It is worth discovering the most beautiful long-distance destinations in winter to escape everyday life and beat the cold. In the sunny south, it is wonderful to “hibernate” when it gets frosty at home and the longing for hours of sunshine gets out of hand. Or would you prefer a winter holiday in the breathtaking mountains far away from home? Whether it’s a beach holiday on sunny dream beaches, an exciting rainforest safari or an adventure holiday in icy climes: Nothing is impossible if you are ready for a holiday in winter and want to wander far away!

Sunny long-distance destinations in winter highly recommended!

Where should the long-distance journey go this year? If you don’t want to spend the winter leaves at home, the whole world is open to you. Around the globe, the most beautiful long-distance travel destinations await you in winter.

Dream Island Bali

If you are longing for sun, beach and sea, Indonesia could become your dream destination. The island of Bali is the perfect spot for a varied long-distance travel holiday in winter. The warm climate pampers the senses, fine sandy beaches invite you to sunbathe and crystal-clear water to swim. Surfers can also enjoy pursuing their hobby in Bali. And if you want to learn it, simply take a course at one of the surf schools on Bali’s beaches.

Far away from the dream beaches of Canggu, Jimbaran, Kuta, Sanur and Seminyak, you can dive deeper into the island world of Bali, discover the magnificent nature, marvel at gigantic waterfalls and imposing rice terraces. If you actually decide to go on holiday in Indonesia , you must definitely get to know Bali’s holiest temple complex near Ubud: the Pura Tirta Empul Water Temple.

Whether adventurous volcano hikes to Mount Batur, yoga at the rushing waterfall or meditation between palm trees and tropical plants: The Indonesian island is ideal for a variety of activities and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful long-distance travel destinations in winter.

Magical Malaysia

Travelers can also take summer vacations in the middle of winter in Malaysia. At least in the west of the country, where temperatures reach a midsummer 30 degrees even in November. On the Malaysian island of Penang, there is paradisiacal bathing weather as well as on the beaches of Pulau Langkawi. However, if you want to take a long-distance trip to Malaysia in December, you should avoid the east coast of West Malaysia, as long-lasting monsoon rains are to be expected there and thus a beach holiday is cancelled despite hot and humid temperatures.

Malaysia is a multifaceted travel destination and is known for its exotic flora and fauna. The ancient tropical forests are very species-rich and home to many endangered animal species. For nature and animal lovers, a visit to the Bako National Park is recommended. There they can make the acquaintance of the impressive hornbill species, funny bearded pigs as well as the dwarf elephants, also known as Borneo elephants, which are endangered by deforestation. However, this is only a small selection of the animal highlights in the Southeast Asian paradise worth protecting.

Are you more of an active holidaymaker? Then you can’t miss a hike or bike ride through the tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands. A long-distance trip in winter is also worth the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur . Do you want to go “high up” on holiday without having to climb a mountain? Then the Petronas Twin Towers, which are connected to the publicly accessible skybridge on the 41st floor and also have an observation deck, offer you enchanting views over the metropolis.

City break, safari or beach holiday? All in one is also possible!

There are other beautiful long-distance destinations in winter that are often sought after by sun worshippers and winter grouches. Just like Hawaii, also known as the “Big Island” and as the largest island on the Hawaiian archipelago in the Central Pacific. The islands of Maui and Kauai are great for a whale watching tour between January and March. During this time, the humpback whales are drawn to the coasts of Hawaii to mate. An experience that you should not miss on your vacation in Hawaii.

The Dominican Republic could also be your long-distance destination in winter if you don’t want to fear snow or cold. Instead, the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean state offers the finest beaches that are perfect for a beach holiday under palm trees. Between rainforests and savannahs lie fantastic holiday resorts that offer that certain something for every tourist. Golf holidaymakers will not miss out either.

If you don’t want to miss out on the pulsating life when your winter trip takes you to the Dominican Republic, simply “strand” in the capital Santo Domingo de Guzmán. It is one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean and offers a large number of historical sights that can be explored during a stroll through the city. The Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo is so unique that a holiday trip is far too short to fully explore the area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Oriental holidays in Morocco

A trip to the kingdom in northwest Africa should not be booked just for a beach robbery. The oriental pearl offers all-round enjoyment that you can see, taste and feel. On the southern Atlantic coast lies the city of Agadir, which is now well developed for tourism. However, you will look in vain for sights here. Apart from the historic wall of the Kasbah, not much is left of the former fishing village after the earthquake in Agadir in 1960.

