When German holidaymakers are drawn abroad, Italy is considered the most popular destination for Germans, along with the Balearic Islands. Whether it’s a city trip to one of the many interesting cities in the country, culinary delicacies in Tuscany or a beach holiday on the beach. Italy’s diversity is limitless.
However, the search for the right holiday destination can quickly become a challenge with the diversity of the southern European country. Support in planning your trip is available from the Italy specialist DLT Travel. In addition to personal contacts with hotels and agencies, the tour operator from Büchenbach in Central Franconia also draws on the expertise and hotel network of the Italian parent company DLT Viaggi, which has been present on the Italian market since 2006.
Vieste on the Adriatic coast, Image: By: Kite_rin / shutterstock
With more than 50 employees, the company is currently located in the port city of Formia (approx. 80 kilometers away from Naples) is active in the care of those interested in Italian travel.
More than half a million followers on Facebook and a satisfaction rate of over 95% ensure that the success story of the parent company was presented by Facebook in 2015 at the Confommercio in Rome . The Group has always distinguished itself by the fact that, in addition to the pure presentation of holiday destinations, it also promotes technical innovations. In addition to some innovations in the booking process, for example in video production for better presentation of the hotel facilities.
This quality is now being transferred to the German market with its own location.
But DLT Travel is much more than just an Italy specialist. True to the company’s own motto: “Simply travel with quality”, the portfolio includes a large selection of high-quality and low-cost offers to the most popular destinations. It doesn’t matter whether the holiday is to take place by the sea or in the mountains. When browsing the website, you can easily get alternative suggestions. Why not spend the first rays of sunshine of the year in Vieste in Puglia and get yourself in the right summer mood.
There is a particularly great variety in the range of group and bus tours. Take advantage of the next regulars’ table of your circle of friends and let yourself be inspired by the cultural possibilities. In 2020, for example, there will be the opportunity to experience the opera La Bohème as a group at the traditional Puccini Festival. The anticipation already begins with the joint journey by bus.
But the cultural offerings within Germany are also impressive. Anyone who has ever been a visitor to a major event (concert, musical) will confirm that the hectic journey to and from the event takes away a lot of the joy. With an organized bus tour, you can relax and concentrate on the main event.
Special highlight: The latest offers and special specials can be found quarterly in the downloadable print catalogue. Even more inspiration to leaf through.
Other things to note about DLT Travel:
Travel insurance: DLT Travel works with renowned travel insurers such as Hanse Merkur to secure your trip
From a total sum of 400 euros, it is possible to pay off the trip in monthly installments (deposit: 100 euros)
Before every flight, as a traveler, you have to ask yourself the question: How do I, and my luggage, get to the desired destination airport in the best and most comfortable way? Just recently I read a “virtual cry for help” in an online forum, in which someone had to quickly move from Mainz Central Station to Frankfurt Airport. The holidaymaker was unable to access public transport due to train cancellations and fully booked buses.
An alternative is to book an airport taxi. However, this convenient option is not cheap and therefore not suitable for every budget.
Frankfurt Airport, Image: Pradeep Thomas Thundiyil / shutterstock
So if you want to get to the airport comfortably and inexpensively, we can only warmly recommend arriving in your own car. The advantages are obvious:
You pack your car in good time before departure and can thus make your home fit for a holiday without stress, e.g. close doors and windows, use up food or distribute it in the neighbourhood, take electronics off the grid
You have the security of arriving on time and are not dependent on the reliability of the taxi company or public transport.
Even after returning from vacation, you return home stress-free
Cost-effective parking
Cost-effective parking? At the airport? Yes, you read that right. That is possible. We tested the Frankfurt provider parkfuchs24.de (booking the parking space was easy and fast via the online portal) and flew to Madrid for four days. Our flight at Frankfurt Airport did not leave until late in the evening at 8.50 p.m. on Saturdays. We had already done the most important errands the day before, so we spontaneously decided to travel to Frankfurt early to look around the city after dropping off our luggage.
But first things first: After we had parked our car in the parking lot in Neu-Isenburg shortly after twelve, the shuttle bus took us to the desired Terminal 1 in less than 15 minutes.
Sightseeing in Frankfurt
What do you do in the Rhine-Main metropolis of Frankfurt if you have set yourself a time limit of just under five hours? Of course, first go out for a bite to eat.
