Austria - discounts?

olaola

I think this is the right forum to post this in - we're looking at Ischgl for 2011. It's pretty expensive compared to other resorts - and I'm just firing off the emails to the hotels looking for prices etc.

Does anyone know if Austrian hotels are usually open to negotiation? And how you go about it? I've been booking in Austria for the last few years now (we're a group of about 10-16) and I've never received a discount! Just wondering if they're a nation that don't really do that kind of thing? Or am I approaching it incorrectly!

Thanks

flikflak

They are not really open to that kind of thing! I lived in Austria for 3 years and they are not that kind of nation.

Even the big holiday companies struggle to get good room rates and usually only achieve this by the same contracter going back year after year and building up a relationship.

Its all done on who you know out there.

Youe best bet would be to see if you can find a non-native owner and try something with them.

Fattes

Just to check you are trying to get a discount in Ischgl :D:D:D:D:D:D

Ischgl is not the kind of place where you will get a discount it is a high end resort that attracts mucho $$$$ from Russia and high end German tourists.

Austrians are all about relationships and if you email them using a little German and making it personal you may be able to get some kind of discount going through the Tourist office but you may have to suck it up the first year and build a relationship when you are out there.

But if you are looking for Discounts I would try a resort that does not have people dropping cash like there is now recession;)

olaola

We've been to Ischgl before, but *ahem* I don't know if we're welcome back to the hotel we were in before!

I'm afraid Ischgl is set in stone for 2011, so I'll have to find something!

petethedrummer

Let me know how you get on in your search for accommodation.

There's a gang of about 10 of us heading to Ischgl. Whats the hotel you can't go back to? and would you recommend it to us?

stephencaso

for accommodation in ski resorts in Austria e mail the local tourist office and they will send you a list depending on what you what ( location, price, time, etc)

For transport from airport check obb (or DB if airport is in germany), you can get a ticket from any airport to any resort for 20 euro, earlier you book more chance of getting this price. I always get this price.

If you e mail a hotel or pension use google translate and copy and paste into e-mail so e-mail is both English and Germany.

Why would they want to negotiate, they will sell the rooms anyway. there is a few euro per night per person tourist tax included in the rates.

if there is 10 of you's try rent an apartment, local tourist office will also give you details about these if you ask

loobylou

Hi Stephencaso,
Could you tell me how to get those prices from DB?
I've done the Munich- Austria thing a few times but the fares have always been hit and miss.
Especially a problem is their website will only show timetables until the end of the calendar year, fine if you plan to travel in Dec. but a real pain if you want to go in Jan.
The website also does'nt give prices for journeys involving a border crossing, they will not commit if it involves a link with another country's train company whose prices they say they have no control over.
Please let me know if theres any way around this.

stephencaso

Hey

DB lets you book trains 90 days before departure. So Jan dates will become available soon.

Also DB will change there timetable around the 11th of Dec.

But as these thing will effect everybody this shouldn't matter. ie if it doesn't let you book before the 11th of Dec and you book on the 12th you will be first in the Que and get the 20 Euro price.

I have to book this trip myself b4 Christmas, did it last year a few times and got this fare, its called a Europa-Spezial fare and the only catch i see is that if you pay full fare you dont have to pick a certain train, you can travel on any train that day, with Europa-Spezial fare you have to pick a train and go on that ( last year i came off another train that was delayed coz of snow and missed the train I booked, jumped on the next train and told the conductor i had missed my train coz of delay and he said it was not problem)

Just checked there , real fast, just picked any day, it was We, 29.09.10 from Munich airport to Insbruck, train at 16:44 and 17:44 is 20 Euro. Might be a 2 or 3 euro booking fee if i remember and I remember once or twice when on the train the conductor asked to see the credit card which i used to book the ticket. ( I think there might be an option when booking if person traveling is not the card holder )