General Information on Holidays in Austria

General Information on Holidays in Austria

Food and Drink Austrian cuisine has been heavily influenced by the history of the Habsburg Empire. Influences are drawn equally from Germany, Hungary and Italy, as well as from the Slav lands. Food is often spicier than in Germany, while Austrians are renowned worldwide for their love of fine cakes, tarts and pastries. Breakfasts are substantial and include cheese and cold meats, ideal before a day's walk. Typical local dishes are frequently offered by our hotels. Where half board is booked, we can usually arrange vegetarian food if requested in advance. Otherwise we will advise hotels, but can take no responsibility for the menu available at the time. Austria is a major wine producing country and its wines are very different from those of its German neighbour. Both the grapes grown and the styles are significantly different. First class wines are produced in the Weinviertel near Vienna and in the province of Burgenland on the Hungarian border. About 80% of the wine produced is red. Austrian beer is not unlike that of Germany or the Czech Republic, but is less distinctive than either. Nevertheless, it is far superior to most of the so-called Pilsener style beers made in the UK, and it is highly refreshing after a days walk in the sun! A good range of fruit juices - particularly apple - and mineral waters is always available too.

Hotels
We use the following grades for categorizing accommodation: The holidays on this website use Inns and Hotels.

Pensions are very small, family-run establishments that only serve food to residents, often breakfast only, and only have a few rooms. There is normally no bar on the premises.

Inns approximate to pubs in the UK. Their main business is providing food and drink to visitors and local people, but they also have rather more bedrooms than pensions.

Hotels are larger than inns. The bedrooms are larger and there is often a restaurant as well as a bar. There is often a lift too.

Superior hotels are large establishments that have a wide range of facilities such as a swimming pool or sauna, as well as large bedrooms and often more than one bar.

Please do not expect to find Tea and Coffee making facilities in hotels.


Austrian Forests The forests of Austria are very different from the regimented plantations often found in Britain. The Austrian may not have quite the same romantic attachment to his forests as his German counterpart, but forest still covers some 40% of the land and woodland is a major resource for both recreation and industry. This Wald teems with life and colour and home to many species of animal and plant. Trees are both evergreen and deciduous; alongside the forest tracks a profusion of butterflies dances among the wild flowers. Wildlife Roe and red deer are common, (and in season are often found on the menu) and buzzards, red kites and goshawks may be seen overhead. Small mammals are common too. Costume In Austria, by no means everyone wears the same western European style of clothing. While regional costumes may only be worn for holidays and special occasions, you will regularly see women wearing a Dirndl while going about their daily business, and men will wear grey Loden trousers or breeches with green embroidery and long, flared coats or jackets. You will see this type of clothing for sale in shops alongside more standard European styles in Bad Goisern, Bad Ischl and Altaussee - if you are lucky they may even be included in the summer sales while you are there.

Discounts Significant discounts are available for children under 14 when travelling by train, as well as when they share a room with their parents. Please contact us for more details.