Austria was my favorite country in Europe. Austrians kind of have the reputation of being cold or stuck up, but I didn't think so. They're just kind of shy by American standards and value their privacy. They are very polite and friendly once you break the ice with them. I loved how you could go to a market at 6 in morning and have a slab of Laberkase and a Stiegl and nobody would look at you like you were an alcoholic. I was particularly fond of Upper Austria and Salzburg. I loved all the little towns like Gemunden, Ebensee, Kremsmunster, Steyr, Altheim, and Wels. These parts of Austria are what you thought Bavaria was supposed to be like. I've been to Austria several times and have probably spent 4 or 5 months there altogether. To me, it's the only place to go in Europe. It's very laid back and extremely clean. Austrians are very orderly, organized, and civilized people. There is a lot of culture and history to be seen. Realistically, you could spend months in Austria as a tourist and never run out of things worth seeing. Austria is also very old fashioned and conservative compared to a lot of other places in Europe which is very nice compared to the more touristy places in Europe like Munchen, London, Paris, or Berlin. If you spend less than a week in Austria, you're really missing out. Much better than a trip to Italy or Germany.
+gurumagoo Austria in general is old fashioned and conservative, but not Vienna. Actually Vienna is commonly referred to as "Rotes Wien", because it is a left-wing city.
+gurumagoo Glad you like my country :D One thing u definitely should visit in Austria, is Vorarlberg (the most western part). The Lake of Constanze, the old towns, the mountains and it´s in general more familiar.
+gurumagoo Hey, do you know ENNS (the city i grew up)? It was a part of the roman "Limes", the strategic front line against the 'barbarians' (Celtic people) from the north shore of the river Danube. Enns was given the right to be called a city ('Stadtrecht') in the year 212, interesting museum with findings from the roman empire, a chapel from 1341, another church from 1300 called 'Lorch' ('Lauriacum') built on the remains of houses and churches since the years around 200 also. Saint Florian (patron of chimney sweeps, soapmakers and firefighters) and Saint Severin lived (and died) here. The wall ant towers around the city were payed with ransom money for King Richard I the Lionhearted (the bard named 'Blondl' found him in prison in Lower Austria), Napoleon stayed here building a bridge over the river Enns, and the contract, that made Styria a part of Austria, was signed here too ('Georgenberger Handfeste'). The view from Enns (especially from the city tower) is marvelous and i heard it was described in the 'Nibelungensage' ('...Siegfried blickte über die Auen...' - don't know if this is true). After World War II it was a famous front line between the american and the russian sector (many Austrians know the famous scene in the movie "Bockerer" with Karl Merkatz) and so on, and so on...
A remark about the service in restaurants in Austria. As an Austrian myself the American custom of showing up at the table every 10 minutes or so (even interrupting conversations, as I have often experienced in the US) to ask if everything is OK is rather irritating and actually perceived as really rude behaviour. In Austria (and most of Europe for that matter) the ideal waiter is like a British butler. Present during giving advice, taking orders and serving but otherwise invisible. An advice to American readers. You don't have to wait forever for the waiter to come. A small nod in her/his direction or raising the hand and he/she will be with you almost immediately.
Thomas Mohr I have lived in the US all my life and traveled to Europe. I agree completely with your thoughts. The present practice in the US is to frequently interrupt and it is annoying. It wasn't always this way, but now it is common. The waiters here seem to be trained to rely on persistence more than observation.
+Thomas Mohr lol as an american it's commonly considered very rude NOT to check on your customers, waiters that don't are seen as lazy and not worthy of a tip i guess that's cultural differences for you XD
MrAwsomenoob The thing is that a waiter can check on his customers thru observation, proximity and social cues, as was my experience in Europe, but not need to interrupt by breaking into the diners' meals, conversation, thoughts, etc. It is certainly a cultural difference, but it was not always this way in the US.
I definitely irritated my austrian waiter, by getting up and asking for an add on to my order. It's definitely difficult as an American to remember not to go to a austrian restaurant starving, because I waited 10 mins to be spoken to, then another 30 for my food to be given. I really needed water too, and that was never given when I sat down.
Thomas Mohr - you think a waiter in the U.S. coming to check on a table to see if the guest needs anything is "RUDE"?????? You are totally stupid and LAZY. You need to go to school and learn how to be a better worker. You come to the table and take food order then gone like you all dead and never appear to assist the customers and you EXPECT tip????? bunches of LAZY SHIT.
No bad Infos. But 1 thing: I actually am a professional Waiter. Other than in the US, we actually have to study that job. I have to say, that we are not inpolite or unfriendly, is just, that we are used and trained, that we are not coming over to your table all the time, because we want you to enjoy your meal and have some time with friends and family. This is also part of our culture. None of us would hasitate to helf you in any way we can. Just you may have to ask us for help. And don`t forget, that english is not our mother tounge, so if we sound maybe unfriendly, it could be, because we just don`t know english very well. And wenn it comes to Tiping. It is true, it is not a MUST DO, but if you are happy with food and service, please give us tip. 10% is fine, actually its great. Another tip is, when you have small prices, just round it up. like 4,8 its normally 5 from 4,40 its 4,5. simple :) Cheers
david schubert Thanks David! I appreciate hearing from actual service staff to clarify things as mostly it is people that eat at the restaurant that comment andnot the people working there. It means a lot! As i thought i said in the video (but i might have forgot) very professional service. Thanks! all the best to you!
Some of the older restaurants and Heurigen, etc. have really unfriendly waiters. And in general I've seen more unfriendly waiters in Austria than anywhere I traveled. That said, it's still just a minor percentage, most waiters are just as friendly as they should be.
Sie müßen einen Kellner studierien sein. In meiner Meinung, klingt das total irre/läppisch. In Amerika, würde man als ein(e) Kellner(in) angestellt. Tut mir leid. Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut. Ich komme aus Amerika.
2:24 As a side note, Credit Cards are pretty much accepted everywhere in Austria. But you wont find many places that accept American Express. Be prepared to either pay with Masters or Visa Card.
Very good information! I would like to clarify the aspect with our service (in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czeck Rep., Slovakia). From the American or Asian or other areas point of view, our service might be cold and not good. I believe it is based on a misunderstanding. Middel Europeans in general love privacy. This is very well respected in our daily live. Our waiters as well as services in shops wait until you contact them because you are the king. The king is the person who starts the conversation. As service you are only permitted to react. Best from Vienna,
Austrian here, everything quite true. I want to say a thing about service, though. Austrians tend to be more reserved than US people are, especially when eating. I actually considered the waiter a bit ... invasive when I was in the US with his constant asking whether I'm ok with everything. To us it can feel like he's trying to upsell constantly, so yes, the waiter will not "pester" you every time he walks by, but usually, at least good waiters in higher class restaurants, will react to you the moment he notices that you try to make eye contact. For the lower class joints, just wave to him or use some other (polite!) ways to get his attention. They tend to come. As for public transportation, it's great in Vienna, it's pretty decent in the other towns, it just plain SUCKS in the countryside. If you stay in Vienna, a car would actually slow you down when you try to get anywhere and the public transport is reliable, safe, clean and most of all VERY CHEAP. But as soon as you want to leave the town, you better get a car. Aside of that it's a quite awesome description of the place. Hope you enjoyed your stay!
+TheTenggi1 der kommt wahrscheinlich aus Wien und regt sich auf wenn nicht alle 6 minuten eine U-bahn oder straßenbahn kommt hab selbst auch schon einbischen in wien gelebt und mit der zeit schaut man einfach nicht mehr auf die Uhr wenn man los geht und wartet höchstens 3 Minuten. Als ich wieder in Salzburg war, wars schon ungewohnt das züge nur alle 30 min kommen aber verglichen mit den US sind unsere verbindungen super auch wenn man im Gebirge etwas auf die Uhr schaun muss damit man nicht 2 Stunden wartet ^^
+0x777 I am from Vienna. Sadly, the waiters often ignore you here, I wish we would have more waiters like in the US. Even in pricier restaurants and bars it takes way too long in Austria. As for the public transportation: Indeed it´s very cheap, only 1 € per day (with the 12 month pass), but I still use my car to get around in Vienna, because I am often much faster. I live in the 16th district but work mainly in the 21st - nearly at the border to lower Austria (Prager Straße) and to get there with public trans. is not that decent. But my aunt does not even have a drivers license and travels without problems all around Europe and Austrian countryside . Of course a car is more convenient and sometimes faster, but it is still pretty decent. PS: Where do you live in Austria?
MsScully25 Going 16th to 21st I can see why you need a car. Living in the 7th (like me) and working in the 3rd, a car would slow you down horribly. Not only while driving, but finding a parking spot alone can take longer than the public transport ride. Originally I was from a village where public transport meant a bus going out of town around 7am and coming back in around 7pm. With no rides in between. That public transport is not an option with this infrastructure is (hopefully) a given.
For the bad service, in austria, we don't have waiters coming to us every few minutes. Instead they are kinda swarming around and as soon as you make eye contact and raise your hand (as in school) the waiter will immediatly come to you! It's just a different system, where the customers are a little more independent and thus less often disturbed while having a conversation.
Stayed with my grandmother in Southern Germany (Salem) and would drive to Austria and Switzerland....both of these countries left an amazing impression on my life forever. Love Osterrich!
