Barclay International Group Austria

This area is divided into two sections:
General information on Austria, including helpful links and information on
Barclay International Group’s properties in Austria.

General Information on Austria

This information was copied from the Austrian National Tourist Office Web Site at http://www.austria.info/us. We encourage you to explore this link further when planning your Austrian vacation.

Where can tourists get more information on Austria? Detailed information on Austria can be obtained by calling the Austrian National Tourist Office Information Center at (212) 944-6880 (for U.S. residents) or (416) 967-3381 (for Canadian residents). Is Austria Safe? You're lucky to have chosen one of the safest countries in all of Europe! Austria has a high standard of living and there is no real poverty and no slums. Austria has a very low crime rate, especially in regard to violent crime, and you will notice that people do not flee indoors when the sun goes down. That's when they head for their favorite Kaffehaus, restaurant or wine tavern to chat with friends or perhaps check out the nightlife or take a leisurely stroll to do some 'people watching.' Do they understand English? German is the native language of Austria. English is by far the leading second language in the educational system and is, consequently, understood widely and spoken fluently by most people working in tourism-related jobs, especially in the major cities and winter and summer resorts. Most Austrians under age 40 speak or understand English quite well and you should not have any problems communicating. How do you get there from here? Austria has 6 international airports, including Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz and Salzburg. There is no departure tax in Austria. Vienna airport is served by about 30 international airlines. It is the home base for Austrian Airlines, Austria's national carrier, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways. There are non-stop flights between the U.S. (New York) and Vienna via Austrian Airlines. From most other cities in the U.S., there are convenient one-stop flights utilizing the major European gateways of Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, and Zurich, as well as the Austrian airports mentioned above, by a host of major airlines. From Zurich and Munich, there are convenient train connections to western and central Austria. If you are in a neighboring country, Austria's central European location makes it easy to get to, whether by air, rail or automobile. We suggest you check with your travel agent for the best airfare and most convenient schedule and gateway from your area. Are a passport, visa, or vaccinations necessary? U.S., Canadian and Mexican citizens need only a valid passport, without any visa, to enter Austria as a tourist for up to 90 days. An American driver's license, though basically recognized, does not conform to the standard Geneva Convention format and should be accompanied by an International Drivers License (AAA/Auto Club issues them for a nominal fee; you'll also need 2 passport photos). All vehicles must be covered by third party liability insurance. No customs documents are required for vehicles. Visitors from the U.S. do not need inoculations. When bringing pets into Austria (two cats or dogs per person), a valid certificate of vaccination against rabies, with an authorized German translation, must be produced. What can I bring into the country? Aside from unlimited good cheer and an openness to experience Austria and its people, tourists not having a residence in Austria do not have to pay duty on personal articles brought into Austria temporarily for their own use or for conducting their business. Likewise, travelers 17 years of age or older may carry up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 1 liter of distilled liquor and 2.25 litres of wine or 3 litres of beer duty-free. Gifts not exceeding a value of AS 2500 ($250) are also exempt from duty. Austrian customs has adopted the red-line/green-line system: follow the green line for nothing to declare and red line for declaring items. Should I bring local currency, travelers checks or use credit cards? Austria is still a very traditional country, so everyone is very happy to accept local currency; after all, who doesn't like cash? But for safety and convenience sake, you might not want to have large wads of either U.S. dollars or local currency on hand and so we would suggest you bring along travelers checks, which are accepted almost everywhere, or major credit cards to obtain cash along the way as needed. Be aware that you will be accessed a 'service charge' each time you cash travelers checks, so convert enough each time to cover your expenses for several days. In addition, if your travelers checks are in a foreign currency such as U.S. Dollars, you need to be aware that you will receive a much better exchange rate if they are converted at a bank rather than at the hotel. Cash and traveler's checks can be exchanged at the official Vienna Stock Exchange rate of the day at any bank or exchange counter (airports, railway stations, tourist offices—a small commission applies); travel agencies, hotels, restaurants and stores may accept foreign currency but give you a lower rate to cover their handling. Banking hours are 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a late 5:30 p.m. closing on Thursday. Banks are normally closed Saturdays and Sundays, although there is a weekend exchange counter service in some major international resorts. Airport and rail terminal counters are generally open 7 days a week, from about 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Credit cards are accepted in the major cities and resort areas. In general, most 4 and 5-star hotels, car rental agencies, and upscale stores in the tourist areas will accept the major credit cards. Be aware, however, that many smaller hotels, pensions, restaurants, cafes and stores will only accept cash so be sure to ask in advance. Your U.S. oil company credit cards (Shell, Mobile, etc.) are not accepted in Austria and you should have cash on hand to fill up your rental car. Your credit cards should work in the Austrian ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines); to avoid any unpleasant surprises, check with your bank and ask them if you need a PIN number for your card and on which ATM systems it can be used. The instructions on the international ATMs are also in English and work much the same way as they do in the U.S. You can bring any amount of foreign money and Austrian Schillings into Austria and take any amount of foreign currency out of the country, What is the weather like? Austria is an Alpine country located in roughly the same latitude as the U.S. states of Maine or Washington State, which means you can experience all four seasons in their full glory. The climate is moderate and generally agreeable. Temperatures depend largely on altitude, with averages 3M-: F lower for each additional 1,000 feet of elevation. The long-term average maximum and minimum temperatures for Salzburg (1,427 feet) are good examples: 35/22 in January, 58/39 in April, 75/55 in July, 57/40 in October. Summer days can be