Austria General Information

Transcription

1 Austria General Information Passport: A valid passport is needed to enter Europe, and it should be valid 6 months beyond your intended departure date, meaning the end of your visit. We suggest you take a photo of your passport and it to yourself in case it is ever lost or stolen. If it is lost or stolen, and you don t have a copy, try to find the nearest embassy for your country to get a temporary passport before you head to the airport. Currency: The unit of currency is the Euro, valid in all member countries belonging to the European Union. We recommend using credit and debit cards during your trip. When taking money out from an ATM, the exchange rate comes directly from your bank. Make sure to check with your bank as to what that fee will be and to notify them that you will be using your debit and credit cards while in Europe. A 2 or 3-dollar fee won t matter if you get euros out at one time. Bring some cash with you in case you cannot find an ATM right away. ATMs: European keypads have only numbers, so you ll need to know your personal identification number (PIN) by number rather than by letter. Plan on being able to withdraw money only from your checking account. You are unlikely to be able to access your savings account from a European ATM. Avoid non-bank ATMs. "Independent" ATMs charge outrageous fees. Don t use your credit card to withdraw cash unless it s an emergency; you ll be charged a high cash-advance interest rate. Make sure to bring a debit card, and carry some cash with you. Many small restaurants and some grocery stores don't take credit cards, especially for small purchases. Many places in Europe do not take American Express. Voltage: The electrical current in Europe is 220 V, 50 cycles alternating current (AC). The wall outlets take the europlug, which is two round prongs. You can find adapters for this type of plug at many travel stores or electronic stores. Please note that do not bring a US or Canadian hairdryer without also bringing a Europlug voltage converter. The 220 volts of European outlets will short-circuit your blow dryer. Cell phones, ipads, and laptops all have a little box on the charger that automatically change the voltage, so for most electronics a voltage converter isn t necessary, only a europlug adapter. If you are unsure if your device has a built-in voltage converter, please ask your local electronics store.

2 Cell Phones: It is recommended that you contact your phone provider to inquire about a temporary international plan. Most times this is the most convenient and affordable. If you don t feel you will need phone coverage all the time, and you have a smart phone, then you could simply download a program like Skype to make free calls, but only when you are connected to WIFI. Another option would be to purchase a prepaid SIM card once you arrive, however you would want to first make sure with your phone carrier that your phone would support this. It is possible to purchase a prepaid cell phone in Europe, but it can be a hassle to find a store, and with the SIM card, it may cost you euros. Check out Rick Steve s page for some more advice: Calling to/from/within Europe **Sample** phone numbers: +31 (0) and From USA or Canada: If you need to call Europe while you are still in North America, or if your family need to reach your hotel or barge while you are in Europe, they would dial 011 then the phone number with no zeros. So in this case it would be To USA or Canada: To call the US or Canada from a local European phone (not your cell phone), you would dial 00 then the number with the country code and area code. So in this case it would be Using your cell phone while in Europe: If someone is trying to reach you from the US or Canada, as long as you have cell service, you can be reached at your usual phone number. They will not have to do anything different. In order for you to call out to local European or to USA/Canada, you just need to make sure to add a + in front of the number. Your cell phone will do the rest of the work. So for the two example numbers, dialed within Europe from you own cell phone, it would be: or You take out any extra zeros at the beginning of a European number. Dialing to Europe from Europe: If you are able to use a local phone, and need to call within the same country, you don t need to dial the country code (the first two numbers). Instead, you dial 0 then the number. In this case, it would be If you need to dial a different country, you dial 00 then the country code, then the number. So for example, Transportation Around Europe: Train travel is the most convenient and speedy way of travel in Europe. High-speed trains generally require reservations, as they assign seats, but local trains do not and tickets can be purchased at the train station upon arrival. Usually, train tickets cannot be purchased more than two months in advance. If you are traveling from one country to another, busses are usually cheaper than trains, and may require fewer transfers. Car Rental can be a great way to see the countryside, especially when you would like to visit smaller villages and towns where train connections are limited. Usually, one-way car rental within the same country charges no extra fee, but if you would like to pick up the car in one country and drop it off in another, there is usually a hefty fee. A fantastic resource for travel logistics is You plug in your departure and arrival information, and they will tell you which planes trains busses or ferries you need to take to get from one place to another, even with small towns! They also have links to the exact website where you need to make the online bookings for tickets. Note that their suggestions aren t always 100% perfect, but it is a great place to start.

3 Service Charges and Tips: When paying the bill, value added tax (VAT) is shown. In France and Italy, service is included on the bill, so there is no need to tip unless you feel you had outstanding service. In The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Germany, a tip of 5-10% is customary. Tip in cash, handing the tip directly to the server, or tell the server how much the bill should be (including tip) before he or she makes change. Occasionally the credit card machines will allow you to add tip. The tariff on the taximeter includes service charge although it is customary to give a small tip. A lavatory attendant is usually given 50 eurocents. Opening Hours - Shops Shops are closed on Saturday afternoons and on Sundays in smaller towns; they also close for lunch. Tourist Information offices: There are many tourist offices in Austria (Verkerhrsverein). Look for the rectangular green sign with i on it. Arriving in Vienna: The airport bus takes you downtown to the City Air terminal behind the Stadtpark in about 30 minutes. Buses leave every half hour. There are also buses to the Westbahnhof (the West Station), but a cab is much easier. Trains to Salzburg leave from the Westbahnhof every hour. The train ride takes a little over three hours and costs about 40 euros per person. Arriving in Salzburg: A taxi from the airport to a hotel in the center of town will cost about 20 euros. There is also a bus to the train station in Salzburg. From the train station in Salzburg you can take a cab (about 7 euro) or city bus to your hotel. Public Transportation in Vienna: Public transport is excellent in Vienna! There are trams, buses and a Schnellbahn (subway). Trams and buses usually run till 12 at night. At each streetcar stop there is a sign that tells what cars stop there, where these cars are going and at what hours the first and last trips of the day are made. Tickets for buses and trams cost about 2.50 euros if bought singly; it is cheaper to buy a strip of 4. Most trams have automatic ticket machines in the first car (marked by a yellow sign). Taxis charge according to the meter and are comparatively cheap. There are many taxi stands in the center of Vienna. Train Travel in Austria: Traveling by train is a great way to get around Austria. It is possible to check the train schedule in Austria on the Internet at You cannot check schedules more than 2 months in advance, but you can get a general idea of distances, time, transfers necessary and prices. Climate: Generally speaking Austria has a moderate Central European climate. The weather can change very quickly however. In the spring and fall, the weather can definitely be cooler, so make sure to bring warm layers.

4 Hotels in Salzburg If you wish to spend an evening in Salzburg before or after your tour in Austria then Van Gogh Tours recommends the following hotels all within walking distance of the historic center of Salzburg. Telephone and fax numbers are listed as you would dial them from the States. You can correspond with them in English. All rooms have private facilities. Hotel Imlauer****: Rainerstrasse 12-14, A-5020 Salzburg Tel.: Austrotel Hotel Salzburg****: Mirabellplatz 8, A-5020 Salzburg Tel.: Hotel Auersperg****: Auerspergstrasse 61, A-5020 Salzburg Tel.: Hotel Ganslhof*** Vogelweiderstraße 6, A-5020 Salzburg Hotel Drei Kreuz*** Vogelweiderstraße 9, A-5020 Salzburg Hotel Mercure Salzburg City**** Bayerhamerstraße 14a, A-5020 Salzburg Hotel Mercure Kapuzinerberg**** Sterneckstraße 20, 5020 Salzburg

5 Tips on Getting in Shape ELIGIBILITY: Clients are responsible for choosing a tour appropriate to their own fitness level. Minors (under age 18) must be accompanied by an adult. You ll enjoy your European vacation a whole lot more if you take the time to get reasonably fit before your plane lands on the eastern side of the Atlantic. You will also greatly decrease the likelihood of an injury while on tour. I ll just get in shape during the first days of the tour! is not a great idea! Please consult your physician if you are overweight or have any other health factors that might make strenuous exercise a risk to your well being. Gradual training takes less out of you. Make sure you do some exercise equivalent to walking a few hours per day, every other day three times per week for at least 3 or 4 weeks before our tour. If you are walking, include some up and down hills. Walk at an easy, relaxed pace, which is similar to what we ll use during the tour. You ll be stopping often to rest, photograph a castle or simply behold a beautiful field of sunflowers. You ll also be stopping for lunch, snacks or a museum break! Don t over train. Take rest days to allow yourself to recover. Your body is damaged by over exercising and it s during the rest following exercise that you get stronger. Preventing Blisters: Make sure that you wear properly fitted socks and hiking boots. Also make sure you walk in your new (or old) boots at least 15 times before our tour. You want to avoid blisters. A blister is caused by friction (your boot rubbing against your foot) or by pressure (a wrinkle in a sock), causing the outer layer of skin to move back and forth over the inner layer. Keep your feet dry and apply moleskin to hot spots before they fill with fluid!

