Austria & Italy in May: Help! DH's Spur of the Moment Idea

[jonestavern]

El Nebuloso is planning a spur of the moment trip to Austria (Salzburg & Vienna) & possibly Venice. It will be a week to 10 days & will be this May.

DS20 is enlisting in the Army this summer & DH told him he could pick a trip anywhere. Despite the fact that the kid will be getting a trip to MUCH warmer climes
I think what clinched the deal for El Neb is that the air fare from Boston USA is cheaper to Italy than it was for our HHI trip this February!
DS has been to the UK recently also to France & Spain & Ireland so it's Austria & perhaps, Venice for us.

I am a planner. As in I need a year out to plan
This 'last minute' trip to a foreign country has got me in a spin
We have the Rick Steeves' books, which we have used before with decent success. Any other recommendations?

Anyway, what I need to know (but the guys don't care two twits aboot!):

1. What can we expect for weather?

2. Any tips on where to stay inexpensively (but not dives)?
We do like B&Bs but I NEED our own bathroom!

3. Where to eat at modest prices? We realize we will be in cities & this will not entirely possible. We do want to go to more local spots & not to tourist style places that churn out the grub.
In each city we would like to go to one restaurant renowned for it's food

4. What would you see or skip?
We like museums (not modern art, tho'), churches & Patrick loves castles & militariana
We'd like to think we'll be back but who knows in this economy?

And the most important question: What, oh what shall I wear?
I am.. uh, em..on the bleak--but not very, very dark!-- side of 50 & Pooh sized. I am a conservative dresser. If it is warm in May should I be wearing silk & light weight poly blouses? I never wear jeans in the city so lightweight poly? Rayon linen blends? I will be bringing a nicer raincoat.

Okay, the guys will be wearing jeans or Dockers and casual Oxford shirts, sometimes tees. I am trying to get them to pack lightweight jackets & ties. We'll see.

Help! I am so not used to unplanned trips!

Jean

 

[Trilli-magic]

May is a lovely time to go to Venice (don't know about Austria though)
Spring is always best here as it can get quite smelly in the summer!
I would sugest you pack layers and a lightweight raincoat as weather is nice but will not always be warm/hot, then again it might be no-sleaves weather so layers is your best option here.
As for hotels I'm sure you can get some deals on the internet or at least an idea of the lesser expensive ones.
Bear in mind that Venice is expensive for Italians so nothing will be cheep! My advice would be to stay out of the famous very touristy squares etc to find the better priced hotels, maybe even find a hotel on the mainland - Short walk to actual Venice.
As for Food again stay away from the famous areas, find little restraunts in the side streets and you should be ok. Pizza always costs less than an actual meal

Hope you have a great time

 

[tinks86]

El Nebuloso is planning a spur of the moment trip to Austria (Salzburg & Vienna) & possibly Venice. It will be a week to 10 days & will be this May.

DS20 is enlisting in the Army this summer & DH told him he could pick a trip anywhere. Despite the fact that the kid will be getting a trip to MUCH warmer climes
I think what clinched the deal for El Neb is that the air fare from Boston USA is cheaper to Italy than it was for our HHI trip this February!
DS has been to the UK recently also to France & Spain & Ireland so it's Austria & perhaps, Venice for us.

I am a planner. As in I need a year out to plan
This 'last minute' trip to a foreign country has got me in a spin
We have the Rick Steeves' books, which we have used before with decent success. Any other recommendations?

Anyway, what I need to know (but the guys don't care two twits aboot!):

1. What can we expect for weather?

2. Any tips on where to stay inexpensively (but not dives)?
We do like B&Bs but I NEED our own bathroom!

3. Where to eat at modest prices? We realize we will be in cities & this will not entirely possible. We do want to go to more local spots & not to tourist style places that churn out the grub.
In each city we would like to go to one restaurant renowned for it's food

4. What would you see or skip?
We like museums (not modern art, tho'), churches & Patrick loves castles & militariana
We'd like to think we'll be back but who knows in this economy?

And the most important question: What, oh what shall I wear?
I am.. uh, em..on the bleak--but not very, very dark!-- side of 50 & Pooh sized. I am a conservative dresser. If it is warm in May should I be wearing silk & light weight poly blouses? I never wear jeans in the city so lightweight poly? Rayon linen blends? I will be bringing a nicer raincoat.

Okay, the guys will be wearing jeans or Dockers and casual Oxford shirts, sometimes tees. I am trying to get them to pack lightweight jackets & ties. We'll see.

Help! I am so not used to unplanned trips!

Jean

Hi, will help with what I can! Just come back from skiing in Austria - its a fantastic country and the people were wonderful! Everyone we met spoke english and wanted to take the time to talk to you. We stayed just outside Salzburg (in Wolfgansee) a beautiful area by the lake with skiing in winter and water sports in summer. Would definately be worth a day trip if you have time. Salzburg its self was fantastic, very small safe city, easy to get around on foot. There is an old fort at the top of the town you can visit by train, a cathedral and monestry along with other museums etc. There is also Mozarts birthplace and house which you can see, both were only a few euros each. The shopping area was very quaint and pretty, loads of shops decorated ready for easter when we went, and a few high st names as well. Plenty of places for food, we found food reasonable (same price as UK) which given how bad the euro is to the pound at the moment was very good for us.

In terms of what to wear I would expect Austria and Venice to be quite mild / warm at that time of year but def worth taking a jacket. It was quite casual everywhere we went, we were staying in a 4* plus hotel and had no probs in jeans and ugg boots so don't worry in about that.

Hope that helps a bit - Austria and Italy are fantastic places I'm sure you will love both