In Marrakech , on the other hand, you will get to know all the diversity of Morocco. The medieval city has a number of imposing palaces, numerous mosques and colourful bazaars. The Djemaa el Fna, the jugglers’ square in the heart of Marrakech, is a place of joie de vivre. Here you will not only meet musicians, traders, snake charmers and acrobats, but you can also enjoy the scent of exotic spices and taste Moroccan food in mobile food stalls. There is one thing you should definitely experience up close on your Morocco holiday: the magnificent waterfalls near Ouzoud.

Family holiday between fjord and fell

It will be adventurous between the fjord and the fell, if you love the rugged landscape of Norway and dream of a family holiday in the snow. It will always be fun if you treat yourself to a husky tour through the snow-covered mountains in southern Norway, go hunting for the Northern Lights together or go on a snowshoe hike. However, you have to be hardened when you go on a winter holiday in Norway , because the cold should not be underestimated. On cross-country skiing tours or wild skiing, you will quickly warm up. In the evening, you can end your day in a cosy mountain hut by the crackling fireplace.

Have you got the desire to get to know one of the most beautiful long-distance travel destinations in winter?

Poor connections, delayed flights, too few seats at the gate or inadequate food: Even if you are looking forward to your dream vacation in the future, the flight there can get on your last nerve. Which airports do it differently, i.e. particularly well, in terms of passenger friendliness, is shown by a ranking of the travel experts at Omio. In a study, they examined causes of stress, such as flight delays, passenger traffic and travel routes to the airport and combined them with information about the available equipment and arrived at the following top 10:

1. Madrid: Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, MAD

2. Rome: Leonardo Da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, FCO

3. Amsterdam: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, AMS

4. Copenhagen: Copenhagen Airport Kastrup, CPH

5. Moscow: Sheremetyevo Int. Airport, SVO

6. Helsinki: Helsinki Airport, HEL

7. London: Heathrow Airport, LHR

8. Lisbon: Lisbon Portela Airport, LIS

9. Prague: Vaclav Havel Airport Prague, PRG

10. Berlin: Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, BER

Barajas Airport (MAD) in the Spanish capital Madrid is the most passenger-friendly airport in Europe. The international airport is comfortably equipped and has relaxation areas, showers and children’s playgrounds, among other things. MAD also impressed in the evaluation with a wide range of shopping facilities and restaurants. 133 shops and 54 restaurants and bars are available to passengers in Madrid. Only a few flight cancellations and an above-average number of punctual flights make Barajas the best airport in Europe.

One year after its opening, the German capital airport BER finds itself in 10th place in a European comparison. 35 shops and 39 restaurants and bars serve around 93,000 passengers every day. The new building has important comfort features, such as a relaxation area, showers, power outlets, pharmacy, lounges and smoking area. Two S-Bahn lines and a regional train line connect the city centre, which is about 20 kilometres away, with the airport south of Berlin. This means that BER Airport is solidly accessible in a European comparison, but does not stand out particularly positively or negatively in terms of connections.

The most punctual airport in comparison is Copenhagen Kastrup, CPH. 96 percent of flights land and take off on time. With 140 shops, no other airport has as many shopping opportunities as Rome-Fiumicino. Most of the gastronomy – 79 restaurants and bars – is located within Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport.

With 241,370 passengers a day, London Heathrow is the busiest airport in comparison. The airports of Prague, Oslo, Ankara and Podgorica are absolutely non-smoking areas. They do not have any designated smoking areas, the evaluation shows.

15 routes on which you can easily travel in a climate-conscious way

Sustainable choices are taking up more and more space in everyday life. Significantly more people want to take responsibility and change their behavior for the sake of the climate. This is also shown by a recent YouGov survey commissioned by the travel search engine Omio. The representative survey showed that travelers from Germany are willing to make some compromises for the sake of the environment: More than one in three (39 percent of respondents) would accept a travel time up to 30 minutes longer if the trip were more sustainable. For more than one in five (23 percent), a travel time of up to 60 minutes longer would even be justifiable, and twelve percent would even accept a two-hour longer journey.

