Mozart Celebration Highlights Austria

Travelers heading for Austria in 1991 will have several money-saving transportation options to consider as the country celebrates the 200th anniversary of Mozart’s death with numerous special performances and events.

In Vienna, you can save money on the public transport system, which includes trams, buses and subway, by purchasing a 24-hour rover ticket for about $3.25. A 72-hour rover ticket is about $8.50.

Also available is an eight-day “strip” ticket for about $18 that can be used by more than one person . You just punch the same number of strips in the ticket as there are users. There is also a four-day strip ticket for about $4.75, or a package of five individual tickets for $5.75.

Tickets purchased singly cost $1.75 each.

Children under 7 years travel free on Vienna’s public transport system.

The Austrian city transit passes take effect with the first use, not from the time of purchase. The passes can only be purchased in each individual city.

Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart, has a 24-hour pass for about $4 that offers unlimited travel on bus and trolley lines and to the funicular to Hohensalzburg Fortress.

Innsbruck has a one-day pass good on street cars and bus lines that costs about $4.50. If you stay in Innsbruck for three consecutive nights or longer, you automatically are eligible to become a member of Club Innsbruck at no charge.

Membership covers free daily bus service to the city’s five skiing/hiking areas, admission to various events scheduled by the club and discounts on admission to museums, golf courses, tennis courts and the zoo.

Your hotel should be able to provide the Club Innsbruck membership card, which also offers discounts on panorama flights over the Alps.

If you plan to travel by rail, look into the “Rabbit Card” offered by the Austrian Railway Network. You can choose any four days out of a 10-day period for unlimited rail travel, with the card also good for boat trips on Lake St. Wolfgang and travel on narrow-gauge trains throughout the country.

Half-price discounts are also available through the card on all scheduled boat service on the Danube River within Austria, and on Lake Constance boat trips.

The card, which must be purchased in Europe, costs about $120 for first-class travel, $83 for second-class.

For more information, contact the Austrian National Tourist Office, 11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2480, Los Angeles 90025, (213) 477-3332.