Page 291 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

WHERE T O ST A Y  289

Hidden Extras
When booking a room, check
in advance if any additional
charges, such as Kurtaxe (health
spa tax) or for cleaning on
departure, will be levied.
Generally, prices are inclusive
of taxes such as Mehrwertsteuer
(VAT), but occasionally these
are separate. Breakfast is
included in all but the five-
star hotels. Other extras to
watch out for are charges for
off-road parking, especially in
the larger cities. Some places
still charge for Internet access.
For full-board accommodation
in a pension, you will need to
take the additional cost of Opulent furnishings at the Hotel Bristol in Vienna (see p293)
lunch and dinner drinks into
account, and also allow for a well-known hotels. Check Almost all of these will offer
small tip. In ski and some out the Schlosshotels und the usual conveniences,
country resort areas, smaller Herrenhäuser website, the dependable good service
hotels may insist on half-board booking association for and free Wi-Fi access.
accommodation. Schlosshotels, or go directly to There are also associations
the individual hotel’s website. grouping hotels under a
themed banner. Romantik
Hotels in Historic Hotels lists a variety of
Buildings Chain Hotels accommo dation choices,
Visitors looking for some- Austria’s hotel chains provide while Relais & Château
thing special beyond a reliable, and often champions luxury hotels.
the usual hotel cheap and cheerful,
experience should choice for some
consider a stay at visitors. In addition Pensions and Gasthöfe
one of the many to well-known Pensions are widespread
medieval castles and popular hotel and popular in Austria. Less
that have been chains, such as formal than a hotel, they are
converted into Mercure, Best typically run by a family and
hotels. These are Western and usually provide modest
denominated by the Marriott, Austria accommodation, breakfast
name Schlosshotel has its own groups and a pleasant ambience –
and include former Sign of the Golden Eagle of hotels, including guests often meet the owners,
palaces and royal in Innsbruck (see p298) Austria Trend. who are usually friendly and
hunting lodges. Some willing to help with travel plans.
excellent examples of such Most rooms have an en-suite
converted fortresses or palace bathroom, some have
hotels are Schloss Hotel telephone, TV and a balcony
Dürnstein (see p295) in the as well. In smaller towns and
Wachau region, the 12th- villages, the owners often
century Burg Deutschlandberg invite their guests to social
in Styria (see p296) and evenings with music, dancing
Schloss Mönchstein (see p298) or a barbecue.
in Salzburg. Each of these A Gasthof is a traditional
offers up-to-date accommo- inn typically with a restaurant
dation facilities in luxurious on the ground floor and rooms
surroundings. Health-spa to rent on the floor above. A
resort Schloss Fuschl (see p297), wide range of establishments
for example, is a set in a are covered under this cate-
sumptuous former palace gory, from small, inexpensive,
near Salzburg. family-run hotels with modestly
Prices at such historic equipped rooms, to exquisitely
establishments are, not restored country inns offering
surprisingly, often higher than A charming rustic pension in the luxurious furnishings, facilities
those charged by other mountainous region of Lech and surroundings.

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