When someone goes on a journey, he can tell something – this saying is well known and there is always exciting to tell about the new experiences and experiences. If you also travel to Las Vegas, you will hardly be able to resist new impressions. And since everything that happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas, a particularly large number of bachelor parties are celebrated here – not only by the bachelors, but also by the brides-to-be.
If you want, you can get in the mood for your Sin City vacation and visit casinos in advance and do a few rounds on the slots online or play a few hands of blackjack. A comparison portal to find the best casinos is advisable, because everything should be done right. The online casinos listed here are reputable and licensed and offer players a fair and safe gaming environment. The selection of games can be compared to the offer in the casinos in Las Vegas and strategies for blackjack can be rehearsed.
Once in Las Vegas, the question of the best casino inevitably arises. Whether Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Golden Nugget, MGM Grand or another casino, the selection is large, but they all have a lot to offer visitors. At Caesars Palace, guests can have their food delivered to their table with their own app, while at MGM Grand, Pac-Man is also available. If you are enthusiastic about table games, you will find the largest offer at Golden Nugget Casino, where you can even play Free Bet Blackjack. The Bellagio – best known from countless movies – offers a poker room with a daily Texas Holdem tournament. If you play too long, you can treat yourself to a neck massage in between so as not to lose concentration.
Great things to do off the strip
Water show in front of the Bellagio Hotel in 2012, Image: Paul Brady Photography / shutterstock
But Las Vegas doesn’t just impress with its casinos, because day trips to the surrounding area bring variety and adventure feeling. The Hoover Dam – named after the American President Herbert Hoover – is an impressive dam between Nevada and Arizona and, together with the dam of the Colorado River, ensures a controlled release of water. Most of the time, this day trip also includes exploring the Grand Canyon, one of the greatest natural wonders on earth.
Water lovers can relax on the guided ClearView Bottom kayak tour to the Black Canyon’s Emerald Cave. The spectacular shades in different shades of green really make an impression.
Musical Entertainments
In almost every large casino hotel, shows or performances by stars are on the agenda. For example, you can be enchanted by magicians, visit a musical , entertain yourself in a comedy club or be impressed by a burlesque show. The performances of the world-famous Cirque du Soleil or the Blue Man Group, which have been selling out houses for years, are also very popular.
Behind the Blue Man Group are three people in black suits with blue-painted skin who put on a fantastic show based on comedy, music and interaction, making for an entertaining evening for visitors.
Cirque du Soleil introduces itself to guests with six shows in Las Vegas, all of which will make mouths open. Acrobats, dancers and musicians present themselves in a unique and exciting way in fantastic costumes and spectacular scenes that viewers will talk about for a long time to come.
Las Vegas is a city that has much more to offer than just casinos. Those who visit Sin City can be sure to experience adventure, entertainment and fun and quickly make the resolution to return soon.
Guardalavaca is a municipality in the province of Holguín, Cuba. The name literally means “guard the cow”. The name has evolved from the original place name Guardalabarca, which means “guard the boat”. The name is based on the fact that the bays there offered protection from sea pirates. Since 1990, Guardalavaca has increasingly been developed into a tourist resort. The main target group is divers who explore the breathtaking coral reef there.
The town has beautiful beaches that invite you to relax, swim, swim, dive and snorkel. There are three in number: an approximately 700-metre-long beach in the west, a 450-metre-long beach to the east and the one-kilometre-long beach behind a small fishing harbour that extends to a small village. The water temperature in the region averages around 25 degrees Celsius. The hinterland is dotted with a Cuban coastal forest and has a rocky coastline.
Climate in Guardalavaca
Summer in Guardalavaca begins in June and ends in September. The climate in Cuba is tropical and the sun shines there all year round. It is an ideal destination for wintering. Temperatures fluctuate between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius throughout the year. In the winter months, less precipitation is generally to be expected than in summer.
The tourist center of Guardalavaca
Relaxing on the beach, Image: vvital / shutterstock
The tourist center consists of three hotel complexes and the place where mainly the locals who work there live. To the west of the town is the three-star Club Amigo Atlantico hotel, which was renovated after Hurricane Ike. The pool area borders the sandy beach, which is about 750 meters long. To the west of the hotel there are shopping facilities, including a craft market. Behind the bungalows of the hotel is the Hotel Guardalavaca, where there is a swimming pool. Locals tend to spend their holidays here. However, the hotel also has rooms that meet European standards. With 4 stars, Hotel Brisas is considered the best hotel in Guardalavaca. The hotel building with its restaurant faces the beach. From the pools you can get directly to the sandy beach.
Excursions from Guardalavaca
If you want to take a break from relaxing on the beach, there are numerous leisure activities in Guardalavaca and the surrounding area. For example, you can visit the Chorro de Maita Indian cemetery or the landing site of Christopher Columbus, which is located on the Bahía de Bariay. For families with children, the aquarium in the “Parque Natural Bahía de Naranjo” is recommended. There is also a dolphin show worth seeing. You can also experience sea lions up close here.
A nice destination is the Museo El Chorro de Maíta, a museum about the life of the Indian-Cubans with an exhibition about original remains of indigenous people of the region. The museum is located south of the town of Yaguajay, where you will also find several restaurants and bars for lunch or dinner.
Specialities from the region
In Guardalavaca you also have numerous opportunities to taste typical Cuban specialties. The cuisine in the east is Caribbean-African, in contrast to the west of Cuba, which lives more from Spanish influences. The most important ingredients of Cuban cuisine there are Caribbean spices, African vegetables, rice (“arroz”) and black beans. The national dish of Cuba is called congris. It consists of rice with red beans. However, most specialties are prepared with a lot of meat. Cuba is best known for its rum with brands such as Ron Legendario or Ron Caney. On the sunny island, however, there is also excellent Cuban beer, such as Palma Cristal. Thick cigars are also a trademark of Cuba.