What could be better suited here than the “Freßgass”, which is known beyond the Hessian state borders. Since the 1st World War, grocery stores have been coming here on Große Bockenheimer Straße.
Freshly strengthened, window shopping on the Zeil followed. Although you have to admit that window shopping is only half as much fun if you know from the outset that you won’t buy anything so as not to burden your holiday budget unnecessarily. After a visit to the Römerberg and extensive relaxation on the banks of the Main, we made our way back to the airport.
Returning from vacation – The car is already waiting
Four days later. Unfortunately, the vacation went by much too quickly. After we had taken our luggage off the conveyor belt, we called the Parkfuchs team. After the message that we landed safely, we were picked up directly in the entry and exit zone and driven to our car. As expected, this was still in the best condition in our chosen parking lot.
We would always fall back on the possibility to park our car in the shuttle parking lot. There are many advantages to this travel option to the airport:
Cheap price compared to the classic airport taxi
No dependence on train and train
Easy online booking
Video-monitored pitches
Fast and friendly shuttle service
The provider we have chosen, parkfuchs-24, also offers other services, which we have not used. If you don’t want to use the shuttle bus, you can hand over your vehicle to the service provider at the valet parking service (Valet) and get the car keys back in person, including the vehicle, if you wish, after your return. The possibility of subjecting your vehicle to exterior cleaning and car care during the holiday season promises bright prospects.
And if you return from vacation late in the evening or at the weekend and the refrigerator at home is empty, you have fresh food directly in the car with the help of the shopping service.
Enjoyment is a positive sensory sensation that is associated with well-being: this is what the encyclopedia writes. Holiday enjoyment with all the senses – that’s what Gastein is committed to both in the valley and on the mountain!
The fresh mountain air that tingles on your skin during the ski descent. The intense rays of sunshine on the viewing platform on the Stubnerkogel. The sound of the wind during a walk through the winter forest in the Angertal. The splashing of the thermal water in the Alpentherme or the Felsentherme. Do you feel, hear and see it yet? This is a holiday in Gastein. Over 200 kilometres of slopes, two thermal baths and a unique winter wonderland await you in Salzburger Land.
Ski toques: Pleasure to taste and smell
Taste is love of beauty, according to the philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson – and this love is raised far above the tree line in Gastein. Here, seven mountain restaurants and huts come under the ski hood. What does that mean? Seven award-winning chefs each create a speciality that is offered at one of the selected huts. In the four ski areas of the Gastein Valley, there are seven restaurants, each with a gourmet dish – and for less than 15 euros! Among the epicurean delights in recent years, there have been traditional Salzburg dishes with a certain twist: pickled fillet of organic beef with caramelized radicchio Tresiano, hot oven onions on buttered crumbs with smoked cheese and bacon, hearty venison soup, black pudding croquettes or buns have already been on the menu. Well, curious about what’s on offer this year? You have to taste that for yourself!
It is early in the morning, the first rays of sunshine touch the mountain peaks, slowly the mountain panorama of 400 peaks is bathed in velvety light. And you watch the scenery from a glass dome on the summit of the Kreuzkogel. In front of you is a richly laid table with fresh Salzburg bread, creamy cappuccino, hearty bacon and sweet jam. Accompanied by a freshly squeezed orange juice. This is the summit breakfast in Gastein. The Roman general Lucullus would also have enjoyed it. He was already known for his extravagant feasts 100 years BC. That is why the word “epicurean” is dedicated to him today.
Sophisticated and luxurious it continues in the Gastein Sinnes-Wandel. The Full Moon Dinner in Gastein is highly exclusive. During the full moon in February, March and April, you sit down at a long banquet in the middle of the open sky at an altitude of 1,590 meters. The surrounding mountains are wrapped in mystical, dark blue light. The table with torches is illuminated. On the plates an exquisite 5-course menu with ingredients from the region. Even the prominent Gastein spa guest and writer Franz Grillparzer knew: Moons and years pass, but a beautiful moment shines through life.
