 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey folks,
Me and my girlfriend are booked in for a week in Bad Gastein this December and I was wondering which airport you would recommend we use. Also, taking in to consideration that we are going to have a city break of a few days trawling the Christmas markets, would you opt for Salzburg (at more expense) or Munich?
Is Bad Gastein easy enough to get to from Munich? Trains, coach?
Any tips and advice welcome.
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We used Salzburg airport. You can go from there by train but we used transfer company for around 65E return, which was very convenient and quick.
You can check train timetables here:
http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp
We used train from Schladming to Bad Gastein and it was a nice journey. If I will have a full day for getting into the resort I would stick with train, but as we ski on transfer days taxi is much better.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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right, done some more research and it looks like Salzburg is going to be at least £100 more, then more again for digs in the city. So... Munich it probably is, how easy is it on the train to get to Bad Gastein? Any idea of costs?
After some research I have found a shuttle company that run 8 times per day for E140 return, each.
I did hear the train would be cheaper than this...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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shenryo, have a look at flying to Klagenfurt (Ryanair). Direct trains to Bad Gastein from there too.
Munich is 3 hours by train from Bad Gastein but it's a really nice journey. I think it is quite a lot more expensive than taking the train from Salzburg though. Salzburg maybe £100 more t fly there but it's closer and cheaper train.
Let me know if you have any other queries.
Thanks
Kersh
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shenryo, the Christmas Market in Salzburg outshines that of Munich by miles - not even in the same league. That's why the fares are so expensive. I think you might also find that fares for Munich are higher because of the Christmas Markets.
When are you looking to fly out and from which airport?
Air Berlin does flights from the UK to Salzburg. My sister used one last year, it was way cheaper than flying into Munich. She came out on the 17th December.
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I've flown to Munich when going to Bad Hofgastein (4 years ago) and Salzburg (1 year ago). I'd go for Salzburg - prettier city and easier transfers to the resort. Lovely area - you'll have a great time!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Another vote for Air Berlin. Their service is really good.
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clarky999, ahhhh, thanks for that mate, appreciated
holidayloverxx, thanks for the heads up
Kersh, thank you for the help
Samerberg Sue, are there dozens of markets in both Salzburg and Munich then? we are flying, from Newcastle, at the moment, down to Heathrow with BA (nothing actually booked yet though)
daveyladboy, it sure does look prettier, thanks for the reply
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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shenryo, There are loads of little Christmas Markets in different parts of Munich but none of them have the atmosphere and tradition of the Salzburg ones. The main drag in Munich is very crowded and to be honest full of kitsch, the best one is the Tollwood market on the Theresianweise (the same open area that the Oktoberfest uses), but it is still nothing compared with the Salzburger one. Salzburg is the whole of the inner old city, lots of little courtyards and then all the little (and big) squares. Often it is snow covered even when Munich isn't. I work in and around Munich, but I take my Christmas guests to Salzburg.
Why not fly to Stansted and then take the Air Berlin, Ryan Air or whoever from Stansted to Salzburg? If you are coming down south from Newcastle anyway isn't it easier to do Newcastle-Stansted-Salzburg than go to Heathrow then cross to Stansted? The transfer from Salzburg to Bad Gastein is also easier and cheaper. 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Samerberg Sue, hmmmm, you are tickling my fancy toward Salzburg I must say - do you know of transfer options I could use there? and good links or anything? I can fly cheap ish to Salzburg for those dates from Newcastle: £232 each plus ski carriage via Flybe and BA
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Samerberg Sue, also, do you happen to know if the Sheraton Fuschlsee-Salzburg, Hotel Jagdhof, located about 9 miles from city centre is a good place to stay?
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You know it makes sense.
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shenryo, do you mean transfer to Bad Gastien? This winter we used Salzburg Taxi Online who were quite a bit cheaper than other options when booking in advance. There is a bus service from Bad Gastein to the airport which I think is good value. Alternatively there's the train which is a great journey!!
Cheers Kersh
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Kersh, on that link from the other page there is a link for a E140 return but I heard you could get cheaper? 280 euros seems a little steep for the two of us
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Poster: A snowHead
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That's true. It's cheaper on the train that's for sure. Just watch he time of your return flight because if it's before 10am, I doubt you'll fin a train that gets you there early enough.
I'll see if I can find the link to the bus for you
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Kersh, cheers buddy
Samerberg Sue, nice  is that in a bad area? the other two we were looking at were Hotel Goldener Hirsch and the Sheraton Salzburg, any ideas on location? any good?
