Austria Trend Hotel Europa, Graz

Advantages: Diversity
Disadvantages: You might find Austrians a bit stand offish

...Austria is a country that I have fallen in love with, ever since I was plunged headlong into a valley to be an English Teacher (although the way I describe it here, makes it sound more like a bungie jump!) Most people know very little about Austria, other than having heard of Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbrück, and having heard of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nikki Lauda, Sachertorte and anti-freeze in wine. That was until February 2000, when Jörg Haider's "Freedom Party" the FPÖ, became junior partners in a coalition government. Overnight the country was made into a pariah by the EU, and whilst sanctions have been removed, the threat of Haider still remains. In the West, in the Vorarlberg, the Tirol and Salzburgerland, Austria boasts some of Europe's finest skislopes, with world class resorts, including St Anton and Saalbach... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: People wear traditional dress, lots to see and do, very pretty
Disadvantages: Steep cobbled streets, smoking allowed in public places

...Museum. You'll find all the usual international hotel chains in Graz and there is a good selection of mid range hotels in the Old Town. Around the station you'll find some good budget hotels. If you don't mind travelling in to the city or you want to mix country and city, there are loads of people offering private accommodation on farms and in country villages. Graz is a great place for foodies. Not only are there plenty of restaurants serving traditional Austrian fare but there are loads of international options too. Thanks to the high number of students you can also eat quite cheaply if that's what you want. A set lunch in a Weinstube costs around 6-7 Euro and for that you'll get soup, a salad and a main course; sometimes this also includes a dessert. One thing to mention is that smoking is still allowed in public places in Austria... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Racing in the Austrian Alps
Disadvantages: Beware if wet

...I´m sure that there will be many mothers who couldn´t care less about F1 racing but this is the advertisement on the official home page of the A1 Ring, venue of coming Sunday´s Austrian Grand Prix. F1 Racing in Austria dates back to the sixties when the event was held at the nearby military airfield of Zeltweg in the province of Styria: in 1964 it bore stoneage conditions when Phil Hill´s car caught fire in the straw(!)bundles that marked the course - that was definitely the last race on this bumpy airfield. In August 1970 a brand new track was opened and I was among 120000 spectators to watch the Belgian Jackie Ickx win the Grand Prix. Too bad for our star Jochen Rindt who didn´t finish the race, but he went on to become the first world champ posthumous after his tragic accident two weeks later in Monza, Italy... Back... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful