed at two very nice hotels that are somewhat reasonably priced, although nothing, I repeat nothing is <BR>inexpensive in Salzburg. Hotel Zum Hirschen and The Hotel Stiglbrau are both very nice. Nice, clean, modern rooms with a nice restaurant and beergarten. They are both conveniently located and I would recommend either. The Stiglbrau is right across from the Mirabella Palace and gardens and it is an easier walk to the "old town". Berchetesgarten (sp.) can be reached by train in about an hour or so. We went, but we were too early to go to the top as the roads are often closed due to snow.Need any additional info, let me know.

Frank

Message: I stayed at the Zum Hirchen many years ago and found it very adequate. There is a rather romantic place at the top of a mountain close to town that you reach from street level by elevator- the Cafe Winkler. Other than Mozart and his music, Salzburg is a very dull place.

Christina

I just got back from a trip where I spent a couple <BR>days in Salzburg. I don't know why people keep <BR>saying Austria (Vienna & Salzburg) are so <BR>expensive, I thought prices on everything were <BR>very reasonable--I think these people haven't been <BR>to NY, London or Paris. Anyway, I stayed at <BR>Hotel Elefant in Salzburg--it's a Best Western so <BR>you can easily make reservations with their <BR>800 number, it's a 3-star hotel (but much nicer than <BR>any other 3-star I've ever stayed in) right in old <BR>town so within walking distance to everything. A <BR>double room with shower (a very nice shower, I <BR>might add, not those crummy airline-size prefab <BR>jobs many European hotels give you) was only <BR>about $130 (1640 AS) They even have a very good <BR>in-house restaurant where I ate one night because <BR>the weather sucked so badly (rainy and cold)--I <BR>had a full meal (roast lamb, side dish, salad, wine <BR>and dessert) for only about $20-25. Warning, it <BR>is a little noisy because it's in the old town and <BR>many people (espec young people) think it's okay <BR>to run around shouting in the streets--but, the <BR>hotel had very efficient doublepaned windows <BR>that worked quite well to keep out noise, and it <BR>wasn't that bad after midnight or so. <BR>

Kay Kendall

I highly recommend Hotel Wolf, only three blocks from the cathedral in Salzburg. It fits your price range and is near everything. The morning breakfasts are delightful. You can find them on the internet through the Salzburg web site.

anne

Touring suggestions - We enjoyed Hallstatt - a lovely drive (2 hours or so) through gorgeous mountain scenery. You can also get there by train. It's a tiny village on a mountain lake. We enjoyed every bit of our drive from Salzburg to Vienna through side roads (not the big highway) and stopped at several fascinating towns. What a gorgeous country Austria is!

Emily Connolly

Are you comfortable with renting a car in Salzburg? If so, you can stay in Berchtesgaden ( and visit Salzburg), even on the mountain (Kelhstein) where the Eagle's Nest is located. The drive from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden is easy and takes about 45 minutes. There is a wide variety of hotels and guesthouses in this area in any price range, and it is a better value than staying in Salzburg. The views here are spectacular with terrific hiking, and scenic lake tours, and high alpine roads to tour. If you would like specific guesthouse info please Email me directly.

Lynda

I agree with Emily. Berchtesgarden is a lovely place to stay. The Hotel Watzmann is very nice and the food is quite good. It is more comfortable and quieter than Salzburg. It is not very far to Salzburg by train. Visit the little cemetery in Bertesgarden right by the Dominican church (I believe it is Dominican.) The cemetery is so pretty. Look in at night and see all the votive candles lit. It is one of the prettiest cemeteries I have seen in Europe. You can drive up the mountain and park in a lot to take the bus up to the Kehlstein (Eagle's Nest). It is one of the most beautiful views in Austria. Salsburg is a beautiful town, very musical with great concerts. Mozart's birthplace is open for you to see. The Dom is very nice. Food is great. We stayed at the Hotel Stein, right across the bridge from the Old Town. Have a drink at the little tavern right across the bridge. It is very old! Very small and historic!

Joyce

If you have a car & want to stay at a charming place, I suggest Romantik Hotel Salzburg (in Gersberg..a suburb town, a few miles away). I have stayed there 3 times and love it. It is a "chalet" hotel in the hills overlooking Salzburg. The food and wine is wonderful..sometimes served on the terrace(weather permitting). You can climb the hills behind where the sheep are grazing. Reminds me of opening scene in "Sound of Music" movie. For more info..address/phone, etc. email me. It was around $100, incl breakfast.

