Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Austria (Country Travel Guide)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I went to Austria on a trip sponsored by my school's German department, and I brought this book along with me. I knew more than our tour guide about many things in Austria, and left with a real appreciation of Austrian (and German) customs. I highly recommend this book.

I have used Lonely Planet Guides in the past and have been pleased with the information they provided. This iteration, however, leaves much to be desired. I use the guides to point out the "obvious" places that should not be missed, and "secret" places that are off the beaten path that the writers share with their readers. I found this book lacking in both instances. Vacations are never long enough, and as such, they require research and a seasoned guide to separate the worthwhile sights from the rest. After reading this guide, I was not much better off than before I started. Further, I found the guide is written for a backpacker mentality; fine for them, but not for me. Way too much time and space was devoted to finding one's way via public transport, and where to find the next hostel. I am well beyond that. I recently received the latest Fodor's and Frommer guides for Austria, and in one chapter, I was miles ahead with either guide over where LP left me. LP was extremely helpful for my travels to Australia and Belgium. This edition was rather disappointing.

I've been to Austria COUNTLESS times and have been to all corners and nearly every valley in Austria...I bought this book with the hope that it might help to discover something new....and of course to check on the information on places I have been and been impressed by..... this book is seriously lacking in place to stay and eat in the countryside. It misses out on some of the very lovely and amazing Austrian accommodations and places to eat..either food , ambiance OR location(view).... Bummer...please get a new author lonely planet you really alwyas do a good job.

There is no doubt this author has travelled extensively through Austria. His writing is richly detailed and down to earth. He doesn't just tell you what's there, he gives you additional insights and opinions which help you decide whether or not you want to spend your time going to a particular castle or place. I felt like I was taking along a personal tour guide. I was so impressed, I've bought 3 more Lonely Planet books, 2 of which are also written by this author.

I just returned from a brief trip to Austria. Lonely Planet is a reliable guide, but it has many problems some of which have been discussed already. I agree that it is a bit too oriented towards backpackers, wanderers, and poor students. This is not bad, because some guides such as the Guide Vert don't even acknowledge hostels it seems.

The LP notably missed the number of organized tours that were available, in English, from Salzburg. I was able to go to Berchtesgaden/Eagles Nest on a guided tour. There are also the Ice Caves. These tours significantly reduced my level of effort and organization required.

The other problem is that with few pictures (not a terrible thing given limited space) it is hard to have a good sense of where you want to go and what you should prioritize. For example, how does an Alpine castle in Austria compare to one in Germany or France? "Best in Europe" is a useful description you don't find; "Best in Austria" is not especially useful given that Austria is not the largest country in Europe, and one is more likely than not to be passing through Austria between Italy, Germany, and France rather than spending weeks there.

In the case of Vienna, I found that there were some significant museums and sites that were missing; such as the arsenal or the German flak towers. However, they did have most of the important sites and if you only have a day or two that's fine.

The LP books consistently have more descriptions and destinations for any mainstream books. If you want that "hidden treasure" you need to get a regional/local book, usually in the local language.

"Lonely Planet Austria" by Mark Honan is a very good choice if you want to go to Austria.

My strongest recommendation (that is obviously true regarding every trip) is not only to read the book as extensively as possible before hitting the road, but also to take the time and sum up all the facts in an easy access manner. You have to realize in advance that this book aims exactly at providing you - the serious traveler - the best and most accurate information - and you will have to invest your energy to become well informed. The entire country is covered and almost all the major cities and towns reports include detailed maps.

The grandeur of Vienna -
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What a beautiful city. It's almost beyond words. The magnificent buildings and churches, the museums, the opera houses and the residents...it seems like a dream to live in such a setting. The book does a great job in mentioning the best places to see and it even gave me the idea to go to the opera a decision that turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire trip; it pointed out the fact that opera is not as expensive as people might think - and in Austria anyone can afford it. The language is German but the music speaks all languages; imagine a stage occupied by a choral group of 80 singers, 60 instruments performers and 10 male and female soloists - and all of them are there to give you a few of the best hours of your life. A show not to be forgotten, I can assure you.

Bear in mind that Vienna has one of the best public transportation systems you can find; it's like having your own limousine at 5 Euros per day! A tram stops at a given station almost every 30 seconds, the subway (U-Bahn) will get you anywhere in no time and the local buses complete the comprehensive coverage of the city.

My advice for you, if you have the time on your hands, is to get lost in the city for a few hours. Forget about the maps and plans and just see what the city has to offer - by surprise. It can be quite an experience - and when you want to return to your hotel just jump on the closest U-Bahn or tram. No matter where, people will be delighted to help you to find your way, and more than once when I needed information people did their best to give me guidelines and explanations.

It should be noted that the Vienna map the book provides is good for locating places it recommends but not so much for getting around while there. Good maps can be found in the hotels and I would also suggest the B & B Vienna laminated map.