New round – new happiness
Another moment of pleasure is conjured up in Dorfgastein with very special ingredients. This includes a gathering of Gastein restaurateurs and locals, regional products, a 4-course menu and, as a highlight, a gondola! That’s right – the gondola is essential at the gondola dinner on the Fulseck, a 2,033-metre-high mountain peak. After a wine tasting, up to four gourmets take a seat in the gondola and are served one course per station during a complete round. The start is at the valley station, followed by two courses at the middle and mountain stations and the final course is again served at the middle station. Floating and dining through the Gastein mountains in the evening – these are literally the highest pleasures.
Enjoyment with all the senses in all corners
The Salzburger Land is one of the regions with the highest density of award-winning chefs. The Gastein Valley is no exception. But even on a small scale, the people of Salzburg know how to pamper the palates of their gourmets. Each hut has its specialty. Pinzgauer Kasnocken from the iron pan with their spicy cheese and fine fried onions are a real treat at every mountain hut. Those with a sweet tooth will grab the Salzburg dumplings, a sweet hint of fine beaten egg whites. To digest a regional schnapps. The well-being that only a real moment of pleasure can offer is already set in. And so the encyclopedia is right and Gastein remains true to its motto: On every corner you will find holiday enjoyment with all your senses!
There’s no question about it: Vienna is beautiful. And has a lot to offer. Magnificent buildings, outstanding museums, music is in the air. And as a visitor to Vienna, you will also be spoiled with culinary delights from morning to evening. However, Judith Weibrecht shows that one can approach such a cosmopolitan city in another way in her travel guide “Vienna – City Adventure” (Michael Müller Verlag, ISBN 978-3-95654-829-1). In this way, she gets to know the city through experiences, not through sights.
We talked to Judith Weibrecht about Vienna and special experiences.
In the Mercer study, Vienna is repeatedly voted the most livable city in the world. What do you think makes the imperial city so special?
Something very special is the close connection between metropolis and nature: Where else is a hike up a mountain just a tram ride away? Or a visit to an island with a jump into the Danube water, just a few minutes on the subway? Above all, however, it is the Viennese themselves: the humour always puts a smile on your face.
In your book “Vienna – City Adventures” you deliberately deal with experiences away from the mainstream. From the strudel bakery to an overnight stay in the museum for children. What does the perfect day in Vienna look like for you?
For me, it starts at Café Jelinek, where I slowly wake up to a melange or two and one or two daily newspapers. Then I take a walk through Josefstadt, because I always discover something new there. Afterwards I take a ride on the Ringbahn to rest my feet and still see something. At noon, I take a break at one of the legendary sausage stands to fortify myself and set up the eavesdroppers. Do I understand anything of what the neighbor is saying? I go for a walk in the Central Cemetery in the afternoon, or I take one of the guided tours described in the book. Especially those of homeless people or “Vienna ugly” I always like and each time a little different. Where I will have dinner and which concerts with original Viennese songs are really worthwhile, I won’t tell you now … Even an author has to live on something 😉
Which of the 33 city adventures described above has particularly shaped or inspired you?
I found the dialect workshop “leiwand”. You have to imagine that you attend a course in your own language and learn new words and pronunciation rules. We had a lot of fun and applied what we had learned right away at the sausage stand. Now I also know what a “Krokodü” and “a Oarschpfeiferl” are.
They are often on the road by bike. Which part of the city is particularly suitable for friends of the bike?
The whole of Vienna is crisscrossed by cycle paths, and it is difficult for me to single out one part of the city in particular, as I have been cycling almost everywhere. The Wiental cycle path is beautiful and a highlight is the cycle path around Lake Neusiedl, which is easy to reach from Vienna.
Vienna always has something to offer. Is there still a season in which Vienna lets its charm play out in a very special way?
In spring, because in the middle of the city there are many gardens such as the Burggarten or the Volksgarten. But I also find Vienna particularly charming in winter, when the city belongs more to the locals and you can, for example, skate on the Rathausplatz and drink orange punch.
About the author: Judith Weibrecht has been writing for as long as she can, and has been travelling since she is allowed to – preferably by bicycle.
She likes to get off the saddle again and again to listen to the stories of an old woman, browse a curious bookstore, taste local specialties or simply experience little adventures.