I'm not a waiter but i dont think its about being unfriendly, they just dont want to interrupt or disturb you - if you want something here, you ask for a waiter if someone comes by your Table. :) And its not usual to give Tips, you can do it and it has nothing to with %. 1-2 Euros is still great. :D Anyways, great Video! Greetings from Austria. ;)
I'm from Austria and this is so true :) I work at a supermarket at saturday, and often I have tourists as customers and I immediately recognize the Americans cause they are asking "How are you" First I was very confused, but then I realized it's just how customers/workers talk with each other. I like that :)
Sarah Caramel I’m going to Austria, Hungary and The Czech Republic. I have electric curlers. Can you advise if an adapter and converter will be alright for this? Thank you!
you can't operate american electric tools with an adapter, because in America Voltage in the gir is just above 100V while in Europe it is over 200. Just a pluuging adaper would blow any american tool imediatly. You'need a full adapeter and those often re more costly than buying a cheap tool in Europe, safe from having less luggage
The sevice thing, we austrians love our privacy when we go out eating. So the waitress expect 2 be called. We like it that way :) And with 10% u tip way more than the most residents :D
But i do understand that,he thinks it's rude. He's used to more open customer service, off course it's off putting. But in fact he's right. I've been to a huge amount of restaurants in vienna ( because i live here). There are quite a few unfriendly folks (i mean a lot). And to top it off you have to call the waiter and the waiter's giving you an unfriendly reply which can be bummer :p
As an Austrian, I can say, that you're right in most points. But, I don't agree in "service". Whenever I go to a restaurant, they actually are really friendly. They ask you what you want, they try to be fast, in many places, you can even talk with the personal. I've never been to the US, but if they are so much more friendly than in Austria, it'd probably find them annoying.
Der US-Amerikaner empfindet es anscheinend als freundlich wenn sich Wildfremde mit Namen vorstellen und ihn mit Floskeln zuquatschen und andauernd fragen ob auch alles passt. ;) Aber ich glaub das Essen schneiden sie sich schon noch selber! :P
I have been in countless countries all over the world and i have to say that viennese people ( I'm one too btw) are among the most unfriendly people you can meet ... the service is so much better in the US actually (I've been there 4 times)
Es stimmt schon, in den USA kommt das Customer is King noch viel mehr rüber. Und es stimmt, für uns wirkt das auch teilweise echt lächerlich/nervig, aber das ist ja auch der Grund dafür, warum es hier so ist und drüben anders :D
haemse Ich glaub das ist auch generell eine Mentalitätsfrage. Was bei denen als normaler Umgang betrachtet wird, wird bei uns gegenüber Leuten die man nicht kennt, sicher schon als befremdlich, aufdringlich oder unpassend wahrgenommen. Ich hab da bei @WantedAdventure zu dem Thema was gesehn. Die führen wohl mit allen und jeden einen herzlichen Small-Talk ob in irgend einer Warteschlange oder mit dem/der Kassiererin und sogar geschäftliche Mails werden wohl erstmal mit 1-2 Sätzen Small-Talk eingeleitet (wenn man sich flüchtig kennt) damit es freundlich rüberkommt. Ich würd mich da wohl zwangsläufig fragen: "Was will der/die von mir ... und was soll die falsche Herumschleimerei?" ;) Die Frage beim Essengehen ist halt was man sich erwartet. Will man einfach nur in Ruhe essen und vernünftig bedient werden oder will man gleichzeitig unterhalten werden. Ich denke Ersteres ist mehr so der Standard bei uns, auch abhängig vom Alter, aber Zweiteres kann man auch ohne Probleme finden.
2:45 , 100€ bill is fine to pay, but you might run into problems with 200€ and 500€ bills. Especially the 200€ bills are very rare, most people haven't even ever seen one.
I´ve been living here since 1992, originally from New Jersey. Too bad you don´t have time to visit some of the places in Corinthia or Tirol, it is gorgeous there.
It's so cool to watch a video about that country you're from, because Austria is so small and it's a pleasure when people from other countrys ''recognize'' us and are happy about different things:) It's all right you've said, but mostly they don't take 200 or 500€ notes, particularly in supermarkets..greetings from lower austria;)
Hi. I am Dibya from India. I am planning to visit Austria on a leisure trip. Would you please help me out with a proper tour guide :Intigrated.barik@gmail.com . Will appreciate your effort.
A thing to mention: You are not required to add a tip. It is not normal to tip - and 10% is not that good of a rule of thumb imho; I always round it up. Waiters will not get mad at you, because you haven't tipped them. But, it is different if they know that you are american, because people know that americans are used to mandatorily tip the service (kind of..) and might use that advantage. And a very, very helpful thing to know about the service specifically in vienna, is that part of the "Viennese Charme" are impolite waiters. Its an actual thing. :D
I can also agree to that. I live near Vienna and just one thing to add to the service thing. Most people (including me) just get annoyed if the waiter asks every 2 minutes if everything is fine and so on. In my oppinon the point is that the waiter/waitress just has to be around your table if you want something an should not ask if everything is fine ;)
What the hell? It is not normal to tip? holy moly, IT IS! Yes you maybe would only round up a bill for a coffee or something, but if you are going out to eat in a restaurant, you tip! period.
Monsieur Longbow If you are happy with the meal and the service, tip. If you are not, don't tip. But thats entirely a thing to decide for yourself. Not tipping could be considered rude even if noone forces you to tip and thats one way to tell the waiters that you were unpleased with the service. But usually they even ask if you were fine with your stay after you finished your meal.
We won't show that we're mad but not getting tipped feels fucking horrible, considering it's the majority of my income. Without tip, I couldn't pay my rent.
Great video! :) I am Austrian and all you've said is right. Austria is such a great country, nice people, very clean streets and public buildings, super infrastructure and beautiful sights. If you speak english nearly all of the people can understand you. I recommend Austria for everyone who likes beautiful mountains, nice cities and small, charming villages :) If you have any questions, feel free to ask me :)✌
Hi. I am Dibya from India. I am planning to visit Austria on a leisure trip. Would you please help me out with a proper tour guide :Intigrated.barik@gmail.com . Will appreciate your effort.
you only have to tip, if you actually liked the service though :) and i think it depends on how you grew up, i prefer our service in austria, i don't enjoy being asked too much and they come if you ask them to anyway XD it all depends on what you're used to i think ^^
Cash machines have an option where you can ask for the specific bills denominations that you want. So, you can ask for 4 (20 euro bills) and 2 (10 euro bills), so you are taking 100 euros, in 2 denominations.
I love Wolters Worlds’ videos. They are concise, very relevant, and straight to the point. Moreover, I love his enthusiasm and knowledge. I definitely take into consideration his advice when it comes to traveling.
I was born in Austria, and my whole family lives there (and I've been in the US since I was very young). This fall, my boyfriend is coming with me to meet my family for the first time, and I've not been able to figure out what to warn him/tell him about. Videos are the best way to get him to learn about things, so I'm glad I found these specifically about Austria. Now I just need him to learn more of the language....
A second thought .. we Austrians do like our privacy and do not like to be bothered .. one reason why waiters do not show up every 10 Min because they want to give the customers the possibility to eat in peace without feeling pressured to constantly order something. Which also means (in case the restaurant is not completely full and no new customers already waiting) that the waiter will let your party still sit and talk and enjoy the company of your friends and family even though you already finished your meals and drinks! So normally in Austrian restaurants you are not prompted to pay and leave as soon as you finished. An aspect that is always missing in videos "when an American tries to explain the differences between US and Austria" Moreover, as we Austrians (specifically Tyroleans) do not like to be bothered, we normally do not bother others! I am pretty sure that celebrities would be able to have a two weeks holiday stay in Austria without being bothered (as long as they stay away from the tourist-attractions .. because of course no guarantee for Not-Austrians :) )
I live in Austria and I am from Austria and your video says the truth. The public transtport is great and you did not say anything bad about my country. I just can say that you gave perfect tips.
another thing to add about service: in many less formal places like heuriger or not so fancy coffee houses the waiters often are really funny, cracking jokes or even teasing you a little. so instead of superficial friendliness you get entertainment and fun on a more personal level. which is something i love. however, due to the language barrier, tourists might miss out on that one ...
I lived in Germany for almost 30 years and the food in Europe is really good. Food in the United States is okay. I live in the Washington, D.C. area and you can spend $120.00 for lunch (for two people) and it's just so-so. Even the best places just don't measure up.
Thanks for your time and insight on these travel videos. I always use your channel as a quick guide to gain an understanding of the region and it’s particulars.
I'm not planning on going to Austria anytime soon, but I somehow clicked this in the suggestions list, and ended up watching all of it. Just because I love what you decide is useful and explain it, I subscribed. You are a good youtuber mate, I'll be a fan
And about the tip thats such a thing if you just go to drink a quick coffee and your Bill is 7,20 you say 8,00 and thats Perfect !! But if you go somewhere nice to eat and your Bill is like 22,40 you just say 25 ;) But of course you could give more but you have to think here in austria the people go to a Restaurant want theyr privacy thats because you say loud you want the Bill and the waitress will come and bring you the Bill (and if you Need something else just do the Same and ask the waitress)
I feel like I should say that waiters aren't offended if you call them over here in Austria. If you want another drink, dessert etc. just wait for a waiter/ waitress to pass by and they'll be happy to bring it to you. I wouldn't say the service "sucks". They just expect you to speak up
I love Sacher torte. I had it when I visited Vienna when I was 17. For my 30th birthday, my husband had Hotel Sacher send a Sacher torte to me. It was the next birthday present in the world!!
that's a lovely description of my home, really well done and explained. and yes the customer is king thing is true. when i visited the us i really noticed cashiers being way more friendly and polite
2:27 actually nearly all of the atm`s in austria have the option, that you can choose what bills you would like, regardless of the amount you want. for example, if you want 200€, you can get three fifties, two twenties and one ten euro bill or however you want it.
As an austrian (and a viennese in particular), I really enjoyed watching this video. A very useful guide for both americans AND austrians. I'm really looking forward to going to the USA one day, so your comparisons also served as some kind of helpful advice. I'm sorry you encountered bad service, but as many commenters said before: It's part of the so-called "Viennese Charme". As a native austrian i'm pretty much used to it, but if things went really bad, I also confront the service personal and tell them. Because after all, the "Viennese Charm" shouldn't be an excuse for being rude!!
