WIN

Summer citygetawayAuckland is a fantastic summerdestination with a lively waterfront andeasy access to the islands of theHauraki Gulf. Crowne Plaza Auckland,in the heart of the city, is just a shortwalk away as well.

Crowne Plaza Auckland is giving onelucky winner the chance to win a night’sprize package.

The prizeincludes: onenight’saccommodation fortwo people atCrowne PlazaAuckland (subject to availability), freecar parking and winner’s choice of twofree extras from the hotel’s SummerDozen.

Crowne Plaza Auckland‘s SummerDozen is a menu of specially priceditems that will be available to all guestsduring December and January 2011,priced from only $4. The menu includeslate checkout, oysters and a glass ofbubbles, dessert and coffee, or two tapbeers and two bar bites.

To enter send your name andcontact details to [name of paper andcompetition email] by [closing date ofcompetition]. Prize package does notinclude travel.

For information on specials visitwww.crowneplaza.co.nz

HOT DEALSMelbournePerfect for a short holiday break.House of Travel has packagesincluding return economy classairfares to Melbourne flying PacificBlue direct from Auckland orChristchurch, three nights at IbisMelbourne and a Phillip IslandPenguin Parade Tour from $899 aperson. Contact 0800 838 747 or visitwww.houseoftravel.co.nz

Alaska cruiseUnited Travel has a seven-night cruiseon Holland America’s MS Zuiderdam.All meals and entertainment on board,port charges and fees included, plusreturn economy airfares fromAuckland to Vancouver, with a precruise stay in Vancouver. May 27departure from NZ. Sales untilFebruary 25.Contact 0800 730 830 or go towww.unitedtravel.co.nz

Australian Grand PrixHouse of Travel has packages to theAustralian Grand Prix including threenights’ accommodation at All SeasonsKingsgate Hotel and a ticket to all daysof the Australian Grand Prix from $729.Travel March 25-28. Sales until March1. Airfares additional. 0800 838 747 orvisit www.houseoftravel.co.nz

noshing, shopping, lingering . . . romance

oh, Vienna!TRADEMARKS: Horse-drawn carriages inHofburg (left); Mozart memorial.

GRAND: Vienna’s state opera house.

THE splendid city of Vienna.

I could spill rivers of blueDanube ink, gushing withsuperlatives, to try to do thecity justice.

It’s the city that vaulted Mozart,Beethoven, Haydn and Strauss into ouruniversal music consciousness.

It’s the city that gave rise to thebrilliance of Freud, was annexed byHitler, published the world’s firstnewspaper, produced the delicioussacher torte, and was home to theimperial Hapsburgs.

It’s a city of culture, class and beauty,a city of churches, castles, art collectionsand concert halls.

A city that has elevated the coffeehouse and the horse and carriage to thehighest level.

If you’re short on time, make everymoment count by utilising the hop-on,hop-off tourist bus. Vienna SightseeingTours threads all of the must-see sightstogether. For more information, seewww.viennasightseeingtours.com

Vienna’s coffee houses are a reveredinstitution. It’s ironic that the rampagingOttoman Turks, who desperately tried toseize Vienna because of its strategicimportance, inadvertently sowed theseeds for one of the city’s great legacies.

Defeated Turkish forces left behindmany bags of coffee beans, giving rise tothe great cafe society. Four centurieslater, the coffee houses, resplendent withred velvet seats and lavish wall mirrors,remain central to the city’s socialheartbeat.

They’re sprinkled liberallythroughout the city. Be sure to samplekaffee and kuchen (cake).

Shopping, noshing and lingering is amost alluring pursuit in the heart ofVienna, particularly on the KarnterStrasse and in Stephansplatz, around thecathedral.

The only notable rivals to the profuseand frenetic foot traffic are the army ofcyclists and the fairy-tale sight of manyhorse-drawn carriages. Vienna’s love

affair with this romantic form oftransport stretches back many centuries,and the fiaker, as the locals call acarriage-rider, is a top job. The tourist-

driven business is heavily regulated andsecuring a licence to be a fiaker is highlysought after. It was not until 25 yearsago that women were allowed to apply

for a licence.The central terminus for the horse

and carriage trade is outside Vienna’saugust Gothic cathedral ofStephandsdom, its 13th-century soaringspires dominating the skyline.

The Steffl, as the locals affectionatelycall it, was severely damaged bybombing raids during World War II. Itsrebuilding was a potent symbol of hopeas Austria emerged from the ashes ofconflict.

The Staatsoper, the Vienna StateOpera House, is unquestionably one ofthe world’s most acclaimed concert halls.The masterworks of Mozart, Beethovenand company continue to be performedevery week at the opera house, whichalso offers daily tours. The Renaissance-style Staatsoper has a grand entrancehall and majestic staircase, setting theperfect tone for a magical evening ofstirring classical music.

Living testament to an age of luxury and lossGRAND: Belvedere Palace (left); the ImperialApartments at the Hofburg (right).

The Hofburg, the former Imperial Palaceand nerve-centre of the Hapsburgs, isone of Europe’s most lavish royalcomplexes, lording over much of thehistoric city centre.

You could spend days exploring thegilt-edged collection of buildings, but theshowpiece attractions include theImperial Apartments, a live performanceof the Vienna Boys’ Choir in the RoyalChapel, and the Spanish Riding School.

First brought to Austria from Spain in1562, the elegant white lipizzanerstallions were regularly used by theHapsburgs for military equestrianpursuits, imperial celebrations andentertainment.

When the Hapsburgs relinquishedpower in World War I, the school wasfinally opened to the general public, andnow stages daily performances.

Be sure to soak up the scenery and

ambience of Heroes’ Square.The vast recreation park was

formerly the Hapsburgs’ parade ground.Lavishly adorned with imperialequestrian statues, it was also the site ofHitler’s feverish address to the Viennese,after Nazi Germany annexed Austriain 1938.

The mighty Hapsburg dynasty wasnever short of real estate. Its summerretreat, Schonbrunn Palace, 10km westof Hofburg is a sprawling estate.

However, for a mix of art exhibitions,stirring sculpture and manicured lawns,the Belvedere Palace ticks all the boxes.

Constructed by Prince Eugen tocelebrate the defeat of the invadingOttoman Turks in 1683, it is now one ofVienna’s most popular weekend hauntsfor locals and visitors.

The French-style formal gardens arereplete with fountains and topiary.However, it’s the classic statuary,complete with Greek mythologicalfigures, that’s particularly eye-catching.

TOP TIPS■ Vienna is perceived as being apricey destination, but it doesn’thave to be. For a affordable and

fulfilling stay, rest your head at thefamily-run Austria Classic Hotel

Wien, which has been operatingwithin the same family for more

than 200 years. Traditional, elegantand friendly, with all the comforts

of home, this central cityestablishment is a real gem.www.classic-hotelwien.at

■ Emirates flies daily from NewZealand to Vienna via Dubai. Fly incomfort with their award-winning,

in-flight cabin service and facilities.For the best-price airfare specials to

Europe, check outwww.emirates.com/nz

WEBSITE

www.travelsense.orgTravelSense is a one-stop travelsite with consumers in mind.Ignore the numerouscommercial pitches and you’llfind plenty of free consumeradvice ranging from tippingetiquette to how to pack smartly.Well worth a look.