Finding a Great Hotel in Austria

When you visit Austria, you want to stay in a great Austrian hotel. The best Austrian hotels are not necessarily the biggest ones, though. Some of the best hotels we've ever stayed in were small family-run businesses.

Sometimes, we leave things to the last minute to try to get the best price. Often, this means making inquiries at the door. Of course, this approach doesn't work all the time – particularly during the height of the tourist season. Fortunately, we try not to travel during that time.

So, how do you recognize a great hotel or pension?

If we are traveling in an unfamiliar area, we generally take a good look around the local streets first. This gives a feel for the place. Austria is a very safe place, but there are a few neighborhoods where you don't really want to travel. Naturally, we identify the hotels, pensions, and zimmers in the local area. We generally rate each one based on the appearance.

First, the outside is clean. This means the yard is swept, the gardens are tidy, and the windows are free from dirt. This means the owner cares about appearances, and a hotel that is clean on the outside is likely to be clean on the inside. Second, when you walk inside, there is someone to greet you fairly quickly. Now, in family-run hotels, particularly very small ones, the reception area may not always be manned. However, the owner or receptionist should be able to talk to you within a couple of minutes. This

Don't forget to make inquiries. Make sure you know what time breakfast is served, whether you have 24-hour access, and what time you need to be out of the hotel. Naturally, you need to make sure that the facilities meet your needs.

We may do this with several hotels to compare each one and go back to the one we like the most. This may not necessarily be the one with the lowest price – although a low price does help.

We generally pay in advance so we know exactly how much we are being charged. In addition, we frequently pay by cash, which is particularly useful for small hotels. This means that our cards cannot be charged without us knowing. This is a rare situation, but because we travel so much, we do our best to lower the risk as much as possible. Some hotels, however, only accept card payments.

So, now you know how to find a great Austrian hotel like a pro. We have a lot of experience at selecting great hotels, and we're always happy to help you find the perfect hotel for your holiday.

The Infamous Weiner Schnitzel

At some point, you're going to get hungry in Austria. You're going to think yourself, "I could just do with the taste of something authentically Austrian." As you head back to your hotel, you will see, and quite possibly smell, a distinct frying smell. "Of course!" you will cry. "A wiener schnitzel is just what I want."

Now, if you're vegetarian, you probably won't even be thinking about a wiener schnitzel. However, for the meat eaters out there, the wiener schnitzel is a classic Austrian dish. It's very simple and consists of veal or pork that has been whacked with a hammer a few dozen times to thin it out, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried. It's often served with potatoes, traditionally a potato salad, although fries are often served instead.

The name wiener comes from the local spelling of Vienna – Wien. It really is as simple as that. In Austria, a wiener schnitzel must be made from veal. If it is made from pork, it is called a Wiener Schnitzel von Schwein.

There are dozens of variations of schnitzel throughout the world. However, the original comes from Vienna – and where better to enjoy an authentic Austrian recipe than in one of Vienna's many restaurants. Alternatively, you can make your own.

To make an authentic wiener schnitzel, you need a veal cutlet, flour, a small pinch of salt, a load of breadcrumbs, an egg, and some oil to fry it in. You also need some unrestrained beating.

First, you need to thin out the veal. You can either use a meat mallet or, and this is my preferred method, placed it between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound it with a very heavy pan. Try not to break the pan.

Once you've released any frustrations on the veal, it should be about quarter of an inch thick. Now, set up three bowls: one with flour and the pinch of salt, one with the beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs. For the oil into the pan and get it very hot. Dip each veal cutlet first into the flour, then into the eggs, and then into the breadcrumbs. Each coating should be very even for the best results. The oil in the pan should cover the schnitzel. Fry each side for about three minutes. If your pan isn't very big or if you have a lot of schnitzels to make, do them in batches. Crowding the pan causes problems.

Serve your schnitzels with a slice of lemon and a potato salad. Now you have a piece of Austria in your dining room!

Austrian Carriers

FlyNiki: A Driver’s Love Affair with Flying

Niki Lauda, a much-loved Austrian Formula One driver, started an airline named Lauda Air in 1979. After a sale to Austrian Airlines in 2000, Lauda was ousted from the board. Feeling a little aggrieved at his treatment, Lauda set Up a competing airline in 2003 named FlyNiki. The airline quickly formed an alliance with Air Berlin. This agreement allowed FlyNiki to expand rapidly and cover numerous destinations within Austria and without.