A tour in the province of Holguín
Cathedral of San Isidoro in Holguín, Image: Anton Zelenov / shutterstock
For those who want to make a somewhat longer round trip, the two national parks, the La Mensura National Park and the Pinares de Mayari National Park, are worth a trip. Here you can take a hike or a short walk in the wonderful nature. In the Pinares de Mayari National Park, there is a well-known waterfall to admire, El Salto de Guayabo, which is one of the highest in Cuba. Here the water rushes more than 300 meters into the depths. Characteristic of this nature reserve are the pine forests that stretch over the ridges. The region is also known for the country’s original coffee plantations.
The capital Holguín
The capital of the province of the same name Holguín is also worth seeing. There are some beautiful parks in the city that invite you to linger, such as the centrally located Galixto García Park. Art and culture lovers can also visit the beautiful Moncada and Bayado galleries or the city’s library. Holguín has a very beautiful cathedral that was built in 1720. It is called Catedral de San Isidro. A walk over 450 steps to the viewpoint on the Loma de la Cruz mountain reveals a wonderful, worthwhile view over the entire city, especially at sunrise and sunset, where you can end the evening wonderfully with a visit to the theater or cinema
Before you can get on the plane to explore America’s west coast with the impressive national parks, San Francisco and Los Angeles, for example, you have to apply for a visa for the USA. But what travel regulations must be observed?
ESTA is an abbreviation for “Electronic System for Travel Authorization”. Since January 2009, this electronic entry permit has replaced a form that previously had to be filled out on airplanes or ships. The automatic ESTA system allows visa-free entry to the USA for a period of up to 90 days.
According to the regulations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ESTA is an electronic system for obtaining a travel authorization as a visa-free program (VWP).
According to a recommendation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the ESTA visa should be applied for at least 72 hours before departure.
If you want to apply for an ESTA, you have to fill out a form on the website of the “U.S Customs and Border Protection” on the personal data form. At the end of the form, a fee of $14 is due. An ESTA can also be applied for at a visa agency. However, then higher costs are incurred.
Information for the application
Applicants applying for an ESTA entry permit must provide some information about themselves and a valid passport, as well as answer a few other questions.
Security issues, such as criminal records, visa refusals, medical conditions, etc.
An ESTA entry permit has a validity period of 24 months. Travelers are allowed to stay in the U.S. for a maximum of 90 days within these 24 months without needing another visa. The prerequisite is a passport valid for 24 months.
Background to the ESTA procedure
The ESTA travel authorization is a suitable alternative to a visa for vacationers, Image: DesignRage / shutterstock
A few years ago, the U.S. immigration authorities launched the “Visa Waiver Program” for short: “VWF”. This system is an electronic entry permit for all participating countries, which allows citizens of these nations to apply for an electronic entry permit. Electronic application means that cumbersome forms and long waiting times are rented. Currently, 36 nations are involved in the “VWF”. These include most countries of the European Union as well as the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as Australia, Japan and Chile.
Apply for visas
In principle, all nationals of a foreign country need a visa to stay in the United States. A basic distinction is made here between visas for temporary stays (non-immigrant visas) and visas for permanent stays (immigrant visas).
Travelers to the USA should inform themselves early on about the different types of visas that are necessary to enter the USA. First of all, check whether you are not still in possession of a valid entry visa. However, please also note that an entry visa issued by an American mission abroad, i.e. an embassy or consulate, is not an automatic guarantee of entry. Under certain circumstances, you may even be denied entry.
The respective visa categories for entry into the United States
ESTA Visas for the United States
The entry permit, which is applied for through the ESTA procedure, is suitable for private or business travel. The nationality of the applicant is decisive. As a rule, the electronic entry permit is confirmed to travellers from the Federal Republic of Germany.
The tourist visa or B2 entry visa
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Image: Travel Stock / shutterstock
You can apply for a tourist visa for private travel, family visits, or medical treatment in the United States. Travelers who are not eligible for an ESTA visa also have the option of applying for the B2 entry visa.
The business visa or B1 entry visa
The B1 entry visa is suitable for business trips that want to go to the United States for work or business reasons. This includes, for example, participants in meetings, congresses or conferences. In principle, the B1 entry visa also allows you to take up employment.
The Transit Visa C
You can apply for a transit visa for the United States if your actual destination is in a third country and you are at a United States airport for transit.
Crew Visa C1/D for the United States
If you are a member of an aircraft crew or a member of the crew of a cruise ship operating in the United States, you will need a C1/D crew visa for the United States.
J1 visa for student exchange with the United States
You will need the J1 visa if you are participating in an organized student exchange. Student exchange programs are administered and approved by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which reports to the U.S. Department of State. This United States entry visa covers one year of high school. It also includes the exchange programme for pupils and students of a secondary school.
Entry visa F1 for a language course in the United States
The F1 visa for the United States is for those who want to take part in a language course in the United States or intend to study there. The F1 entry visa is also aimed at those who want to organize a student exchange themselves. It is also aimed at those who want to study in the United States, with this comprising both short- and long-term courses. However, in the F1 visa, no high school year does not include
Apply for a tourist visa or visitor visa B2 for the USA
The B2 visit visa for the United States is a tourist visa to allow travelers to stay in the United States for purely private or purely tourist purposes. At the same time, this means that it is only a visit stay. Taking up employment, but also carrying out an internship or a course of study are not permitted. A B1 business visa is required for these purposes.
The USA visa B2 is also not suitable for a longer stay and therefore not for immigrants. It is generally limited to a maximum of 180 days per entry. The tourist visa for the USA is suitable for those who want to stay there longer than the ESTA allows with the limited duration of 90 days. The B2 visa is for stays of more than 90 days for the purpose of vacation, family visits, medical treatment or participation in events.
The island of Formentera is located about nine kilometers south of Ibiza in the Mediterranean Sea and belongs to the Balearic Islands. The island is about 19 kilometers long and has about 70 kilometers of coastline. With an area of 82 square kilometres, Formentera is the second smallest inhabited island in the Balearic Islands. In fact, about 12,300 people live permanently on the island, but only about a quarter come from there.
