Rick Steves' Germany & Austria
Updates since the 2008 edition:
Germany
Munich
The Gray Line city one-hour orientation tour departs from the Bahnhofplatz in front of the train station and in front of the store now named Karstadt, not Hertie. (Ignore the address Elisenstrasse 3).
The Hotel Munchner Kindl now has Internet access in most of their rooms. Also, they regret that they cannot honor Rick's rates for 2008 during special exhibits and Oktoberfest.
Rothenburg
The Romantic Road discount for Eurorail passholders dropped from 60% to 20% for 2008.
Bacharach
Pension Winzerhaus has a new email address: winzerhaus@gmx.de.
Austria
Vienna
The British Bookshop on Mariahilfer Strasse has closed.
The Ringstrasse Tram Tour now requires a change of tram. If starting from the Opera, ride tram #2 to Schwedenplatz, and change there for the #1 (new ticket not required).
The Lipizzaner Museum in Vienna has closed. You can still see performances and practice sessions of the horses of the Spanish Riding School, go on tours, and so on. For more info see www.srs.at.
Budai Ildiko, who rented out rooms, has retired.
Wrenkh Restaurant is now the Wiener Kochsalon, with different owners but a similar menu, including some vegetarian dishes.
Danube Valley
There is no longer a train running along the north side of the Danube all the way between Krems and Melk. Instead, trains run between Krems and Spitz (halfway along), and buses run between Spitz and Melk (easy connection in Spitz). Since bikes aren't allowed on these buses, cyclists wanting a lift home will need to catch a train from Krems to Melk via St. Pölten.
Salzburg
The Hotel am Dom in Salzburg's Old Town will close for renovation from January 2009 through mid-May 2009.
Hallstatt
The Pension Hallberg-Tauchergasthof now only takes reservations for stays of at least seven days.
Pension Seethaler is closed for renovation throughout 2009.
The Gasthaus zur Mühle has a new email address: toeroe-f@hallstatturlaub.at. Their website is www.hallstatturlaub.at.
Innsbruck and Hall
Innsbruck's Kaiserjäger Museum of military history is closed for renovation, and is due to reopen in mid-2010.
You can now rent bikes in Hall at Die Bike-Box (€20/day, €15/half-day, Mon–Fri 9:00–14:00 & 15:00–19:00, Sat 9:00–15:00, closed Sun, across street and 75 yards down from Unterer Stadtplatz bus stop at Unterer Stadtplatz 10, 05223/55944).