Travelling in an Eco-Friendly Manner

Ever thought about how you’re going to explore Austria when you get there? While some people immediately jump into their car for the convenience, it can be just as convenient to travel by other methods as well. We’re not just talking about how to get to Austria in the first place: we’re talking about how to travel once you’re there.

Buses offer a great way to thread your way from place to place. With thousands of interlinking routes across the entire country, it can be a convenient way to get on and get off in the places you really want to see. It’s not just good for backpackers.

Alternatively you’ve got boats and trains to consider too. If you’re thinking of exploring some of the major cities and towns Austria has to offer, you can easily travel between them by train. And of course Austria is also home to the Blue Danube, along with no fewer than ten other countries. If you want to float along the Austrian bit, don’t miss the chance to take a boat ride through Vienna.

You get a certain freedom when you rely on public transport to get you around Austria. There’s no need to worry about the cost of hiring a car, or insurance or which side of the road you ought to be driving on. Instead you can sit back, relax and enjoy the ever changing views outside the windows, or across the river, depending on your chosen method of travel. There really is nothing quite as invigorating as travelling the eco-friendly way.

Ouch! Healthcare in Austria

Despite your best plans, occasionally a trip might go a little pear-shaped. It's not uncommon in the skiing areas for an accident to happen, so it's good to be prepared and know about the Austrian healthcare system. Of course, accidents can happen anywhere, and you could sustain an injury from falling down your hotel stairs or by falling over in the street. Hopefully, none of this will happen to you, but at least you can be prepared if something does go wrong.

First, make sure you have some great healthcare insurance. This should cover you for whatever activities you are doing, so if you're going skiing, you may need to pay a little extra. If you're unsure about what your insurance covers, ask your insurance broker. The best policies cover medical evacuation in case of serious injury, and they normally cover expenses up to $3 million or £2 million. This should be the minimum that you need.

Because we travel a lot, we have an annual policy, which covers us wherever we go. However, depending on your circumstances, you may want to consider single trip or multitrip insurance. Single-trip cover is great if you only travel once a year, and multitrip cover may work out cheaper if you travel a few times a year. Again, it's best to consult with your insurance broker to ensure your specific needs are met.

If you are an EU national, make sure you have a European Health Insurance Card, or EHIC. This entitles you to state-funded care while traveling in Europe, although it doesn't cover other expenses such as repatriation. In addition, you may have to pay certain standard charges, similar to prescription charges.

The number for the Austrian emergency services is 144. When the operator answers, ask for the Rettung. If your German is poor, it may be best to ask for help from someone who knows the language, such as a hotel worker or your instructor or guide.

If you are covered by the European Health Insurance Card, make sure you're taken to a state-funded facility. This it is important if your hotel or guide is arranging for treatment. The EHIC only covers you for state-funded treatment. If you are covered by health insurance, make sure you inform your provider as soon as possible. They will be able to advise you on what to do.

Hopefully, though, your trip will go off without a hitch. Austria is a fantastic place to visit, but it does pay to be prepared.

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.

Need a hotel in Austria? Click here to find it at Booking.com

Quoth the Raven: Gesundheit!

Sure, we love our culture, hence the unsubtle title of this post. But a number of people travel to Austria to look at the local wildlife, and we thought we’d look at what there is to see.

There are a lot of places that cater to wildlife holidays, from isolated apartments and huts in the mountains to hotels that act as a base for nature lovers to explore. Here is a quick rundown of what you’ll hopefully see in Austria.

Mammals

Mammals are abundant in Austria, and some unusual varieties exist in the relatively isolated alpine regions. Wildlife holidays often take you to the mountains to see these animals.

Deer

The abundance of deer in Austria occasionally leads to a large 500-pound animal plowing through the windscreen, so be careful on those rural roads. In the mountainous areas, fallow and roe deer run, whereas in the lowlands, red deer are more common. You’ll often find you return from your wildlife trip to be greeted with a plate of venison, such is the love of hunting and managing wildlife in Austria.

Chamois

The alpine chamois is what you’d get if you mixed up badger and goat DNA and bred the result. This goat-like creature is a source of chamois leather, and it is apparently very tasty. If you want to get close to the animal, they usually look for danger below them and ignore anything above them.

Alpine Ibex

The alpine ibex is a goat with comedy horns. Big curly horns. They’re normally found halfway up mountains or climbing up dams. We’re not even kidding about the dams. What looks like a photoshopped image of goats on the side of a dam is actually real.
Birds

In the valleys, particularly around the lakes, are numerous bird species. Seewinkel and the Great Hungarian Plain are great areas for a wildlife holiday.

Wryneck

This unusual member of the woodpecker family looks like an oversized sparrow or thrush with a Mohawk. It’s not exactly a proper woodpecker because of its tail feathers, but it pecks at wood to get at ants and it lays its eggs in a hole in a tree, so to us it’s close enough. Like an owl, it can turn its head nearly 180 degrees, which looks weird but cool.

Black Redstart

This species is best described as a flycatcher with a red . . . behind. Absolutely lovely as they dash around catching the local annoying insects, their aerobatic displays are a joy to behold.

White Storks

If your hotel owner curses as he or she lights a fire and the chimney is blocked, it might be because a white stork has nested in the chimney. As you’re travelling along, look up, and you might see the giant nests that they like to make.
Anyway, these are just a few of the species that you will see out and about in Austria. Keep your eyes open, have a good pair of binoculars, and ask your local hotel for advice on the best spots to go for your wildlife holiday.

Oh, and if you’re hoping to see a black eagle, which is on the Austrian coat of arms, you’ll need to head to Central Asia!