Due to tourism, the population of Formentera has more than tripled since the seventies and especially since the turn of the millennium. This was initially due to the arrival of workers and, since the nineties, increasingly to people who have decided to live permanently on the island.
As long as the interior of the island is not used for agriculture, such as viticulture, pine forests and juniper grow there. Catalan has been spoken in Formentera since the 13th century.
The climate in Formentera is temperate subtropical. With an average annual temperature of over 16 degrees, Formentera is the warmest island of the Balearic Islands, but also the driest due to the low rainfall.
The mass tourism of the nineties, like all the islands of the Balearic Islands, has of course also shaped Formentera, but not to the same extent as the other islands. Formentera has largely been spared the ruthless construction boom that has given other islands soulless concrete castles, the beaches are still almost completely unspoiled, and the hotels are essentially concentrated in a single place. Formentera has been able to retain much of its original tranquillity. This is certainly also due to the fact that the island can only be reached by ship. Nevertheless, about 450,000 passengers arrive at the ferry port of La Savina every year.
The towns in Formentera are San Francesc de Formentera, Sant Ferran de ses Roques, Es Cap de Barbaria, Es Pujols, El Pilar de la Mola, La Savina and Es Caló.
San Francesc de Formentera
Small church in San Francesc de Formentera, Image: Esther fornas riera / shutterstock
San Francesc de Formentera is the main town of the island. Sometimes, however, the place is also called San Frances Xavier; the Spanish name is San Francisco. “Hauptort” because the town hall, the main post office and the police station are located here. Actually, Formentera is not further divided politically. San Francesc has about 1,400 inhabitants in the town and about 1,700 in the surrounding area.
In San Francesc there are good restaurants and also good shops. In addition, the daily art market takes place here in the season, where not only arts and crafts and jewellery are offered, but also, for example, clothing and – for “self-propellants” – wool.
Sights in the village are the fortified church of San Francesc Xavier from the 18th century and the chapel of Sa Tanca Vella from the 14th, possibly even from the 13th century. There is also an interesting ethnological museum in the village, the “Museu Etnològic”.
In San Francesc de Formentera, the feast of the patron saint of the island, St. James (Festa de San Jaume), is celebrated on 25 July and the feast of the patron saint of the town (Festa de Sant Francesc) on 3 December. About three kilometres from the centre of the village is the port of La Savina.
Sant Ferran de ses Roques
The town of Sant Ferran, in Spanish San Fernando, is located directly east of San Francesc. The village itself has about 1,000 inhabitants, another 2,000 live in the area. San Ferran was the center of hippie culture on Formentera in the sixties. Speaking of “hippie culture: the Canadian songwriter Joni Mitchell wrote part of her famous album “Blue” in Formentera in 1970.
On 30 May, Sant Ferran celebrates the Festa de Sant Ferran, the feast day of the patron saint of the town.
El Cap del Barbaria
Cala Saona beach, Image: Sergio TB / shutterstock
The “Barbarian Cape” is particularly known for its outstanding sight in the truest sense of the word, the lighthouse on a cape over 100 meters high. The American songwriter and current Nobel Prize winner for literature Bob Dylan lived in the lighthouse for a while in the seventies.
Es Pujols
The town of Es Pujols is the place where tourism is concentrated in Formentera. Es Pujols has less than 900 inhabitants, but it is home to almost all the hotels on the island and all the facilities relevant to tourism, such as restaurants, bars and discos. Formentera’s tourist nightlife is almost exclusively found in Es Pujols. The town is located on an almost two-kilometre-long bay with the beach Playa d’Es Pujols. In the high season, there are regular buses from Es Pujols to the other towns on the island.
El Pilar de la Mola
El Pilar is a small town with only about 200 inhabitants. Another 600 people live in the vicinity of the village.
Worth seeing in the village are a pretty 18th century church reminiscent of Cubism despite its age, an old windmill and especially another lighthouse of the island, the Far de la Mola. It was built in 1860. Here is a memorial stone in honour of the French writer Jules Vernes, in whose novel “Journey through the World of the Sun” the lighthouse plays a role. The lighthouse stands on a cape almost 150 meters high.
In El Pilar de La Mola there is also a craft market twice a week during the tourist season.
A small town that belongs to El Pilar de la Mola is Es Caló, which was once the only port in Formentera before the port in La Savina was opened. Es Caló has a fine sandy beach about 100 meters long and 25 meters wide. The harbour itself is still in operation for pleasure and fishing boats.
Holidays in the village are 24 June, St. John’s Day, and 12 October, the feast day of the patron saint Pilar.
La Savina
La Savina, Spanish name La Sabina, has about 800 inhabitants and is home to the port of the island of Formentera. This is where ferries coming from Ibiza and the Spanish mainland dock and depart. With the Far de La Savina, this place also has a lighthouse worth seeing.
Other sights
Near the town of Es Pujols, on the Punta Prima headland, there is a defensive tower dating back to the Middle Ages. Also near Es Pujols is the salt lake Estany Pudent with its salt pans used for salt production.
Beaches in Formentera
Platja de Migjorn, Image: Naeblys / shutterstock
“Migjorn” is the name of the south coast of Formentera. Here there are more than five kilometers of beach after beach, only interrupted by rocky areas. Each beach has its own name: Mal Pas, Es Ca Marí, Es Racó Fondo, Es Codol Foradat, Es Valencians beach, Es Arenals and Es Copinar. The most popular beaches are Ca Mair, Es Arenals and Es Copinar. Since the winter ocean currents reshape the landscape here every year, the beaches can look different from year to year. There are numerous restaurants and hotels in this area of the island, although most of the tourist facilities are located in the town of Es Pujols.
