AUSTRIA -ZELL AM SEE STUDENT SKI GROUP 8 NIGHTS

Set in central Europe, Austria conjures up images of the picturesque Central Eastern Alps dotted with glamourous Alpine ski resorts surrounded by pristine pistes and aquamarine lakes. However, the country’s breathtaking nature only tells a small part of the story. With residents like Mozart, Freud, and other legendary figures playing an important role in developing the world we know today, the country is also blessed with a rich heritage. From the quaint, cobbled streets of timeless Innsbruck with its famous Golden Roof, to the enthralling Vienna Staatsoper, one of the most famous opera and ballet venues in the world, the historical choices are as diverse as they are seductive. The longstanding 'Kaffeehaus kultur' and the country’s delectable strudels, schnitzels and beer are enough reason to visit, alone. Chic, world-class cities are packed with spectacular modern and contemporary art galleries and a multitude of entertainment opportunities.

Currency

Austria uses the European monetary unit, the euro (€). Euro bills come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500; coins are worth 1 cent of a euro, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 euro, and 2 euros. Local merchants may refuse to accept €200 and €500 bills due to the prevalence of counterfeit bills.

Banking

Bank opening times differ from one bank to the next, with most open weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm. Some banks close for lunch from 1 to 2.30 pm especially in more rural areas. Most bank branches have cash machines (ATMs) that allow you to withdraw cash, transfer money and get bank statements 24 hours/day.

The ATMs in Austria will accept all major cards: Maestro, Mastercard, VISA and Cirrus so you can also draw money from your foreign account. However, you will be charged an extra fee for withdrawing from a foreign bank account.

Austria boasts an excellent road network. However, almost all of the bigger cities suffer from severe parking availability problems. Spaces are scarce and prohibitively expensive. If you do find a space, the time you are allowed to park for is usually around 90 minutes in central districts. One way streets and traffic jams also take enjoyment out of the journey.

If you do decide to drive your own car here to Austria you will need to purchase a Vignette which is a form of toll that allows you to drive on Austria's motorways. These vignettes can be purchased at gas stations, border crossings etc.

Drivers in Austria are also required to carry safety warning equipment, namely a reflective warning triangle to place on the road in the event of an accident, a first aid kit and a reflective vest. Failure to carry these items in your car will leave you liable to a fine.

Most large cities and towns feature some form of public transport, including underground systems, buses, tramlines and suburban railways which means getting around without a car is generally not a problem.

The public transport system in Austria is excellent. Austria's rail network is comfortable, reliable and fast. The main rail website offers excellent information on timetables, services and discounts. The quality of service offered by the rail network makes it far more appealing than bus links.

All of Austria's major cities including have their own international airports. Austrian Airlines, Austria's national carrier, serves all of these cities and connects Austria with many international destinations. There are now a range of low cost carriers which connect Vienna, Linz and Bratislava to a number of European destinations e.g. AirBerlin, FlyNiki, Ryanair, Sky Europe and German Wings.

Many Austrian cities and towns encourage cyclists through designated cycle lanes. There are many beautifully tended cycling routes throughout the country especially in areas of natural beauty such as along the Danube river.

Standards of hygiene in relation to food health and safety in Austria are generally high in hotels, restaurants, pubs and nightspots.

Austrian food is distinctive and delicious, and is traditionally of the stodgy, hearty "meat and dumplings" variety. Wiener Schnitzel (a bread-crumbed and fried veal escalope) is something of a national dish, and Knödel are a kind of dumpling which can be made either sweet or savory according to taste. In Vienna the Tafelspitz (boiled beef with potatoes and horseradish) is traditionally served on Sundays, and is normally accompanied by clear broth with dumplings and herbs. Apart from these, Austria is renowned for its pastries and desserts, the most well-known of which is probably the Apfelstrudel.

Austria is famous for it's clean water so you can definitely drink it directly out of the tap. There are a few public taps in parks, etc. where they specifically mention 'No drinking water' on an attached signboard.

Austria is located in a temperate climatic zone with a Central European climate influenced by the Atlantic climate. The four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) each have typical temperature and climatic characteristics. Due to the topographical diversity and the relatively large west-east expanse, there are three quite different climatic regions:

East: Pannonian climate with a continental influence – low precipitation, hot summers but only moderately cold winters.

Alpine Region: Alpine climate - high precipitation (except inner Alpine valley regions such as the upper Inntal), short summers, long winters.

Remainder of the country: transient climate influenced by the Atlantic (in the West) and a continental influence in the South-east. Before starting your walk or hike in the mountains please research the weather conditions, danger of avalanches or route conditions. Warnings by locals should not be disregarded!

Austrians tend to wear clothing that is quite formal and stylish. Smart casual clothes are appropriate for sightseeing and for eating out.

Austrian women generally don't wear jeans, except perhaps in the evenings at an outside venue. By far the majority of women wear dresses and skirts. Cobbled streets abound, so avoid high heels in favor of comfortable stylish shoes or sandals.

Younger Austrian men do wear jeans and sneakers now and again but most other ages do not, so take some smarter pants and you will fit in. Opt for comfortable stylish shoes.

As in most other European countries, Internet connections are commonplace in Austria. You can either connect to the web at your hotel or visit an Internet café. Information centers and public libraries have recently also in many cases installed PCs connected to the Internet.

Electrical sockets in Austria are one of the two European standard electrical socket types: The 'Type F'German style Schuko and the 'Type C' Europlug. Almost all sockets are Schuko, and while the Europlug socket may be found, it's rare. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter.

Electrical sockets in Austria supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need.

But travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 220-240 volts the socket is supplying. North American sockets supply electricity at between 110 and 120 volts, far lower than in most of the rest of the world. Consequently, North American appliances are generally built for 110-120 volts and will need a voltage converter to be used in Austria.