Sue81

stayed in a Quaker House hostel in Mexico City for $25 a night for two people, years ago, one of my more interesting stays, but not a great neighborhood.

Carolmom

Thanks for the info. I should have added that I think my hubs may have bought tickets but I couldn't remember for sure.

ToujoursVoyager

When I was in Vienna in September last year, it was cold. Be prepare to bring winter/fall clothes for October for Vienna/ Salzburg.

LancasterLad

Oh well, if I can't tempt you to Bosnia & Herzegovina or Macedonia or Romania [Transylvania], never mind.

Sue81

OK this may be obvious, but get tickets ahead of time, google Spanish Riding School and get training session ticket for this ahead, get in less expensive area of Spanish Riding School seating. The building is right next to the Vienna Opera House. (There is a standing room only area too in the SRS, even less expensive) but spring for a seat at training if you can. Get museum ticket ahead, then when you get there these costs will be taken care of. This is really awesome to see, the big white Lippizaners. Stay in hostels. YOu only have 3 days or so in City so stick with free things to do, meditate in lovely church near riding school? Walking tours in most books on Vienna, buy lunch on street. hotel will be big cost and food, get breakfast with room if at all possible.

StCirq

I live in Europe. I would never go to Austria if I wanted an inexpensive vacation. To me, the prices in Austria and Switzerland are prohibitive, but I'm not fond of those countries anyway, so it doesn't pain me to shun them.

jft

I am not sure where you are flying out of which can be a contributing factor. You might consider southern Spain, flying into say Malaga and exploring some of the neighbouring towns. Granada is fabulous and can be reached by bus. Seville can be reached directly by train. Southern Spain will be glorious in October.
Personally I found the Spanish Riding School in Vienna a bit boring. Budapest is very interesting from an architectural viewpoint and a great walking city, and considerably cheaper than Vienna. I think it is a three hour train ride from one to another. The view of Parliament from the river at night is spectacular. You could as suggested consider Vienna or Salsburg and Budapest- you will notice a big contrast in the cities. I have not been to Salsburg.
We are fortunate to have a great public library system and I load up on guidebooks when planning a trip. I did take lancaster Lads suggestion and ordered Lonely Planet's Malta and Gozo for my most next trip.

PalenQ

There is no free ride on trams, etc even though no one checks tickets as said above - French friends of mine went to Basel and rode trams and came back saying that 'trams were free' - I asked on Fodors and locals said this was not true though hotels may provide transit passes free but that was not the case with these French folks who naively assumed trams were free.

Rana25

All, I checked the prices on some of the things I want to see and they're reasonably priced, not as expensive as I expected. So Vienna + Salzburg it is!

jft, that's a good point. I checked flights and the only direct option is Vienna (I'd be wasting a lot of time in transit for the others). So I'll be flying in and out of Vienna then taking the train to Salzburg.

Sue81, thank you for the tips!

lindygirl and Sue 81: I'm not a fan of hostels. Although I think of ways to minimize costs, the place I stay at is very important.

Also, I'm working on extending my stay for another 2-3 days so I may go to Innsbruck for that duration or just add the time to Vienna and Salzburg instead and go to Bratislava for a day. Any thoughts on both places?

PalenQ

For Alopine splendor goe to Hallstatt instead of Innsbruck - a nice enough city but far from high Alps - Hallstatt would fit well in your Salzburg-Vienna trek or v.v.

thursdaysd

Nonsense.
From wikipedia: Innsbruck: Located in the broad valley between high mountains, the so-called North Chain in the Karwendel Alps (Hafelekarspitze, 2,334 metres or 7,657 feet) to the north, and the Patscherkofel (2,246 m or 7,369 ft) and Serles (2,718 m or 8,917 ft) to the south.
From wikipedia: Hallstatt: Dachstein massif: peaks over 2,500 m (8,200 ft)

Hallstatt is very cute but there is more to do in and around Innsbruck. If wanting skiing in summer, head for the Stubai Glacier.

PalenQ

Ok - but views from Hallstatt are awesome IME from center of Innsbruck not so and Innsbruck is a large city - very nice but OP with 7 days has little time to venture so far west. Actually I'd do just Vienna and Salzburg and maybe a day trip to Bratislava - just an hour by train.

thursdaysd

Oh, I don't know, I think your memory is failing you. See:
https://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/...ruck/i-NGQscNq

But I agree that Vienna and Salzburg should be plenty for a short trip.

Sue81

Rana, also near the church that is close to the Spanish Riding School (others, help me here, manyyears ago), just down the street from the church/tile roof/gorgeous/ is the paved walkway where the poor people from the plague (1600's?) are buried, there is a big plaque and monument/fountain? to this, check it out and ponder our life today. Makes you appreciate progress in science, right? Also in Salzburg see the little stone gnomes, free, in fenced garden, in Maribell palace area, I think. Also, check out price to salt mine, just outside Salzburg, with big wooden slide down into the mine, sort of scary ride to me, but fun. enjoy the coffee shops inVienna/awesome.

PalenQ

Yeah you can see distant Alps from Innsbruck from a few visage points in town center but nothing so dreamy as this:

https://www.google.com/search?q=hall...w=1280&bih=629

suze

Like anywhere, I'm sure you can work a lower budget by doing things that are free and staying out of high end restaurants. May not be what someone WANTS to do with their vacation time... but it can make even an expensive destination (Hawaii, Switzerland, etc.) obtainable.

annw

I found Austria relatively expensive but hopefully you can find you way to a nice vacation.

A highlight for us in Salzburg was renting bicycles and riding along the river--easy low cost rentals just outside the old town area along the river.

Walking and hiking around the old town, as well as to the more modern area, was also enjoyable.

You may find a Christmas type market going in the old town plaza area.

In Vienna, if the Opera is on, you can get standing room tickets for a few Euros; also the tours of the opera house weren't expensive.

Walking around Vienna is an experience in itself, along with general sightseeing. We also went to visit Freud's House/museum. One of the highlights was attending a service at the Cathedral with a gorgeous orchestra playing!

In addition to Rick Steves (book and video), consider checking out a Let's Go guide -- IIRC they do have a lot of low cost options covered.

Swabian

The costs of living in Switzerland are nearly double as high as in Germany. In Austria the price level is about that of Germany. This doesn't apply to typical tourist areas of course.

Rana25

Everyone, I booked my ticket and will be flying to and from Vienna October 4 to 13. Since I have more time I'm planning on adding one more city. Innsbruck is out now since it will be further west.

The only restriction I have is that I'm meeting my friend in Salzburg October 5-7.

I arrive around 4pm on Oct.4 so I'm thinking of taking the train to Linz (halfway to Salzburg), spending the night there and leaving to Salzburg on the 5th (afternoon).

I'm thinking of one of the following options:
1) Head to Vienna on the 7th and leave for Budapest on the 10th and then come back for my flight on the 13th
1) Head to Budapest on the 7th and leave for Vienna on the 10th and fly from there on the 13th

Note: I've been to Paris, Lucern, and Milan so I'm trying to visit cities with different vibes this time!

PalenQ

why not just go to Salzburg and settle in on first day - why Linz nice town that that is - one extra hotel move?