Celebrate the holidays in Austria

The last quarter of every year is the time to take advantage of fabulous travel deals. Here's a special air and land package from Austrian Airlines that will kick start your holiday festivities!

Make holiday memories in the ‘old country' with a pre-season trip to Austria.

Atlanta-based Austrian Airlines Vacation Center offers a Christmas Market package to Austria, including three nights in Salzburg and two nights in Vienna, valid for travel between Nov. 14 and Dec. 14.

Starting in the middle of November, traditional Christmas Markets with their small wooden stalls filled with toys, candles, garlands and specialty foods pop up all over Austria. Stroll through the markets to enjoy traditional pastries, mugs of gluhwein (hot spiced red wine) and roasted chestnuts. Charming and romantic cities and towns are extravagantly decorated for Christmas.

Priced from $1,579 per person, double occupancy from Atlanta, the five-night, six-day Christmas Market package includes:

• Round-trip economy class airfare to Salzburg (with one stopover in Vienna en route to or from Salzburg)
• A three-night stay at the four-star Hotel Neutor in Salzburg
• Round-trip transfer between the Salzburg airport and the hotel in Salzburg
• A half-day city sightseeing tour of Salzburg, the city of Mozart
• Salzburg Christmas Market Passport, including a special sandwich, one drink (with or without alcohol) and a souvenir mug
• A two-night stay in the four-star Hotel Rathauspark in Vienna
• Daily buffet breakfast, hotel service charges and hotel taxes

Is this a deal? Airfare alone between Atlanta and Austria is $980 -- without all of the extra land stay amenities.  However, this package does not include transfers between Salzburg and Austria.  If you are a Europe-newbie, consider taking the train between the cities.  The ride is about three hours -- an ideal time to have a bring-aboard lunch while watching the world go by.  One-way rail tickets range from $50-$80 per adult.

If you prefer to explore small villages along the way, rent a car.  The distance between the cities is under 200 miles and a rental car costs about $75 per day.

Traveling solo? The single supplement rate on this package is $250 additional.

Weekend surcharges apply. Extension nights and upgrades are available upon request.

All packages need to be booked at least 14 days in advance. Payment in full is required within 24 hours of confirmation. Once confirmed, the packages are non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be changed. Packages require a Saturday night stay; one month maximum.

Package prices include fuel surcharges but do not include additional fees ranging from $185-$260 per passenger, depending on the itinerary.