The town of Es Caló has a fine-grained sandy beach about 100 meters long and 25 meters wide. Hotels and restaurants can also be found here. On a long headland northwest of Es Pujols there are beaches, the most famous is Platja de Ses Illetes and right next to the beach Llevant, less known, but at least as beautiful and much quieter.
Cavall d’en Borràs beach is only about two kilometres from the port of La Savina and is therefore also well suited for a day trip from Ibiza with its crystal clear waters. Cala Saona beach can be reached from Cap de Barbaria and is located between two cliffs.
The beach of the main tourist town of Es Pujols stretches over a length of 600 meters. Another nearby and somewhat quieter beach is Sa Roqueta. Restaurants and hotels can be found on all the beaches, although, again, Es Pujols is the tourist heart of the island of Formentera. By the way, nude bathing is allowed practically everywhere on the island.
To begin with, I would like to highlight that Dubai has excellent roads and it is possible to rent premium cars. Just find a Porsche car hire, rent a car and enjoy a comfortable drive and travel around the Emirates. More details about the benefits of renting a car and UAE regulations are described below.
The ability not to depend on anyone, to move independently through the country, to stop wherever we want, for the time we need. You can wake up later, stop by on your way to the beach for a swim and so on. You don’t have to run after the guide and don’t be afraid to take photos again so as not to lag behind the group.
Low car rental costs.
Cheap gasoline.
Mostly cultured drivers here, excellent roads. Although many immigrants from other Middle Eastern countries have been coming to the Emirates in recent years, they often complicate traffic.
Traffic rules are intuitive.
The country is alcohol-free, there are no drunks on the roads, the drivers behave appropriately.
There is practically no crime in this country, so you can drive freely, stop, leave the car, etc.
The country is, so to speak, “sharpened for cars”, driving here is pleasant and absolutely safe. But it is much more difficult for pedestrians here, as cars have priority.
Most rental cars in the Emirates are brand new, in perfect condition, very often a car with a mileage of 500, 1000, 2000 km is rented.
Most hotels offer free parking for guests. There is also plenty of convenient free parking in Dubai itself (in shopping malls, near beaches, etc.). In fact, you can spend nothing or very little on parking throughout your holiday.
Traffic rules in Dubai
Exploring the United Arab Emirates in a Porsche, Image: Jarrod Ryan Jooste / shutterstock
The most important point that all tourists who travel through the UAE with a rental car must know is that there are high fines for traffic violations in this country. You should also familiarize yourself with some peculiarities of the traffic rules in the Emirates:
No fine will be imposed for exceeding the speed limit of less than 20 km/h. The minimum penalty for this offense is 400 to 600 dirhams (this is up to 165 euros). Don’t try your hand at being a racer. Cameras are literally set up everywhere, and retaliation for exceeding the speed limit is sure to follow.
The fastest lane is the leftmost lane, so it is better to drive in the right lane at average speed.
The maximum speed in the settlements of the UAE is 60 km/h, on the highways a maximum of 120 km/h is possible.
Drunk driving results in expulsion from the country, possibly also a prison sentence.
For infants, a child seat must be installed in the car (this service is offered by car rental companies).
At intersections in Dubai, traffic is routed along the ring road, and drivers who are right at the roundabout at that moment have an advantage.
What you need to know about the toll roads in Dubai
There are only 6 toll roads in the UAE. There are only 2 such roads near Dubai:
Al-Garhu Bridge over the Dubai Creek – it divides the metropolis into two parts, for the trip by car you should pay 1 euro;
Sheikh Zayed Highway – this road has a length of 55 km, it is the main artery of the city, the trip by car costs 1 euro.
What do you need to rent a car?
International Driver’s Permit and National Driver’s License.
International credit card at least at Classic level. The card must be in the name of the driver with a conspicuous number and surname, the name of the owner.
Age of the driver. Should be at least 25 years old in most cases (but some dealers allow a younger age), driving experience of at least 1 year. Find out about the terms and conditions of a specific rental company.
Voucher for car rental. If you have booked a car online, print out the voucher and take it with you. In most cases, the voucher can simply be shown on the phone.
Headphones are no longer the trend accessory they were in the early 2000s, but they are still a loyal companion on long journeys and journeys. After all, the smartphone and thus your own music playlist are always on the man. Music streaming providers such as Spotify in particular offer certain functions that make listening to music on trips much easier. On the one hand, playlists can be created and, on the other hand, songs can be downloaded at home with your own Wi-Fi and thus listened to while driving in offline mode. This has the advantage that no data is consumed during this time. After all, longer journeys within Germany can quickly drain your own data volume. Not everyone is equipped with an expensive flat-rate offer and can afford these downloads. In addition to the music on the smartphone, headphones are of course of great relevance. This should have a nice sound, dim the background noise and at the same time not bother your own environment with the music. These three components should be considered in advance when buying.
Highly efficient headphones recommended when traveling
For many, the sound of the headphones is of immense importance. Rightly so, because music lives from sound and feeling. Especially when traveling, the background music is exactly what you need to take on the long journey and the strains. But which headphones are suitable for me? After all, online portals show how kopfhoerer.com how almost endless the choice is. When looking for the right headphones, you are spoilt for choice. This is of course a revolutionary advance for the music lover, considering the beginnings from the 90s. At that time, there was no talk of noise cancelling at all. In the meantime, headphones can actively suppress the background noise, so that the user can only indulge in the unique sounds of their own music. Furthermore, noises are suppressed very strongly to the outside. Anyone who knows headphones from the 90s knows that you could still listen directly to the person sitting next to you while listening to music. Whether you wanted to or not. Of course, this is more than inappropriate when traveling on trains or buses and can rightly anger fellow passengers.
What is noise cancelling?
