Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hotels & Pensionen
The majority of travellers stay in either a hotel or a
Pension
or
Gasthof
(B&B or guesthouse). All are rated by the same
criteria for stars (from one to five stars). Hotels invariably offer more services, including bars, restaurants and garage
parking, whereas
Pensionen
and guesthouses tend to be smaller than hotels and have fewer standardised fixtures and
fittings but sometimes larger rooms.
TWO STARS
Functional rooms with cheap furnishings. Most cost under €40/80 per single/double but in many cases you're better off
booking a good hostel room. Often more central than a hostel and near the train station. Breakfast is unlikely to thrill.
The shower is in the room, but might be a booth.
THREE STARS
Most accommodation is in this midrange category. The majority of singles cost about €60 to €70, doubles €120 to €130
(from about €70/140 for a single/double in Vienna). Expect good clean rooms and a decent buffet breakfast. Usually
there will be a minibar and snacks; often you have a place to sit or a desk to write on. Internet and either wi-fi or cable
LAN is available, often free or inexpensively. Some specialise in catering to seminar guests. Showers and TVs (often
flat screens) are in rooms.
FOUR AND FIVE STARS
Rooms in a four-star hotel or
Pension
are generally larger than those in a three-star hotel and should have better sound
insulation as well as contemporary or quality furnishings. Expect decent wellness facilities in a four-star option, premi-
um facilities in five-star hotels.
Private Rooms
Rooms in private houses are cheap (about €50 per double) and in most towns you will see
Privat Zimmer
(private
room) or
Zimmer Frei
(room free) signs. Most hosts are friendly; the level of service is lower than in hotels.
Rental Accommodation
Ferienwohnungen
(self-catering holiday apartments) are very common in Austrian mountain resorts, though it is some-
times necessary to book these well in advance. The best idea is to contact a local tourist office for lists and prices or
book online if possible using the local tourist-office website.
University Accommodation
Studentenheime
(student residences) are available to tourists over university summer breaks (from the beginning of
July to around the end of September). Some rooms have a private bathroom but often there's no access to the commun-
al kitchen. The widest selection is in Vienna, but tourist offices in Graz, Salzburg, Krems an der Donau and Innsbruck
can point you in the right direction. Prices per person are likely to range from €20 to €75 per night and sometimes in-
clude breakfast.
Academia Hotels
( 01-401 76 55;
www.academiahotels.at
; 08, Pfeilgasse 3a, Vienna; rooms
Jul-Sep; 46 Strozzigasse) handles bookings for its residencies in Vienna, Graz and Salzburg. Prices given above
are for Vienna.
