White Christmas Holiday in Austria/Italy
 

My husband and I just got back from Greece and had a wonderful time, with the valuable information we got from this Forum. Now, we are planning our first white Christmas holiday and would like to get some ideas/suggestions again.

We will have two weeks over Christmas and New Year (14 or 15 nights starting from December 17). We are thinking of spending Christmas in Salzburg. We also want to put Venice on our plan. We have come up with 2 itineraries.

Itinerary 1:
Venice (5 nights)
Salzburg (4 nights)
Vienna (6 nights)

Itinerary 2:
Vienna (5 nights)
Salzburg (3 nights)
Innsbruck/Hallstatt (2 nights)
Venice (5 nights)

Questions:
Itinerary 2 seems to offer more without being too rush (correct me if I am wrong) but we would have to spend New Year?s Eve and New Year in Venice instead of Vienna. I do not know why but I have the idea that there would be more to do in Vienna during that time (perhaps more restaurant choices and more activities available). Am I right?

In either way, we plan to travel by train. How easy is train transport between these cities in winter? We have been around in Europe but never in winter with snow, so we have no idea how feasible it would be.

Also, can anyone recommend any accommodations (around 150 to 200 Euros per night for a double with breakfast), restaurants and activities such as day trips (especially for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year?s Eve and New Year?s Day)?

We mainly want to enjoy the atmosphere of a white Christmas. We like good food, good wine, shopping, scenery. We do not ski or do any winter sports.

We also welcome other suggestions. Thanks.

The only way to ensure a white Christmas is to choose a resort that is very high. It is far from sure that you will see snow in Salzburg at Christmas.

Thanks for the tip.

I have to rethink about Salzburg then. Meanwhile, any other suggestions?

Selina - To see any of the white stuff you really need to be somewhere with easy access to lifts up to 2000m +

I spent a wonderful pre-Xmas week in Ortisei in the Italian Dolomites last year and plan to do it again.

The atmosphere was delightful, and there was plenty of snow higher up. There are a number of lifts in the area, and the scenery is stunningly beautiful.

Sorry I can't help with Innsbruck or Salzburg. Hope someone else can ...

Steve

Steve, thanks for your sharing. I will have a look at Ortisei. Is there any Christmas market there? Do you have any recommendation for accomodation?

BTW, how I can get to the Dolomites? Where is the nearest airport I can fly into?

Rail travel between Vienna, Salzburg, and Venice is relatively easy, usually involves a change in Verona and the route takes you through the Dolomites and over the Brenner Pass. It would one huge snowstorm that would cause any rail cancellations.

I agree that you cannot count on snow in EITHER Vienna or Salzburg...you need to be at higher elevations to be more certain.

The regional capital, Bolzano - about an hour away - has the largest Xmas market in Italy.

Merano & Trento have smaller ones, as do places like Bressanone. Innsbruck, too, has a big one I believe - if you want to go further afield.

Where are you flying from? Bolzano has a small airport, but the nearest Italian airports otherwise are Verona, Brescia and Venice (- I've used all 3 from England). Innsbruck is also convenient.

If you're flying from outside Europe, Venice or Munich may be your best options with direct flights.

As for accm - you're spoilt for choice really. I stayed at Hotel Snaltnerhof (3*) on a B&B basis and would definitely stay there again.
http://www.snaltnerhof.it/
It's a family-run place on the main square ... overlooking the Xmas tree :)

If you want something more upmarket, consider Hotel Gardena, Adler or Cavallino Bianco.

This is the main website for the Val-Gardena, for hotels ... and everything else.
http://www.val-gardena.com/?pagid=28&newlang=eng

Let me know if I can be of more help ...

Steve

I spent xmas/new year's eve in Salzburg/Vienna in 1999 & 2001, both times they were snow covered. You really can't beat snowcapped baroque cities like these two. I think it's worth taking a chance. It's very festive even without the snow anyway.

Every year Vienna has a big international crowd coming to the Sylvester Ball which we didn't attend, but we met a lot of people who were there for a week for the event. The Vienna choir boys xmas service was free in the Hofburg palace chapel. There is also a sylvester classical concert with big name tenors. They all need to be reserved in advance.