Modern and high-quality headphones have so-called noise cancelling. As the name suggests, noise is suppressed. Thus, the headphones not only shield the ears, but also prevent the occurrence of annoying and inappropriate background noise. This means that the music can still be enjoyed to its full extent even at a low volume. Some even use noise-cancelling headphones just to have peace and quiet on the trip. In this case, the people put on the headphones and do without the music. This can sometimes also relax you on longer journeys with all the strains. Above all, it’s worth it if you have to concentrate. This would be the case if you read a book or even have to work on the notebook on the train. Headphones with noise cancelling thus fulfill several useful things at once.
All in all, choosing the right headphones is of great importance for travelers. In addition to the aspect of comfort, the headphones are also supposed to make the journey optimal in terms of sound. Certain factors such as noise cancelling are therefore interesting when buying. Although such headphones are not cheap, this should not be a reason to save here. True to the motto: “If you buy cheap, you buy twice”, potential problems and a certain dissatisfaction can be avoided in advance.
The turn of the year is a very special time. Shortly after the Christmas holidays, it is still freezing cold, sometimes snowy and the world is preparing for a new year with good intentions and new motivation. Many enjoy New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Eve with family and friends at home and look forward to cherished rituals. For others, however, the time of New Year’s Eve has always been a time to travel. When can life in a foreign place be felt better than among emotional people who take to the streets together to celebrate the new start? For all those travel enthusiasts, here are some beautiful destinations for the next turn of the year, starting with the festivities in your own country.
The largest New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Germany and also the one with the most onlookers can be admired every year in Berlin . If it is too hectic for you here, you should get into the diversity of our country according to your preferences. In Dresden , the fireworks await in front of the magnificent baroque backdrop on the banks of the Elbe, in Cologne the cathedral on the Rhine shines. Fans of the “stiff breeze” go to the sea, where they can escape the New Year’s Eve hustle and bustle on the rough sea. On Sylt , the traditional open-air New Year’s Eve party takes place, in Rostock-Warnemünde the “Lighthouse in Flames”. Germany is a travel destination of diversity and so it is very easy to find impressive New Year’s Eve scenery on the Müritz, in the Eifel or even at one of the mountain lakes in the Allgäu . If you were born for the alpine world anyway, you rent a lonely mountain hut with your family on New Year’s Eve and celebrate the turn of the year in a cozy atmosphere with a justified hope of crystal-clear New Year’s snow.
Celebrating New Year’s Eve in the heart of the EU
New Year’s Eve in Paris, Image: Melinda Nagy / shutterstock
For a long time now, it has not been an effort to travel to neighboring countries. If you already know the party in Berlin, you should have experienced the fireworks with a view of Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower in London or Paris once in your life. In Vienna , on 31.12. Waltz courses in the open air, in Rome it is a little quieter with the distant view from the Pincio Hill to St. Peter’s Basilica. The “queen of all party nights”, on the other hand, awaits in Krakow with multimedia shows and live performances, while the small English coastal town of Weymouth is an insider tip: a kind of carnival is celebrated here and at New Year’s there is the big brunch at the sailing club. If you want to fly a little further, two islands are particularly recommended. It can be a little warmer in Madeira when the big fireworks along the coast of Funchal drive away the evil spirits for the New Year. There is almost certainly snow on Iceland and in addition to countless campfires, the fairytale northern lights lure not only on the extremely long New Year’s Eve.
Ahead of our time towards the East
The further east you go, the stranger the New Year’s Eve customs become. In Russia, where Moscow is a good place to celebrate on Red Square, Christmas is celebrated on New Year’s Eve with Father Frost. In Japan , mystical customs and a spiritual turn of the year full of tradition await travel fans. Every year, the fireworks display on Sydney Harbour is known from the news , which is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of its kind. A little later in world time, the journey continues to Shanghai, China, where one of the most impressive skylines in the world has been created within a few decades. But Hong Kong is also not slouching and offers German travelers in distant China familiar European tones. In Dubai , on the other hand, it is believed that this desert city by the sea was built for a lot of money just for a special night like this. If you want to experience a countdown in front of a skyscraper backdrop like in New York in the Far East, you can fly to exotic Thailand and enjoy the legendary “One Night in Bangkok“.
Slipping into the New Year in New York and Rio
A classic New Year’s Eve destination: New York, Image: spyarm / shutterstock
In addition to Sydney , New York is likely to be on everyone’s bucket list for New Year’s Eve long-distance travel. In the city, which never sleeps and certainly not on New Year’s Eve, well over a million people meet every year in Times Square to long for the famous “Ball Drop” since 1907. In general, the USA with its world-famous cities, but also the natural highlights such as the Grand Canyon or the Yellowstone National Park are suitable for the end of the year according to personal preferences. In Rio de Janeiro , on the other hand, everyone knows what to expect that night: daylight fireworks at the Copacapana, dazzling samba dances, many cocktails and everyday life in Germany completely pushed out of their minds. Hawaii is wonderfully warm with temperatures around 25 degrees. Waikiki Beach is a simple place to live, and with the festivities felt there on your own body, the New Year can only be extraordinary.
Bonus tip: Prague for everyone
It may not be the classic New Year’s Eve destination, but Prague is always worth a trip and basically offers something for everyone on New Year’s Eve. The journey by bus, train or plane from Germany is fast and cheap and a pearl among European cities awaits. The private New Year’s Eve fireworks around the Vltava River give Prague a new liveliness and can be enjoyed either on one of the busy bridges or far away from the hustle and bustle. At night, you can immerse yourself in hearty parties (for example at the TV tower), but also romantically look out over the city from the castle or kiss each other on one of the many boats. New Year’s Day should be dedicated to the omnipresent culture and from 6 p.m. onwards it will continue directly with fireworks: The Czech Republic proudly celebrates its national holiday and so Prague can celebrate a second time.
The children’s adventure world is open to all adventures, whether at home or during holiday experiences. With good preparation and not too many excursion requests, they will get to know new cultures and lots of holiday fun everywhere. Around the world, her horizons expand with beautiful experiences that shape her cosmopolitan character throughout her life.
Of course, children prefer to be constantly on the move from an early age. In order not to overwhelm them physically and mentally, it is advisable to start your journey along the globe on your own doorstep. Germany is a small pearl in Europe in terms of landscape and tourism. But the same applies to travel in your own country: the first-aid kit comes with you. Important emergency medicine for known and unknown eventualities are remedies for nausea and diarrhea, insect and wound ointments, sensible sun protection and bandages plus auxiliary tools. The vaccination status should be checked by the paediatrician for the next vaccination and refreshed if necessary. Preliminary research on pharmacies at the holiday destination saves later emergencies if something important has not ended up in the suitcase.
North German holiday pearls and children’s paradises
Fantastic beach in Langeoog, Image: Doris Oberfrank-List / shutterstock
The Wadden Sea off the North German islands has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. Some of the islands are completely car-free. On Langeoog with its water tower, children can let off steam carefree between dunes, willow flowers and a sandy beach. Seal sightings, mini golf or playhouse leave not a second for boredom. The young holiday guests go on a journey through time on a trip to the island of Juist. Just to the mudflats, to the nearest restaurant or back to the holiday apartment is possible after tiring holiday adventures comfortably by horse-drawn carriage anywhere on the island. Baltrum offers the same nostalgic carriage service. The guaranteed favourite toy on Spiekeroog for avid island explorers is the handcart. No car, but a children’s playhouse, island railway and adventure playgrounds make every day a child’s adventure.
Central German adventure ideas for young and old explorers
Many small farms in Saxony are well prepared for the visit of families with children. Play areas, contact with the animals of the farm, insights into the production of food make many a little explorer’s mouth open. Participation is expressly allowed in pottery, baking and other farm traditions. Children immerse themselves completely in medieval fairy tale worlds during holidays in Saxony-Anhalt’s small town with its half-timbered alleys, mini-museums and ice cream vans. Nature lovers in particular will get their money’s worth in the sparsely populated state with the Harz Mountains, paddling tours on the Elbe or Salle and on bike tours along the Elbe terraces. As the green heart of Germany, Thuringia attracts summer visitors from more northern Germany to the densely forested mountain regions. Christmas tree decorations in Lauscha, hiking on the treetop path in Hainichen or listening to Elvish sounds in the Saalfeld fairy grottoes make Thuringia holidays unforgettable.
Southern German mountains only for the winter holidays?
In terms of landscape, mountains such as the Allgäu or the Alps predominate in southern Germany. But families with children are not only drawn to Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg or Hesse for a skiing holiday. A top spectacle in spring, for example, is the annual St. John’s bonfire on the numerous rocky outcrops of Franconian Switzerland near Pegnitz and Pottenstein. In Hesse, children and parents can let off steam to their heart’s content in five amusement parks, for example at the fair attractions in the Taunus Wunderland or the Steinau Adventure Park. Turbulent fun in Baden-Württemberg is offered by the Europapark in Rust. Nature lovers will find themselves in a blossom dream on the island of Mainau. Even the youngest holiday guests can slow down wonderfully here for a while.
European travel for family fun
Children with some long-distance travel experience feel sufficiently comfortable even during longer journeys or flights. To be on the safe side, a remedy for motion sickness from the first-aid kit for children can prevent complaints. The countries further south in Europe are top destinations for leisure desires between playful, fairytale and shrouded in legend. Tourism providers in the travel destinations also come up with extras such as tree houses, noble country house villas or hobbit hills for overnight stays.
Italy between mountains, sun and attractions
Lake Como, Image: Rebell / shutterstock
Sunscreen for children and remedies for insect bites are essential in the first-aid kit for a trip to Italy. But this is not necessary at all on a lake holiday to Lake Garda, Lake Como, Lake Maggiore or other lake pearls of northern Italy. At the very bottom, at the tip of the Italian boot on the globe, lies Puglia with real, whitewashed Smurf houses as holiday accommodation. Active families are hiking in the Dolomites (Italian South Tyrol) in magnificent scenery even in the cooler seasons. During an ascent to the permitted access routes to Etna and Vesuvius, even the wildest chatterboxes become silent with awe.
Testimonies of the Greek culture of the gods
The White Tower of Thessaloniki, Image: k_samurkas / shutterstock
What attracts even the most stubborn couch potatoes to the holidays? Greece, of course, the land of Olympic myth, gods and demigods and almost every one of the Greek islands because of the spectacular natural spectacles. If you feel like family bathing, you will find shallow sea accesses on white sandy beaches in Greece, which are specially declared for toddlers and non-swimmers. In the cooler seasons from September onwards, it is better to climb up to the Acropolis or through the impressive gorges of the Greek islands. Even the youngest holidaymakers will certainly enjoy a ride on the Tsaf Tsuf (tourist train) in Thessaloniki. Parents have to take good care of their young explorers in the quaint, old alleys of Nafplio in the Peloponnese.
France with Day Trip to Disneyland Paris
Children probably don’t know what to do with oyster slurping and truffles on breakfast eggs. However, they are much more willing to embark on a holiday in Monaco with accommodation in vintage factories, castles or castle rooms. Practically all French tourist locations along the Atlantic coast combine sightseeing, water sports and day trips with a day at a Mickey Club. Children up to the age of 14 can let off steam to their heart’s content here. Meanwhile, parents can relax on the beach, surf or indulge in other water sports. Of course, France wouldn’t be complete without a visit to glamorous Disneyland Paris.
Secret Asia at your fingertips for the whole family
The first contact with Asians in one of the holiday countries is an immersion in a completely unknown culture for children. The very nature of the melodic language and the strong importance of gestures do not correspond at all to her previous short life experience. Whether the journey is to the roof of the world or along the ancient Silk Roads – fresh vaccination protection against tropical diseases common there must be carried out by the paediatrician at least six weeks before the start of the trip. Ointments and sprays against insect bites, sun protection and cold teas are essential for the often rainy weather and then many insects in the first-aid kit for Asia.