hot (even reaching 100 degrees F for brief periods), summer evenings are usually cool. Precipitation is quite evenly distributed over the entire year, but May, September and the first half of October tend to be the driest, April and November the wettest periods. From June through August, rain usually comes in the form of thunderstorms. The winter snow cover lasts from late December through March in the valleys, from November through May at about 6,000 feet, and becomes permanent above about 8,500 feet. What clothes should I bring? In summer, a sweater or light jacket and a light all-purpose raincoat should meet your needs, as evenings are cool, especially in the mountain regions. In Spring and Fall, a few warm pieces and a topcoat or raincoat are recommended. Adjust your wardrobe to the areas you will be visiting: the cities, especially Vienna, tend to be a bit dressier, while the smaller towns and countryside are more casual; if you go into mountain areas, a little heavier clothing and somewhat sturdier walking shoes are a good idea, while a down parka and a heavy sweater if you plan on outdoors activities high in the Alps. In general, experienced travelers have found that several coordinated layers of clothing will be most convenient and gives a maximum of flexibility. Remember to take a dark suit (men ) or dress (ladies) if going to the Opera or to a cultural/music festival. Warm clothes and shoes or boots with slip-proof soles are essential in winter. Will my electrical gadgets work? Electric current in Austria is 220 volts AC at 50 Cycles per second. Plugs are round in Austria and, as we all know, you can't fit a square peg into a round hole. To operate small appliances, laptop computers (leave your mainframe at home) or other electronic gadgets, you will need a multi-adapter. Check with a large electronics store in your area. Electric clocks, record players and tape recorders will not work properly even on converters because they use the 60 Cycle American standard. What is the best way to phone home? A call to U.S. made from a private or a public phone at the post office costs AS 18 (approx. $1.80) per minute (rates for Alaska and Hawaii are higher). It may be worth your while to buy a green Telephone-Wertkarte for AS 50 (approx. $5.00) or the gold one for AS 100 (approx. $10.00) at a post office and make your calls from a card-operated pay phone. Collect and credit card calls are possible from Austria; for such calls only, there are special overseas operators who can be reached by dialing 09 nationwide. It is also smart to obtain an overseas phone card (they are usually free-of-charge) from your long distance carrier, such as MCI, ATT or Sprint. MCI's Worldphone Program, for example, lets you phone the US from Austria or any other European countries at greatly reduced rates from what you would pay from the regular hotel charge. The long distance carrier will give you a special number to call when placing your call. Avoid lengthy overseas calls from any hotel; surcharges (quite legitimate with in the Austrian system) may boost your phone bill to an astronomical level. Is gambling legal? You bet it is, at Austria's 12 excellent casinos. Austria's casinos are small, elegant, quiet, have an excellent international reputation for honesty and integrity, and the atmosphere ranges from sophisticated Palais to rustic Alpine Chateau. Casinos operate in Baden, Badgastein, Bregenz, Graz, Innsbruck, Kitzbuehel, Linz, Kleinwalsertal, Salzburg, Seefeld, Velden and Vienna. Positive identification (passport) as well as proper attire (coat & tie for gentlemen, equivalent for ladies) are required. Badgastein, Kitzbuehel, Kleinwalsertal and Seefeld allow apres ski wear in the early evening during the winter/ski season. Games are generally Roulette, Black Jack, Red Dog, Baccarat, Poker, Sic Bo and Seven Eleven, at some locations also Wheel of Fortune, American Roulette and slot machines. When are stores open for shopping? Most stores are open from 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a one or two-hour lunch break, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon or 1:00 p.m. on Saturday (Saturday afternoon shopping to 5:00 p.m. every first Saturday of the month only). Hours tend to differ in resort areas, with longer lunch breaks but weekend openings. Check the hours for those stores you are interested in! Make sure you read our information on receiving the refund for the VAT tax, which can save you shopaholics up to 13%! U.S. traveler's checks are very widely accepted in Austria. The credit cards you will find most useful in Austria are American Express, Diners Club, Master Card and Visa. How much tip do I leave? The question that can never be answered to everyone's satisfaction! Restaurant and hotel bills already include a service charge; since the approx. 15% restaurant service charge in is already included, leave a small amount in change for the waiter. At first-class places, tip 10 % extra for particularly good service. At restaurants it is not customary to leave the tip on the table when leaving, but to inform the server when paying what he should keep: for example, if the bill is AS 200, you would tell him to "make it 220" including tip. Taxi drivers get 10% of the meter reading or the agreed fare as a tip; there can also be extra charges for luggage carried in the trunk. If you fill up at a gas station and get full-service, with the attendant checking under the hood, checking oil and tires, and cleaning the windshield, a AS 10 tip is customary. Railroad stations and airport porters get AS 12 to 15 per piece of luggage plus a AS 5 tip; hotel porters expect similar consideration. Hairdressers generally receive 10 % of the bill as a tip, the girl who washes your hair about AS 10. Tip hat-check ladies and toilet attendants about AS 5. Please note that you may find an attendant in the public rest rooms who is responsible for keeping the facility clean. What do I do in any emergency? Doctors, dentists and hospitals have very high professional standards in Austria. If you have any medical or health problem, immediately notify the hotel desk: most hotels know how to handle these type of situations and have a physician who can come to the hotel in an emergency. The nationwide emergency number for ambulance service is 144. For minor health problems, pharmacies (Apotheke) can be found in all cities and larger towns and you can go there for advice. Should a pharmacy be closed on that day, the nearest open Pharmacy address is posted. In Vienna, you can also call the Pharmacy Information Line at 1550. If you take prescription drugs, it is wise to have not only the American brand name, but the chemical composition, because even though most prescription drugs are available in Austria, their brand name may differ. All the Alpine villages have mountain search and rescue services in both summer and winter. The emergency number to call the police in the larger cities is 133. In case you lose your passport, you should immediately contact the U.S. Embassy in Vienna: Embassy of the United States of America Boltzmanngasse 16 VA-1090 Vienna Tel.: 1/ 313 39 It is not a bad idea to make a copy of your passport or keep you passport number separate in case you lose it.