FlyNiki's operations cover Vienna, Salzburg, Linz, and Graz. Outside of Austria, it flies to numerous destinations in Europe, and it also flies to Egypt. Oddly enough, FlyNiki is a low-cost airline that offers many of the small luxuries that major airlines routinely offer. This includes free refreshments, and baggage is included in the price. Finally, Niki Lauda has a commercial pilot's license, and he occasionally flies his company's aircraft.

Austrian Airlines: Austria's National Carrier

Austrian Airlines is not actually one carrier, it's three: Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air, and Tyrolean Airways. Between them, they cover virtually all the major destinations in Europe and fly to several international destinations as well. If you're traveling from the States, you might catch a flight from Washington or New York direct to Vienna. Alternatively, if you are traveling from Japan, you might travel from Tokyo. Wherever you are going, you can usually get there via an Austrian Airlines flight.

Lauda Air is primarily a charter airline. It typically flies to Mediterranean destinations, although it also serves the UK from Innsbruck airport. Indeed, Innsbruck airport has the biggest variety of flights traveling to the UK, particularly during the skiing season. Tyrolean Airways generally serves European destinations that Austrian Airlines does not.

In general, FlyNiki is frequently cheaper than Austrian Airlines. However, there is a wealth of airline operators that fly to Austria, and you can usually get some very good deals. If you are traveling from the United Kingdom, EasyJet and Ryanair both offer good value deals. From the United States, however, the only direct flights to Austria are with Austrian Airlines and its partners, such as United Airlines. Indirect flights are available, such as traveling by London Heathrow or Berlin. These are often slightly more expensive, although if no direct flights are available, they can be a good option.

While many airline operators offer a hotel booking service, it is worth checking an independent website for hotel prices. Airlines often add a large markup to the actual price and only have a limited selection, so family-run hotels frequently go unnoticed.

Austria is a very well-connected country, and getting there from a host of destinations is rather easy. A range of airline suits budgets both big and small, and with four airports distributed around the country, you'll end up at your hotel in no time.

Flying to Austria: Vienna Airport

When we fly to Austria, we often choose to fly to Vienna international Airport. This airport was originally built in 1908, although the facilities have been thoroughly updated since then. With three terminals, the airport is not the biggest in the world, but it does handle a lot of passengers each year.

There are two major airline companies are headquartered in Vienna airport: Niki Air and Austrian Airlines. Austrian Airlines can be broken down into three subsidiaries: its flagship carrier Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air, and Tyrolean Airways. These two major carriers fly to most major European destinations, although some routes are seasonal only. In addition, Austrian Airlines also travels to Washington ,New York, and Toronto. Wherever you are in the world, it is easy to get to Vienna International airport.

There are plenty of places to stay in Vienna once you've landed at the airport. As with many airports, Vienna International Airport has a hotel right next to it. However, if you prefer somewhere quieter that is away from the sound of an airplane engines, there are numerous places to stay within the city itself.

The City Air Train, or CAT as it is more commonly referred to, is one of the best ways to get into Vienna itself. As the train station is just outside the city center, there are many hotels to choose from in that area. These range from luxury hotels to simple family-run pensions. It's we try to stay in the smaller hotels where possible, as we find them to be friendlier and more personal. They are frequently cheaper as well.

Vienna International Airport offers flights to other parts of Austria. Tyrolean Airways, for example, offers some great value flights to Innsbruck and Graz. This makes exploring Austria very easy. You can wander around Vienna for a few days and then hop onto a flight to Innsbruck. If you wanted to, you can travel along the Great Eagle cycling trail back to Vienna. Alternatively, you can fly directly to Innsbruck from your home destination and then fly back from Vienna.

Of course, if you only want to take the one flight, you can always use the excellent rail service to get to virtually anywhere in Europe. We've traveled to Vienna, stayed there for a couple of days, and then traveled to Bratislava and Zagreb. While this may seem a little daunting to those not used to rail networks, it is actually very easy to do. We find it is much more relaxing to catch a train during the day and rest in an Austrian hotel at night – sleeper carriages are not that comfortable!

