© Lonely Planet Publications 380 lonelyplanet.com DIRECTORY •• Accommodation 381 DIRECTORY DIRECTORY PRACTICALITIES Directory The metric system is used in Austria; decimals are indicated with commas and thousands with DIRECTORY DIRECTORY points (full stops). THUMB TAB ervations in writing are binding on either side International newspapers are widely available in the larger cities; local big sellers include CONTENTS and compensation may be claimed if you do Kronen Zeitung, Kurier and Der Standard. not take a reserved room or if a reserved room Independent broadcaster ÖRF (Österreichischer Rundfunk; Austrian Broadcasting Corporation; Accommodation 380 is unavailable. www.orf.at) runs a total of 13 radio stations and twoU TV channels, ÖRF1 and ÖRF2. Activities 383 In mountain resorts, high-season prices Programmes are generally dubbed rather than subtitled. Radio station FM4 (103.8 FM) has Business Hours 383 can be up to double the prices charged in the news in English from 6pm to 7pm. Children 383 low season (May and November, which fall You can get prints of digital photos and burn DVDs at many photo outlets. Climate Charts 383 between the summer and winter seasons). Courses 384 In other towns, the difference may be 10% Wi-fi is widely available and often free to use. Customs 384 or less. Electric sockets have the two small round holes common throughout Central Europe (220V Dangers & Annoyances 384 In some resorts (not often in cities) a AC, 50Hz). North American (110V) appliances will need a transformer. Discount Cards 385 Gästekarte (guest card) is issued to guests. Videos in Austria use the PAL image-registration system (similar in the UK and Australia), and Embassies & Consulates 385 This card may offer discounts on things such are not compatible with the NTSC system used in the USA, Canada and Japan. Festivals & Events 385 as cable cars and admission, so check with a Food 386 tourist office if you’re not offered one at your Gay & Lesbian Travellers 386 resort accommodation. Meals or cooking facilities are often available. While in the country, pick up camping Holidays 387 The listings in the accommodation sec- Bed prices for nonmembers are around €24 guides from the Österreichischer Camping Club Insurance 387 tions of this guidebook are arranged from to €30 in a dorm or €12 to €18 for a mattress (Austrian Camping Club; %01-713 6151; www.camping Internet Access 387 budget to midrange to top-end options. The on the floor. Members of the ÖAV or affili- club.at, in German; Schubertring 1-3, A-1010 Vienna) and Legal Matters 387 general price range split is anything below ated clubs pay half-price and have priority. a Camping Map Austria from the Österreich Maps 388 €60 per double for budget options, from €60 Contact the ÖAV or a local tourist office for Werbung ( p391 ). Money 388 to €130 per double for midrange, and top-end lists of huts and to make bookings. Post 389 is anything above €130. Vienna is an excep- Private Rooms Shopping 389 tion to the rule: budget ends at €70, midrange Camping Rooms in private houses are cheap (anything Solo Travellers 390 accommodation falls between €70 and €200, Austria has over 490 camping grounds that from €18 to €40 per double) and in most Telephone 390 and top-end choices go over and above €200. offer users a range of facilities such as wash- towns you will see Privat Zimmer (private Time 391 Unless otherwise noted, we quote high-season ing machines, electricity connections, onsite room) or Zimmer Frei (room free) signs. Most Tourist Information 391 rates throughout this book. shops and, occasionally, cooking facilities. hosts are friendly; the level of service though Travellers with Disabilities 392 Prices are for rooms with bathroom and, Camping gas canisters are widely available. is lower than in hotels. On top of this, you will Visas 392 unless noted otherwise, include breakfast. Campsites are often scenically situated in an find Bauernhof (farmhouses) in rural areas, Volunteering 393 Before setting out, consider logging on to the out-of-the-way place by a river or lake – fine and even Öko-Bauernhöfe (organic farms). Women Travellers 393 following sites for more information: if you’re exploring the countryside but in- Regional tourist offices ( p391 ) are good Work 393 www.austria.info Austrian National Tourist Office convenient if you want to sightsee in a town. information sources for farm stays. website, with links to accommodation sites. For this reason, and because of the extra gear www.austrian-hotelreservation.at Regional listings required, camping is more viable if you have Hostels ACCOMMODATION of hotels, alpine huts and chalets and online booking your own transport. Prices can be as low as €3 Austria is dotted with Jugendherberge (youth You’ll find it all in Austria – from simple service; also in English. per