The best guidebook for Austria.?

Question

I'll be spending one year in Austria and I need an excellent guidebook before departure,in order to be able to plan it more or less.So I'd really appreciate it if you could recommend me one,especially if it's a native one,but also one of the International ones.(I alraedy know LP though).

If possible,I'd like one directed to young people (e.g. backpackers who can't afford paying 500$ for a hotel),covering well culture,society,towns&cities,attractions... in the Alps,cheap accomodation,and something very important,INSIDER TIPS.

It would be useful to know if you used the guidebook and how good it proved to be.

And the final one,¿how good is Frommer's?They just released a new one about Austria.IS it better than LP and the local ones?

Answer 1

Try http://wikitravel.org/en/Austria

It is not very comprehensive but it is free.

Answer 2

Yes, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have some really great books and I prefer them over Frommers. When I was in Vienna I used my DK Vienna guidebook a lot - it's got some great articles and photos.

www.dk.com

Cheers,

Petra M, Vancouver

Answer 3

Lonely Planet is good for cheap stuff.

But I love DK guides for all the pictures! research the rest (like backpackers, etc) online

Answer 4

Hi! I spent one summer in Austria and have also been back on other trips to Europe. I really found Rick Steve's travel guide to be extremely useful. I was on a limited budget but didn't really want to stay at hostels and have a typical backpacking experience. Rick Steve's prides himself on insider tips not only to save money but to have really unique and authentic experiences in each country. His accomodations (none of which I'd ever been disappointed in) are typically well-located, clean, comfortable, convenient, and reasonably-priced. His book, "Europe Through the Back Door" is all about insider know-how when you travel Europe plus he has guides for the countries as well that discuss sights, locations, etc.

Here is a quick blurb about him that I copied from his site, www.ricksteves.com

Since the appearance of his first edition of Europe Through the Back Door in 1980, Rick Steves has never stopped looking for new travel information gaps to fill. His library is up to 30 books now, each designed to make your travels easier, cheaper, more enjoyable, and more memorable. Every edition is researched personally by Rick, then tried and tested by Rick's Back Door Team, his tour groups, and readers who send him thousands of suggestions every year.

Please check out his website and then go pick up his books. They are updated every year so they will be current.

I think Frommer's is a little more typical in the suggested activities that it suggests and the hotels are more expensive and run-of-the-mill. Rick has many suggestions for pensions, b&b's, little inns etc...not the Hilton sort of places. Very charming. He also mentions many of the activities that the locals enjoy and places to go that you won't find in mainstream guidebooks. I really think you find it to be the most helpful guide, well-written (he sort of has a funny sense of humor in a nerdy sort of way), and just what you want from what you are describing.

Have a wonderful trip to Austria!!! It rocks! You will have a great time...especially when you get to stay for one year!