6 Packing Tips Following are some tips and a suggested packing list for a one-week walking tour. Realize however that this is a general suggested list designed for all weather situations. Please check the weather forecast before your trip. Keep in mind, even if your luggage is transported from place to place, you must still carry it to your first meeting place, lug it around airports, and train stations. It pays to pack lightly! 1) Ziploc bags are fantastic. Use them to separate clothing items, toiletries etc. This makes it easy to stay organized. 2) Don t count on using laundromats or laundry services at hotels. There are hardly any laundromats in small villages in Europe. It is possible to wash out t-shirts or pants in your hotel bathroom. After you ring them out, roll them in a dry towel and press the water out of them. Hang to dry! Therefore 1-2 pairs of pants and 4 or 5 T-shirts or should be enough for a week of walking during summer months. 3) Bring comfortable hiking boots that are well broken in (at least good walks)! Boots with Vibram soles are sturdy and have a good grip! Often they are not waterproof so waterproof them before you leave! 4) Wear a couple of pairs of socks. Many walkers use a thin inner liner sock and a heavier outer sock. 5) Bring a rain poncho or a rain proof, Gore-tex type of jacket for bad weather! Rain pants are nice but optional. We find we swelter in them, unless it s really cold! 6) Bring a lightweight cotton sun hat or cap to protect you from the sun. A bandana can shade your neck! 7) Be prepared to dress in layers! Even during the summer months or in a warm climate you may get some cool or wet days. You need a lightweight base layer that will transport moisture away from the skin. T-shirts are mostly OK in the summer. The next layer should provide insulation for cold weather conditions. Fleece pullovers are very good as a second layer. Finally you need a waterproof shell to protect you from the elements! 8) Bring comfortable and safe sunglasses! 9) Bring a simple top loading day backpack that weighs between two and three and a half pounds. A load-bearing waist belt is a useful feature. 10) Bring an under-clothing pouch to carry money, credit cards and passports. Beware of crowds as pickpockets can remove or empty your fanny packs quickly! 11) Make a copy or picture of your passport. It it s lost your stolen, you ll save time replacing it!

7 FIRST-AID KIT Suggested Packing List One-week walking tour WALKING GEAR CLOTHES 1-3 pairs of shorts 7 cotton or quick-dry shirts 1 pair of long comfortable pants 1-2 long-sleeved shirts Sun hat or cap Sweatshirt or fleece pullover Waterproof jacket (a must) Waterproof pants (optional) Hiking boots Sunglasses (a must!) Comfortable backpack Regular shoes or sandals Socks Underwear Casual outfits for the evening Bathing suit (optional) TOILETRY KIT Deodorant Toothpaste, toothbrush Comb, brush Shampoo/conditioner Baby powder (optional) Shaver or razor Sunscreen Band-Aids Moleskin Aspirin or other analgesic Digestive aid Hand sanitizer Insect repellent (optional) Lip balm with sunscreen MISCELLANEOUS Passport (and copy) Earplugs Cell phone and charger Reading glasses Reading material Headphones Electrical adapter for europlug Safety pouch for money Camera and charger Zip-lock plastic bags Printed final documents (Will be ed about 40 days before departure)

8 VGT General Information PAYMENTS: Please carefully note that full payment by credit card, check, or bank draft is due 60 days before trip departure. VGT reserves the right to regard reservations for its tours canceled when payment of the balance is not received when due. CANCELLATIONS and REFUNDS: In the event of cancellation by the Client the following percentages shall be due: After reservation and up to 90 days prior to departure: $100 per person From 89 to 60 days prior to departure: $400 per person (loss of deposit) From 59 to 30 days prior departure: 60% of total tour cost From 29 days prior to departure date to arrival day: 100% of total tour cost INSURANCE: On your booking confirmation, we have included information on CSA Travel Protection. We strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance in case of personal or family emergency. ELIGIBILITY: Clients are responsible for choosing a tour appropriate to their own fitness level. Minors (under age 18) must be accompanied by an adult. RELEASE OF LIABILITY & MEDICAL FORM: These forms have been sent to you and must be returned to VGT at the time of registration. AIRLINE TICKETING: Since flight options vary locally, consult your local travel agent for advice or try vayama.com. We recommend booking early. CHANGES to the ITINERARY: Due to unforeseen circumstances VGT on rare occasions must alter the accommodations or routes from those mentioned in the itinerary. All efforts are made to select an alternative hotel of the same high quality and to keep the route changes to a minimum. VGT Cancellation of Tours: VGT also reserves the right to cancel a tour for any reason. In the unlikely event that this happens a refund of all money received will be made.