How to Find Cheap Hotels in Danube Valley, Austria

The Danube River runs from Germany through Austria to the Black Sea. Throughout the lush rolling hills, the Danube Valley in Austria features castles, vineyards and medieval monasteries.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A computer to make Internet reservations

Prepare for Your Trip to the Danube Valley

1. Know that the Danube Valley is a large region surrounding Europe's most legendary river. The most beautiful and popular area of the Danube Valley to visit is Wachau, northwest of Vienna.
2. Visit during May or September for the best weather, but the largest crowds. Visiting Austria is great year round depending on your plans.
3. To book accommodations, contact Austrian National Tourist Office at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).

Find Your Way Around

4. Fly into Vienna, the crown jewel of the Danube Valley, and set out from there.
5. Cruise the river. Renting a houseboat or joining a guided cruise is a great way to experience the river and the surrounding region. The larger your group, the cheaper the boat.
6. Rent a car if you plan to spend more than a day or two exploring the Danube Valley. Many of the towns are set inland from the river and while buses do exist, you will not be able to explore at your leisure.

Find Accommodations

7. Head away from Vienna. The further from Vienna you travel the cheaper the accommodations.
8. Consider staying in smaller towns like Krems, instead of Vienna, and exploring the valley on day trips.
9. Try camping. There are several sites located throughout the valley. These also make great cheap accommodations for biking tours.
10. Check hostels in smaller towns. Always cheap, there are many hostels in Austria and some can be reserved in advance.

Explore the Danube Valley

11. Join the party. Austria is famous for its exciting nightlife. During the warmer months, many towns in the Danube Valley offer beer and wine gardens in the pedestrian squares.
12. Look for grapes. The Danube Valley is full of vineyards offering great wine. Some of the wineries also offer accommodations or can recommend something cheap nearby.

Tips & Warnings

• The official language in Austria is German.
• Pick up some Euros in Vienna. Many of the smaller towns do not offer many options for exchanging money, and banks and post offices have short hours.
• The Danube Valley offers great cycling and many guided bicycle tours are available.
• Standard tips are expected in hotels in Austria. Plan on about one Euro for a porter and a couple of Euros per day for room service.
• Tips are included on most restaurant bills.