Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Guest Cards
In some resorts (not often in cities) a
Gästekarte
(guest card) is issued if you stay overnight. This card may offer dis-
counts on things such as cable cars and admission, so check with a tourist office if you're not offered one at your resort
accommodation.
Websites
Here are some good international and local websites for scanning and booking accommodation. Locally, always check
the city or region website listed in that section, as many (such as in Vienna, Salzburg and Graz) have an excellent book-
ing function.
Austrian Hotelreservation
(
www.austrian-hotelreservation.at
)
Austrian National Tourist Office
(
www.austria.info
)
Booking.com
(
www.booking.com
)
Camping in Österreich
(
www.campsite.at
)
Expedia
(
www.expedia.com
)
Hostelling International
(HI;
www.hihostels.com
)
Hostelworld
(
www.hostelworld.com
)
Hotel.de
(
www.hotel.de
)
Alpine Huts
There are over 400 of these huts in the Austrian Alps maintained by the
Österreichischer Alpenverein
(ÖAV; Austri-
an Alpine Club;
www.alpenverein.at
) and the German Alpine Club (DAV). Huts are found at altitudes between 313m
and 3277m, and may be used by anyone. Meals or cooking facilities are often available. Bed prices for nonmembers
are from €20. Members of the ÖAV or affiliated clubs pay at least €10 less and have priority. Contact the ÖAV or a loc-
al tourist office for lists of huts and to make bookings.
Camping
Austria has some 500 camping grounds that offer users a range of facilities such as washing machines, electricity con-
nections, on-site shops and, occasionally, cooking facilities. Camping gas canisters are widely available. Camp sites are
often scenically situated in an out-of-the-way place by a river or lake - fine if you're exploring the countryside but in-
convenient if you want to sightsee in a town. For this reason, and because of the extra gear required, camping is more
viable if you have your own transport. Prices can be as low as €5 per person or small tent and as high as €12.
A majority of the camp sites close in the winter. If demand is low in spring and autumn, some camp sites shut, even
though their literature says they are open, so telephone ahead to check during these periods.
Free camping in camper vans is allowed in autobahn rest areas and alongside other roads, as long as you're not caus-
ing an obstruction. It's illegal to camp in tents in these areas.
While in the country, pick up camping guides in bookshops or from the
Österreichischer Camping Club
(Austrian
Camping Club; 01-713 61 51;
www.campingclub.at
; Schubertring 1-3, Vienna) and the useful
Camping
brochure-
map from the national tourism authority
Österreich Werbung
(
www.austria.info
), with international representatives.
