Drainpipe living

Posted by Staff in Austria, Budget Thursdays

If you happen to by kayaking in the Austrian city of Ottensheim, you will come across three lonely segments of concrete drainage pipe hanging out on the shores of the Danube River.  No, a lazy construction company did not leave it’s trash out…..it is actually a hotel….Dasparkhotel to be exact.

Dasparkhotel has turned three large sections of drainpipe into a boutique budget hotel. Located in a grassy park, the seven foot wide pipes are fitted with a large double bed, side table, lamp and a small window; also located on the property are a cafe, bar and restrooms.

As if turning a pipe into a room wasn’t innovative enough, the way you access your room opens new horizons as well.  Once you make your reservation online, at dasparkhotel.net, you are emailed an entry code for your room.  The code is valid only for your stay and is punched in directly on a keypad located at the pipe’s door….through this system they have eliminated the entire check-in/out process.

Since concrete provides no insulation and Austrian winters are a bit nippy, the hotel is only open from May to October.  As for the price, well, there is none!  They ask you to leave what you can in the room when you depart….they call it the “pay as you wish system.”

You know recycling is everywhere when you find yourself sleeping in a concrete drainage pipe!

Smart car airplane?!

Posted by Staff in Austria, Travel News

As of today, Austrian Airlines is bringing a smile to the faces of New Yorkers and Washingtonians with the unveiling of its Smart Car “Airplanes” as part of a campaign to create awareness about the smartest ride to Europe – Austrian Airlines Business Class.  The cars, with drivers and the street team dressed to look like pilots, will be on view driving around New York until Labor Day and then for the two weeks after Labor Day in Washington, D.C.  Adding an extra element of “cool” – free bottles of cold water will be handed out to passersby.

Austrian Airlines operates the only non-stop flights to Vienna from New York, Washington, DC and Toronto. Austrian is a member of the Star Alliance and flies to 120 destinations worldwide. Austrian Airlines passengers can earn miles on Austrian’s Miles & More, United Airlines Mileage Plus and US Airways Dividend Miles programs.

For more info visit www.austrian.com