Month: February 2013

Prague Airport prepared for its passengers gift in the form of free unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi internet connection and an option of free use of other modern technologies. By introduction of the completely free Wi-Fi connection, Václav Havel Airport Prague has joined a small group of airports providing this service. A majority of comparable airports in Europe offer only first 15-30 minutes free connection. For users of smartphones, operators of Prague Airport have launched a new application providing flight information, details on airport services, including parking, VIP services, and latest offers of shops and restaurants. 

An Austrian bus driver has been praised for his honesty, after handing in a bag he found on his bus containing 390,000 euros (£315,000; $506,000) in cash. The sum represented the entire life savings of an elderly lady whom the police managed to track down. The 77-year-old had withdrawn the funds from the bank earlier the same day before forgetting them on the bus.

The driver, named as Wolfgang R, said he initially thought the bag behind the driver’s seat might contain medicines. “I always do my rounds, and see if someone has forgotten something,” he told a local newspaper of the incident, which happened in late November. “I took the bag, looked into it and saw some of the money. There were many notes – something you never see.”

Police were able to trace the owner through a passport and bank deposit slips which had also been left in the bag. The man’s employers, public transport authority Wiener-line, said they were very proud to have such an honest employee. It is not known whether he was given a reward for returning the cash to its rightful owner.

Scooters tours are now available in Madrid!  The bikes are electric therefore ensuring minimal impact on the local environment.  Madrid will start off with some 40 bikes with plans to increase to 100 soon after.  The scooters can also be branded for company events.

Vienna in figures

Area: 414 sq.km.

Population: 1.7 million

Districts: 23

Altitude: 171 m above sea level

Language: German

Currency: € Euro

Public holidays in Austria

January 1 (New Year’s Day)

January 6 (Epiphany)

Easter Monday

May 1 (Labour Day)

Ascension Whit Monday

Corpus Christi

August 15 (Assumption)

October 26 (National Holiday)

November 1 (All Saints’ Day)

December 8 (Immaculate Conception)

December 25 (Christmas Day)

December 26 (Boxing Day)

Emergency numbers

European emergency call 112

Fire department 122

Police 133

Ambulance & emergency services 144

Emergency doctor 141

Night and weekend dental services (recorded message in German) 512 20 78

Pharmacies open nights and Sunday (recorded message in German) 1550 or see teletext page 648 on ORF1 or ORF2

For 24 hour breakdown service, call one of the following automobile clubs

ARBÖ 123

ÖAMTC 120

Electricity

Austria uses 220 volt alternating current. Plugs and sockets are European standard with two round pins.

Time zone

Vienna lies within the Central European time zone (CET). From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, summer time is in effect (MESZ).

Visa Regulations

Who does not need a visa

Citizens of all countries of the European Union, Switzerland, Croatia, Israel, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, most of the countries of North and South America and some other countries do not need a visa, only a valid passport is required to enter Austria. In case of doubt please contact the Austrian Consulate or Embassy well in advance before departure.

Visa-free travel is allowed with a biometric passport for citizens from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia.

 

Who needs a visa

Travellers requiring a visa can travel freely throughout the Schengen zone for three months with a Schengen visa issued by any Schengen country. Obtaining a visa entitling you to visit one Schengen country automatically entitles you to travel to and from all the other Schengen countries too.

Further information about visa regulations and Schengen visas can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.

Current member countries of the Schengen treaty are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The Alessandro Rosso Group, a leading Italian company in the meetings, incentives, congresses and events industry, continues to show a positive growth trend. In 2012, group turnover increased by 5% with respect to 2011 to reach a figure of 78.8 million euros. The group is distinguished by its innovative, competitive approach and currently has branches in Turin, Milan, Vienna, Florence, Rome, Shanghai and Philadelphia.

Milan Malpensa Airport inaugurates its third satellite area with the expansion of Terminal 1 to accommodate 30 million passengers a year. The new area, which involved an investment of  EUR 300 million (the largest since 1998), will increase Terminal 1’s passenger capacity in a bid to host as many as 30 million passengers a year.

Italy and Europe have registered a decrease in the cost of hotel room rates due to the weakness of the euro. This information was revealed by the updated monitoring service provided by hotel.info. As far as Italy’s main cities are concerned, rates in Milan have remained more or less stable (0.08 % compared to 2011). Milan, boasting an average room rate of 105.10 euros per night remained the most expensive destination in Italy while the remainder of the Lombardy region registered a 2.18% decrease.  

Valentine’s Day Package at the Regina Hotel Baglioni

No place is more romantic than the Eternal City for lovers!

Indulge in a romantic week end for Valentine’s Day and enjoy a luxury and welcoming hospitality in the privacy of your room surrounded by the scent of rose petals, strawberries and champagne.

Pamper yourselves with an aphrodisiac candle-light dinner, delight yourselves in a dreamy horse carriage tour among the precious inheritance the history left to the Eternal City.

The package includes:

Three night stay in double room 

Daily Buffet breakfast

Four Course Candle Light Dinner at Brunello Lounge & Restaurant, beverage included 

One hour horse carriage tour 

Welcome with rose petals, Champagne & strawberries

Free upgrade upon availability at time of check in

Free late check-out and early check- in upon availability

10% discount at Brunello Lounge & Restaurant

Terms and conditions

10% VAT and 3 Euro City Tax per person per day excluded

Unused package amenities are not refundable

For cancellation up to 2 days prior to arrival date no penalty will be applied; in case of late cancellation or no show the full package will be charged as penalty

The new DORMERO Hotel Stralauer Platz is located between river Spree and Ostbahnhof railway station. 265 rooms, a restaurant and a wellness centre are scheduled for completion by spring 2014. What’s more, the four-star superior hotel will have more than 600 square metres of event space at its disposal.