After studying pedagogy, psychology and modern German literary history in Erlangen, Weibrecht worked as a lecturer for “German as a Foreign Language” before devoting herself entirely to her passion. Since then, she has been traveling and cycling around the world, working for magazines (e.g. Radwelt, Slow Food Magazine), daily newspapers (e.g. taz, Nürnberger Nachrichten) and websites (e.g. schwarzaufweiss.de) and telling stories about people, countries or landscapes as a freelance journalist. www.judith-weibrecht.de.
A hike through the snow-covered landscape of the Alps is always a pleasure. On lonely paths, you can hear the snow crunching under your shoes and you can observe one or the other animal. On somewhat busier paths, there are usually inns or snack stations where you can warm up while indulging in culinary delights. But what all hikes have in common is the clear, fresh air, which seems to be a tad fresher in winter.
The Montafon offers guided hikes with llamas. In Innerberg, hikers meet with the llamas and their owner. The animals, which are native to the South American Andes, are very tame and therefore perfect for long leisurely walks.
At the beginning of the excursion, hikers warm up with a punch while getting acquainted with the animals. With the llamas, you can then leisurely walk along old miners’ paths through the former mining region. The Andean animals slow down the hike and thus also the hikers on their way. The first stop is the Panoramagasthof Kristberg, where holidaymakers can warm up and fortify themselves.
Next we go to the St. Agatha Miners’ Chapel. It is the oldest church in the Montafon. A lot of information about the former mining region is given here. Raw materials such as silver, copper or iron were mined in the Montafon for centuries. After this short excursion into history, it goes back to Innerberg.
From Tyrol’s capital Innsbruck there are many opportunities for wonderful hikes in winter. The vast majority of these tours also offer many opportunities for refreshments. To get out of the city and into the winter landscape as quickly as possible, the Hungerburgbahn is a good choice. Here you will find the most popular winter hiking trails to the alpine pastures in the Karwendel mountains. Probably the most frequented path is the one to the Arzler Alm, which is also open in winter. About 150 m above is the Rumer Alm, which is easy to reach and open even in the cold season. This hike to the alpine pastures in the Karwendel offers a magnificent view over the valley with Innsbruck to the Patscherkofel to the south.
On high-altitude hiking trails through wintry Styria
Bad Mitterndorf in Styria, Image: photoflorenzo / shutterstock
The winter high-altitude hiking trails offer an alternative for holidaymakers who do not want to ski up a mountain. The hike from the Tauplitzalm to the Lawinenstein is a wonderful summit hike on groomed slopes for pedestrians.
Via the Tauplitz Alpine Road, the path leads by car or ski bus to the valley station of the gondola lift. This takes you up a few metres in altitude, with a wonderful view of the valley to Bad Mitterndorf, the Grimming and above all over the Tauplitzalm ski area from here. From the mountain station, it then goes on groomed paths to the summit of the Lawinenstein, from which the holidaymaker has a 360-degree panoramic view. The view sweeps over the valley to the Grimming, over the Dachstein to the Totes Gebirge. From the summit it goes back to the mountain station, which takes the hiker back towards the valley. However, if you still want to stop for a leisurely snack, the path leads past the mountain station of the gondola lift to the Krimandlhütte at the Lawinenstein chairlift.
Torchlight hike in the Hohe Tauern
The Krimml Waterfalls, Image: Cristian Andriana / shutterstock
The Krimml Waterfalls are located in the Hohe Tauern National Park. With a height of 385 m, they are the largest waterfalls in Europe.
In the period from the end of December to mid-March, torchlight hikes to the Krimml Waterfalls are offered every Wednesday. It starts at the Krimml music pavilion and goes via the village of Krimml to the waterfalls. Since the hike only covers about 30 meters in altitude, it is classified as easy. On the half-hour trail, the hiking guides provide valuable impressions.
At the foot of the waterfalls, the Krimml innkeepers invite hikers to a drink and there is a small supporting programme.
Winter hiking at Lake Wolfgang
At Lake Wolfgang, there is a suitable hike for every taste. A very nice and also flat hike is the Seeweg circuit. On a cleared winter hiking trail, which is suitable for all weather conditions and also for prams, you can walk through a fairytale winter landscape for about an hour. The start and finish point is the Strobel village square. The path leads along Lake Wolfgang on a narrow path through the “Blinklingmoos” nature reserve. From here there is a wonderful view over the lake to St. Wolfgang and the mountains around Lake Wolfgang. At the fork in the road with the signpost “Zum Lipphaus” it goes to the Bahndammweg and back to Strobel.