Helpful links for those traveling to Austria, and specifically Vienna:

Austrian National Tourist Board: http://www.austria.info/us
Castles and Palaces in Austria: http://www.tourmycountry.com/austria/castles-palaces-austria.htm
Austrian Art and Music News: http://www.austria.info/uk/art-culture
General information on Vienna: http://www.wien.info/en
Schoenbrunn Castle in Vienna: http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/home.html/

Barclay International Group’s Properties in Austria

If you require Supplemental Services in Austria, such as car rentals, travel insurance or rail or air transportation, go to our Supplemental Service page. Just send in your request when making your apartment booking and we will secure that service on your behalf.

One caveat: We have written our property reference pages to be as concise as possible. Therefore, if an amenity is NOT listed, chances are it is not offered by the property. Though we attempt to be as accurate as possible and ask each property to recheck the information that they have provided, breakdowns in communications can occasionally occur. For that reason, Barclay International Group cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies contained in the information. If you do uncover mistakes in our information, please bring them to our attention so we may correct them as soon as possible. Also, rates occasionally change mid-season due to currency fluctuations and so forth; we cannot guarantee rates until actual bookings are placed. Consider the rates contained in our rate sheets to be approximate rate guidelines, rather than figures carved in stone. We have included links to country and city information in our pages. While we will attempt to verify these links on a regular basis, we would certainly appreciate it if anyone discovering a non-operational link brings this information to our attention. Thank you.

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