My wife was really pleased with the SAS Radisson Palais Hotel (book the larger room) which was a renovated palace or the Marriott next door(club level rooms 150 to 200 euros).

For Salzburg, we like the Elefant Hotel (www.elefant.at) for its room quality, ambiance, price & location in oldtown. Consider reserving in advance for xmas dinner at the Goldener Hirsch hotel or in St. Peter's Keller. There was an outdoor party (open to the public) with gluhwein & live string/trumpet music in front of the St. Peter's Keller (behind the church) if you can't get reservations.

Yes, our train was delayed due to heavy snow, but it was no big deal. As for Xmas markets, I'd recommend Mittenwald (north of Innsbruck)www.Mittenwald.de, Munich, and of course Salzburg & Vienna).

Thanks for all your replies.

Now we have to think carefully where we're exactly heading to.

I will come back with more questions. Meanwhile, I appreciate any other input.

Salzburg is especially charming at Xmas. And we had snow the year we stayed there. Peter's Keller is fun and there are a wealth of things to see and do.

Thanks again. Still kind of uncertain what exactly to do. Looking for more input.

After considering all your suggestions, we have come up with a new itinerary:

Salzburg (3 nights)
Innsbruck (2 nights)
Ortisei (3 nights - Christmas)
Venice (4 nights)

We are planning to fly into Munich but then we have to take a train from Venice to Munich at the end of the journey.

How does this itinerary look? Are we moving too much? Any more recommendation for accomodation and things to do?

Thanks.

I would pick an area outside of Salzburg - Berchtesgaden, Konigsee, or any of the many small towns in the countryside. You'll get a better value at a hotel and you may have a better experience. If you can rent a car, you can visit Salzburg , Hallstadt, Innsbruck and many other very scenic areas for a relatively short drive. Everything is closed Christmas Day and the day after as well in both Germany and Austria. You could then stay in Vienna without the car, take the train to Salzburg and get the car there, then drive(thru Cortina and the Italian alps) to Venice ( a very pretty drive) and drop off the car there.Alternatively, you could return the car in Salzburg and take the train to Venice. There is generally snow at the high peaks of the Alps in the area of B'gaden/Salzburg by early October. My personal opinion is 4 nites in Venice is quite long....but then again I am not a fan of Venice! Good luck!

Emily C, thanks for your suggestions. We will not consider renting a car because my husband has never driven in such a weather and I don't want to insist and stress him.

BTW, does anyone know if I have to reserve train tickets in advance, considering that it's high season?

Selinalei - Your itinerary looks good to me.

Ortisei over Xmas should be lovely.
What kind of lodgings are you looking for? In Ortisei there's the full range from 4/5 star hotels to B&B's ...

It'd be best to book fairly soon, I think.
Xmas week is high season as it's a popular ski area.

You will find lots of info on the area, inc links to hotels, on -
http://www.val-gardena.com/eng/page17.html

The website will have a 'what's on' events list for the Val Gardena resorts for Xmas week nearer the time, - or pop into the Ortisei tourist office.

Even if you don't do winter sports, don't miss the cable car rides from Selva (especially DANTERCEPIES* & Ciampinoi), S. Cristina (Saslong) and Ortisei (Seceda, Alpe di Siusi) for spectacular views of the Dolomite peaks. These are views you won't forget in a hurry ...

If you plan to do more than 2/3 lifts in a day it usually pays to get a day-pass. There is also a weekly bus pass (€2) for the skibus between the villages - good value.

If you have time you could do a lovely trip over to Castelrotto and then take the new lift from nearby Siusi to the Alpe di Siusi - another superb ride.
If you do make it to the Alpe di Siusi, take the bus to Saltria for the Florian chairlift ride to the foot of Sasso Lungo. Unmissable!

I'm sure you'll have no trouble filling 3 days in this beautiful area!

Let me know if I can be of more help ...

Steve

Steve, thanks again for your info. You know this area pretty well.