❤️❤️❤️i Love your Video❤️❤️❤️ i am living Here in Vienna and i am lokal. IT IS so nicce to hear and See the nice Things. Thank you Here from Austria Vienna. Servus ❤️
The difference is that Austrians don't want the waiter to come to them all the time. In Austria, the waiter would be considered impolite, if he would disturb the guests every few minutes. It is really important here that the waiter is professional and doesn't interrupt the guests. It is just a different point of view here in Austria.
As Austrians we found it very annoying in the US when the waitress comes and asks every couple of minutes if we'd need something. I found it very intrusive and sometimes even offensive what some might consider "good service". The service in the US felt sometimes like a mixture of a Jehova's witness, a mosquito and an obstrusive beggar that would never go away.
Great video Mark. Just returned from Vienna and as usual, you are absolutely spot on. Public trans - The CAT, metro and trams are all safe, efficient, fast, convenient and really cheap. And since there are many attractions outside the city center, getting familiar with Vienna public trans is a must. Tipping - Yes, please always tip and don't be stingy. I was told by some wait staff that although they receive full benefits and a decent wage, they most definitely rely on tips. And I must be fortunate because I received good to excellent service everywhere, even at Cafe Sacher which was a bit unexpected.
at a place like cafe sacher tipping is expected but not everywhere. fast food workers for example never receive tips, generally the more fancy a restaurant (or "gasthaus" as they are often called) the more you are expected to tip.
I'm from Vienna and I'm actually positively surprised by the fact that so many austrians actually speak English, because to me, it sometimes seems like no one has ever heard about English being a world language here... But anyways, nice video!
sfisch1999 Das liegt aber glaub ich daran, dass man früher keine Ahnung wie lange das her ist, nur Englisch lernen durfte wenn man gut genuge Noten hatte, da diese viele teils nur wegen einen Fach nicht erreicht haben, konnte sie eben nie richtig Englisch lernen, aber ich denke wenn man noch Jung genug ist wird man schon Englisch gelernt haben ist ja nicht umsonst ein Hauptfach an Schulen spätestens in 10 Jahren wirst du vermutlich nur noch Leute sehen die Englisch können oder zumindest hauptsächlich
Since the ATMs are usually in German it is easy to miss but often (not always) there is a button which lets you choose in which bills you receive the amount you want to withdraw.
I think it’s important to say that there are many places in the US that have great public transportation. One just needs to know which city they’re going to. You need a car if you were in Des Moines Iowa however if you’re in Washington DC, you don’t need a car. Maybe it’s best to say if you’re outside of a major city then get a car or get an Uber
There is an old saying that goes like this: The customer is king, but we are emperor. also you don't need to stick to that 10% tipping rule. just round up to the next Euro or 50 cents and you'll be fine. like 10,20 -> 10,50 or 10,60 -> 11,00
with the ATM... one thing I can tell you... there is a way to change the language to english in the start screen and then you can see a function that gets you a chance to decide the amount of notes you want to get (for example let's say you want to get 400€ from the ATM and nothing higher than 50€ notes, you actually can select 5 x 50€ + 5 x 20€ as well as 5 x 10€ notes and still get 400 in total) so you don't need to get only the money the ATM gives you... you can select to grab smaller notes as well because some stores especially gas station shops don't take 200€ and 500€ notes and yes... we don't have 110V over here, we have a standard of 230V in our outlets... so be careful with your electronic stuff ;-)
by the way... if you have a chance to have friends over here in Austria or you can get in contact with someone you know from Austria when you are being a tourist from the US... they can help you a lot and I mean A LOT for example if you might not understand the way we "serve" our customers... as said... it is a different culture over here and here the customer is as well respected and so is his privacy... it for sure might be normal in the US to have a waiter walk by all 5 minutes or faster... not in Austria... our waiters wait for the guests to either ask them to come over or they have finished a course... because of the pleasure of eating and hopefully enjoying your meal ;-)
very good video. little side note: Some Cafés or restaurants have a Toilet pincode. Sometimes they are printed on your receipt (Café) or you ask the staff.
I'm sorry But the restaurants are nice ! I know WAHT you mean and it's right :-/ but ugh I LIKE AUSTRIA SO MUCH !!! It was so beautiful and all the peoples was nice too me :,-)
Someone definitely lied to you about tipping...I lived in Graz, Austria for 4 years and have been to Vienna a few dozen times. No Austrian every tips 10% and this is after eating hundreds of meals with Austrians. They typically round up. So if your bill is 19,40, they will give a 20 and say "Stimmt schon", which is how the Austrians say keep the change. (The Germans say "Stimmt so" The waiters always seem pretty content with what the Austrians leave. If it is a fancier place and your personal bill is considerably more you might leave like 7,5%, which would be considered generous. For your 600 Euro Bill, I would probably leave maybe 30? My Austrian friends might still yell at me for that.
Brian Lavery Mh, I would say it depends. If you go into a bar or pub around the corner with 1 to 3 waiters an evening, most people (as I've seen it, maybe I just saw the best customers of them) come close to the 10 % tip, but then again no one would tip someone at a Mac Donalds (and I think it is the same in the US?). Maybe it has also something to do with going out as a group and not losing your face when facing the bill, to tip that much. Then again it could also be an income gap issue, where the richer ones tip less than the average ones. Just wanted to gave my experiences in here.
woltersworld Mh, I would say it depends. If you go into a bar or pub around the corner with 1 to 3 waiters an evening, most people (as I've seen it, maybe I just saw the best customers of them) come close to the 10 % tip, but then again no one would tip someone at a Mac Donalds (and I think it is the same in the US?). Maybe it has also something to do with going out as a group and not losing your face when facing the bill, to tip that much. Then again it could also be an income gap issue, where the richer ones tip less than the average ones. Just wanted to gave my experiences in here. Also I wanted to add to the film that practically everyone takes 100 notes, but the 200 and 500 notes are a bit special. Not every place takes them, typically places where the average customer pays 50 Euro or less they wont accept it or at least only after some short discussion with the shop clerk (big examples therefor are supermarkets like Billa, Hofer, Pennymarkt, (Inter)Spar or small shops with 1 to 5 shopworkers including the owner). So it would be better to have some small notes just in that case. And if you like to pay with card, many shops and not so few pubs and restaurants already give the possibility to pay with debit card - it just have to be registered with the "Maestro" sign, which is a European bank linking system I think, but if you own such a card, you can buy many things in Austria without cash. And one thing, one big thing: if you hear someone say 'handy', they don't mean that something is practical, some 'great' mind has given this name to our mobile telephones. Well, the word "telephone" will still be recognized in Austria, it is just that the word 'handy' is so common used for mobiles that for someone not from Austria could be confused in the first times he visit us here. And for the waiters ... or service ... should be true, for some. Others are quite polite and very good at taking care of people. Mostly urban regions and newer businesses are 'americanized' in the service sector and so the service requirements for employees have risen in the last few years. I don't know if they have reached US standard yet or are just on the way there, but there are some businesses trying to do so. And for the english language ... that is a bit complicated. Many would understand you, but I fear we are not so easily understood when we speak english ... first we learn different english in school, depending on our teachers (mostly American English or British English, but there are also not few from Ireland and Scotland, I even heard someone with Australian Accent - some have a mixture from the accents due to different schools), and second our own slang mixes in into english. You know how Mister Arnold Schwarzenegger is speaking? This is when our Austrian Accent meets the English language. Oh, and one thing: even if someone speaks really good english, he or she will apologizing him or herself for their 'bad english', this is quite common. The better they speak the more likely they will make a formal apology for their inability. Just say "it's ok" or "no, you're quite good", it's kind of a ritual to let us know if we do not offend you or (in some cases) want to gain some acknowledgement, just a tiny little bit. Hmm, I didn't thought that I would write as much as I did, just wanted to give a little bit more defined view for you into Austria ... I'm sure there is much more to write, but as every little bit helps, I hope this does too. Thank you for the film, it is very accurate for that length and I hope more visitors come here to us because of that. Even if we don't show it everytime, we like being visited or maybe even more.
I am from austria and i visited the US in 2015 and I really have to say that the bathroom fact is the most important :) that was very vety very strange in the USA 👍🏻
But I find the clothing change rooms in Austrian quite odd. (American in Vienna) Only a curtain, to get fully naked in most changing rooms. But the 12" gap underneath the toilets/WC's in USA freaks Austrians out. ??? :)
Thing about service in Austria is that most locals tend to be more restrained and they'd rather want their peace and quiet instead of a waiter constantly asking them if they want to order more. I actually consider it to be a bit rude and pushy if I'm getting asked more than one time if I want to order more. Most places expect you to get vocal if you want more to drink or eat.
I am from Austria and I work in the hospitality most of the time as a waitress. I would say that the thing about the service is not really true because it just depends on where you are headed, in lower Austria, Vienna and Burgenland waiters are way less friendly then they are in Tyrol because there most of the Service is really nice and welcoming. They are also known for the hospitality and how nice they are in restaurants.
Anna Lindenberger Anna you are really beautiful. I am coming to Austria to pay a visit from Canada. Any chance I can exchange pictures and numbers with you?
Hi. I am Dibya from India. I am planning to visit Austria on a leisure trip. Would you please help me out with a proper tour guide :Intigrated.barik@gmail.com . Will appreciate your effort.
One interesting thing about Austria is that legal drinking age is 16. Which might be quite a shock for Americans since it's a difference of 5 years. However in some parts of Austria you can't buy distilled beverages under 18.
Rent a car. Austria has amazing countryside. Fuel is cheap by European standards. They charge like $15 and that covers tolls. If you rent a car in another country be sure to stop and buy it. Usually the first little place will offer them coming into the country. If you drive, you can get into all the small beautiful villages. Roadside inns are cheap. As with most places, the country people are a little more friendly. Food is so good! A little town called st Germain was a nice place. Glosibocker (sorry my spelling is wrong) is really pretty as is all along the Italian border. If you do hop the border and go into Italy, the dolimite mountains are very pretty. Just be sure to fuel up before going across the border. Fuel is way more expensive in Italy.
Mostly in smaller towns you will have troubles paying with large bills. It's also frowned upon to pay small amounts with large bills (like, say, paying 3 Euro with a 100 bill).
dXb I didn not say that they can refuse you service (technically they can, without reason. There is, contrary to popular belief, no obligation to serve you, as long as their rejection is not due to discrimination). Usually you will be able to pay with most bills, though you will probably be asked whether you have smaller denominations.
r93 Discrimination, to be legally relevant, needs to be due to you belonging to a group of people. E.g. he may actually not serve you due to not liking you as a person. He must not refuse service due to you being black, Jewish, gay or belonging to any other minority group.
I'm Austrian and may have to explain a statement I have heard in RUclips clips regarding the service in a restaurant. Austrian actually like there space in a restaurant a waiter or waitress that's to much on your table is considered annoying and you may leave we do like to sit for a long time we will wave or call out for service. So we are not unfriendly instead we give space.
if you want friendly servise, you have to visite a contysite restaurant. In the big citys everything is a bit more professional and in the cuntrysite a bit more relaxed
2:58 actually like nobody has ever seen a 200 euro bills and the only place you really use 500 euro bills is when you buy a car so nobody's gonna accept these.
I had a 200€ bill once in hand and took it to the Bank imediatly to see if it wasn't forged. the 200€ are very useless, as the 100€ is the most you need in everyday buissnes and the 500€ are avayliable for big purchases
I've been to a lot of countries. The waitress in Germany and Austria are one of the most effecient... They are not so friendly but I like the way they do things.
+woltersworld The service actually depends on the countries' culture. But since you are a foreigner in Austria you find the service unusual. Foreigners tend to compare the service in the country they are visiting and their home country. If Austrian will visit US, they will find the service annoying. The constant checking is not the norm in Austria, so of course they will find the service sucks. Waiters in Austria are less reliant in Tips, they don't need to impress the customer to get paid well. Waiting table is a profession, most of them studied three years to get the job, so they will do it professionally. "Customer is King" is not an Austrian culture. You go to a restaurant to enjoy the food and feel the "Gemutlichkeit", to experience a stress free dinner or lunch, not to be serviced like Kings. About credit cards, it is a culture thing, austrian will use credit card in booking a ticket online but not in a restaurant when you have a bill of 15-30 euro why would someone use a credit card for that, when you can pay comfortably with cash. In grocery store, cards are used but it is actually atm cards where you need to punch your pin just like in an atm machine... Most austrians will used only credit card in an emergency situation.
+Isabella Grey I love this about Europe. I hate being bothered when I am eating and enjoying myself. And USA makes you feel rushed. They want to clear the table to make more money! Turn and burn!
+Isabella Grey I'm from Austria and I love the service in the US. I'm not sure if service is the right word but in electrical stores in Austria if you want to get advice which device is the best or something like that you always get the feeling that the salesmen are hidding bc the don't want to waste their time doing their job. And in restaurants in the US I was really impressed, like the waiter came and brought me a new coke and I didn't ordered it and it was not on the bill!!! (sorry for all the mistakes I made in this message but it's 3:29 am here so my brain doesn't work properly)
the service is just the way we like it. we just don't wanna be bothered with "can i get you anything? is your food hot enough? is it soft enough to swallow or should i chew it for you? do you like some more coffee?" all the time. really. leave us alone with this "service" which really is just intrusive. ;)
You should visit Steiermark in Austria (there are the mountains in the north , there is Graz in the middle and there is the Wohle Wine Mountain thing where realy great whine is make and the landscape is great too) but i think if you visit Austria you should See every Part of the country :)
yes of course you can but "grüß gott" is the more polite way so when you don't know somebody well or they are maby bussines partners then i would rather say "grüß gott" than "hallo"
nice vid i am from austria too like so many who write a comment here before ;) and yes its true whats said in the vid i live in upperaustria but the thing with the restaurants is in my opinion not so bad probably just in vienna ;P
Tschüss is actually german, I mean, north germany german. Austrians will accept it and might smile a bit. But the proper way would be "servus" or "wieder'schaun".
about service you can get them to help and reorder, with raising your hand up or call for the waiter. I find service people as example terrible when they come to me when i didnt really need them.
Everything he said was right except pronunciation :) Sacher torte is said Ssahcher Torte (the ch is very hard to teach to foreigners) Wien is said Wiin Salzburg is Sahlz Buhrg (ah and uh are also difficult to teach) Etc. From an Austrian
I lived 11 years in Austria and you are almost correct. I have to say that the coins in the US are worth just as much and no there are not many free public restrooms in Austria anymore. Why? Crime and vandalism. Even worse in Germany where you even have to pay to pee on a freeway rest stop. Fast food is different. More expensive in Austria. No free ketchup or other condiments. One paper napkin comes on your tray. No free refill in most places. The free refills in the fast food business in Europe only started about 10 years ago. Before that nobody knew what it means. Of course no free refills in restaurants ever! But you can check your air pressure on your car tires for free in Austria vs you pay in the US. Speaking of that many gas stations in Austria you have to pay inside vs at the pump in the US. No AC in 90% of the buildings in Austria.
I've been to Austria 3 times this year and personally, I found the people friendly though not as friendly if you compare them to some Southeast Asian countries. However, I only stayed in the countryside of Tirol and Salzburg and I've never been to Wien so maybe there are differences between the east and the west.
When I went to the US - that was like 25 years ago - it was not like waiters swarmed me all the time. For some reason they wanted to make conversation a lot which was annoying but they did not ask all the time whether we needed something. For one exception: they always refilled my glass without asking me if I wanted something. This I found horrible because it was very intrusive for me. They touched the glass with their hands and used ice cubes which I hate and then had in my glass which tasted like chlorine. And here, we already are at a difference I perceived: in Austria you pay per glass whereas in the US you pay per - kind of drink I guess? Also they call everything with bubbles soda while in Austria, soda is tapwater with bubbles.
Austria was my favorite country in Europe. Austrians kind of have the reputation of being cold or stuck up, but I didn't think so. They're just kind of shy by American standards and value their privacy. They are very polite and friendly once you break the ice with them. I loved how you could go to a market at 6 in morning and have a slab of Laberkase and a Stiegl and nobody would look at you like you were an alcoholic. I was particularly fond of Upper Austria and Salzburg. I loved all the little towns like Gemunden, Ebensee, Kremsmunster, Steyr, Altheim, and Wels. These parts of Austria are what you thought Bavaria was supposed to be like. I've been to Austria several times and have probably spent 4 or 5 months there altogether. To me, it's the only place to go in Europe. It's very laid back and extremely clean. Austrians are very orderly, organized, and civilized people. There is a lot of culture and history to be seen. Realistically, you could spend months in Austria as a tourist and never run out of things worth seeing. Austria is also very old fashioned and conservative compared to a lot of other places in Europe which is very nice compared to the more touristy places in Europe like Munchen, London, Paris, or Berlin. If you spend less than a week in Austria, you're really missing out. Much better than a trip to Italy or Germany.
I live in wels :D it's great to hear you like my country!
Sandkralle I used to go the Weihnachtsmarkt in the Altstadt of Wels every year. I loved walking in the snow drinking Glühwein with my friends.
+gurumagoo Austria in general is old fashioned and conservative, but not Vienna. Actually Vienna is commonly referred to as "Rotes Wien", because it is a left-wing city.
+gurumagoo Glad you like my country :D One thing u definitely should visit in Austria, is Vorarlberg (the most western part). The Lake of Constanze, the old towns, the mountains and it´s in general more familiar.
+gurumagoo Hey, do you know ENNS (the city i grew up)? It was a part of the roman "Limes", the strategic front line against the 'barbarians' (Celtic people) from the north shore of the river Danube. Enns was given the right to be called a city ('Stadtrecht') in the year 212, interesting museum with findings from the roman empire, a chapel from 1341, another church from 1300 called 'Lorch' ('Lauriacum') built on the remains of houses and churches since the years around 200 also. Saint Florian (patron of chimney sweeps, soapmakers and firefighters) and Saint Severin lived (and died) here. The wall ant towers around the city were payed with ransom money for King Richard I the Lionhearted (the bard named 'Blondl' found him in prison in Lower Austria), Napoleon stayed here building a bridge over the river Enns, and the contract, that made Styria a part of Austria, was signed here too ('Georgenberger Handfeste'). The view from Enns (especially from the city tower) is marvelous and i heard it was described in the 'Nibelungensage' ('...Siegfried blickte über die Auen...' - don't know if this is true). After World War II it was a famous front line between the american and the russian sector (many Austrians know the famous scene in the movie "Bockerer" with Karl Merkatz) and so on, and so on...
A remark about the service in restaurants in Austria. As an Austrian myself the American custom of showing up at the table every 10 minutes or so (even interrupting conversations, as I have often experienced in the US) to ask if everything is OK is rather irritating and actually perceived as really rude behaviour. In Austria (and most of Europe for that matter) the ideal waiter is like a British butler. Present during giving advice, taking orders and serving but otherwise invisible. An advice to American readers. You don't have to wait forever for the waiter to come. A small nod in her/his direction or raising the hand and he/she will be with you almost immediately.
Thomas Mohr I have lived in the US all my life and traveled to Europe. I agree completely with your thoughts. The present practice in the US is to frequently interrupt and it is annoying. It wasn't always this way, but now it is common. The waiters here seem to be trained to rely on persistence more than observation.