Glenn

Bruce, we just returned from a couple rainy days in Salzburg. We stayed at Pension Ganslhof, about 10 minute walk from the old city. IT was a 3 * pension and cost $75 a night for 2 people. It has eay parking for cars. I wanted a place within walking distance instead of driving into town. Do go to the Augustiner beer hall a little outside of town by the river. MY opinion, the best beer in Europe. When you are cruising the streets, try having a "bosnia" <BR>it is a sausage with mustard and onions. It is not your typical sausage. They are 2 very thin sausages with a lot of flavor. Whenever my wife and I had a chance we would eat one. They seem to be a speciality from the area. You could also go to the salt mines in Hallein or to Hellbrunn palace for some fun surprises. It is not your typical palace. Glenn

judy

We spent a couple of days in Salzburg about a month ago at the Weisse Taube (White Dove) which is located about 50 feet from Mozartplatz, the center of OId Town. Price was under $100 for two of us - fairly good breakfast included. The location was perfect - the room clean - the furniture about like Motel 6. As someone else posted, with open windows one can hear the enthusiasm of youth in the streets below, but it seemed to diminish by midnight. By the way, it has an elevator which was important to a traveling companion who has difficulty climbing stairs. As most other elevators we used, the dimensions were about 2 by 2 by?, but that was fine. <BR> One morning we went to the American Express office in the Platz and signed up for a city tour which cost about $20 apiece. We enjoyed it for an overview of the city - took about 2 hours, I think, and we went in a van (6 people). Ride the funicular to the fortress above the town, go into the Dom Cathedral, and walk the winding streets off Mozartplatz. On a late Friday afternoon, we wandered down a small street and turned in an alley where a most delightful street fair was occurring. A band was playing jazz, food vendors were offering appetizers, some people were in formal dress, some were in costume and masks, a man was playing "Summertime" on the Alpenhorn (Alpine horn?) , the long, long instrument. Walk across the bridge and stare at the water and the mountains. Try to keep from singing "The Hills are Alive with the sound of Music" - now that's difficult. <BR> My husband and I took a taxi to the casino - they let us in even though we were dressed casually - they relax their dress code in the summer months, we were told. I had on a decent black pant suit with a scarf around my neck and my husband wore slacks with a knit golf shirt. I felt very underdressed - many there had on long dressy dresses. As one who loves to go to Vegas, it was an eerie experience - everyone spoke in very soft voices, and the slot machines made no noise - it could have been that they weren't paying off, and they weren't, but the small room they were in was almost silent. The casino is several miles out from town and looks like a palace. I'm glad we went - it was a neat experience - we didn't win though and didn't really expect to... <BR> I wish we could have stayed in Salzburg another day or two. We did drive to Hallstatt on our way to Graz and it's neat - wanted to stay there longer, too. Have fun!

Doug

I would recommend staying in Berchtesgaden too. It'll be quieter at night there. Salzburg's a great town, but it can be noisy at night with alot of kids running around. We used to stay at the Europa near the train station and even though we were 10 or more floors high, we could still hear drunks screaming at night. We've also stayed at the Sheraton, but that was back when the dollar was worth 21 Schillings. <BR> The most important thing to do in Salzburg is to have a Bosna. It's right up there with a Philly-style cheesesteak in my gastronomic ratings. It's not so much the sausage that tastes so great, but the roll and all the onions and sauce they slap on top. The Salzburger Nockerl is the local dessert specialty and you'll feel your arterys harden as you pig out on this confection loaded egg whites, dough and tons of powdered sugar.

Colleen

I recommend taking the half day tour to the Eagle's Nest. We were in a minibus with an Austrian guide who had spent most of his adult years in Australia...spoke great English and was very personable. My husband also has some physical problems getting about but the tour was very accommodating. The minibus of all English speaking was a relief from tours in Vienna where guide rattled on in one language or another continously and we had to listen carefully or he was half way through the English spiel before we realized he was talking English.

Shawn

My husband and I stayed at the Four Seasons ($200-250/night)without really realizing that was where we were since we don't speak German. Yes, it was pricey, but the service was absolutely wonderful. All of the staff made sure that we were totally happy with our stay. They knew us by name from the time of check-in and offered assistance with any plans. They even knew when we didn't show up for breakfast. No wonder Pavarotti likes to stay there. If you want to splurge, I would recommend this place. Two different couple friends of mine, who didn't have the luxury to spend what we did, stayed at B&B's and also got very personalized attention. (sorry I can't give you any info on those) There are quite a few sights to see. One day we rented bicycles (from the train station) and rode out on the Hellbrunner Allee to Lustschloss Hellbrunn (about 4 miles). It was beautiful and relaxing. Another day we just sat around drinking beer and eating sausage and watched the shoppers. Don't miss the Marionettentheater - a graceful marionette show done to -what else?- Mozart opera. We really loved the town and may go back for our second honeymoon!

Bob

Hotel Kaiserhof a bit outside of old town was very nice. By getting a bus pass you can go anywhere for a few bucks, a bus stop is in front of hotel (an old bishop's chateau). If you have car, Berchtesgarten is only a half hour away. <BR>If you are a Sound of Music fan, be sure to check out the various places in which the movie was filmed.

Meredith Horine

YAY!! Salzburg is one of the greatest places on earth! The Hotel Elefant is reasonably priced, and in a perfect central location. Do go to the Augustiner brewery-great way to spend a rainy afternoon. Also, take the time to walk (not take the tram) up to the fortress. Beautiful views, places to get a beer and pretzel, neat stuff to see, etc. <BR>Also, it's sooo hokey, but you've got to do the Sound of Music tour, and the only one really worth it is Bob's. Don't go with one of the bigger ones, you'll feel like a tourist in NYC. It's a great way to see the stunning scenery outside of the city, and our guide, whose family had lived in Salzburg for 600 years, knew all the history, scandal, and gossip about Salzburg's past. <BR>