Malaysia – deep-rooted cultural tradition meets modern progress
Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, Image: Patrick Photo / shutterstock
Rainforest and children? This goes well together if the hike leads along designated paths through Taman Negara and Belum. Older children are welcome to go on their first snorkeling tours with their parents to coral reefs off the many islands off Malaysia. Boat tours on Lake Kenyir or along the Merang River feel like something out of a fantasy movie. Tired or not – strength and curiosity are still enough for a cave tour in the north of the country or magical fishing villages with access and passage on a bicycle rickshaw. The accompanying children in the Iban longhouse are quite sure that they are in Borneo with Mowgli in the middle of his Jungle Book.
Foreign Distance Mongolia
Younger children certainly don’t know much more than the Gobi Desert, Marco Polo’s travel reports and perhaps a story about the campfire in front of yurts camps. The rugged nature is also more suitable for holiday plans for older schoolchildren and teenagers. For babies and toddlers, guided tours with experienced tour operators are recommended. On site, living in a yurt camp is the first experience with the Mongolian way of life, which has been preserved to this day. Dino excavations, hikes through the Vulture Gorge and a day with the nomadic families give exciting insights into a little-discussed and described region on the globe. On the other hand, the Mongolian Przewalski wild horses are world-famous, showing themselves here in their natural, wild environment.
Sri Lanka – Land of Temples and Endangered Wildlife
Their belief in Buddhism, which predominates here, makes the locals in Sri Lanka avowed animal rights activists. For children, the encounter with the animal welfare organizations and their wild protégés can be a life-shaping experience for appreciation for all life. Safaris through the Wilpattu, Yala or Udawalawa National Parks are just as exciting as a climbing tour on the Lion Rock or a train ride through the country’s many wide tea plantations. Relaxation for children and adults is offered by the beaches on the Indian Ocean. Young children and non-swimmers are well catered for on the beaches, while active older children and parents can snorkel to their heart’s content.
Fire and flame on the African continent
Exotic climatic conditions, exotic animal encounters and often unfamiliar regional cuisine require good planning for the first-aid kit with gastrointestinal remedies, insect repellent and quick fever reducers. In any case, vaccination against tropical diseases common there, mostly transmitted by insects, is mandatory. For some, the vaccination six weeks before the start of the trip is sufficient, others must be carried out by the pediatrician three months before. Well equipped and full of curiosity, the long-distance journey to the African continent gives an insight into survival skills under extreme conditions and several cultures at the same time.
Oriental culture frenzy in Morocco
With the camel through the Sahara in Morocco, Image: Vixit / shutterstock
Scheherazade could not tell 1001 fairy tales more beautifully than children can experience with their own eyes on vacation in Morocco. Children are preferred by Moroccans, regardless of their age or origin. As a travel destination for adults, it is considered safe and therefore offers many opportunities to experience cities and nature as well as the country and its people up close. Beach as far as the eye can see and shallow access to the sea are suitable for sunny days on the beach of Agadir, even for the youngest travel kids with swim diapers. A camel ride by M’Hamid El Ghizlane through the dunes of the Sahara with the desert-experienced and prudent nomads will be unforgettable. Overnight stay in the nomad camp brings visitors close to the traditional way of life.
Discover the island worlds of Mauritius with children
Finally, children in Mauritius get to know exotic fruits such as mango and papaya in real life. Fauna and flora are extremely rarely dangerous or poisonous throughout the country, and the multicultural population is fond of children and helpful. Strangers do not necessarily have to understand the vernacular Morisyn – hands and feet are also accepted for funny communication. Small children are in good hands in the turquoise waters with shallow drops into the sea and under shady palm trees with sunscreen from the first-aid kit in the bays of La Cuvette Beach or at Péreybère. The old corridors of the well-preserved colonial villas with lovingly decorated, authentic children’s rooms and social rooms provide an insight into children’s life during the colonial era.
Multicultural South Africa between savannahs and vibrant cities
For a trip to South Africa, children should be a little older and adults should follow the safety recommendations of the Federal Foreign Office before traveling. But then guided safaris through South African national parks are an unforgettable adventure for the whole family. Certainly, the young explorers only know the world-famous “Big Five” (wild animals elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros and lion) from TV or zoos. Johannesburg and Cape Town are ideal for sightseeing, typical village roundels and wooden houses on stilts adventurous accommodation offers. For fun days in between, theme parks such as Gold Reef City (Johannesburg), Ratanga Junction (Milnerton) or Sun City (Gauteng) are top destinations.
Destinations for families in America and Australia
Industrial America and urban Australia may still seem familiar to young explorers. The vastness beyond the big cities, on the other hand , they usually only know from the filmed, safe bird’s eye view or from show-strong movies. Depending on the destination, vaccinations and the first-aid kit should be coordinated with the instructions of the paediatrician and the respective Foreign Office in good time. There may also be special regulations for medications that must be observed, for example, when prescribed long-term medication.
American style beyond the fast food chains and glitter casinos
America is more than the USA and Las Vegas, fast food and Wild West nostalgia. The continent also includes countries such as Barbados, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Argentina. A total of 35 nations offer family holidays between old traditions, modern art of living, cultural exotics and quite unusual accommodation offers in the jungle or treetops, urban architecture or rural flair on ranches and farms.
Experience Australia’s wilderness and endearing urban beauty
Half a lap on the globe in the living room, then the children’s fingers have landed on the red continent of Australia. In the true dimension of a family trip, children absorb the distant magic of the country well during an overnight stay in wild camping. This type of overnight stay is allowed wherever signs do not expressly prescribe otherwise. The Jourame Falls near South Mission Beach are spectacular. On free hikes through designated safe natural regions, encounters with kangaroos, turtles or even monitor lizards are possible, and on some beach visits even sightings of dolphin schools close to the coast.