+Thomas Mohr lol as an american it's commonly considered very rude NOT to check on your customers, waiters that don't are seen as lazy and not worthy of a tip
i guess that's cultural differences for you XD
MrAwsomenoob The thing is that a waiter can check on his customers thru observation, proximity and social cues, as was my experience in Europe, but not need to interrupt by breaking into the diners' meals, conversation, thoughts, etc. It is certainly a cultural difference, but it was not always this way in the US.
I definitely irritated my austrian waiter, by getting up and asking for an add on to my order. It's definitely difficult as an American to remember not to go to a austrian restaurant starving, because I waited 10 mins to be spoken to, then another 30 for my food to be given. I really needed water too, and that was never given when I sat down.
Thomas Mohr - you think a waiter in the U.S. coming to check on a table to see if the guest needs anything is "RUDE"?????? You are totally stupid and LAZY. You need to go to school and learn how to be a better worker. You come to the table and take food order then gone like you all dead and never appear to assist the customers and you EXPECT tip????? bunches of LAZY SHIT.
No bad Infos.
But 1 thing: I actually am a professional Waiter. Other than in the US, we actually have to study that job. I have to say, that we are not inpolite or unfriendly, is just, that we are used and trained, that we are not coming over to your table all the time, because we want you to enjoy your meal and have some time with friends and family. This is also part of our culture.
None of us would hasitate to helf you in any way we can. Just you may have to ask us for help.
And don`t forget, that english is not our mother tounge, so if we sound maybe unfriendly, it could be, because we just don`t know english very well.
And wenn it comes to Tiping.
It is true, it is not a MUST DO, but if you are happy with food and service, please give us tip. 10% is fine, actually its great.
Another tip is, when you have small prices, just round it up. like 4,8 its normally 5 from 4,40 its 4,5. simple :)
Cheers
I forgott to say, that wenn you are not happy with service or anything was bad, just either lower the tip rate or just give no tip.
david schubert Thanks David! I appreciate hearing from actual service staff to clarify things as mostly it is people that eat at the restaurant that comment andnot the people working there. It means a lot! As i thought i said in the video (but i might have forgot) very professional service. Thanks! all the best to you!
Some of the older restaurants and Heurigen, etc. have really unfriendly waiters. And in general I've seen more unfriendly waiters in Austria than anywhere I traveled. That said, it's still just a minor percentage, most waiters are just as friendly as they should be.
Sie müßen einen Kellner studierien sein. In meiner Meinung, klingt das total irre/läppisch. In Amerika, würde man als ein(e) Kellner(in) angestellt.
Tut mir leid. Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut. Ich komme aus Amerika.
r93 keine Ausbildung brauchte.
2:24 As a side note, Credit Cards are pretty much accepted everywhere in Austria. But you wont find many places that accept American Express. Be prepared to either pay with Masters or Visa Card.
Very good information!
I would like to clarify the aspect with our service (in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czeck Rep., Slovakia). From the American or Asian or other areas point of view, our service might be cold and not good. I believe it is based on a misunderstanding. Middel Europeans in general love privacy. This is very well respected in our daily live. Our waiters as well as services in shops wait until you contact them because you are the king. The king is the person who starts the conversation. As service you are only permitted to react. Best from Vienna,
Austrian here, everything quite true. I want to say a thing about service, though. Austrians tend to be more reserved than US people are, especially when eating. I actually considered the waiter a bit ... invasive when I was in the US with his constant asking whether I'm ok with everything. To us it can feel like he's trying to upsell constantly, so yes, the waiter will not "pester" you every time he walks by, but usually, at least good waiters in higher class restaurants, will react to you the moment he notices that you try to make eye contact.
For the lower class joints, just wave to him or use some other (polite!) ways to get his attention. They tend to come.
As for public transportation, it's great in Vienna, it's pretty decent in the other towns, it just plain SUCKS in the countryside. If you stay in Vienna, a car would actually slow you down when you try to get anywhere and the public transport is reliable, safe, clean and most of all VERY CHEAP. But as soon as you want to leave the town, you better get a car.
Aside of that it's a quite awesome description of the place. Hope you enjoyed your stay!
+0x777 I am in love with a Vienna woman....
Public transport does NOT suck in countrysides... at least in Tirol.
+TheTenggi1 der kommt wahrscheinlich aus Wien und regt sich auf wenn nicht alle 6 minuten eine U-bahn oder straßenbahn kommt hab selbst auch schon einbischen in wien gelebt und mit der zeit schaut man einfach nicht mehr auf die Uhr wenn man los geht und wartet höchstens 3 Minuten. Als ich wieder in Salzburg war, wars schon ungewohnt das züge nur alle 30 min kommen aber verglichen mit den US sind unsere verbindungen super auch wenn man im Gebirge etwas auf die Uhr schaun muss damit man nicht 2 Stunden wartet ^^
+0x777 I am from Vienna. Sadly, the waiters often ignore you here, I wish we would have more waiters like in the US. Even in pricier restaurants and bars it takes way too long in Austria.
As for the public transportation: Indeed it´s very cheap, only 1 € per day (with the 12 month pass), but I still use my car to get around in Vienna, because I am often much faster. I live in the 16th district but work mainly in the 21st - nearly at the border to lower Austria (Prager Straße) and to get there with public trans. is not that decent.
But my aunt does not even have a drivers license and travels without problems all around Europe and Austrian countryside . Of course a car is more convenient and sometimes faster, but it is still pretty decent. PS: Where do you live in Austria?
MsScully25 Going 16th to 21st I can see why you need a car. Living in the 7th (like me) and working in the 3rd, a car would slow you down horribly. Not only while driving, but finding a parking spot alone can take longer than the public transport ride.
Originally I was from a village where public transport meant a bus going out of town around 7am and coming back in around 7pm. With no rides in between. That public transport is not an option with this infrastructure is (hopefully) a given.
For the bad service, in austria, we don't have waiters coming to us every few minutes. Instead they are kinda swarming around and as soon as you make eye contact and raise your hand (as in school) the waiter will immediatly come to you! It's just a different system, where the customers are a little more independent and thus less often disturbed while having a conversation.
Stayed with my grandmother in Southern Germany (Salem) and would drive to Austria and Switzerland....both of these countries left an amazing impression on my life forever. Love Osterrich!
I'm not a waiter but i dont think its about being unfriendly, they just dont want to interrupt or disturb you - if you want something here, you ask for a waiter if someone comes by your Table. :) And its not usual to give Tips, you can do it and it has nothing to with %. 1-2 Euros is still great. :D Anyways, great Video! Greetings from Austria. ;)
I'm from Austria and this is so true :)
I work at a supermarket at saturday, and often I have tourists as customers and I immediately recognize the Americans cause they are asking "How are you"
First I was very confused, but then I realized it's just how customers/workers talk with each other. I like that :)
Sarah Caramel I’m going to Austria, Hungary and The Czech Republic. I have electric curlers. Can you advise if an adapter and converter will be alright for this? Thank you!
you can't operate american electric tools with an adapter, because in America Voltage in the gir is just above 100V while in Europe it is over 200. Just a pluuging adaper would blow any american tool imediatly. You'need a full adapeter and those often re more costly than buying a cheap tool in Europe, safe from having less luggage
I love Austria 😘 proud to be Austrian....
same :)
ja Österreich is schon nice
Yes, my children....
Austria Ich feier dich hawara :D
Gott ich schäm mich österreicher zu sein. Scheuss geschichte, scheiss regierung, scheiss fpö
The sevice thing, we austrians love our privacy when we go out eating. So the waitress expect 2 be called. We like it that way :) And with 10% u tip way more than the most residents :D
totally right
Bills under 20€ usually get a round up straight, above kinda same but +€ is up to u. But no waitress will get mad when u tip 2 much ;D.
But i do understand that,he thinks it's rude.
He's used to more open customer service, off course it's off putting.
But in fact he's right. I've been to a huge amount of restaurants in vienna ( because i live here). There are quite a few unfriendly folks (i mean a lot).
And to top it off you have to call the waiter and the waiter's giving you an unfriendly reply which can be bummer :p
exactly my opinion :) ... nix schlimmeres wenn da Kellner alle 5 Minuten fragt ob er nu was bringen kann :-D
Peter E. also ich würd auszucken wenn da der kellner ständig fragen würde
What to Know about Austria before you travel there:
There are no Kangaroos. ;-)
hahaha
Lol, good one.
xxxsnaggletoothxxx in Austria there are no kangaroos- only Kuhlimuhs:)
Just don't try this joke in Austria because mostly it will anoy the heck out of everyone
No kangaroos, only kuhlimoos :P
As an Austrian, I can say, that you're right in most points. But, I don't agree in "service". Whenever I go to a restaurant, they actually are really friendly. They ask you what you want, they try to be fast, in many places, you can even talk with the personal. I've never been to the US, but if they are so much more friendly than in Austria, it'd probably find them annoying.
Der US-Amerikaner empfindet es anscheinend als freundlich wenn sich Wildfremde mit Namen vorstellen und ihn mit Floskeln zuquatschen und andauernd fragen ob auch alles passt. ;)
Aber ich glaub das Essen schneiden sie sich schon noch selber! :P
da kann ich dir nur zustimmen :D finde den service eig. sehr gut, also ich bin zufrieden. unfreundlich kam mir z.b. italien vor.
I have been in countless countries all over the world and i have to say that viennese people ( I'm one too btw) are among the most unfriendly people you can meet ... the service is so much better in the US actually (I've been there 4 times)
Es stimmt schon, in den USA kommt das Customer is King noch viel mehr rüber. Und es stimmt, für uns wirkt das auch teilweise echt lächerlich/nervig, aber das ist ja auch der Grund dafür, warum es hier so ist und drüben anders :D
haemse
Ich glaub das ist auch generell eine Mentalitätsfrage.
