Austria advice

[MADXSTER]

My wife and son are heading to Austria at the end of the month. They fly into Munich, go to the Hoffbriar(sp) House and then onto Austria.

My 13 year old son plays viola in a group called Altissimo. They will be performing in Salzburg, Vienna, and Innsbrook. For 11 days they will have a bus and a tour guide. hotel arrangements have been made and breakfast and dinner are included.

Is there any advice in regards to cell phones and purchasing items. I'm not even sure what questions to ask. As to be expected, I'm a little nervous for them.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[XU05and07]

Hofbrauhaus

[XUglow]

I don't know much about Austria, but few people know that Dachau is in Munich. If they have time to visit, I would recommend it. There is room full of children's shoes that really rocks home the immensity of what happened there. The experience is hard to put into just a few words.

Otherwise, Munich has some great sites even if it is filled with Bavarians.

[PM Thor]

It's Munchen to all you dirty Americans. (damn no umlaut)

You can see Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel at 11 AM and Noon. I've never been, but have had many a family member go through there, and they rave about it and how gorgeous it is.

[GoMuskies]

Dachau is actually in Dachau. But it's near Munich. I've been twice, and it's quite the sobering experience.

[spongebob]

Dachau is worth the trip. Consider a boat ride down the Danube. It's been a while but I believe we boarded in Melk, about a half day trip total down and back. You could get off at any of a number of little towns along the way if you wanted, then reboard as the boat returned. BTW, Melk is a great little town to stay in as you work your way to Vienna.

[XUglow]

You can see Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel at 11 AM and Noon. I've never been, but have had many a family member go through there, and they rave about it and how gorgeous it is.

Marienplatz is very cool. You pop out of the trainstation, and it is right there. There are a lot of very good restaurants in the area if you keep moving to your right as you face the building.

http://www.munichwalktours.de/home/english/bilder/munich_marienplatz.jpg

[DC Muskie]

It's too bad you're going to miss out on Euro 2008!

[xeus]

I have not been to Dachau but have been to Auschwitz and Birkenau. Not sure what the right word is to describe it but I recommend the trip.

I celebrated Mardi Gras in Marienplatz one year. It was snowing, we were drinking beer, it was like the best snow day ever. One of the great city squares of all time.

Austria is beautiful. The hills are alive.

[MHettel]

to be honest with you, they should have no trouble in Austria. many people speak English. There are tons of markets, shops, etc.

The food is freakin amaizing (try the different breads). prices are reasonable (back when a Euro = Dollar).

Museums, castles, churches, villages and other sight to see all over the place.

Great Beer.

You seriously cannot screw up a trip to Austria. Can't be done.

[MADXSTER]

Just got the Itinerary.

They are going to Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel. Hofbrahaus. Hohenschwangau region. Hike to Schloss Neuschwanstein. Go to Austrotel Hotel Inssbruck. Perform in Innsbruck.

Bike tour through Old City. Head to Salzburg. Lunch in the Getreidegasse. Go to Hallein and tour a salt mine thats been in operation since 500BC. Perform at Mirabell Gardens.

Tour Alt Stadt, Salzburg Dom, St.Peters Abbey, the Mirabell Gardens, the Mozart Gardens, Mozart Platz, Mozart residence and Hohensalzburg Fortress. Perform. Stiegkeller Restaurant. Go to Vienna. Melk Abbey. Danube Valley Wachau. Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna Mozart house, House of Music. Volksprater amusement park. Schonbrunn Palace. Perform at Ehrenhof.

Schlossbrau Restaurant. Vienna Opera House to see Vienna Mozart Orchestra.

Head back home.

Cost includes 11 days Hotel, Airfair, breakfast, dinner, tour bus, tour guide, all fees for tours and Opera House. They fly out of Chicago.

The wife is 3k and my son is just under 2k. His group raised enough to lower his cost 1k.

[xuab]

I agree about Dachau, but I have to say it affected me more than I expected it to. But, I think it was something that I needed to do. Hoffbrau Haus was fun. I think I liked the area around Neuanschwanstein better than the castle tour itself. I remember going to another castle right by there as well. The drive between Neuanschwanstein and Austria in the mountains was beautiful. Salzburg is a beautiful town. I don't remember too much about Innsbruck except staying in a small bed & breakfast in the mountains right near the Olympic Ski Jump...seeing that up close gave me new respect for those who do that.

Overall, I remember Austria to be picturesque, clean and just a very enjoyable place to go.

[MHettel]

One other thing. Up in the mountains on the border with Germany is a hotspring and a spa resort called Therme Geinberg.

It had a nice pool, tennis courts, some racquetball, and oh, did I mention..........a TOTALLY NUDE CO-ED SPA / hottub / suanas / freezing cold ice rooms / hot pools / outdoor cold pools....and so much more.

[GoMuskies]

Schloss Neuschwanstein. Good call. Fussen is a fantastic little town as well.

