Best Car Rental Austria

Austria is a beautiful country and hiring a car is a must if you want to be able to explore it. In this guide, we will explore some of the laws of the Austrian roads.

Driving Laws in Austria

The law states that the driver and every passenger must wear their seatbelt at all times while in a car.

Heavy on the spot fines can be issued for speeding in Austria. You will be expected to make a payment by the side of the road, and if you cannot then your documents will be seized until you do make the payment.

Children under 12 cannot travel in the front seat, unless they have the nessessary restraints.

A first aid kit must be carried in any car in Austria. You should ask your car rental firm if they offer first aid kits in your hire car.

Reputable Austrian Car Hire Companies

Hiring a car in this beautiful country with Tripindicator.com is an easy choice. We make sure that we check all the reputable companies to ensure that you get the best deal in the quickest time possible.

Speed Limits in Austria

The speed limit rules in Austria are simple. However, please note, that this is a guide, and you should always keep an eye out for speed limit indicators.

Motorway ? 130 km/h

Open Roads ? 100 km/h

Town Roads ? 50 km/h

Alcohol Limits in Austria

The laws in Austria are much stricter when compared to the UK. The alcohol limits in Austria are the ?European standard? 0.05 ml of alcohol per 1 milligram of blood. If you are pulled over and found to have consumed between 0.05 and 0.08 then you will be issued with a fine. Anything above this and you can have your license suspended.

History Austria

Austria's history is an interesting and complicated one. As many will know, its geographical location leads it to be invaded by many countries, and its architecture and culture reflect this greatly. In its early history, it was invaded by many tribes and armies including the Celts, Romans, Vandals, Huns, Avers and the Slavs. They used the Danube Valley as a conduit to stage their invasions, and because of the nature of the landscape it was extremely successful. By 1278 however, the Habsburgs were in command and managed to keep their post for the long time that saw many changes in the world right up until WW1.Things weren't always brilliant though. With a change of emperors in the 16th century, the country embraced the counter-reformation in mirror with many surrounding countries and converted to Catholicism. This lead to the treaty of Westphalia to try to stop conflict about the change, which was resolved by 1648. However it wasn't long before trouble was occurring again. Vienna was nearly lost to the Turks through siege in 1683, saved in the nick of time by Polish Christian soldiers. This conflict drew on right into the mid 18th century. This then gave way to a dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867 under Emperor Franz-Joseph. The consequence of this was the exclusion from the new German Empire. However this did not stop the 2 countries sticking up for each other throughout the world wars. The 1st World War was in fact sparked by the shooting of the heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, by the French terrorist group called Black Hand. This caused so much friction, that it escalated into 4 years of conflict, leading to a further 6 years in alliance with Nazi Germany, and the country remained unstable right up until 1994, when a huge sigh of relief was given as to the acceptance into the European Union.

When to go Austria

Visitors can come to Austria any time during the year. The high season is the best time to visit Austria, which is between July and August, as well as April through June. Because there are a lot of festivals during these months, Austria is very busy. Make sure that you have made reservations during these months, particularly at Christmas time. Over the Christmas period, not only tourists visit Austria, but Austrians themselves also start to travel within their own country. Hence, it is unlikely to find a quality hotel that still has spaces available unless you have a reservation. Hotels are less expensive and more plentiful during the off season and there is also less demand for tables in popular restaurants during this time. So if you do not like crowds and want to save money the off season might be the best time to go. However, this is often not possible for people with children who need to go to school, and the weather may not be as you would expect either. Since the snow falls in the mountainous regions by mid-November, the ideal time for visiting Vienna is between spring and fall. Even though the weather might not be perfect during this time there are still many mild sunny days. And the alpine flowers are in full bloom by the end of July. So when is the best time to visit Austria? It all depends on a person's individual taste. If you enjoy crowds and have reservations, the best time to go to Vienna is during the festive times. However, If you do not like crowds and looking for a bargain the best time to go is during the off season.

Weather Austria

There are three types of climate in Austria. These climate types strongly influence the weather. It is due to Austria's location on the Alps that these types of climate exist. It is important to be aware of these, as they cause the country to not experience the four common seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter) as defined as elsewhere. The first type of climate is precipitation, the low pressure fronts and mild air produced by the Gulf Stream is characteristic of the Atlantic Maritime Climate. The areas that are mainly influenced by this type of climate are the Northern part of Alps, the Alpine Foreland, and the Danube Valley. The second type of climate to which the eastern part of Austria is mainly subject is the continental climate which brings wet summers and high pressure systems during the drier winters. The third type is the Mediterranean climate that is found in the southern part of the Alps and South-eastern Alpine Foreland.

This climate is brought from the south and comes with warmer air and fewer clouds. The Fohn which is a very peculiar yet significant feature of Austrian weather is initiated by the warm air masses originating in the Sahara desert. The temperature can quickly change by 10 degrees Celsius. This sudden and rapid change in weather can cause headaches, circulatory problems and irritability. During the winter, the Atlantic maritime weather brings the snow, and the continental weather preserves it. The summer months in Austria are usually sunny and warm. Hence, if you are considering visiting Austria, you should think about the type of weather you expect for your holiday.

