Around the World with Wes and Masami - Around the World Travelogue by Wes and Masami Heiser with Journal Photographs Expenses Lodging Guide Schedule Preparation Route

US citizen:	No visa required, visitors permitted to stay 3 months.
Japanese citizen:	No visa required, visitors permitted to stay 6 months.

English is sufficient to get around as a tourist.

Available everywhere. Most are on the Plus and Cirrus networks.

US$ 1 = 15 Austrian Shillings (ATS) on September 15, 2000. Currency will change to the Euro on January 1, 2002.

220V, 50Hz. Plugs have 2 round pins.

International Certificates of Vaccination are not required.

German is the only official language, but almost everyone in the service industry speaks English.

A 5 to 10% tip paid directly to the server is customary.

In addition to hotels and youth hostels, Austria is known for inexpensive rooms at private houses. A city's Tourist Information Office will readily provide you with a list of available private houses offering accommodation. Phone numbers, availability of kitchen / washing machine / TV / phone / parking, and approximate cost are included in the lists. Booking, however, must be done on your own. If you contact the tourist information office, they will fax or email the list of private houses free of charge. Otherwise, pick up the list in person. Various Tourist Information Office numbers:
Innsbruck:	Tel: 0512-5356 (Int'l +43-512-5356) Fax: 0512-5356-43 (Int'l +43-512-5356-43) Web page: http://www.innsbruck-reservierung.at email: ibk.reservierung@netway.at
Salzburg:	Tel: 0662-889-870 (Int'l +43-662-889-870) Fax: 0662-889-8732 (Int'l +43-662-889-8732) Web page: http://www.salzburginfo.at email: tourist@salzburginfo.at
Vienna Hotel Booking:	Tel: 01-2111-4444 (Int'l +43-1-2111-4444) Web page: http://www.info.wien.at email: rooms@info.wien.at

Luggage can be left at almost every train station in a locker or luggage storage room. Locker rates are hourly from about ATS 20 for 2 hours. The storage room charges per day or fraction thereof from about ATS 60 per piece.

About half of the public telephones accept coins. The other half accept Telekom Austria pre-paid cards. None of the phones accept both.

Public trains and buses are convenient and cover the entire country. Service to remote areas may be infrequent. Delay by a few minutes is typical. Bus tickets are purchased from the bus driver. Train tickets are purchased at the train ticket counter or, for an additional ATS 30 surcharge, on the train.
24-hour Pass:	Many cities have 24-hour or multi-day discount tickets valid for unlimited metropolitan travel. They are available at the Tourist Information Office or an Austria Tabak shop. These tickets are often cheaper than the cost of 2 single trip tickets.