There are plenty of good reasons to emigrate to Paraguay. Even though the comparatively small country in South America is rarely in the spotlight in this country, it offers exactly those advantages that emigrants usually want when they want to live outside Europe. In Paraguay, it is not only very easy to obtain permanent residency. After only three years in Paraguay , one can also obtain citizenship. And the taxes are lower than almost anywhere else, and the mentality of the people really invites you to think about emigrating to Paraguay. Last but not least, the great climate should be pointed out, which guarantees many sunny days and certainly increases the joy of life.
So why not emigrate to Paraguay? How does it work? What do you have to consider if you want to emigrate to Paraguay? Here is an overview of the most important information.
Documents and applications required for a visa in Paraguay
First of all, all you need for a single entry into Paraguay is a valid passport, which every German can easily obtain, unless he or she is in possession of one anyway. As soon as you are in Paraguay, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. At least that’s how most immigrants to Paraguay proceed.
What do you need locally to obtain such a permanent residence permit? By the way, this is called Cedula or Migraciones. This is what you need:
a certified police clearance certificate
This can be applied for at the citizen’s office in your place of residence, and it is required in Paraguay for people aged 12 and over.
It is important that it is not older than 3 months when applying for the permanent visa.
Health certificate
In this way, Paraguay protects itself against the fact that the entrant does not carry any serious illnesses. You can get it in a German hospital, but you can also have one made locally in Paraguay.
Certified copy of passport
Alternatively, the original passport with a copy is sufficient, but you should be on the safe side here.
Certified copy of the international birth certificate
You can apply for one at your responsible registration office in Germany. The costs for this are usually around 10 euros. It must not be older than 12 months.
Marriage or divorce certificate
A certified copy of this must also be submitted, which must not be older than 5 years. Of course, this point only applies to those immigrants to Paraguay who are married or divorced.
View of Ciudad del Este, Image: Jose L. Stephens / shutterstock
If all the necessary documents or certified copies are available, they must be sent to the Paraguayan embassy in Germany. The following processing costs around 70 euros, although prices may change here. Once the embassy has given permission, you can enter Paraguay. There they then take care of the permanent residence permit, which is usually easy to obtain – especially for immigrants from European countries. And the initial effort for the general entry into Paraguay is also manageable, as the above list demonstrates.
Conclusion on emigrating to Paraguay
In summary, it can be said that compared to most other countries, it is very easy to emigrate to Paraguay and gain a foothold here. This applies in particular to the official regulations, but also to the way of life of the people. As an immigrant to Paraguay, you are rarely perceived as an intruder. Rather, the Paraguayos perceive new fellow citizens as an enrichment. Which is why it is always worthwhile to think about Paraguay as your new, permanent domicile. Which, as you read, is also supported by the fact that it is child’s play to obtain citizenship – as long as you behave, which, as is well known, applies in all states.
by Rosa Koppelmann (www.consciouslifestyleofmine.com)
A place where no cars are allowed to drive, horse-drawn carriages set the pace and the nearest beach is never more than 500 meters away – that’s the North Sea island of Juist! The island is located in the Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony and, with a length of 17 kilometres, is the longest of the East Frisian islands. At its widest point, the island measures 900 meters, at its narrowest just 500 meters.
There are two villages on Juist: the main town, which is divided into Westdorf and Ostdorf, and the smaller Loog. The harbour and most of the hotels are located in the main town. Here you will also find supermarkets and other shopping facilities. Loog, on the other hand, offers more peace and even more individual holidays.
Everyday life on Juist is determined by the tides: because passenger and transport ships can only sail at high tide. As a result, many things on the island run a little slower than on the mainland. This is exactly what makes Juist so charming, because nowhere else can you slow down as well as here!
Image: Rosa Koppelmann / www.consciouslifestyleofmine.com
With a length of 17 kilometres, Juist is a fairly manageable island – and yet you can experience a lot here! The island is very easy to discover by bike and since there are no cars on the island, you can drive freely and relaxed here. But even if you don’t want to rent a bike, there is a lot to see and experience here!