There are different busy seasons in Austria, so you could coordinate your trip with one of these seasons, either going for a summer holiday between June and August, or for a skiing holiday in the winter months.

Best Locations Austria

Austria is a fascinating country. With more than 40km of explored passageways, the Eisriedenwelt ice caves are the most accessible ice caves in the world. The regulated 75-minute tour takes in several immense caverns with each containing elaborate ice formations and frozen waterfalls. Oozing the waves of charm is a Baroque fiesta of churches, plazas, courtyards and fountains. They are located on the south bank of the river of Salzburg's (old town) this is something that you would expect from this Mozart Mecca. As part of giant homage to Wolfgang are museums, houses, squares, chocolate bars and liqueurs. The show-piece of the all-conquering Habsburg Dynasty was the Grandiose Vienna. Among the many lower-brow pleasures of Vienna are a walk in the woods, splish-splashing high jinks on the river, and slap-up indulgent evenings in its renowned wine taverns. Among the Monumental edifices that line the city centre, are world-class museums that burst with treasures. In addition there are white stallions that strut their way down mirrored halls. Also, renowned orchestras and angelic choirboys perform in lAvish concert halls. Clearly, there is something to do for everybody.

Disabled Visitors Austria

There are some great tour operators in Austria with outstanding support for disabilities, whatever your needs. With full facilitation for wheelchair users, most will support all guests with special travel needs right across Europe. With extensive facilities including escorted tours for both groups and individuals in specially adapted vans and transport vehicles to cater to your every need, you really get to see Austria at its most amazing, awe inspiring and picturesque. There are the gorgeous vistas of the beautiful Alps, which in the winter are sprinkled with white sugar-icing snow, while in the summer the mountain peaks remain dipped in fondant and the sloping fields below lie luscious and green with a myriad of flowers sprouting occasionally like glistening stars in the night sky. Other brilliant sights to see and places to visit, all completely encompassing of your needs, including regular great performances of music by the great composers of Austria including Haydn, Liszt and Mozart and beautiful alpine architecture to be found in many cities and a fabulous and sparkling tradition to be explored, including bread making, salt mining and the red roofs of Burgenland to name but a few. Tours are also available for those who are impartially sighted or blind, among much other impairment catered for the disabled, so they too can get the most out of their experiences of this amazing place. With fully wheelchair friendly transfers, accommodation and transportation, Austria becomes accessible to all. While you can have your holiday arranged for you, people who would like more of an independent holiday can hire specially designed vehicles to get around in. Holidays are tailored to your individual needs, making your experience of a beautiful country as good as it can be.

People Austria

The total population of Austria currently stands at just over 8 million. To put this into perspective, this is about the population of London. The percentage increases per year is currently estimated at 4%, giving Austria a total population of 11 million by 2020. The main reasons for such a low population is that even though Austria in itself only has a landmass of 84,000 sq. Km, it is the high level of rural and mountainous areas which are uninhabitable and used for agriculture. Austria also has a very large amount of mountain cattle, goats and sheep. The people are generally known as Austrians. This breaks down in terms of ethnicity to 98% German, with other neighbouring countries such as Hungary and France also adding to the population. This makes the official language German, although on the borders between other countries the people most often speak more than 1 language as they interact with people both sides of the border. These people have most likely grown up bilingual, either with parents of mixed nationality or even somebody further back in the family tree. In terms of faith, there is 73% Catholicism, still predominant from the reformations in the 16th and 17th Centuries. Alongside this, 12% claim to have no faith at all, which, surprisingly low for Europe, with 30% in France and 20% in the UK, to compare this against. Their education is well given at a literacy rate of 98%, very high for countries within the European Union. Life expectancy is average, 81.7 years for women and 75.9 years for men. Austria is also home to a variety of famous icons in the history of the artistic world, including famous composers such as Beethoven, Mozart and Liszt, and artists and sculptors including Klimt and Schiele. The success of the artistic culture within Austria is a sign of its varied and troublesome history, throughout the ages. Also of interest is that Austria is the birthplace of the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Red Tape Visas

Entering Austria is fairly easy depending on your country of origin. Most EU countries require a National Identity Card, except for the British who need a passport. The citizens of the U.S, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia require a passport. This article will explain the requirements of entering Austria, and how long you can stay. EU citizens can stay in Austria as long as they want. Since the borders have opened and Austria became a member of the European Union, there are no limitations on travel within the EU, so long as you are yourself an EU member. However, if they plan on staying permanently they should register with the local police. This is a local requirement to assist the government in being aware of who lives where. Remember, unless you are a British Citizen you are required to have a National Identity Card. Citizens of U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia don't need a Visa but are required to have a Passport to enter Austria. They can stay in the country for up to three months. It is advisable to get a Visa for long term stays. The requirements for a Visa change on a continual basis. If you are considering travelling to Austria, it may be advised to check with the embassy or consulate in your country of origin whether there are any restrictions placed on your travel. Also, although Austria is a very stable country, it is always advised to check whether there is any negative travel advice. In Austria, it is not likely that the travel advice will be negative due to political reasons, but there may be an outbreak of bird flu, or perhaps there is a flood or other National emergency.