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shenryo, Goldener Hirsch is in Getreidegasse which if you are happy with the price is in a lovely part of the old town. A touch twee perhaps, but really beautiful place to go for Christmas. Cobbled streets, good chance there will be snow in town, short walk to the markets, good restaurants nearby etc.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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shenryo, here you go! 66 Euro return from the airport (10/11 price) .... they run every 3 hours to Bad Gastein and takes an 1.5 hours to the town. Click 'Airport Express' on the top left.
www.rainer-reisen.at
Cheers
Kersh
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shenryo, not a bad area - if you can afford it I would definitely stay in the best I can. The Goldener Hirsch is ideally placed as it is smack bang in the middle of all the action. Another excellent one is the Goldene Ente in Goldgasse.
Do a Google search on hotels in the Altstadt in Salzburg - it will throw up dozens to choose from in all price categories. Book early to get the best deals though as the prices shoot up at the weekends during Advent.
This is the web site for THE Hotel Schloß Fuschl: http://www.schlossfuschlsalzburg.com/en - they even have a fleet of vintage cars to ferry you around! Nice if you can enjoy it without enduring the pain of paying
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nozawaonsen, sounds lovely, that's the one we fancy, we could have just had an extra night in Munich lol
Kersh, you are a star! thank you - isn't there a similarly cheaper route for Munich too?
Samerberg Sue, thank you for the heads up, I sure am fancying Salzburg now I must say
in all honesty though folks, is it THAT much better to visit Salzburg than Munich at this time? apart from the Christmas markets, what else could we expect to do for a few days?
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what about the Auerspergstrasse area? the Sheraton there would give us scope to have an extra night over the other?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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shenryo, i've never been to Salzburg other than the airport so can't really comment. However I have family who live in Munich and I love going there. The christmas markets are great, plus I love going in the big beer halls!!!! I'm more than a big fan of German beer. BUT, i've never been to Salzburg so you'll have to go on Samerberg Sue's advice. However, if you went to Munich I doubt you'd be disappointed. Just my 10 pence worth .....
As for bus transfers to Munich, i'm not sure. I dare say it would cost a bit. Maybe the train is better.
Kersh
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Kersh, I know what you mean but if I have to choose, I'd go for Salzburg every time. Marienplatz is a zoo and a pickpockets paradise with everything so crammed together. The market at Münchener Freiheit in Schwabing is one of the nicer ones as is the big Tollwood Winter Festival on the Theresienweise.
The layout of the Salzburg Christmas market is much roomier and more interesting as you have all the different squares in the old town and around the cathedral. Best Glühwein I've ever tasted comes from a small kiosk in the side of the archway leading into the Domplatz. Then many of the old buildings off the various Gasses in the old town have little mini markets in their courtyards. It is just fascinating wandering around for hours there. Plus it is nearly always snow-covered which is not always true of Munich.
Auerspergstrasse is in the so-called "New Town" which also has it's own market areas. It is the other side of the river to the "Old Town" but within easy walking distance. There is a wonderful market on Saturday mornings in the Mirabellplatz all year round - amazing fruit veg and flower displays.
That location is not too far from the station either. Good call.
If you get the chance go to the Steiglkeller (brewery) on Festungsgasse or to the Müllnerbräu (also known as the Augustinerbräu) on the north side of the Mönchberg - just as good as any of the Munich beer halls and way less commercialised or full of tourists. Definitely local beer halls that the locals use, especially the Müllnertbräu. Food is damned good and cheap too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Kersh, thanks, I would enjoy the famous beer halls there too I dare say - is there much else to do in the city, well, that you would recommend - for a city stay it most certainly will be cheaper that Salz, we could at the very least have an extra night or two - and, how good are the Christmas markets there?
Samerberg Sue, all that does sound amazing I must say and I think the cheaper transfers from Salzburg will balance out with the cheaper Munich flights - is Salzburg an expensive city to eat out in? Munich too for that matter?
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For what it's worth I too would go to Salzburg for the reasons stated above.
Most people do the tour of the city (there are free, volunteer guides) which focusses rather too heavily on the Sound of Music and Mozart but it gives you an excellent feel for the city layout and how the various squares are connected.
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You know it makes sense.
