Tour operators in Vienna

While on holiday in Vienna July 2008, we took a couple of tours, a city tour that included Schonbrunn Palace and a tour to the “Vienna Woods.”  Both tours were provided by Vienna Sightseeing Tours, but there were some differences between the two in terms of how personable the tour felt.

One thing that we liked about Vienna Sightseeing Tours is that the retrieved us from our hotel and took us to the company’s bus terminal where the tours departed.  The city tour with Schonbrunn Palace was supposed to be 3.5 hours, but the tour did not last that long and felt rushed and there was unbelievable traffic.  I thought that we would periodically make stops at some of the sites like most other city tours that we have taken.  Perhaps, the traffic was the reason why we did not make any stops or perhaps, we did not make any stops because we were on a large motor coach.

Our first stop … and final stop … was Schonbrunn Palace in which a guided tour of the palace was included.  The Palace really provides insight into how the monachy lived and puts history into context.  The one problem … all the people from our large motor coach had to crowd around our one little tour guide and try to listen while other visitors are trying to pass by.  The bottom line, this tour had too many people, especially for the Palace visit.  At the end of the Palace tour, which was also the end of the tour, we had 10 minutes to visit the gardens … we opted not to take the motor coach back to the city center, so we could have time to visit the garden.  10 minutes would not have been enough time.

In summary, even though the city part of the tour was more or less pointing out what this building is and how old it is, the tour did help orient us to the city … later during our stay in Vienna, we revisited the interesting sites we wanted to see.  Schonbrunn was definitely worth a visit … just make sure you get to visit the gardens, which also include a small zoo.  Also, have lunch at the cafe … the food is good.

Traveling by train in Europe

During our Europe 2008 holiday, we used just about every form of transportation available — plane, train, and automobile.

We always travel by plane and automobile, but wanted to do something different this holiday, so we used the trains system to travel from city to city and country to country.  While it had been over 20 years since I last traveled by train in Europe, I expected this mode of travel to be as reliable as air travel, and it was.  Of course, there were delays and problems, but this happens when traveling by airplane too.

So, when considering air travel and train, there are definitely factors to consider.

Air travel

• pros:  fast.
• cons:  expensive; security (lines, liquids, …); arrival times (1-2 hours); retreiving luggage; scenary (sky and clouds).

Trains

• pros:  inexpensive; spacious seating; no security; arrive times (early enough to take train); no baggage checking; scenary.
• cons:  can be slow; no complementary snacks (not even pretzels or beverages); buying food from dining car can be expensive; frequent stops.

I know a lot of people think that the trains are exclusively used by backpackers and young travelers and they are, but they are also used by travelers who don’t want to fly everywhere or want a different experience.  We had a couple of adventures … missed on train and another train was malfunctioning, but we eventually made it to our destination, several hours late, but we made it.  (More about this later though.)

Like air travel trains give you a couple of options, you can travel first or economy class.  I recommend this option, the first class option, because the coaches a nicer and more spacious.  You also have the option to reserve a seat or not.  We reserved a seat for all our rail travel, but there we many many unreserved seats.  Some European trains sell tickets and passes to board the train, but do not require to purchase or reserve a seat, so you may be able to board the train and not have a seat.  As a precaution, I will continue to purchase reserved seats.

I highly recomment rail travel, especially if you want to different travel experience and want to see the countryside.  Word of caution when traveling by trains.  Don’t be late.  When the trains run on time, they run on time.  We missed our train from Vienna to Prague by minutes!

My day trip to Salzburg

One of the things we like to do when we travel, especially internationally, is to take day trips outside the major city that we are visiting.  While Salzburg is a travel destination itself, when we were in Vienna, we visited the city for the day.  We took a train too … when in Europe travel the European way.

Salzburg was absolutely wonderful and it absolutely added to our memorable holiday.  Unlike German and other Austrian cities, Salzburg was largely spared large scale destruction.  Thank goodness, the city has building dating to the fourteenth century, not to mention that it is the birthplace of Mozart.

Prior to arriving I had arranged a city tour with Salzburg Sightseeing Tours, which was a good choice.  We learned and saw so much on this tour.  We also learned that the tour could have been called the Sound of Music and Hapsburg tour.  The tour was very good with a good mix of coach and walking.  Interestingly, the tour operator offers a “Sound of Music” tour, but we thought could there be more.  For a while we thought that we were on the “Sound of Music” as our tour guide repeated mentioned that “this building/palace/castle was in the movie.

Visiting all the site that belonged to the Hapsburg makes me want to be one.