Everyone who visits Juist sooner or later goes to the wide, white sandy beach that stretches along the entire length of the island. Here you can rent a beach chair and watch the hustle and bustle of the visitors, take a long walk, or make yourself comfortable on one of the less visited beach sections.
From the beach you go directly into the dunes, where you can go on beautiful hikes on wooden paths. A popular route is the Otto-Leege-Pfad. In the 1920s, the biologist Otto Leege had over 50,000 wind-resistant trees planted on the island and in his memory a nature and art trail was created that brings visitors closer to nature in a very vivid way. The flora and fauna on Juist is incredibly diverse: yes, in fact, you can find around a quarter of the German flora and a fifth of the German fauna on the East Frisian Islands! With a share of 0.03 percent, measured against the total area of Germany, this is quite impressive!
The most beautiful excursion destinations on Juist
With the horse-drawn carriage to Domöne Bill, Image: Rosa Koppelmann / www.consciouslifestyleofmine.com
Both on the island and on the sea there are some fascinating excursion destinations. As soon as you arrive on the island, you will see the Memmertfeuer lighthouse. In the summer months, you can climb to a small viewing platform on top of the lighthouse. From here you are directly on the main street, where there are shops, cafes and restaurants. The Juist town hall with tourist information can also be found here.
If you are in the Wadden Sea for the first time, you should not miss a mudflat hike on Juist. The experience is as unique as the Wadden Sea itself! Another must-see is the Bill, which is located at the west end of the island; where the North Sea and the Wadden Sea meet. Domäne Bill, which is located just before the large sandbanks, serves the world-famous raisin mares and delicious coffee specialties, which can be enjoyed either in the café or on the green dike overlooking the mudflats. The best way to get to the domain is by bike or horse-drawn carriage. Tickets for the approximately one-hour carriage ride can be easily purchased at the travel agency on the main street.
A bike tour to the Hammersee is also a nice excursion by bike or on foot; the largest freshwater lake in the East Frisian Islands was created in 1932 when the dune dike was built. Here, too, there is a paved hiking trail that allows you to walk around the lake without upsetting the flora and fauna.
The seal banks are a great destination for young and old, Picture: Picture: Rosa Koppelmann / www.consciouslifestyleofmine.com
If you like to be on the water, you should definitely book a boat trip to the seal banks. A small ferry takes you from the harbour across the sea. After about an hour, you will reach the seal banks and can watch from the ship as the fascinating, strong animals crawl into the water, emerge from the sea and roll comfortably back and forth on the beach.
Holidays with children on the island
The North Sea island of Juist is the ideal holiday destination for families, because there is hardly a place that is safer: there are no cars here and the children can move freely. The wide sandy beach is probably the most beautiful sandpit in the world and there are large well-equipped playgrounds both directly on the beach and at the harbour. There is also a seawater wave pool on Juist for rainy days and an informative exhibition about the Wadden Sea in the National Park House in the old train station. In summer, there are theatre performances, beach parties or football tournaments specially designed for children between 4 and 15 years old. In addition, the island hosts the children’s university “Sustainable Living” from the end of June to the beginning of September. Here, topics such as climate change, climate protection and sustainability are dealt with in a playful way. The events are designed so that the children can participate independently.
Sustainability on Juist
Image: Rosa Koppelmann / www.consciouslifestyleofmine.com
Due to its location in the middle of the North Sea, Juist is directly affected by climate change: rising sea levels, heavy stumbling and dune collapse in the west pose a concrete threat to the island. Due to the direct threat, the island has set itself the goal of being climate neutral by 2030.
To achieve this goal, the island has taken various measures. First, in 2016, Juist took part in the world’s first forum for the sustainable development of European islands: the Smart Island Forum. The Smart Islands Forum brings together the expertise of the islands facing similar challenges. Island regions can also be increasingly used as test balloons for technological, economic, social and political innovations.
Juist not only discusses, but also implements! The island is car-free: even goods, goods and entire removals are transported by horse-drawn carriages. Swiss Post only uses an electric vehicle for the distribution of parcels. The police ride their bikes, just like most residents and guests. Only doctors, fire brigades and the German Red Cross are allowed to use motor vehicles.