Finding a Great Hotel in Austria

When you visit Austria, you want to stay in a great Austrian hotel. The best Austrian hotels are not necessarily the biggest ones, though. Some of the best hotels we've ever stayed in were small family-run businesses.

Sometimes, we leave things to the last minute to try to get the best price. Often, this means making inquiries at the door. Of course, this approach doesn't work all the time – particularly during the height of the tourist season. Fortunately, we try not to travel during that time.

So, how do you recognize a great hotel or pension?

If we are traveling in an unfamiliar area, we generally take a good look around the local streets first. This gives a feel for the place. Austria is a very safe place, but there are a few neighborhoods where you don't really want to travel. Naturally, we identify the hotels, pensions, and zimmers in the local area. We generally rate each one based on the appearance.

First, the outside is clean. This means the yard is swept, the gardens are tidy, and the windows are free from dirt. This means the owner cares about appearances, and a hotel that is clean on the outside is likely to be clean on the inside. Second, when you walk inside, there is someone to greet you fairly quickly. Now, in family-run hotels, particularly very small ones, the reception area may not always be manned. However, the owner or receptionist should be able to talk to you within a couple of minutes.

Don't forget to make inquiries. Make sure you know what time breakfast is served, whether you have 24-hour access, and what time you need to be out of the hotel. Naturally, you need to make sure that the facilities meet your needs.
We may do this with several hotels to compare each one and go back to the one we like the most. This may not necessarily be the one with the lowest price – although a low price does help.

We generally pay in advance so we know exactly how much we are being charged. In addition, we frequently pay by cash, which is particularly useful for small hotels. This means that our cards cannot be charged without us knowing. This is a rare situation, but because we travel so much, we do our best to lower the risk as much as possible. Some hotels, however, only accept card payments.

So, now you know how to find a great Austrian hotel like a pro. We have a lot of experience at selecting great hotels, and we're always happy to help you find the perfect hotel for your holiday.

Innsbruck

Innsbruck is the sleeping heart of Tyrol, and this late mediaeval city offers visitors a lot. We loved the architecture of the city, but we loved the friendly Austrian welcome we got in the local hotels and pensions. This area relies on tourism, particularly during the winter months, but it’s worth spending a day of your skiing holiday exploring this historic city.

The Imperial Palace (the Hofburg) has nothing to do with David Hasselhoff or Darth Vader. Instead, it was the seat of government for the Tyrolean region. Rococo features and furnishings grace this palace, and you should experience this incredible piece of Austrian history.

Once you’re filled up with culture, why not visit the Goldenes Dachl, the golden roof, that overlooks the main street of the old town where the emperors used to issue their proclamations. In addition, Innsbruck offers museums on bells, Tyrolean history, folk art, and renaissance homes. The Tyrolean history museum was fascinating, and it explains a lot about Innsbruck.

Of much more interest to us was the Innsbrucker Tanzsommer, the summer dance festival held in mid-June to early July. A series of dance events, ranging from classical styles to modern dance, are available, so it’s a great opportunity to enjoy something different.

For great views, you have to travel up to Seegrube, where you will see the Inn valley from 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). There are also a lot of scenic walks up there, and the two towering mountain ranges just add to the majesty of the city.
The city’s major winter attraction is the snowboarding and skiing runs that grace the slopes around the city. There are regular events that attract experienced snowboarders and skiers from around the world, such as the Billabong Air and Style event. This is a chance to meet alpine heroes and marvel at their sheer skill.

The nightlife in Innsbruck is surprisingly good. For something different, look under the railway bridge, known as the Viaduktbogen. This area offers great drinks, a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and very late opening times. To be honest, we’re not sure if they actually close. For something less club-like, try Theresienbräu, a pub in the center of the city. It makes its own beer and the food is rather good.

While winter is one of the best times to go to Innsbruck, there is much to do all year round. If you’re ever stuck for something to do, ask your hotel staff to recommend an activity. It could be walking, drinking, eating, or seeing the local sights. We found that everyone is really friendly in Innsbruck, and it’s a great place to explore.

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