In addition to the “Sound of Music” and Hapsburg presence, Salzburg is abundant with beautiful gardens and statues.  And if you visit Salzburg, you have to visit the churches and monastery and the castle.  While we were only there one day, it’s probably a two day visit if you just want to sample what the city has to offer … which is much.

Europeans understand public transportation

I want to start by saying that I am proud to live in the United States and don’t plan to move, but I have to give the Europeans credit for public transportation.  We spent our 2008 summer holiday in Eastern Europe (one can argue that Austria isn’t really Eastern Europe, but I won’t).  One of the decisions that we made prior to our trip was to take public transportation, because it is so convenient and efficient and it has less impact on the environment … and most importantly, it is less expensive than taking taxis.  Hey, the dollar is weak!

So, once we land in Vienna … without all of our bags.  We inquire about public transportation to our hotel … 6 euros person to take a coach.  Our hotel, K+K Palais was about a 5 minute walk to the metro stop, which runs very regularly during the week.  Our longest wait was probably less than 3 minutes.  Where the metro doesn’t go, the tram does.  Buy a single day or multiday ticket and you are set.

With this type of public transportation, why would anyone drive?

Vienna, Austria … pictures and words aren’t enough!

Vienna, Austria is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited.  Along with all that beauty, you have culture and history.  As an aside, don’t refer to Austrians as Germans.  I didn’t do it, but that would be bad!

While in Vienna, we took a city tour … in part to learn a little history, but also to get oriented to the city.  This is a typical strategy of ours so that we can return to some of the place we rushed through during the tour.

Like many European cities, Vienna is a very walkable city.  We stayed at the edge of the city at K+K Palais which is a European chain of boutique hotels and had no trouble getting to all the site, either by walking or taking the very reliable public transportation.  By the way, K+K Palais is definitely a great hotel.  They are on my list of places to stay.

Back to Vienna though.  One of the most beautiful aspects of the city are it parks.  They seem to be everywhere.  I think they probably contribute to all the “lovers” we saw expressing public affection for one another.  The city is also incredible clean.

In addition to the beautiful parks, you have historic buildings like cathedrals and the Opera House.  You can actually tour the Opera House.  It’s a must do in my opinion even if you don’t like opera, which I don’t.  Schönbrunn Palace should also be on your list and if you take a tour … walk or take the metro back so you can have lunch, explore the gardens and zoo, and visit the fountain.

In fact, the city is so aestetically pleasing that we walked miles without realizing it.  Picture and words don’t do justice …

Eastern Europe 2008 … History comes to life!

We just recently returned from Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary and if you like history and you haven’t been to these countries, they are must visit destinations.

As much as I would like to take credit for planning such a historic-rich trip … it was happenstance.  As one who loves history, and is aware of the close relationships among the Austrians, Czechs, and Hungarians, I completely was not thinking of this when I made the arrangements.  Visiting these three countries really pulled all that history together … the Austrian-Hungarian Empire!

These three countries, despite being part of the Austrian-Hungarian, are quite culturally different.  Vienna is quite different from Prague, which is not like Budapest.  Of course, prior to the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, these countries and their territories were distinct and the Empire did little to change that.

In summary, Vienna is probably culturally west.  Prague is very old and the western edge of Eastern Europe.  Hungary, a culturally rich eastern European country, is proud of its historical role in stopping the advance of the Turks.

A visit to one or two of these destinations would be incomplete.

Learning about your host country’s culture

You hear a lot about some Europeans perceiving people from the United States as “Ugly American.”  Well, that has not been our experience and we have visited many European countries … in fact, we are visiting Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary this summer.

When we travel outside the US, we always remember that the most compelling reason we are visiting is because the country is different from ours, at least that is my philosophy for traveling.  Traveling is an experience.  So, before we go, we do a little research on the local beliefs, values, and practices of our host country.  Remember, not all people think and behave the same, so don’t stereotype.  But, you can learn what to expect and how to behave.

The following suggestions may help you avoid the “Ugly American” label:

• Don’t expect your host country to adapt to you.  That’s arrogant.
• Learn key phrases.  Some people really appreciate this, even when they speak your language perfectly.
• Tip the way locals do.  Leaving a tip on the table is not universal.
• Watch your hand signals, you may inadvertently insult someone or think they are insulting you.
• Don’t get upset with your host country when they don’t have 24 hour services that you want.  Some business close for lunch, because they consider things other than money important.
• Accept gifts like drinks and sweets from locals … drink and eat it too!  This is a very kind gesture on the part of your host.
• Be polite!  Being overly demanding probably won’t help … just as it usually does not help in your country.

Remember, when in Rome, do as the Romans do … to some extent.