Result:
Planning a trip with your finger on the globe promises children limitless adventures. For direct long-distance travel, all continents offer exciting things between mountains, sea, cultures and human encounters. In addition to a carefully packed first-aid kit, it is important to inform the paediatrician and the Federal Foreign Office in good time about prescribed vaccinations and the authorisation to take prescription medication with you at least three months before the start of the trip.
Individual books are the perfect gift idea – for friends, family or even for yourself! And if you are really good at photography, writing and know how to do it, you can even market your book professionally.
If you are looking for a beautiful and creative memento for your travels, you will find everything you could wish for in a photo book. Book covers as desired, texts that you write yourself or copied from the Internet (but this is only allowed if you don’t sell it!) and the self-shot photos combined with professional shots (here, too, copyright must be observed when selling!)
Book
Hardcover books with glossy covers are great for illustrated books. Many tourists now use SLR cameras when they travel.
If there are a particularly large number of beautiful landscape shots, then you can bundle them according to themes – desert, sea, mountains, forest? Such shots can be used to create an excellent panorama photo book. City trips are also very popular and also offer many great photo motifs for illustrated books. Here, too, thematic collections can be created: capitals of Europe, museums in German cities or cities of famous personalities.
Individual travel documentaries
A journey without a diary is like a book without a story. A travel diary is a personal record of the experiences, observations and thoughts during a trip. It helps us to preserve our memories of the beautiful moments and remember the places we have visited.
Even though there are many ways to share our travels online these days, there is something very special about recording our experiences in a travel diary and enriching it with your own photos. It is a contemporary document that will always remind us of the beautiful moments of our travels and will also inspire others for such a trip.
During a trip, there is often no time for detailed texts. Daily bullet points help to be able to reconstruct experiences later. The advantage of designing the book later is that there is also room for tickets or special finds. In addition, the formulations can be fine-tuned so that they sound really nice.
Revival Tours – On the road with your own book
If you indulge in beautiful memories, you will also feel like revival tours. Walk in the footsteps of the youth once again or simply see what has changed on site.
There are always special situations in life in which this form of travel takes on its own relevance. Bereavements, for example, encourage you to go on your honeymoon again and remember. Even for groups, such memory books can be invaluable. For example, it is possible to move class reunions to places where the best class trips were spent. Or a club that has achieved great things, e.g. as a fourth-division team in the Bundesliga to knock a first division team out of the cup, has a club chronicle in such a document and the revival trips to the stadium of the other club can keep club life going and motivate young players to persevere, even if the club is in a crisis at the moment.
Conclusion: There are enough reasons for an individual travel book. Everyone has at least one. So to work, which in this case is even pleasure. If the book is sold, copyright must be observed.
The holidays are the most beautiful time of the year. Many people plan it right at the beginning of the year. And where do Germans prefer to spend their holidays? The answer is simple: Germany! Most of them go to the North Sea or Baltic Sea, the Alps or the foothills of the Alps with their many lakes. But despite all the charms of their country, a large proportion of Germans travel to distant countries. After all, Germany is the country with the second highest number of overseas trips after China.
Most people just want to relax and spend their holidays with comfort, sun and good food. It is not surprising that the beach holiday with hotel accommodation is the most popular form of holiday for Germans. The most common overseas destination is the Mediterranean Sea. Spain (and the island of Mallorca in particular) has been the leader in hotel accommodation for many years, while Italy is in second place. Greece, Croatia and Morocco were also very popular this summer. And family and sports lovers prefer neighboring Austria. It is traditionally popular with Germans for its wonderful hiking trails, ski resorts, alpine meadows, baroque architecture and rich history.
Germans also prefer beach holidays in Turkey, with the region around Antalya being an absolute favourite. For those who don’t like the heat, Scandinavia is the best choice. Germans travel there for nature, they are attracted to the forests and waters, and wildlife tourism is very common in this country. For many Germans, this is the ideal format for a summer holiday with a tent in Sweden, Norway, Finland or Denmark.
Tours
Since employees in Germany have more vacation days than in other countries (generally 26 to 30 days), many travel twice a year. Many prefer to spend a short vacation in a big city. In Germany, these are Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, and in Europe as a whole, the cultural capitals of London, Rome, Vienna, Paris and Prague.
An interesting type of holiday is casino tourism. Many Germans go to casinos in Montenegro, Spain or Austria. If you can’t afford to travel to another country to play there, you can also try your luck online – preferably in one of the online casinos on https://casinohex.at. When you make a first deposit, you have the opportunity to start playing for real money right away. An interesting way to relax on holiday.
Cruises in vogue
Cruises are very popular with Germans. More and more young Germans are opting for a trip on a floating hotel, with all the amenities and an extensive entertainment and excursion program in the port cities. According to statistics from the German Tourism Association, four million Germans will have taken a cruise in 2022. And every year, more and more places are booked on cruise ships.
While people from all over the world like to see other countries, the USA is the most popular destination for Germans. Canada is in second place. And in Southeast Asia, the most popular destination for German holidaymakers is Thailand.
German holidaymakers are divided into two groups when it comes to winter holidays. On the one hand, it is the winter sports enthusiasts who like to ski in Austria. The other group, on the other hand, seeks the warmth of the sun and travels to the Canary Islands. Bavaria and its Alpine regions are very popular in winter. Hikes and lakes, skiing and wellness hotels are ideal for the Germans. A tourist bonus of this state is the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, which tops the list of the most visited attractions in Germany year after year.
The Germans have also returned to Baden-Württemberg, which has been forgotten by tourism – last year the region experienced a tourism boom for the first time in many years. Baden-Württemberg’s most important tourist magnet is the Black Forest with its forests, picturesque villages and carefully preserved traditions.
Interesting facts instead of conclusions
75 percent of Germans travel to another country at least once a year;
The average duration of a trip is 13 days;
Employees have 26 to 30 days of vacation per year;
Sixty-two percent prefer to go on vacation, 25 percent opt for active recreation;
One third of all German holidaymakers spend their holidays in Germany;
The most popular European destinations are Spain, Italy and Austria;
