Austria and Italy for the first time.
Hello all,
we are in three weeks time going to Austria and Italy for around three weeks in total.
any advise or pointers for us to look out for legalities helpful tips etc and places to visit would be very much appreciated.
im confused regarding the vignettes for Austria as we are over the 3.5 tonne train weight a 4x4 and a T/A. Or is it motor homes that are different?
so many thanks to any one in advance for taking the time to share their wisdom and experience with us.
kindest regards
Neil.
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Hi golfNeil, just got back two weeks ago from our Trip to Austria and Italy, the Austrian vignette costs us 8-50 euros for 10 days each way as we were away for 5 weeks, but you can buy a month one not expensive, we got it from motorway service are on route,
we have a Range Rover Sport and Sterling Elite Amber combination, pointers to help in Italy they have ( very common) two prices for fuel, self service and assistance, the self service ones can be the hardest to get to sometimes, and we got caught out once
where we came upto the pump realised we needed to be 3 pumps across the forecourt but a stupid car driver came in behind me and would not move so had to pay 20 cents a litre extra For the attendant to put it in . Always ask at reception if there is free or
subsidised local transport, we saved a lot of money per night using the ACSI card campsite network. Enjoy your trip wish I was going back again.0 -
Neil
The over 3500kgs requirement only applies to a single vehicle not combination or train weight. Its usually more a problem for people with larger motorhomes. So as Kaenergas says you only need the vignette and only for the tow vehicle. They are available form service stations on the approach to the Austrian border.
Have you decided on a route through Austria?
David
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The vignettes are easy to buy in Germany, most autobahn services will have them, after all half of Germany goes to Austria for their hols. We travelled to Austria and Italy 2 summers ago and this year it is Austria again. As with DK am interested to know
your route or can help with suggestions on route and sites. My initial advice us to try and avoid travel on Saturdays, that is when Germany go on holiday and a lot of them drive so autobahns quickly become very large car parks. There is also a massive amount
if autobahn upgrading taking place so you will almost certainly encounter roadworks.0 -
Hi golfNeil, just got back two weeks ago from our Trip to Austria and Italy, the Austrian vignette costs us 8-50 euros for 10 days each way as we were away for 5 weeks, but you can buy a month one not expensive, we got it from motorway service are on route, we have a Range Rover Sport and Sterling Elite Amber combination, pointers to help in Italy they have ( very common) two prices for fuel, self service and assistance, the self service ones can be the hardest to get to sometimes, and we got caught out once where we came upto the pump realised we needed to be 3 pumps across the forecourt but a stupid car driver came in behind me and would not move so had to pay 20 cents a litre extra For the attendant to put it in . Always ask at reception if there is free or subsidised local transport, we saved a lot of money per night using the ACSI card campsite network. Enjoy your trip wish I was going back again. ,
The Austrian Vignette in fact is for 10 days, €8.80 2 months €25.70 or 1 year.€85. 70. More info on Austria and Italy here Routes there and back with Stops en route mostly ACSI Sites. any questions please ask been going to Austria for 35 years or more.
DianneT
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Italy in late July and August will be hot (unless you stay in the Mountains) so an aircon unit or a large fan as a minimum is recommended. Its a big country with so many places to see. Have you any idea where you may be heading? The motorway system is good
and not as expensive as France. I'm sure you will not be disappointed.0 -
Would like to thanks those that have taken the time to help us,
we bookec the campsites via the club in Austria staying at Natterer see,and in Italy camping sexton. We are at each for ten days,
as far as route planning only our second time abroad so being guided by google maps,co pilot camping app and Michelin routes, but looks like across France via Metz,into Germany across the north of Strasburg then into Austria.
any more guidance please feel free to throw in your help.
looking at plenty of walking and site seeing,
thanks to all
Neil
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Neil
I think the most direct route would be via the Fern Pass to Innsbruck. If you wanted to stick to motorway then you could go via Munich. The Fern Pass is not particularly steep but is a bit twisty in places.
David
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we like Camping Nattersee, ask for free bus pass into Innsbruck, also check out the Innsbruck card about 45 euros for two days, free travel and entry into all tourist attractions including the cable cars, Restaurant on site reasonable food at reasonable
prices. Oops forgot if you do get the Innsbruck card if you go into the Swascsky shop ( I know it's the wrong spelling) you get a free piece of jewellery per card and you don't have to buy anything, hope this is of help.0 -
I agree with DK that the best route into Austria for you is the Fern Pass. Its no problem with a caravan.
The area around your site in Moos is perfect for walking and cycling, there are many miles of dedicated walking and cycling paths. At such an elevation an aircon unit is less essential. If you're thinking of site seeing further afield you can take a train
from Bressanone to Verona for the day and to Venice (although an overnight stay would be required in Venice). Train fares in Italy are incredibly cheap compared to the UK.0 -
An easy website to get your vignette before you go is www.tolltickets.com/default.aspx?lang=en-GB&mnu=c
very quick and reliable service - use them every year
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We always buy our Vignstte just before we enter Austria from a Service Station or ADAC Office in Germany as if you change your plans en route, as we had to once, you are covered. if you go by the Fern you will not go through a Border Post or less they have
set one up recently going out of Germany. We saw three new Border Posts set up going from Austria into Germany Over the last holiday the last two months.DianneT
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Dianne
You can buy them at the end of the Fern Pass just before you get to Reutte. There is also a service area as you come off the A7 and a bit further on a petrol station so plenty of choice if you go over the Fern. When you pass this sign going south there is
a shop across the road.David
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Neil
If you are coming back over the Brenner they can be puchased just before the Brenner Toll. Alternatively at any of the service stations before that displaying the sign in my photo.
David
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Dianne
You can buy them at the end of the Fern Pass just before you get to Reutte. There is also a service area as you come off the A7 and a bit further on a petrol station so plenty of choice if you go over the Fern. When you pass this sign going south there is
a shop across the road.David
Thanks David we never go that way these days as have not been to Italy for a few years.
DianneT
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Would love to take our van to Austria, but nervous as our German is non existant! We are fluent in French so tend to stay there. Will people speak English or is it back to a phrase book?
Feel ashamed that we have never got around to learning it!
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Amazing as it may sound They do speak English...... in fact probably better than many Brits do. And surely half the fun of going abroad is experiencing a country whose language you do not know?! I do not have any foreign language skills and have been to
France, Hungary, Germany, Austria, italy, Spain, Russia.....0 -
Re languages, we use phrasebooks from Cool Gorilla.com which is on the Apple app store, not sure about Android.
You down load it so no worries about internet connection,its basic but usefull.
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Would love to take our van to Austria, but nervous as our German is non existant! We are fluent in French so tend to stay there. Will people speak English or is it back to a phrase book?
Feel ashamed that we have never got around to learning it!
I don't think you need feel ashamed. That's still one more language than many. Despite having owned a property in Spain for over ten years, my Spanish is still very rudimentary and my French not much better. I blame it on having failed the 11+. I can point fluently in all the European ones though.
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Would love to take our van to Austria, but nervous as our German is non existant! We are fluent in French so tend to stay there. Will people speak English or is it back to a phrase book?
Feel ashamed that we have never got around to learning it!
Had you not had your skills in French I would suggest that Germany and Austria were easier places to visit than France as far as langauge was concerned as far more people, beyond the campsite, speakn English?
David
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We have been visiting Austria and Germany for about 40 years now and know quite a lot of German but basically cannot carry on a conversation. Basically these days most Austrians and Germans under about the age of 50 learn English at School and understand
it and speak it fluently. In fact they love to practise their English. On our holiday this year there was not one person we came in contact with that did not speak English even our friends 8 year old grandaughter speaks it very well. Go into any shop and
cafe and say to the assistant, waiter/waitress do you speak English and the answer will 90% of the time say "Of course I do". A bit different in France we found, went into a cafe in Wissant and asked do you speak English and the answer was No. We do not speak
any French but not many folks of our generation speak or learnt French, or German or any other language come to that.DianneT.
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