Hello - My dad will be joining my family of 4 (incl. 2 teens) on our winter break in Salzburg for 3 nights and Kitzbühel for 3 nights. My dad, who has been cleared by his doctor for this trip, is active but is a slow and cautious walker with a cane due to heart failure and back pain. Hills are challenging. We are staying at Alstadthotel Weisse Taube in Salzburg. I'm trying to get a sense of how difficult it will be to take a taxi to various locations, such as the Augustiner Brau, Mirabell Palace, and the Great Festival Hall, from the Old Town, especially with the Christmas Markets in full swing. Same question for Kitz - we are staying in hotel close to hahnenkam but can't figure out how hard the walking will be for him, and whether taxis are widely used. We will arrive on Christmas Eve and hope to see the market, be at the churches in the afternoon, and have dinner at a restaurant close to our hotel (with reservations). Any other tips for making it easier for him to get around that I'm not thinking about (we are taking transfers to/from airports and towns)? Many thanks!
Posted by
Los Angeles
4874 posts
Old town and the area around your hotel are going to be a challenge, it's all narrow and crowded cobblestones. On the other side of the river, it's uphill until it flattens near the Hotel Auersperg (which we loved BTW). Use the street view feature on Google maps to get a better sense. I doubt a taxi would be interested in a short but busy trip from one side of the river to the other, or even from one location to another since streets will likely be packed and/or closed.
Posted by
OP
Washington DC
3 posts
Thanks for your reply. Good idea about the walking person view on google maps.
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
2725 posts
We stayed at that hotel in Salzburg last December and loved it, especially the location. I took a tumble down some stairs at a restaurant, so was very happy to use the elevator at the hotel. Right around the hotel, the streets are not busy. Once you are at the market though and past that, it gets really congested. The cane will be very helpful to give him a bit of a buffer, but I would suggest that you have two people in your party stay by his side. One at his side, and another one behind him so he will not get pushed by someone in a hurry or not paying attention. We did use a taxi to and from the train station. We walked to Mirabell Garden, but that will probably be a push for your dad. The hotel can call a taxi for you though.
Posted by
Oberpfalz, Germany
1400 posts
The city center streets in Kitzbühel should not be a problem. It is obviously surrounded by mountains with hills. St. Johann in Tirol city center is relatively flat. From mountain lifts to restaurants could be a challenge, but with two teens helping will probably work (ask for the senior discount and food portions). They can stop a Kabinenbahn to allow your father to enter and exit (Sesselbahn too, but that probably won't work). For you father dress warm and have good medium trekking boots (I'm on my second pair of Lowa Renegade GTX Mid). Maybe substitute the cane for poles. There will be taxi and I've never used Uber there, but knowing that Kitzbühel is a top tier winter ski resort, I don't think you will have a problem. I have always stayed outside Kitzbühel. Make sure on a clear day you can see the Wilder Kaiser mountain. https://www.foto-webcam.eu/webcam/wilder-kaiser/
Posted by
OP
Washington DC
3 posts
Thank you @mikliz97 and @mchpp. These are great tips and are giving me some more confidence that we may be able to pull this off. He's very excited to return to this part of the world after 30+ years. Cheers!
Posted by
Oberpfalz, Germany
1400 posts
I just want to broach this subject; be aware that the Water Closets (WC) in some of these older buildings (Cafe' Restaurants, Ski Alm) might be down in the Keller or on another floor. Sometimes with narrow and steep winding steps. The last years with our parents we planned places to visit sometimes based on the WC location. Unfortunately, it's just part of getting old. Keep the cane for indoors too.