Trip report - Salzburg area

Well, the first change we saw when we arrived at the airport was that the airport shopping centre was now a MacArthur Glen designer discount outlet. It had just opened, but unfortunately we didn%26#39;t have the chance to go around it this visit. Maybe next time.

We went straight from the airport to Hangar 7 for coffee. This is the Red Bull HQ and is a great free attraction, only round the corner from the airport. In fact, you can see the twin domes when you land on the runway.

Despite our many visits, we always try to see something different. This time it was the Dachstein Ice caves. We have previously visited the ones at Werfen which were brilliant, although hard going to get to. These were the complete opposite. Easy to get to but very disappointing in comparison. They were also very expensive due to the pound being so bad against the euro. We got a combined ticket for the cave and the %26#39;five fingers%26#39;. This is a platform jutting out over the edge of the mountain and had fantastic views over to Hallstatt and the lake. The total cost for three adults was £88!!!

We also re-visited Berchtesgaden which is undergoing major building work. It should be great when it%26#39;s finsihed as all the shops are being built in the traditional style, not modern.

Driving up the Grossglockner was amazing! We left on a beautiful sunny day and it was great until we got 2,000m up the mountain. Then we saw snow and ice then fog! Quite worrying but we made it to the glacier car park (a multi storey- up a mountain!!)

We had lunch and by the time we left the fog had lifted so it was a wonderful view driving down.

Even the village, Waidring, had changed again. The Steinplatte mountain has its own platform at the top, jutting out over the sheer drop down into the valley. That, combined with the Triassic Park made it a really interesting afternoon trip.

Of course, every day we had to be back in time for the wonderful cakes and ice cream at Cafe Schmid in the village. We even planned our longest trip to co-incide with the day they were closed - it%26#39;s THAT good.

The Hotel Waidringerhof was excellent (as always) and we can%26#39;t wait to return. However, the flight from Stansted was a killer this time so we were worried about how we were going to get back. I%26#39;ve now found that Easyjet are flying from Liverpool to Innsbruck, so I think that will be our route now.

Ryanair was quite good going out, the new check in online was better as the bag drop was much quicker. However, this time was the first time I have seen the check in staff at Salzburg be so zealous regarding the weight of the luggage. They usually are quite laid back about the 15kgs, but this time they were making people unpack if they were the slightest bit over. I was really glad I had digital luggage scales!

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