[xu95]

Your son will love Neuschwanstein. I remember going there as a young lad. As for the cell phones, any major carrier should work over there. Just make sure your wife's phone will support the international signals and pay the $5.99 or whatever your carrier charges for international roaming. It saved my wife and I a bundle when we went to Grand Cayman in January.

xu95

[XUglow]

I remember going there as a young lass. It saved my wife and I a bundle when we went to Grand Cayman in January.
xu95

Confused sexual orientation post of the day.

[ballyhoohoo]

If you have time go to Dachau, I went a few years ago, sunny day when we left my freinds house in Munich. Pulled in to Dachau and the clouds covered and the temp dropped in seconds. Very freaky. To bad you are not going in the winter, Munich is beautiful in the winter, plus great skiing. I went to a little village in Austria called Solden.

In Munich one must go to a Beir garten, Dachau (outside of Munich), Der Deucthes Museum, and Neufschwanstein palace. If you go to neufschwanstein stop by the weisbkurchie. You must also trie Leiber Kasse, available from any street vendor.

[ballyhoohoo]

Also if your lucky, in the main park (i forget the name) their is a river with a rough patch were locals ahve started surfing the river rapids, very cool and unexpected!

[xu95]

Confused sexual orientation post of the day.

I hadn't had my first cup of coffee yet.

It has been fixed.

xu95

[xeus]

It has been fixed.

xu95

Yes, we gathered that from your original post.

[XUglow]

Yes, we gathered that from your original post.

http://littleegyptmagic.com/pat2.jpg

Some times a picture is worth 1000 words.

[bourbonman]

Xster, absolutely NO reason to be nervous. Great area of the world and when polite (which I'm sure your wife and son are), most people will be VERY helpful and many at least speak broken English. Agree about Dachau ... a must see. Subway system in Munchen very easy, safe and clean. Innsbruck and Austria, great as well. If they have time (which I doubt because it looks fairly scheduled out) I recommend Garmisch and up the cog train to the top of the Zugspitze, the highest point in Germany. Enjoy the food ... breads, brats (best one is in the train station in Munchen right out of a vendor's grill there. Don't pass on cheeses, kraut and of course the bier. But don't worry, it'll be fine!

[GuyFawkes38]

Xster, absolutely NO reason to be nervous. Great area of the world and when polite (which I'm sure your wife and son are), most people will be VERY helpful and many at least speak broken English.


I personally loved to be the ugly American on my past Euro trips.

When I would get drunk at a bar with Americans in it, I would always start a "USA" chant. Europeans can't stand that chant.

I also found that Italians particularly don't like to be insulted or mocked. Go figure.

[xudash]

MADXSTER.

A few comments for you, since my wife and I met in Strobl (Xavier's Summer School deal) and try to go back every other year:

Hoffbrau House - a must see (no drinking age in Germany; your son can go into Muskie training early - I imagine that isn't at the top of your list for this trip).

Glockenspiel (sp) - is in the main town square in Munich - around the corner from the HH. It is a must see as well, preferably when the clock strikes noon (Allies were ordered not to bomb it during WWII).

Salzburg is MAGICAL, PERIOD.

Vienna is beautiful.

Purchasing stuff is a function of converting to Euro's or DM's, but the dollar is weak. So even if you can go to DM's - and I'm not sure about that - you won't have as much purchasing power as years past.

You'll have to check on international service for the cell phones.

Munich is a big town as is Vienna (about 2mm people like Cincy). Yet Munich and its Bavarian region are very welcoming and know how to treat tourists. They'll be fine every where they go in Austria.

[xu2006]

Germany is a great country, and Munchen (Munich) is a great city. It's become a younger city as many university goers live there. Ten miles NW of Munich is Dachau, home of one of the more famous concentration camps. A visit to Dachau is very sobering, but very important - the camp has been left very much the way it was during its operation. There is something unsettling and surreal about walking the grounds.

The "legal" drinking age in Germany is 16. Most places don't care, but I have been on trips to Hofbrauhaus where "minors" were turned away at the door. If that happens, the English Gardens in Munich serve Hofbrauhaus beer, and serve as a great way to enjoy a drink and the outdoors - just watch out for nude/semi-nude sunbathers.

I've been to Austria once, and found the people to be a little less welcoming than the Germans. If you go to Salzburg your family can run down the Sound of Music hill singing about the hills being alive...

[xu95]

When my dad was stationed in Germany we would go to Munich during Oktoberfest each year. I was never turned away at the door, but I was hardly ever able to order a beer myself. Now my dad would order them for me and it wouldn't be a problem.

xu95

[XUglow]

Speaking of 16-year-old drinking age, the drinking age in Japan is 16, and they have beer vending machines out on the sidewalks in many shop areas of Tokyo. I asked what kept the kids below 16 from just buying beer from the vending machine, and their answer was, "Because the drinking age is 16." When I asked again, they gave me the same answer. They thought that I was incredibly thick for wanting to know why someone would do something that they weren't supposed to do.

[MADXSTER]

Thanks for all of the info. Very much appreciated. My wife and boy have read your comments and have approved. My boy very much approved the info regarding the alcoholic beverages.

[Snipe]

Divas of Vienna (http://www.divas.at/e_escorts_vienna.htm)

Make some time for the ladies. I consider it a culteral exchange.