Salzburg Hotels

I'd stay outside of Salzburg any time during tourist season. Everyone seems to follow their guidebook and so you have the recommended places filled to the gunnels. There are several suburbs around Salzburg with good bus transportation and within easy reach of other attractions.

With relatives in Henndorf (by the warm Wallersee) I put up my friends in nearby Eugendorf on their recommendation. The place is called Gschirnwirt (www.gschirn.at) and it was perfect - not expensive, roomy, with amenities, and a bus line right outside for the 10 mi trip south to Salzburg.

Try looking at book.com (not bookings.com which is not very good). Many hotel choices will appear for you, some just over the hill a short walking distance from downtown. Try the Star Hotel Zentrum, for example; close in, more up-to-date than downtown (a nice change after staying in older places for awhile). Have a great trip!

Sorry, that's booking.com!

Tiffany,

You might want to check out the Institue St. Sebastian (dormitory rooms with private baths). We stayed there last September and thought it was great - relatively inexpensive, very clean, very friendly staff, and great location - just a block or two, cross over the river and you're in the center of Salzburg. Not sure about the availability of AC but you could certainly open the windows as I don't think there would be any street noise.

Tiffany - the Pension Elizabeth was recommended to me from users of this site. It's outside the city center (10 mins by bus) and is walkable from the train station. Our first trip is in June so I will be posting back to let everyone know how it went. Pension Elizabeth is very affordable - we got a triple with a w/c and shower for under 90E in peak season.
Michelle

Hi Tiffany,

... You've already got some really good recommendations above. We suggest you consider this one, even though it could be a splurge (being on vacation:- that's how we justify splurges!)...
http://www.ente.at/
... Keep in mind that many, many Europeans go on their own annual (30+ day) holidays in August...a reservation far in advance is a solution to the August mobbing of vacation meccas... bon voyage / Gute Reise! ... P

We stayed at the Bloberger Hof about 10 minutes by bus 21 from the town center. Very clean, very nice people, free bike rentals and breakfast is included. I would stay there again. 10% off of stay with Rick Steves book and cash.

Hello. We stayed at the Pension Elizabeth over Christmas. We found it to be very clean (think Ikea) and nice. The beds in Europe are all...flatter than most American beds. But the linens were clean, the duvet was lovely and the bathroom was nice and clean. The people running the hotel were helpful to a fault (one late night staffer tracked me down to help me dial out of the city to Vienna). He also gave me directions to the internet cafe across the street and watched to make sure I got there safely as it was late at night. The location is fine. It's not the center of town, but it's a few blocks away from the train station. And we walked everywhere we needed to with ease. The breakfast was filling and the staff was very helpful. I lived in Chicago and I understand that cold has a very specific definition, but I would think you'll find most European locations warmer than cooler. The duvets will take care of you regardless. I was very impressed with our stay there.

Oh! I wanted to add that we got into Salzburg from Interlaken around 11pm at night. My traveling companion and I decided to get a taxi rather than risk a late night walk to an uncertain destination. We hailed a taxi and when we told him where we needed to go, he laughed and pointed down the street "two blocks". We felt silly and since he gave us directions, we tried to pay him for his time, but he refused. He probably thought we were crazy Americans, but he was helpful. He told us it was a safe walked and we'd be fine. It's not the lushest location. But being from Chi-town, you'll be fine. It's like walking around the loop and knowing there are shady areas right next to lovely areas, but that it's all safe. Have a good trip!