Was bei denen als normaler Umgang betrachtet wird, wird bei uns gegenüber Leuten die man nicht kennt, sicher schon als befremdlich, aufdringlich oder unpassend wahrgenommen.
Ich hab da bei @WantedAdventure zu dem Thema was gesehn.
Die führen wohl mit allen und jeden einen herzlichen Small-Talk ob in irgend einer Warteschlange oder mit dem/der Kassiererin und sogar geschäftliche Mails werden wohl erstmal mit 1-2 Sätzen Small-Talk eingeleitet (wenn man sich flüchtig kennt) damit es freundlich rüberkommt.
Ich würd mich da wohl zwangsläufig fragen: "Was will der/die von mir ... und was soll die falsche Herumschleimerei?" ;)
Die Frage beim Essengehen ist halt was man sich erwartet.
Will man einfach nur in Ruhe essen und vernünftig bedient werden oder will man gleichzeitig unterhalten werden.
Ich denke Ersteres ist mehr so der Standard bei uns, auch abhängig vom Alter, aber Zweiteres kann man auch ohne Probleme finden.
2:45 , 100€ bill is fine to pay, but you might run into problems with 200€ and 500€ bills. Especially the 200€ bills are very rare, most people haven't even ever seen one.
Gonna be in Vienna in mid Oct for few days. One of the places in Europe I've always wanted to visit.
its a neat place. I have studied there, visited there and worked there and I am going to visit again next year. you will have a great time.
i am from vienna xD
Wolters World Are you american? If yes which state
NucleareWarfare same
I´ve been living here since 1992, originally from New Jersey. Too bad you don´t have time to visit some of the places in Corinthia or Tirol, it is gorgeous there.
It's so cool to watch a video about that country you're from, because Austria is so small and it's a pleasure when people from other countrys ''recognize'' us and are happy about different things:) It's all right you've said, but mostly they don't take 200 or 500€ notes, particularly in supermarkets..greetings from lower austria;)
Hi. I am Dibya from India. I am planning to visit Austria on a leisure trip. Would you please help me out with a proper tour guide :Intigrated.barik@gmail.com . Will appreciate your effort.
A thing to mention: You are not required to add a tip. It is not normal to tip - and 10% is not that good of a rule of thumb imho; I always round it up. Waiters will not get mad at you, because you haven't tipped them. But, it is different if they know that you are american, because people know that americans are used to mandatorily tip the service (kind of..) and might use that advantage. And a very, very helpful thing to know about the service specifically in vienna, is that part of the "Viennese Charme" are impolite waiters. Its an actual thing. :D
I´m viennese and can back up your impolite waiter story 100%.
it´s really true.
I can also agree to that.
I live near Vienna and just one thing to add to the service thing. Most people (including me) just get annoyed if the waiter asks every 2 minutes if everything is fine and so on. In my oppinon the point is that the waiter/waitress just has to be around your table if you want something an should not ask if everything is fine ;)
What the hell? It is not normal to tip? holy moly, IT IS! Yes you maybe would only round up a bill for a coffee or something, but if you are going out to eat in a restaurant, you tip! period.
Monsieur Longbow
If you are happy with the meal and the service, tip. If you are not, don't tip. But thats entirely a thing to decide for yourself.
Not tipping could be considered rude even if noone forces you to tip and thats one way to tell the waiters that you were unpleased with the service.
But usually they even ask if you were fine with your stay after you finished your meal.
We won't show that we're mad but not getting tipped feels fucking horrible, considering it's the majority of my income. Without tip, I couldn't pay my rent.
Great video! :) I am Austrian and all you've said is right. Austria is such a great country, nice people, very clean streets and public buildings, super infrastructure and beautiful sights. If you speak english nearly all of the people can understand you. I recommend Austria for everyone who likes beautiful mountains, nice cities and small, charming villages :) If you have any questions, feel free to ask me :)✌
Studio 22.8 - Fitness and other Stuff
unasas is es beste 😀❤😘
Hi. I am Dibya from India. I am planning to visit Austria on a leisure trip. Would you please help me out with a proper tour guide :Intigrated.barik@gmail.com . Will appreciate your effort.
How far is Vienna from Salzburg?? I'd like to see the mountains ⛰️ as well.
@@groot724 between 3 to 4 hours.
you only have to tip, if you actually liked the service though :) and i think it depends on how you grew up, i prefer our service in austria, i don't enjoy being asked too much and they come if you ask them to anyway XD it all depends on what you're used to i think ^^
Cash machines have an option where you can ask for the specific bills denominations that you want. So, you can ask for 4 (20 euro bills) and 2 (10 euro bills), so you are taking 100 euros, in 2 denominations.
and I love that about the ATMs in Austria.
Das ist echt cool.
I am going in Tirol, Austria next week. Can't wait :D
Dont miss out the cakes and Wiener Schnitzel, you can order them in nearly every "Wirtshaus" and theyr'e the best you can get
How was it?
@@butyoudidnt4387Beautiful nature, terrible food and music :D
@@adflicto1 Well that's good (and bad haha)! Nice that you remember it though!
I love Wolters Worlds’ videos. They are concise, very relevant, and straight to the point. Moreover, I love his enthusiasm and knowledge. I definitely take into consideration his advice when it comes to traveling.
I was born in Austria, and my whole family lives there (and I've been in the US since I was very young). This fall, my boyfriend is coming with me to meet my family for the first time, and I've not been able to figure out what to warn him/tell him about. Videos are the best way to get him to learn about things, so I'm glad I found these specifically about Austria. Now I just need him to learn more of the language....
A second thought .. we Austrians do like our privacy and do not like to be bothered .. one reason why waiters do not show up every 10 Min because they want to give the customers the possibility to eat in peace without feeling pressured to constantly order something. Which also means (in case the restaurant is not completely full and no new customers already waiting) that the waiter will let your party still sit and talk and enjoy the company of your friends and family even though you already finished your meals and drinks! So normally in Austrian restaurants you are not prompted to pay and leave as soon as you finished. An aspect that is always missing in videos "when an American tries to explain the differences between US and Austria"
Moreover, as we Austrians (specifically Tyroleans) do not like to be bothered, we normally do not bother others! I am pretty sure that celebrities would be able to have a two weeks holiday stay in Austria without being bothered (as long as they stay away from the tourist-attractions .. because of course no guarantee for Not-Austrians :) )
I live in Austria and I am from Austria and your video says the truth. The public transtport is great and you did not say anything bad about my country.
I just can say that you gave perfect tips.
another thing to add about service: in many less formal places like heuriger or not so fancy coffee houses the waiters often are really funny, cracking jokes or even teasing you a little. so instead of superficial friendliness you get entertainment and fun on a more personal level. which is something i love. however, due to the language barrier, tourists might miss out on that one ...
I lived in Germany for almost 30 years and the food in Europe is really good. Food in the United States is okay. I live in the Washington, D.C. area and you can spend $120.00 for lunch (for two people) and it's just so-so. Even the best places just don't measure up.
Thanks for your time and insight on these travel videos. I always use your channel as a quick guide to gain an understanding of the region and it’s particulars.
Totally love this channel! Don't know how I got here, but this is a keeper!!
Nice video.
But a "Servus" at the end would have been more appropriate.
It's still Austria, not Germany.
Servus is actualy a old greeting meaning " I am your servant" you are most welcome.
Namenlos durch die nacht
"wie ist dein name?"
"WEISS ICH DAS?"
I'm not planning on going to Austria anytime soon, but I somehow clicked this in the suggestions list, and ended up watching all of it. Just because I love what you decide is useful and explain it, I subscribed. You are a good youtuber mate, I'll be a fan
And about the tip thats such a thing if you just go to drink a quick coffee and your Bill is 7,20 you say 8,00 and thats Perfect !! But if you go somewhere nice to eat and your Bill is like 22,40 you just say 25 ;)
But of course you could give more but you have to think here in austria the people go to a Restaurant want theyr privacy thats because you say loud you want the Bill and the waitress will come and bring you the Bill (and if you Need something else just do the Same and ask the waitress)
I feel like I should say that waiters aren't offended if you call them over here in Austria.
If you want another drink, dessert etc. just wait for a waiter/ waitress to pass by and they'll be happy to bring it to you.
I wouldn't say the service "sucks".
They just expect you to speak up
03:21 Innsbruck yeah. I am from Tirol thats so cool you visited Innsbruck.
This is really funny for people from Vienna 👌🏻 the Tschüss at the end was great ^^
important for handicaped people: our castls are original, so if you can't step stairs, you might have a problem.
I love Sacher torte. I had it when I visited Vienna when I was 17. For my 30th birthday, my husband had Hotel Sacher send a Sacher torte to me. It was the next birthday present in the world!!
2:00 “A group of students with a 600€ bill.“
Never trust someone with a 600€ bill, that might be fake.
Bill as in the paper you get after xou buy something
The receipt, or the check. Not the note
500 euro is a good amount, the lila paper means power )
+manuel niz made my day bro xD
lila = purple
lila in english is purple ;)
Aurora 91 austria is still powerful.
that's a lovely description of my home, really well done and explained.
and yes the customer is king thing is true. when i visited the us i really noticed cashiers being way more friendly and polite
2:27 actually nearly all of the atm`s in austria have the option, that you can choose what bills you would like, regardless of the amount you want. for example, if you want 200€, you can get three fifties, two twenties and one ten euro bill or however you want it.
As an austrian (and a viennese in particular), I really enjoyed watching this video. A very useful guide for both americans AND austrians. I'm really looking forward to going to the USA one day, so your comparisons also served as some kind of helpful advice. I'm sorry you encountered bad service, but as many commenters said before: It's part of the so-called "Viennese Charme". As a native austrian i'm pretty much used to it, but if things went really bad, I also confront the service personal and tell them. Because after all, the "Viennese Charm" shouldn't be an excuse for being rude!!