person or tent and as high as €8. hostels) or Jugendgästehaus (youth guest- mountain huts to five-star hotels fit for kings. www.campsite.at Comprehensive website listing around A majority of the campsites close in the houses). Facilities are often excellent: four- to Tourist offices invariably keep lists and de- 70% of campsites in Austria; in a number of languages. winter. If demand is low in spring and au- six-bed dorms with shower/toilet are the norm tails, and some arrange bookings for a small www.tiscover.at Hotels, rooms, last-minute deals and tumn, some campsites shut, even though their in hostels, while many guesthouses have dou- fee, while others will help free of charge. holiday packages, alongside general tourist information literature says they are open, so telephone ble rooms or family rooms; internet facilities Most hotel rooms in Austria have their own on Austria. ahead to check during these periods. In high and a restaurant or café are commonplace. shower, although some rock bottom digs do season, campsites may be full unless you Austria has over 100 hostels affiliated with still have Etagendousche (corridor shower). It’s Alpine Huts reserve and higher prices may apply. Hostelling International (HI), plus a smatter- wise to book ahead at all times (often a day or There are over 530 of these huts in the Austrian Free camping in camper vans is allowed in ing of privately owned hostels. HI hostels are two is enough), but especially well in advance Alps maintained by the Österreichischer autobahn rest areas and alongside other roads, run by two hostel organisations (either can during the high seasons: July and August, at Alpenverein (ÖAV; Austrian Alpine Club; as long as you’re not causing an obstruction. provide information on all HI hostels): Christmas and Easter and between December p83 ) and the German Alpine Club (DAV). It’s illegal to camp in tents in these areas. Note Österreichischer Jugendherbergsverband (ÖJHV; and April in ski areas. Some places don’t ac- Huts are found at altitudes between 900m and that ‘wild camping’ in cities or protected areas %533 53 53; www.oejhv.or.at; Schottenring 28; cept telephone reservations. Confirmed res- 2700m and may be used by the general public. is also illegal. h9am-5pm Mon-Thu, 9am-3pm Fri) 382 DIRECTORY •• Accommodation lonelyplanet.com lonelyplanet.com DIRECTORY •• Activities 383 DIRECTORY DIRECTORY Österreichischer Jugendherbergswerk (ÖJHW; Innsbruck. Prices per person are likely to but may not have high chairs or nappy- %533 18 33; www.oejhw.at; Helferstorferstrasse 4; BOOK YOUR STAY ONLINE range from €20 to €35 per night and some- changing facilities. In general, only mid- h9.30am-6pm Mon-Fri). For more accommodation reviews and rec- times include breakfast. range to top-end hotels have cots and can ommendations by Lonely Planet authors, arrange daycare. DIRECTORY DIRECTORY Gästekarten are always required, except in a check out the online booking service at ACTIVITIES In the bigger cities, breast-feeding in public few private hostels. It’s cheaper to become a www.lonelyplanet.com/hotels. You’ll find See the Outdoor Activities chapter ( p74 ) for won’t cause eyelids to bat. Everything you member in your home country than to join the true, insider lowdown on the best places details on walking, skiing, cycling and other need for babies, such as formula and dispos- when you get to Austria. Nonmembers pay a to stay. Reviews are thorough and independ- outdoor pursuits in Austria. able nappies, is widely available. Rental car surcharge of €3.50 per night for a Gästekarte, ent. Best of all, you can book online. companies can arrange safety seats. Newer but after six nights the guest card counts as BUSINESS HOURS public transport, such as trams and buses a full membership card. Most hostels accept Offices and government departments gen- in Vienna, are easily accessible for buggies reservations by telephone or email and some Meals are usually available, either for guests erally open from 8am to 3.30pm, 4pm or and prams, but the older models can prove are part of the worldwide computer reserva- only, or more often, in a public restaurant on 5pm Monday to Friday. There are no real a nightmare. Sundays, public holidays, and tions system. Dorm prices range from €14 to site. A pension that supplies breakfast only restrictions on shop opening hours but most during the summer holidays, children under €19 per night. is known as a Frühstückspension; the hotel open between 9am and 6pm Monday to the age of 15 travel free on Vienna’s transport Cheap dorm-style accommodation is some- equivalent is Hotel-Garni. Other hotels and Friday and until 1pm Saturday (until 5pm system (with photo ID; children between six times available in ski resorts even if there is pensions will offer the option of paying for in larger cities).