Young visitors to Vienna who are looking for budget accommodations and sightseeing can get a free booklet called “Young Vienna Scene” from the Vienna Tourist Board.
“Young Vienna Scene” includes information about lodging and eating, alternative culture events, popular pubs and discos, public transportation and cheap sightseeing. You can request a copy before you leave home by contacting the Austrian National Tourist Office, P.O. Box 1142, Times Square, New York, N.Y. 10018-1142 (310-478-8306).
Another source is the Youth Information Service, which can provide assistance in English. It’s located in the Underground (subway) passage on Ringstrasse. This is at Volkstheater station, which can be reached on Underground lines U2 and U3. The office is open from noon to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.
You may want to note that each year Europe’s biggest youth festival takes place on the shores of the Danube near Vienna, and admission is free. The Danube Island Festival, on Danube Island between Brigittenauer and Florisdorff bridges, attracts more than 2 million visitors and features a dozen stages for entertainment, ranging from sports to modern music. The island is about a 10-minute trip by Underground from downtown Vienna.
When you are ready to get away from the cities and festival crowds, head for the hills. Many of the resort areas in Austria have youth hostels, and often their local tourist information offices offer free guided hikes several days a week.
Innsbruck has a handy tourist hiking program. Not only does it operate daily, but also if you don’t have your own equipment you can borrow boots and a day pack. There are more than 40 different hiking trails. Going for a day with a guide will give you an opportunity to learn about other trails that you might want to try on your own.
For further information, visit the Innsbruck Tourist Information office at Burggraben 3 (or call 011-43-512-5356).
You can get maps and information about hiking in the Alpine regions of Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland from the Alpine Tourist Commission, 50 W. 23rd St., 11th Floor, New York, NY 10010 (800-262-2577).
More cheap sleeps
– King’s College London (which is part of the University of London) is offering travelers’ accommodations in its dormitories during vacation periods. This summer, rooms are available until Sept. 16. The centrally located residence offers more than 2,000 beds to individuals, families and groups. This includes single en-suite rooms, and single and twin-bedded rooms with wash basins (shared bath and shower facilities). The lowest price for a room (at Hampstead Campus) starts at $23.50; bed-and-breakfast lodging begins at $27.50 per person, per night. En-suite rooms start at $52 per person, per night.
For more information, contact King’s Campus Vacation Bureau, King’s College London, 127 Stamford St., Waterloo, London SE1 9NQ, UK (011-44-171-928-3777).
– Hostelling International-American Youth Hostels has introduced a new site on the Internet at http://www.hiayh.org.
The HI-AYH site gives details on the more than 150 hostel locations in the U.S., including overnight rates, special features and services, information on what to do in each hostel location and a reservation form.
The HI-AYH facilities provide inexpensive accommodation for travelers of a/
ll ages. The buildings vary from purpose-built facilities to ren ovated historic buildings and a lifesaving station on Nantucket, Mass. These hostels provide lodging in multiple-bed rooms (separate facilities for men and women) and offer self-service kitchens, dining areas and common rooms. Some of the hostels also have private family/couples rooms.