❤️❤️❤️i Love your Video❤️❤️❤️ i am living Here in Vienna and i am lokal. IT IS so nicce to hear and See the nice Things. Thank you Here from Austria Vienna.
Servus ❤️
The difference is that Austrians don't want the waiter to come to them all the time. In Austria, the waiter would be considered impolite, if he would disturb the guests every few minutes. It is really important here that the waiter is professional and doesn't interrupt the guests. It is just a different point of view here in Austria.
As Austrians we found it very annoying in the US when the waitress comes and asks every couple of minutes if we'd need something. I found it very intrusive and sometimes even offensive what some might consider "good service". The service in the US felt sometimes like a mixture of a Jehova's witness, a mosquito and an obstrusive beggar that would never go away.
I am from the US and find it annoying as well! We have been to Austria and love it. Best country in Europe.
Nice summary, thanks for sharing!
Great video Mark. Just returned from Vienna and as usual, you are absolutely spot on.
Public trans - The CAT, metro and trams are all safe, efficient, fast, convenient and really cheap. And since there are many attractions outside the city center, getting familiar with Vienna public trans is a must.
Tipping - Yes, please always tip and don't be stingy. I was told by some wait staff that although they receive full benefits and a decent wage, they most definitely rely on tips. And I must be fortunate because I received good to excellent service everywhere, even at Cafe Sacher which was a bit unexpected.
at a place like cafe sacher tipping is expected but not everywhere. fast food workers for example never receive tips, generally the more fancy a restaurant (or "gasthaus" as they are often called) the more you are expected to tip.
Thats true. But fast food stores wouldnt be considered restaurants in austria.
I'm from Vienna and I'm actually positively surprised by the fact that so many austrians actually speak English, because to me, it sometimes seems like no one has ever heard about English being a world language here...
But anyways, nice video!
Hallo Wien Osterreich..
sfisch1999 Das liegt aber glaub ich daran, dass man früher keine Ahnung wie lange das her ist, nur Englisch lernen durfte wenn man gut genuge Noten hatte, da diese viele teils nur wegen einen Fach nicht erreicht haben, konnte sie eben nie richtig Englisch lernen, aber ich denke wenn man noch Jung genug ist wird man schon Englisch gelernt haben ist ja nicht umsonst ein Hauptfach an Schulen spätestens in 10 Jahren wirst du vermutlich nur noch Leute sehen die Englisch können oder zumindest hauptsächlich
CoolPixx23 Oesttereich.
CoolPixx23 Oestrreich
that "tschüss" was spot on dude :)
Since the ATMs are usually in German it is easy to miss but often (not always) there is a button which lets you choose in which bills you receive the amount you want to withdraw.
I think it’s important to say that there are many places in the US that have great public transportation. One just needs to know which city they’re going to. You need a car if you were in Des Moines Iowa however if you’re in Washington DC, you don’t need a car. Maybe it’s best to say if you’re outside of a major city then get a car or get an Uber
There is an old saying that goes like this:
The customer is king, but we are emperor.
also you don't need to stick to that 10% tipping rule. just round up to the next Euro or 50 cents and you'll be fine.
like 10,20 -> 10,50 or 10,60 -> 11,00
with the ATM... one thing I can tell you... there is a way to change the language to english in the start screen and then you can see a function that gets you a chance to decide the amount of notes you want to get (for example let's say you want to get 400€ from the ATM and nothing higher than 50€ notes, you actually can select 5 x 50€ + 5 x 20€ as well as 5 x 10€ notes and still get 400 in total)
so you don't need to get only the money the ATM gives you... you can select to grab smaller notes as well because some stores especially gas station shops don't take 200€ and 500€ notes
and yes... we don't have 110V over here, we have a standard of 230V in our outlets... so be careful with your electronic stuff ;-)
by the way... if you have a chance to have friends over here in Austria or you can get in contact with someone you know from Austria when you are being a tourist from the US... they can help you a lot and I mean A LOT
for example if you might not understand the way we "serve" our customers... as said... it is a different culture over here and here the customer is as well respected and so is his privacy... it for sure might be normal in the US to have a waiter walk by all 5 minutes or faster... not in Austria... our waiters wait for the guests to either ask them to come over or they have finished a course... because of the pleasure of eating and hopefully enjoying your meal ;-)
I wish I had a teacher like u! So nice
Well a good start would be to learn the difference between Austria and australia.
The situation about credit cards has improved very much - though cash is still king, but very many restaurants now take credit cards.
very good video. little side note: Some Cafés or restaurants have a Toilet pincode. Sometimes they are printed on your receipt (Café) or you ask the staff.
I'm sorry But the restaurants are nice ! I know WAHT you mean and it's right :-/ but ugh I LIKE AUSTRIA SO MUCH !!! It was so beautiful and all the peoples was nice too me :,-)
Sonic and MLP Maker I‘m from Austria 😂😉
Someone definitely lied to you about tipping...I lived in Graz, Austria for 4 years and have been to Vienna a few dozen times. No Austrian every tips 10% and this is after eating hundreds of meals with Austrians. They typically round up. So if your bill is 19,40, they will give a 20 and say "Stimmt schon", which is how the Austrians say keep the change. (The Germans say "Stimmt so" The waiters always seem pretty content with what the Austrians leave. If it is a fancier place and your personal bill is considerably more you might leave like 7,5%, which would be considered generous. For your 600 Euro Bill, I would probably leave maybe 30? My Austrian friends might still yell at me for that.
Brian Lavery thanks for the heads up Brian!
Gerne
Brian Lavery Mh, I would say it depends. If you go into a bar or pub around the corner with 1 to 3 waiters an evening, most people (as I've seen it, maybe I just saw the best customers of them) come close to the 10 % tip, but then again no one would tip someone at a Mac Donalds (and I think it is the same in the US?). Maybe it has also something to do with going out as a group and not losing your face when facing the bill, to tip that much. Then again it could also be an income gap issue, where the richer ones tip less than the average ones. Just wanted to gave my experiences in here.
woltersworld Mh, I would say it depends. If you go into a bar or pub around the corner with 1 to 3 waiters an evening, most people (as I've seen it, maybe I just saw the best customers of them) come close to the 10 % tip, but then again no one would tip someone at a Mac Donalds (and I think it is the same in the US?). Maybe it has also something to do with going out as a group and not losing your face when facing the bill, to tip that much. Then again it could also be an income gap issue, where the richer ones tip less than the average ones. Just wanted to gave my experiences in here.
Also I wanted to add to the film that practically everyone takes 100 notes, but the 200 and 500 notes are a bit special. Not every place takes them, typically places where the average customer pays 50 Euro or less they wont accept it or at least only after some short discussion with the shop clerk (big examples therefor are supermarkets like Billa, Hofer, Pennymarkt, (Inter)Spar or small shops with 1 to 5 shopworkers including the owner). So it would be better to have some small notes just in that case. And if you like to pay with card, many shops and not so few pubs and restaurants already give the possibility to pay with debit card - it just have to be registered with the "Maestro" sign, which is a European bank linking system I think, but if you own such a card, you can buy many things in Austria without cash.
And one thing, one big thing: if you hear someone say 'handy', they don't mean that something is practical, some 'great' mind has given this name to our mobile telephones. Well, the word "telephone" will still be recognized in Austria, it is just that the word 'handy' is so common used for mobiles that for someone not from Austria could be confused in the first times he visit us here.
And for the waiters ... or service ... should be true, for some. Others are quite polite and very good at taking care of people. Mostly urban regions and newer businesses are 'americanized' in the service sector and so the service requirements for employees have risen in the last few years. I don't know if they have reached US standard yet or are just on the way there, but there are some businesses trying to do so.
And for the english language ... that is a bit complicated. Many would understand you, but I fear we are not so easily understood when we speak english ... first we learn different english in school, depending on our teachers (mostly American English or British English, but there are also not few from Ireland and Scotland, I even heard someone with Australian Accent - some have a mixture from the accents due to different schools), and second our own slang mixes in into english. You know how Mister Arnold Schwarzenegger is speaking? This is when our Austrian Accent meets the English language.
Oh, and one thing: even if someone speaks really good english, he or she will apologizing him or herself for their 'bad english', this is quite common. The better they speak the more likely they will make a formal apology for their inability. Just say "it's ok" or "no, you're quite good", it's kind of a ritual to let us know if we do not offend you or (in some cases) want to gain some acknowledgement, just a tiny little bit.
Hmm, I didn't thought that I would write as much as I did, just wanted to give a little bit more defined view for you into Austria ... I'm sure there is much more to write, but as every little bit helps, I hope this does too. Thank you for the film, it is very accurate for that length and I hope more visitors come here to us because of that. Even if we don't show it everytime, we like being visited or maybe even more.
I am from austria and i visited the US in 2015 and I really have to say that the bathroom fact is the most important :) that was very vety very strange in the USA 👍🏻
+WooD wait until you see the know B4 USA video ;)
+Retro Gamer Ok ok maybe you are right but in media the situation seems more dangerous than it is in reality 😕
But I find the clothing change rooms in Austrian quite odd. (American in Vienna) Only a curtain, to get fully naked in most changing rooms. But the 12" gap underneath the toilets/WC's in USA freaks Austrians out. ??? :)
Thing about service in Austria is that most locals tend to be more restrained and they'd rather want their peace and quiet instead of a waiter constantly asking them if they want to order more. I actually consider it to be a bit rude and pushy if I'm getting asked more than one time if I want to order more. Most places expect you to get vocal if you want more to drink or eat.
that "tschüss" at the end sounds really cute 😅
Agreed, especially on the part about having some privacy when you take a dump in Austria.