Other places that worth a visit -
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Salzburg is the second city that is famous around the world when it comes to Austria. The city in which Mozart was born in is situated in a lovely and ideal area and is a great choice to for having a day tour and spending time in the evenings (after exploring the vicinity that includes some of the most dazzling places in the country.

Sixty kilometers (38 miles) south east of Salzburg, built on the shore of a lake and on the Alpine slopes lies Hallstatt, a village that bears one of the most striking outlooks I've ever seen; the surrounding area is so fantastic that I've had the feeling that I'd come to heaven. Just walk or drive around to get a new perception on beauty.

Graz is a wonderful city in the south east part of the country; it has a lot to offer when it comes to traveling around and celebrating in the nights, and in addition is a recommended gateway for exploring the surrounding countryside.

Skiing -
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Austria has some amazing down-hill ski (or alpine skiing) sites for all levels of expertise. The guide gives some information on selected locations - but you should seek out more sources if your aim is a ski vacation. The best I can offer is to use the phone (numbers are given all over the book) and ask about prices, instructors and equipment for the most precise info. Myself, I've been to Kitzbuel and I can't forget how beautiful it was. You should also remember that in the winter there are cross-country ski possibilities all over the Austrian Alpines and they serve as a great way to see the country in a somewhat different manner.

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Final note -
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The trip in Austria has risen beyond my expectations in each and every parameter I can think of. If you wish to experience a close to perfect vacation - Austria is the place and "Lonely Planet Austria" is the guide. Lastly, remember the axiom - "the west you go the higher the prices get" - and Austria is in the eastern side of western Europe - which means accordingly that prices are lower compared to countries like France, The Netherlands and The U.K., a fact that is all the more encouraging...

Printed in 2005, some of the factual material is out-of-date (e.g., banks that change currency or traveller's checks), but the arrrangement by geographical areas works and the city maps--and the variety of things given on them--are clear and useful, as usual.

There are a few things I really dislike about this guide. The first is the very poor legibility of the maps and the haphazard way the maps are indexed to the recommended sights, hotels, and restaurants. The maps have low contrast and miniscule fonts. If over 40, you may need to travel with a magnifying glass. Another dislike relates to errors and omissions. Here are a couple of examples of the problems.

I'm trying to find a hotel in Vienna that is convenient to the train station where I'll be arriving. I read the description of one that sounds suitable. To find out where it is located, I need to make note of the page number of the map where it appears, turn to the map, then search for the index to the map, which is on a separate page along with the index to another map, make a note of the index number and coordinates, then turn back to the map. The simple task of finding out where a hotel is located is best done with pencil, pad, and magnifying glass.

I just wonder why they didn't include the index numbers and coordinates with the hotel descriptions and/or keep the map indexes on the same pages as the maps. Good standards for legible maps and models for effective indexes have been around for decades. Lonely Planet should take a look at the work of Edward Tufte and learn a little something about effective graphic communication or get out of the business.

Next I want to find out where the hotel is relative to Vienna's major train stations, Westbahnhof and Sudbahnhof. I find them both listed under `Getting There and Away,' `Trains' (p. 158). However, when I go to the map indexes for any of the four maps of Vienna and look under `Transport' I find no mention of either Westbahnhof or Sudbahnhof. Both stations are actually on the maps, and given 15 minutes and a good magnifying glass, most readers will probably find them.

The writers of this guide are obviously targeting a young demographic. However, their very hip and `in the know' writing style comes at the cost of clarity. Unnecessary ambiguities are not something I'm looking for when tackling a new culture and language.

One last pet peeve: Why is the table of contents on page 17? It's the first thing I look for when I pick up a book, and I shouldn't have to search for it. This is a trick used by cheap magazine to sell advertising. Used in a travel guide, where you frequently need to jump from chapter to chapter, this cheesy stunt goes from merely annoying to unforgiveable.

I've visited 44 countries, mostly on a budget, and Lonely Planet is THE only book I would consider using. It's throrough, comprehensive and concise. It's especially geared for the budget/adventure traveler, though it would also prove useful to anyone on a tour or cruise. Lonely Planet is packed with maps, useful phrases, history lessons, tips on culture & conduct, addresses and descriptions of museums, hotels, restaurants - everything you need. Though Lonely Planet leans towards those of us who travel in hostels and budget hotels, it also gives a good description of hotels and restaurants for those who wish to travel in a more luxurious manner. There are other good travel books out there - Eyewitness Guides, etc - that have a lot of beautiful photos - but unless you're traveling with a steamer trunk, these are of little use because they lack the information you'll need while on the road. Look at the others for inspiration before you go, if you'd like, but pack your Lonely Planet. I'd never travel without it.

This tour book was very helpful to me and arrived in excellent condition. I was pleased with the quick delivery time as it gave me time to prepare for our trip. Glad I ordered it.