The island’s water supply is autonomous: under the island there is a freshwater lens, which is tapped alternately through several wells. The freshwater lens rises when it rains. Thus, the island is directly dependent on rainwater. The water enters the waterworks and is treated there. It is subject to the strictest legal regulations, which are continuously reviewed; so the water can be used as drinking water. Guests are asked to bottle the tap water. This means that less bottled water has to be transported from the mainland and resources can be saved.
So you can not only simply experience a wonderful, relaxed holiday on Juist, but you can also be sure that you are not overstretching your CO2 footprint!
Impressions of the North Sea island of Juist
Bild: Rosa Koppelmann / www.consciouslifestyleofmine.com
Bild: Rosa Koppelmann / www.consciouslifestyleofmine.com
Bild: Rosa Koppelmann / www.consciouslifestyleofmine.com
Bild: Rosa Koppelmann / www.consciouslifestyleofmine.com
The increasingly globalized world is opening up opportunities for societies and individuals that not so long ago were considered a futuristic thought experiment. However, humans have already become accustomed to most of the amenities that an open world brings with it. (Air) travel is one of these comforts. It is enough to be equipped with a mobile phone and a credit card – that’s all it takes to organize a trip, no matter where you go. The flight has been booked via the app, the accommodation has already been reserved for holiday apartments via a community marketplace and the route for the city tour has been marked out on Google Maps. Only a few clicks – or so it feels – separate us from our next trip.
The busiest day since the beginning of air travel
But today, on World Tourism Day 2019, we want to pause for a moment, reflect and appreciate what a logistical masterpiece is actually behind all this. This year’s World Tourism Day is under the motto “Tourism and Jobs”: According to the World Tourism Organization UNWTO, the aim is to focus on the often underestimated role of tourism as a job engine. One in ten jobs worldwide is accounted for by tourism. This manpower is also needed to coordinate 205,468 flights in just one day – that’s how many passenger planes took off last year on the busiest day of the year, July 13, 2018. All passengers who flew on this day fill a total of 36 Olympic stadiums (2.7 million people) – a world record. By 2035, experts predict a total of 40,000 aircraft that will be in the air at the same time – more than twice as many as the current record.
All these approximately 200,000 flights covered a total of over 3 million kilometers. That’s a distance as far as from the Earth to the moon and all the way back again – 4,000 times. The longest flight in 2018 was around 14,000 kilometers – from Los Angeles to Singapore. Our editorial team came across the following infographic, which visualizes these and other figures and provides other exciting, entertaining airport and travel data:
The graphic makes it clear that not everything always works as smoothly as passengers might like. There are some delays, flight cancellations, suitcases get lost or other annoying things happen that spoil the holiday mood a bit. However, given the numbers listed here, it is almost a miracle that flying is such a reliable and efficient way to travel. It may help to think about how many flights have already taken off on time in the past when a large “delay” appears in red lettering on the display board at the gate.
Each of us has certainly experienced this situation several times. The long-awaited vacation is only a few days away. Although the anticipation is huge – the last days before departure are very stressful. There are various reasons for this. On the one hand, you think about whether you have thought of everything you need when packing and whether the apartment is well taken care of in your absence.
However, another factor is also planning the journey to the airport. Since you often can’t rely on the punctuality of the trains, more and more travelers decide to book a parking space near the airport. This offers a cost-effective alternative to the airport taxi and you can load your suitcases in peace and quiet and set off for your holiday.
Parking at Munich Airport
In order to get a more detailed picture of “parking at the airport”, we booked a parking space at Munich Airport via the provider Parkos. The provider compares the listed parking providers and checks whether there is capacity available in the desired booking period.
So in order to use the service and be able to park at Munich Airport, we first informed ourselves about the different parking spaces (especially about security) and finally reserved a parking space for the required period. This is guarded around the clock, fenced in and secured with camera systems. Cancellation of the parking space would have been possible free of charge up to 24 hours before the booked time.
The car is safely parked. Now you can fly relaxed on vacation, Image: Jaromir Chalabala / shutterstock
Arriving at the sufficiently signposted parking lot, we were already welcomed by an employee. After checking our reservation, we were assigned a seat and we safely locked the vehicle after taking out the luggage. The employee helped us transport the luggage to the shuttle bus. Our children got a free soft drink, quickly went to the existing toilet again and off we went with a good feeling towards Munich Airport.