I am from Austria and I work in the hospitality most of the time as a waitress. I would say that the thing about the service is not really true because it just depends on where you are headed, in lower Austria, Vienna and Burgenland waiters are way less friendly then they are in Tyrol because there most of the Service is really nice and welcoming. They are also known for the hospitality and how nice they are in restaurants.
Ich denke Tyrol ist in Italien.
r93 nope. It got split. Only the southern part is in Italy...
Anna Lindenberger Anna you are really beautiful. I am coming to Austria to pay a visit from Canada. Any chance I can exchange pictures and numbers with you?
halfvolley11 I'm sure that after seeing you avatar, she'll be on board with that.
Anna you do look even better than ever in this new picture.
I've lived in Innsbruck nearly "my whole life"
Hi. I am Dibya from India. I am planning to visit Austria on a leisure trip. Would you please help me out with a proper tour guide :Intigrated.barik@gmail.com . Will appreciate your effort.
One interesting thing about Austria is that legal drinking age is 16. Which might be quite a shock for Americans since it's a difference of 5 years. However in some parts of Austria you can't buy distilled beverages under 18.
I am from Austria. Great video and nice pictures :)
Rent a car. Austria has amazing countryside. Fuel is cheap by European standards. They charge like $15 and that covers tolls. If you rent a car in another country be sure to stop and buy it. Usually the first little place will offer them coming into the country. If you drive, you can get into all the small beautiful villages. Roadside inns are cheap. As with most places, the country people are a little more friendly. Food is so good! A little town called st Germain was a nice place. Glosibocker (sorry my spelling is wrong) is really pretty as is all along the Italian border. If you do hop the border and go into Italy, the dolimite mountains are very pretty. Just be sure to fuel up before going across the border. Fuel is way more expensive in Italy.
Nice Video. But one thing: many places may not accept 200 and 500 Euro Bills (Gas Stations, Supermarkets).
Mostly in smaller towns you will have troubles paying with large bills. It's also frowned upon to pay small amounts with large bills (like, say, paying 3 Euro with a 100 bill).
whottehf0ck
But only when they can not change. According to the law they must accept the legal currency otherwise.
dXb I didn not say that they can refuse you service (technically they can, without reason. There is, contrary to popular belief, no obligation to serve you, as long as their rejection is not due to discrimination). Usually you will be able to pay with most bills, though you will probably be asked whether you have smaller denominations.
r93 there has to be or should be a valid reason.
r93 Discrimination, to be legally relevant, needs to be due to you belonging to a group of people. E.g. he may actually not serve you due to not liking you as a person. He must not refuse service due to you being black, Jewish, gay or belonging to any other minority group.
I'm Austrian and may have to explain a statement I have heard in RUclips clips regarding the service in a restaurant. Austrian actually like there space in a restaurant a waiter or waitress that's to much on your table is considered annoying and you may leave we do like to sit for a long time we will wave or call out for service.
So we are not unfriendly instead we give space.
if you want friendly servise, you have to visite a contysite restaurant. In the big citys everything is a bit more professional and in the cuntrysite a bit more relaxed
2:58 actually like nobody has ever seen a 200 euro bills and the only place you really use 500 euro bills is when you buy a car so nobody's gonna accept these.
I had a 200€ bill once in hand and took it to the Bank imediatly to see if it wasn't forged. the 200€ are very useless, as the 100€ is the most you need in everyday buissnes and the 500€ are avayliable for big purchases
Hotels will often have converters to borrow for free, so you can charge and use your stuff
I've been to a lot of countries. The waitress in Germany and Austria are one of the most effecient... They are not so friendly but I like the way they do things.
+Isabella Grey I like to say they are professionally efficient. so just go out and ask and they will do it.
+woltersworld The service actually depends on the countries' culture. But since you are a foreigner in Austria you find the service unusual. Foreigners tend to compare the service in the country they are visiting and their home country. If Austrian will visit US, they will find the service annoying. The constant checking is not the norm in Austria, so of course they will find the service sucks. Waiters in Austria are less reliant in Tips, they don't need to impress the customer to get paid well. Waiting table is a profession, most of them studied three years to get the job, so they will do it professionally. "Customer is King" is not an Austrian culture. You go to a restaurant to enjoy the food and feel the "Gemutlichkeit", to experience a stress free dinner or lunch, not to be serviced like Kings.
About credit cards, it is a culture thing, austrian will use credit card in booking a ticket online but not in a restaurant when you have a bill of 15-30 euro why would someone use a credit card for that, when you can pay comfortably with cash. In grocery store, cards are used but it is actually atm cards where you need to punch your pin just like in an atm machine... Most austrians will used only credit card in an emergency situation.
+Isabella Grey I love this about Europe. I hate being bothered when I am eating and enjoying myself. And USA makes you feel rushed. They want to clear the table to make more money! Turn and burn!
+Isabella Grey I'm from Austria and I love the service in the US. I'm not sure if service is the right word but in electrical stores in Austria if you want to get advice which device is the best or something like that you always get the feeling that the salesmen are hidding bc the don't want to waste their time doing their job. And in restaurants in the US I was really impressed, like the waiter came and brought me a new coke and I didn't ordered it and it was not on the bill!!!
(sorry for all the mistakes I made in this message but it's 3:29 am here so my brain doesn't work properly)
the service is just the way we like it. we just don't wanna be bothered with "can i get you anything? is your food hot enough? is it soft enough to swallow or should i chew it for you? do you like some more coffee?" all the time. really. leave us alone with this "service" which really is just intrusive. ;)
I find the meal more enjoyable without constant interruptions...and I'm from Texas:-)
And I can't wait to visit Österreich (hope I spelled it right)
You should visit Steiermark in Austria (there are the mountains in the north , there is Graz in the middle and there is the Wohle Wine Mountain thing where realy great whine is make and the landscape is great too) but i think if you visit Austria you should See every Part of the country :)
Instead of "grüß gott" you can also say "hallo" haha
yes of course you can but "grüß gott" is the more polite way so when you don't know somebody well or they are maby bussines partners then i would rather say "grüß gott" than "hallo"
Or "Seas Oida"
+JodaSJ oda ma sogt afoch dere aus pasta
+jojo bliblablu Jo is hoit so ga 😂
and Guten Tag
Great video!
nice vid i am from austria too like so many who write a comment here before ;)
and yes its true whats said in the vid
i live in upperaustria but the thing with the restaurants is in my opinion not so bad
probably just in vienna ;P
Great video Dude!
Sehr nett video Walter. Ich liebe Wien...
So'n Kanal Halt ne'? :3 Und du willst anderen Grammatik bei bringen? :O
Thank You Professor
we do use Hi as a greeting here in Austria
As far as I know, there are german speakers in America. Amish Dutch is german. And many americans have german roots. Greets from Austria!
The last word was absolutely correct: Tschüss ! .....means, Good bye. Similar to Italian Ciao.
Tschüss is actually german, I mean, north germany german.
Austrians will accept it and might smile a bit.
But the proper way would be "servus" or "wieder'schaun".
about service you can get them to help and reorder, with raising your hand up or call for the waiter. I find service people as example terrible when they come to me when i didnt really need them.
+georg elpons i agree lol.
Thanks! Very useful :)
Normally you can buy by card in restaurants, too, but they simply do not like it so much because it's kind of inconvenient for the waiters..
Everything he said was right except pronunciation :)
Sacher torte is said
Ssahcher Torte (the ch is very hard to teach to foreigners)
Wien is said
Wiin
Salzburg is
Sahlz Buhrg (ah and uh are also difficult to teach)
Etc.
From an Austrian
the staring is a little spooky lol just got back. You don't realize how scary until it keeps happening then in groups
Thank you very helpful
BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!!!
IgnacioAgramonte Thanks Ignacio!
I lived 11 years in Austria and you are almost correct. I have to say that the coins in the US are worth just as much and no there are not many free public restrooms in Austria anymore. Why? Crime and vandalism. Even worse in Germany where you even have to pay to pee on a freeway rest stop.
Fast food is different. More expensive in Austria. No free ketchup or other condiments. One paper napkin comes on your tray. No free refill in most places. The free refills in the fast food business in Europe only started about 10 years ago. Before that nobody knew what it means. Of course no free refills in restaurants ever!
But you can check your air pressure on your car tires for free in Austria vs you pay in the US.
Speaking of that many gas stations in Austria you have to pay inside vs at the pump in the US.
No AC in 90% of the buildings in Austria.
Oh how you’ve aged so gracefully!!!
AHHaha. the plug! we bought the adapter before we went to Austria.. All the images in this are very cool and I was at all the places..
I've been to Austria 3 times this year and personally, I found the people friendly though not as friendly if you compare them to some Southeast Asian countries. However, I only stayed in the countryside of Tirol and Salzburg and I've never been to Wien so maybe there are differences between the east and the west.
What do I wear to a ball in Vienna
When I went to the US - that was like 25 years ago - it was not like waiters swarmed me all the time. For some reason they wanted to make conversation a lot which was annoying but they did not ask all the time whether we needed something. For one exception: they always refilled my glass without asking me if I wanted something. This I found horrible because it was very intrusive for me. They touched the glass with their hands and used ice cubes which I hate and then had in my glass which tasted like chlorine. And here, we already are at a difference I perceived: in Austria you pay per glass whereas in the US you pay per - kind of drink I guess? Also they call everything with bubbles soda while in Austria, soda is tapwater with bubbles.
Yes, the service sucks very often... But thats our way of life... :D
+Harvester Forwarder & More lol I love it when people can make fun of themeselves...way to go neighbours! :D
thats because of AMS
Ah geh so a schaas. Service is Top. Nur ned aufdringlich. Ideal Standard.