Page 359 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Austria

TR a vel Info R ma TIon  357

seatbelts at all times. Children
up to the age of 15, or until
they reach a height of 1.5 m
(5 ft), are not allowed to travel
in the front seat, unless the
car is equipped with a special
child restraint.

Driving in Towns
Finding a place in which to park
is not easy, especially in the
centre of the larger towns; it is
often best to use a multi-storey
car park which is indicated by
the word Parkhaus. Frei means
that parking spaces are available. A road hugging the edge of the Seidewinktal valley
Cars left in a controlled Arriving by Coach
parking zone, indicated by blue expensive at the airport, but it is
lines on the road, must display the only place where you will Eurolines runs coaches from
a parking ticket or be parked be able to hire a car late at night London Victoria to Wien Mitte.
validly near a meter (see below or at weekends. This is also the terminal station
for how to buy a parking ticket To hire a car you must be 19 or for routes to major European
from a meter). In most parts of over, and for some car companies cities such as Bratislava,
Vienna parking is restricted to the age limit is 25; you must also Budapest, Zurich, Paris, Brussels,
resident permit holders. Visitors hold a valid passport and a Milan and Copenhagen, plus
may park for up to 2 hours, if driver’s licence as well as a credit domestic routes from
they display a parking card card or charge card from an eastern Austria.
(from newsagents). approved company. (A charge Coaches are equipped to
It is never worth card can sometimes be the European standard and
leaving your car in a obtained from selected tickets may be cheaper than rail
prohibited area – a tourist offices, inside or travel, but the journey from the
traffic warden will outside Austria.) UK is long and fares are not
arrive immediately, A car may be hired particularly cheap. Often, budget
impose a fine and for any duration and airlines offer a more convenient
arrange for your car dropped off at any way to travel at a comparable
to be towed away. agreed point, to be cost (see p352).
Retrieving an collected by the hire
impounded car is a company. Not all
lengthy, costly and destinations, however, Travelling by Coach
difficult procedure. have suitable drop- The entire country is served by
Sign informing motorists of the off points. Cars may an excellent coach network,
need to fit wheel-chains be taken outside allowing you to reach almost
Car Hire
Austria to approved any destination including some
Major car hire firms, such as EU countries. You may also take remote places not connected to
Autohansa, Avis, Denzel, hired cars to some, but not to the rail network. Prices are similar
Europcar, Hartl, Hertz and all Eastern Europe countries, to those charged for rail travel.
Trendcar, all have offices in with special permission from
Austria. Car hire is more the hiring company.
Hitchhiking
Parking meters Date and time It is not always easy to get a
In many towns you display lift in Austria; few drivers are
will have to obtain a willing to take hitchhikers.
ticket from a parking Coin slot If you decide to thumb a lift,
meter to park your car. the best point to wait is by the
Display it on the exit road from a town. Young
windscreen.
“Cancel” people waiting there often
button carry cardboard notices stating
their desired destination.
“Confirm”
Credit card slot As anywhere, women travelling
button
alone should take extra care.
In some provinces, children
Ticket collection
Push-buttons for entering slot below the age of 16 are
the price of the ticket forbidden to hitchhike.

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