Ferguson-Kosinski LaVerne - Europe by Eurail 2015 touring Europe by train

LaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski and her late husband, Lt. Col. George Ferguson, first coauthored this unique and comprehensive how-to guide in 1980.

After battling a long illness, George, who was globally and affectionately known as Mr. Eurail, passed away in 1997 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

LaVerne wanted to ensure that accurate British and European rail travel information would continue to be available. She is devoted to producing comprehensive, practical, yet friendly guidebooks for the independent rail traveler or armchair dreamer. Her technical writing and editorial background; academic education in English, world history, and communications; and experience in research and development for an international research institute have added considerable substance to her three decades of traveling the rails in Britain and Europe.

Her dream of exploring the world began in third-grade geography class when she first began collecting travel brochures. After attending Ohio State University, LaVerne lived in and traveled throughout Europe. She resides in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, with her husband, Joe Cool Kosinski, a structural engineer.

Heartfelt thanks and appreciation go to you, the readers, whose comments, suggestions, and corrections help keep both guidebooks accurate and up to date.

Researchers for Europe by Eurail also included the late Matthew Palma, Major Robert Bean, Margaret Keith, Joseph Kosinski, and C. Darren Price. Major Robert Bean, a true train enthusiast, has played an ongoing, much appreciated role with both Europe by Eurail and Britain by BritRail for several years. His attention to minute details and knowledge of rail travelers needs is superb. Margaret Keith, a certified Red Badge Guide for France, an artist, and a longtime European rail expert, has provided her invaluable input to Europe by Eurail since 1982. Joseph Kosinski, aka the Steel Man, has been instrumental in Internet research, setting up databases, and accompanying his wife/author, LaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski, on her treks throughout Europe. Foremost a top structural design engineer in Florida with his own firm, J.C. Kosinski Engineering, Inc., Joes creativity and attention to details are unsurpassed as can be seen in his design of the Pentagon renovations in Washington, DC.

We also wish to extend thanks to Raffaela Essayan, Frank Berardi, David Brever, Bill Schroeder, and the entire staff of CIT Tours; Jean Heger of Rail Europe Group; our many, many friends in the European tourist offices; and our travel partner professionals throughout Europe.

Austrias central location in Europe and its six international airports of the Imperial CitiesVienna (Wien), Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz, and Salzburgmake it a convenient gateway country for European travelers. Although German is the native language of Austria, most tourism officials also speak English. With a smile on your face, try the informal German greeting Grss Gott, and ask slowly and distinctly, Do you speak English? A smile almost always elicits a cooperative attitude.

Austria is more than museums and antiques; it is also the sound of music, spectacular scenery, and gourmet foods. Austria is a country where one can easily overindulge in temptingly tasty pastries and piles of schlagobers (whipped cream)and what a way to go. We discovered why the schlagobers is so delicately deliciousits the real thing.

Sports enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of summer activities, including hang gliding, hiking, mountain climbing, water sports, and a dip in Austrias largest hot tub, Kopeiner See, where lake water temperatures climb to 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit in summer.

As the Austrian National Tourist Office succinctly states: Austria is more than 1,000 years old. So far, so good. For more information and pretrip planning tips, be sure to visit Austrias website, www.austria.info, or contact the Austrian Tourist Office in North America:

New York: P.O. Box 1142, New York, NY 10108. Tel: (212) 575-7723; Fax: (212) 730-4568; E-mail: travel@austria.info

Toronto: 2 Bloor Street West, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M4W 3E2, Canada. Tel: (416) 967-3381; Fax: (416) 967-4101; E-mail: travel@austria.info

Banking

Currency: Euro ()

Exchange rate at press time: 0.72 = U.S. $1

Hours: 08001230 and 13301500 MondayFriday; closing at 1730 on Thursday; closed Saturday and Sunday. Banks in most airport and rail terminals are open 08002000 seven days a week; until 2200 in Vienna.

Communications

Country Code: 43

For telephone calls within Austria, dial a zero (0) preceding area code.

Major Mobile Phone Companies: A1, T-Mobile, Orange, 3

Rail Travel in Austria

The Austrian Federal Railways, or sterreichische Bundesbahnen (BB), operates the 5,800-kilometer rail system and accepts a variety of Eurail passes; the European East Pass; the regional passes combining Austria with Croatia-Slovenia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, or Switzerland; and the national Austria Pass. (See the Appendix for a list of rail pass types and prices.) Remember to purchase your rail passes prior to your departure for Europe. Visit www.oebb.at.

The aforementioned rail passes include the following discounts within Austria:

50 percent discount on boats operated by BSB, SBS, and BB on Lake Constance (from May to October)

Various discounts on boat day trips operated by Wurm & Kck Steamers on the Danube between Linz and Passau (Germany) Note: Reservations are mandatory

20 percent discount on boats operated by DDSGBlue Danube Schiffahrt between Melk and Krems, and between Drnstein and Vienna (on Sunday)

20 percent discount on sightseeing trips on the Danube River in Vienna operated by DDSGBlue Danube Schiffahrt

Additional Discounts:

Pay only a reservation fee on BB intercity buses from KlagenfurtGraz and KlagenfurtVillachVenice

Free entrance to BB lounges

10 percent discount at Meininger Hotels or Hostels in Vienna or Salzburg

10 percent discount on daily rate at A&O Wien Stadthalle, A&O Wien Hauptbahnhof, and A&O Graz Hauptbahnhof

The basic Austria Pass is valid for 3 days of rail travel within a 30-day period. First class, $260; second class, $184. Additional rail days (up to 5) available for approx $30, first class; approx $20+, second class. Child rates are half of the adult fare for ages 4 to 11; younger than age 4 travel freeonly if sharing a seat. Youth pass for 1225 are $121 second class.

Seat reservations for both national and international travel may be made at any rail station. Eurail Aid offices are located in Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof, Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, and Wien Westbahnhof (Vienna West Station).

www.info.wien.at

City Dialing Code: 1

Arriving by Air

Schwechat Airport,Tel: (01) 7007 22233 for information, including transport to the city center; www.viennaairport.com.

Located 19 kilometers from the city center, Schwechat Airport is the home base for Austrian Airlines, which offers nonstop flights between the United States (New York) and Vienna and serves more than 30 other international airlines. Tourist information is available in the Arrivals Hall.

AirportCity Links: Trains run from 0453 then approximately every 30 minutes (Schnellbahn, Line S7) from the airport into Wien Mitte Station. The price is 4.20; journey time, 24 minutes. The City Airport Train direct to Wien Mitte takes only 16 minutes; fare: 12, children under 14 free. The first train to the airport departs at 0536 and then runs every 06 and 36 minutes past the hour. The first train from the airport departs at 0606 and then every 6 and 36 minutes past the hour. Last departure train is 2306 and 2336, respectively. During heavy morning and evening traffic, the train is the best way to go. At other times, you can take the airport bus service, which connects with the Westbahnhof (West Station), as well as with the city air terminal (next to the Hilton Hotel). The fare is 8; time en route, 25 to 35 minutes. The bus-departure point is immediately outside and to the left of the arriving-passenger exit. Purchase tickets on the bus. Buses depart every 30 minutes.