Driving to Austria advice please

shellyd_3

Hi, this will be our first time driving to and visiting Austria. I would be very grateful for any advice please.
We are a familyof 5 (bad for hotel rooms) children 16, 9,7. Thinking of going in August.
We have a 5 hour trip to Ashford to planned on staying over, before getting the train to Calais the next day.
We would the like to stop halfway between Calais and Austria (hopefully see something).
Then 5 nights in Austria, Salzburg or Vienna? (Advice Please)
Then repeat the journey home with a different stopover (hopefully see something)
Then another night in Ashford before going home.

I don't know if will be all too much, (never done anything like it before :eek: )
I would be very grateful for advice on stopovers, hotels, travelling etc or anything else you know about it.

Thank-you very much

Shellyd

pcg2001

shellyd wrote: »

Then 5 nights in Austria, Salzburg or Vienna? (Advice Please)
/quote]

Hi, I can give you some advice on this: definitely stay in Vienna, There is so much to see and do, though you won't really need the car in the city. We were there for 5 days and we pretty much covered the town. And what a great time we had.

Within a driving distance you can visit the Abbey in Melk, a bit further go to the concentration camp in Mathausen.

If you stay in salzburg my advise is to drive around. Salzburg can be seen in a day and that is a bit too much. It is overly touristy nowadays (i remeber the first time I was there many years ago, it was gorgeous, but now it has lost the glamour). Munich is very close. It took us a huge amount of time to get to Munich because there was construction work in the motorway, so huge queues. And the limits in Austria can be low at times (90kms), so we always tried to drive within the limits everywhere. Outside Munich, there is the Dachau concentration camp (much better than Mathausen). If you are willing to drive in mostly secondary roads (no other way) from Munich you can visit Neuschwanstein palace (get there early), the Eagle's nest (get there early). Fussen is a small town worth a visit and is on the way to Neuschwanstein.

I flew to Austria and rented a car. I understand it may be expensive for 5, but Ryanair does Salzburg and Vienna (close to Bratislava). Have you factored in the cost of petrol, channel crossing and tiredness? You can leave your car in a long-term airport parking. If you rent a car for 1 week in Austria it can be pretty cheap (it is often the same cost as for 3 days) and that is just one cost for all 5 of you. Also, with Avis within Austria there were no costs of returning the car in a different location, so you can fly to Vienna, pick the car and retunr it in Salzburg. We stayed in an Ibis in both locations and they were pretty good, for about €60. (We had breakfast for just €3 each in a chain of bakeries throughout Austria (crusty bread, butter, slice of cheese and ham, small orange juice, and a great capuccino!!).) All I am saying is that you can save money in Austria, which would make up for the higher travel cost.

We flew to vienna only and drove to munich. That was such a boring trip, because of the speed limits. I swore I would try to minimize the driving time next time.

boatman

There is nice route called the 'Romantic Road' going through Germany which you could make use of with Neuschwanstein at the southern end of it. There are many scenic routes to choose from!
http://www.romanticroad.com/
http://www.germany-tourism.de/ENG/destination_germany/master_tlfstrasse.htm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Germanys-Romantic-Road-Walkers-Cyclists/dp/1852842334
Also
http://www.germany-tourism.co.uk/EGB/highlights_of_germany/master_tlregion-id104.htm

tw0906blue

Hi Shellyd,
We drove through Germany taking in Hamburg (fantastic city) Saltzburg and Vienna and the trip was amazing. The driving is easy, although some on the autobharn are maniacs!

Have you looked at going via Norfolk Line Ferries - cheaper than the others. We always go that way - bit of a trek out of the ferry terminal but worth it - we have stayed in a hotel just the other side of the channel on the road out of Dunkerque www.norfolkline.com. Cheap and adequet with family rooms.

We too have done part of the "Romanitic Road" and it is a lovely drive. You will find places to stay but take your phrase book, many German's and Austrians don't speak that much English when it actually comes down to it!

Everyone was very friendly.

Good for you - have a great time - working things out as you go is part of the adventure. Set the kids specific tasks, learn to order drinks and snacks, and let them do it! find out where the tourist info places are in places you will go through etc. Ours always loved being part of the planning. :-)

I agree re Saltzburg, it is still pretty, but small. BUt it does have the fountains just outside which are worth a visit - though not been to myself. You will fair much better in Vienna overall though. There is loads to do - don't forget the "Summer Palace".

We camped so don't have any stop over recommendations, but we found the "Rough Guide" invaluable and that has places to stay in each section.

Best of luck and Bon Voyage

shellyd_3

Thany you all for taking the time to reply. I am using my Tesco deals for the eurotunnel so this will make my crossing free, I am now going to check out all the advice you have passed on.

Thanks again :beer:

Shelly