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shenryo, it's an old city with lots of culture so plenty to do. Don't worry about that. If you went for the Christmas Markets for a couple of days, you wouldn't have any problems keeping entertained. I thnk the Christmas markets thre are great but I have nothing to compare it to ... apart frmt he Frankfurt Christmas Markets tha visit the UK which are no comparison!!! 
Kersh
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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shenryo, Eating out in Salzburg is easy - lots of restaurants and Gasthofs selling food. The competition keeps the prices down on the whole. There are some super expensive places, like the Casino up on the Mönchberg (anything up there costs an arm and a leg in comparison to the rest of town) but as they have to have the menu displayed outside a quick read tells you whether you can afford it or not!
Part of the interest for me is finding new places I can afford to eat in and to be honest I've not even scratched the surface in Salzburg yet. And there are huge areas of the city I've never been to yet - I've only been over to the Auerspergstrasse side a couple of times - restaurant in that area tend to be cheaper as it caters more for the home market than the tourists.
Sue
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Poster: A snowHead
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A few fun places in Salzburg as well as the Christmas Markets, Castle and Augustinerbrau:
Sporer, a traditional punch shop, great to drop in for a glass of wine or punch whilst on Getreidegasse...
Zur Goldenen Ente
Hanger 7
Hotel Stein rooftop, great views though service can be a little slow.
M32, as Samerberg Sue says it isn't cheap, but again good views.
The actual casino...
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sat 28-05-11 15:51; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Tiger2, my fiancee is a MASSIVE Sound of Music fan - do you happen to know if these tours would still be running near Christmas when the markets are in full force?
Kersh, it sure does sound amazing as a city, Samerberg Sue, sounds great to be honestnozawaonsen, thanks for the heads up
it seems Salzburg is winning this battle lol - no love for Munich then? I'm thinking three nights in Sheraton Salzburg Hotel in the Auerspergstrasse area, looks really nice, sounds like it is in a decent area too, "adjacent to the magnificent Mirabell Garden" - and you guys think there would be real chance of snow in the city? sounds magical
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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shenryo, the Mirabell Garden was of course used for one of the famous scenes from the film, the Do Re Mi bit with them jumping up and down steps and marching round the fountain so your fiancee might enjoy having a look round there.
Sound of Music locations
The Augustinerbrau was not as far as I remember, but that of course should not prevent you from have a look round there too...
(I like Munich, just for the trip you are planning I think Salzburg probably has the edge).
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nozawaonsen, thanks, I am thinking that too...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Chance of snow?? Who knows - it could be 15 degrees and sunny or the airport could be closed because of snow (flown to Munich before and been diverted to Frankfurt because the airport was shut because of snow. Snow in the Alps was AMAZING though!!) I've been on the train from Bad Gastein to Munich in Feb before and there's been more snow in Salzburg than the mountains.
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shenryo,
IMHO the decision is really about what you want?
I've been to both and Samerberg Sue is correct about the atmosphere in Salzburg as far as the actual Xmas market experience is concerned and Salzburg is a very lovely place. However, beautiful as it is it is also quite small and the Altstadt , which is where everything is centred is no more than a provincial town. If your girlfriend fancies a bit of retail therapy, the markets apart, she is going to be very disappointed.
Munich is a big city, with much much more to do and see, in terms of the actual city break element (ignoring the fact that it is Xmas). I have been there about 4 times for the markets and love it. Whilst the stalls do not have the variety of Salzburg I don't agree that it is kitsch and have never experienced or even seen the slightest trouble/pickpockets etc.
My advice is that whilst nicer for the market itself Salzburg is not enough for a break of a few days, one day would do it, two at the most. We are doing Munich again this December and have booked three nights/four days.
If you want a trip with a very nice Xmas market and some interesting buildings to visit got to Salzburg, if you want a city break at Xmas with a markets experience that is perfectly good, go to Munich. On the other hand do both?
As far as flights are concerned we use Easyjet from Edinburgh to Munich, if your not averse to the drive up the coast to Edinburgh it would be an option to avoid two flights?
Hotels in Salzburg are all fine but I would not stay outwith the city centre-ish area. Munich you can get some real bargains, last time we got a split level suite in the Sofitel for 600 Euro for three nights.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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robboj, thanks for all that buddy; I actually didn't realise Edinburgh EasyJetted to Munich, wonder how much airport parking for the week would be though
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looks like that would add on 70 quid, then you have luggage and ski hire extras with EasyJet, gonna be £280 with EasyJet for the two of us then parking at the airport, much more expensive... thought that may be cheaper once you mentioned it
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