need travel tips

Are you spending any nights in Salzburg? I'd suggest that, if you're not. How about a couple nights in the Salzkammergut lake district? It's stunning, and since you are only visiting cities, it might be a nice change. There are lots of good accomodation suggestions in the RS guidebook...

Salzburg itself is a must. Between Vienna and Salzburg, Melk (because of the abbey) and Hallstatt are recommended. From Salzburg to Munich off of the A8 is Chiemsee…Ludwig’s last palace on the island of Herrenchiemsee would be worth a visit.

Munich: Hotel Uhland
Vienna: Pension Suzanne
Salzburg: Altstadt Hotel Weisse Taube
Hallstatt: Helga Lenz Zimmer

How long is your total trip including your arrival and departure days? It sounds like you're driving. Have you ever driven in Europe?

debby,

Regarding Hotels in Austria and Munich, I usually stay at Hotel Uhland in Munich and would highly recommend it. It's in a quiet neighborhood, I believe parking is available, the breakfasts are fantastic and the staff are great.

On my last visit to Salzburg, I stayed at Hotel Goldene Krone and recommend that also. It's in a nice area with lots of restaurants, easy walking to most sights, good breakfasts and wonderful owners.

Happy travels!

Thanks so much for the responses. We arrive Aug 5 and depart Aug 16, to/from Munich. We have driven in Europe before, but this time we have a GPS!! I do want to check out some other areas along the way that are not large cities, so I would be happy to hear suggestions. Again, thanks!!

Between Munich and Salzburg, I'd definitely go to Chiemsee (lake) and visit Herrenchiemsee castle (one of those Ludwig II crazes, that specific castle was built to look like Versailles, imagine Versailles in an alpine setting!) - also the area around Traunstein and Bad Reichenhall. If you are into castles, there are many actually, and if you are into lakes, you'll find lovely ones too.

Hi Debby It soundsd like you have the first seven nights taken care of and planned. Good planning for Prague..it is at least a 3 day must. It had no damage from WWII and is beautiful with so much to see. If you like classical music it has cheaper than Vienna evening concerts and the quality is almost as good. Remember to get you driving pass just past the border at a little building as you go into the Czech Republic. Stick it in the corner of the windshield and you will avoid a stiff fine. Vienna is a 3 day stop too and on day 8 as you drive out of Vienna make sure to see the abbey at Melk if you didnt do it on a day trip. I would stay for a night between Vienna and Salzburg at Hallstadt(beautiful,relaxing and alpine forest feeling with a big lake) There are also other small towns on the way worth a stop (Mondsee Fuchsl sp? and St Wolfgang. I would spend 2 nights in Salzburg with lots tosee there and lots of good day trips(Eagles nest area) That still leaves 2 days for Munich which should be enough. I also agree with Rudy that on the way to Munich stop at Chimsee for the castle there. Chimsee and the drive from Salzburg to Munich can be done in 5-6 hrs (2-3 hr leisurely drive). Last suggestion is even in the big cities with a GPS its a pain so we always pstay parked at the hotel and all four of the cities you are going have great transportation. If you stay where Ken suggests you will easily be able to walk Salzburg and most of Munich. I always love using a car for day trips. Have a good time. Make sure to do a night time walk of Salzburgs old town. The lights are fantastic on the buildings and fountains.

again, thanks for the info. We are looking at renting an apartment in Vienna, and wondering about the areas they are located. Is there a website that addresses this?

If you google "apartment rentals vienna austria", you'll find quite a number of websites that do apartment rentals there. Make sure they are serious sites, check if you can find clients' reviews, if the site has an actual office with telephone number, see if the addresses of the apartments they advertize exist (easy nowadays with googlemap!), how long the company has been in existence and if they are affiliated to some kind of validation association like the BBB in the U.S. for example (Better Business Bureau)

Thanks Rudy. The site we used was www.WeinPrivat.com
We put our info in and received many replies from owners of apts, for rent. It seems to be similar to VRBO. The problem I'm running into is we're unfamiliar with Veinna and wondering what the neighborhoods are nice/shady. Debby