Including shuttle transfer (took just under 12 minutes) to the departure hall, we were able to book the parking space for a cheap 54 euros for a parking period of one week.
When our vacation in Croatia was over much too quickly a week later, we called the parking provider after we had taken the luggage off the conveyor belt. After a short time, the shuttle bus came and brought us safely to our car. In general, it can be said that parking at the airport is a cost-effective alternative to the typical airport taxi. Of course, travelling by train is generally cheaper, but it is much more relaxed to travel with your own car and not have to carry your luggage around with two children. In addition, one is not dependent on the punctuality of public transport.
Our tip:
Use the time until departure and arrive early at the car park. So you have the opportunity to spend a few more nice hours in Munich . Visit the Frauenkirche or relax in the English Garden before your flight.
Canada and the USA are considered absolute dream destinations for many holidaymakers. While when you think of the United States, you immediately think of the metropolises and national parks, when you think of Canada, you think of hospitality and the outstandingly beautiful nature. However, in order to be allowed to visit these dream destinations, you must first apply for the appropriate visa – for Canada the eTA travel authorization Canada and for the USA the ESTA authorization.
If you have decided to travel to the USA as a tourist, there are a few things to consider in advance. This should not dampen the anticipation of a great holiday in this great country, because the preparations have to be managed. A country rich in sights that cannot be counted in their diversity. Tourists from all over the world come to see the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone National Park. Of course, the big world-famous cities, such as New York or San Francisco, attract millions of visitors every year.
The lucky city of Las Vegas is also very popular, where many people hope for quick money. For most people, Niagara Falls is a must-see on their sightseeing tour. Islands, such as Hawaii, are also a popular destination.
The most important documents
First and foremost, of course, is the passport, without which nothing works. Children and babies also need it. It is important to pay attention to the validity, because it must be valid for the entire duration of the stay in the USA and not only for entry.
German citizens cannot enter the United States without a visa.
To enter the country without a visa, you need an e-passport. This also applies to children. If you do not have an e-passport, you must contact the US Embassy in Berlin or the Consulates General in Frankfurt or Munich and apply for a visa there.
It is very important that when there is an appointment for a visa application, you have all the requested papers together. It is easier and faster to request the application online according to the ESTA system. The price here is 39 euros.
A tourist who wants to go on a temporary holiday needs a visa category B -2, while a businessman needs a B -1 visa. The price for a B visa is about 144 euros.
When to request an ESTA travel authorization?
An ESTA travel authorization should be requested on average 72 hours before the start of the trip. Often it works out even later, but why take a risk? The validity is one to two years, but only if the passport is still valid.
Entry into the USA
Entry is more complex than you are used to in other countries. After the terrible terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States increased its security precautions. The controls are more complex and time-consuming, which is why it is good to adjust to them internally. It is very important to be at the airport early, as the luggage is thoroughly checked for explosives. Liquids and all electronic devices are tested separately. Passengers are also screened in detail. This applies to their own safety, to which all passengers attach great importance.
At passport control, a photo is taken and fingerprints are taken, then everything is over and the adventure can begin.
Entry requirements to Canada
The conditions for Canada are similar to entering the USA.
Since 2016, as a German citizen, you must also be in possession of an electronic entry permit – eTA – in conjunction with a valid passport. Before 2016, the passport was sufficient. The electronic entry permit can be purchased online for about 5 euros and you only need your credit card. It then remains valid for 5 years.
Entry into Canada
Here, too, security measures have been increased over time on entry, but also on domestic flights and longer controls must be expected. Here, too, this is only done in the service of the safety of all passengers.
When everything is done, you are expected to see a great country. Cosmopolitan, friendly and with the many attractions the country has to offer, it is always worth a trip. The great winter sports resorts, overwhelming natural wonders, the beautiful, creative cities, such as Montreal with its famous jazz festival or the largest city Toronto, where music, art and fashion are very important, shows the great joie de vivre of the Canadians.
The preparations are worth it
Even if traveling to the USA or Canada requires a certain amount of preparation, it is always worth it. Start early so that all the necessary papers are there, preferably work with a checklist, then there is no stress, but a relaxed start to the holiday.