Three routes in which the train is significantly faster than the airlines are (source: Omio):

• Frankfurt am Main <> Cologne
  124 min. faster by train than by plane and saves 25 kg of emissions

• Hanover <> Frankfurt am Main
  27 min faster by train than by plane and saves 33 kg of emissions

• Stuttgart <> Paris
  15 min. faster by train than by plane and saves 74 kg of emissions

It is hardly surprising that members of GenZ are much more concerned about the environment. In this group, 69 percent of respondents accept a longer travel time in favor of the climate, compared to only 56 percent of the population as a whole. In general, respondents in Germany are quite willing to use the train instead of the plane. Almost one in two respondents (45 percent) say they prefer trains to planes if the connection is faster. The long-distance bus, on the other hand, is not so well received. When deciding between bus or plane, the price seems to play a role above all. One in five respondents would choose the bus if the ticket was significantly cheaper.

Routes in which the train is not significantly slower than the plane (source: Omio):

• Frankfurt am Main <> Paris, +22 min., but 63 kg emissions saved

• Frankfurt am Main <> Munich, +30 min., but 38 kg emissions saved

• Berlin <> Food, +32 min., but 49 kg emissions saved

• Düsseldorf <> Hamburg, +34 min., but 47 kg of emissions saved

• Frankfurt am Main <> Amsterdam, +39 min., but 48 kg emissions saved

• Munich <> Zurich, +41 min., but 43 kg of emissions saved

• Munich <> Vienna, +42 min., but 62 kg of emissions saved

• Hamburg <> Frankfurt am Main, +44 min., but 68 kg of emissions saved

• Berlin <> Munich, +47 min., but 48 kg of emissions saved

• Hanover <> Amsterdam, +55 min., but 47 kg of emissions saved

• Berlin <> Frankfurt am Main, +58 min., but 49 kg of emissions saved

• <> Cologne Hamburg, + 59 min., but 195 kg emissions saved

Are you longing for the perfect combination of relaxation and adventure? Then a holiday on a houseboat is the right thing for you: enjoy the sun on deck while you sail through idyllic river and lake landscapes. You are completely free to design your trip: Whether you want to relax in the sun, swim in a secluded bay, do water sports, fish, or prefer to visit cities is entirely up to you. As you explore the rivers, lakes, and canals on your route, you don’t have to sacrifice the comforts of home. Renting a houseboat is not only incredibly diverse, but also easier than you might think. Create unforgettable memories!

No driver’s license? No problem!

Most houseboats can now be rented without hesitation without prior knowledge or experience. The regulations vary depending on the area and region, but many of the most beautiful houseboat areas can already be navigated with a charter license. For the license, only about three hours of instruction on the steering of the boat is required and it is valid for the entire rental period. This briefing is usually carried out directly by the boat owner for a small extra charge. You go through theory and practice together – and you’re ready to go! Take this opportunity to inquire with your landlord about the locks and lock opening hours in your holiday area.

There are many good reasons to rent a houseboat

Renting a houseboat is becoming more and more popular, and not without reason: In addition to being close to the water, you have the luxury of having comfortable accommodation with your means of transport on a houseboat! Discover the most beautiful places and enjoy the amenities of your floating apartment. You don’t have to back down: Most houseboats today are modernly furnished and equipped with everything you could wish for. They usually have a kitchen, bathroom, living room and sleeping area and are large enough for families or groups of friends with a capacity of up to 12 sleeping places.

Independence and flexibility are a big bonus of the houseboat. As your own captain, you’ll enjoy the freedom to customize your vacation as you see fit. Whether you anchor in secluded bays or busy harbours is entirely up to you. Take the opportunity to go swimming whenever you feel like it and then dry off on the deck in the sun. Bathing fun for young and old is guaranteed!

When you holiday on a houseboat, you may be staying on the water, but you can go ashore whenever you want for walks and explore the places along the way. Discover not only picturesque lakes and river landscapes on your houseboat adventure, but also culture, history and culinary delights on land!

Where can you go? The most popular houseboat destinations

There are many dream destinations that are made to be explored by houseboat. The most popular houseboat areas are even nearby!

Holidays at home have become increasingly popular not only since the Corona pandemic. With over 1000 lakes and numerous waterways, Germany is the perfect destination for a boating holiday. The most famous houseboat regions are in the northeast, where an almost endless river and lake landscape awaits you. One of the most popular destinations is certainly the Mecklenburg Lake District. The entire area can be navigated without a licence and is extremely beginner-friendly due to the few locks. The Müritz, an inland lake in the heart of the Great Lake District, is particularly appreciated by recreational captains. The Berlin and Brandenburg waters can also be navigated by houseboat. However, a boat license is required for a boat tour through Berlin’s city center along historic places such as the Reichstag and Museum Island. The numerous tributaries of the Havel offer an endless selection of routes and anchoring opportunities, even for beginners. The river is connected to numerous bathing lakes and the towns on its banks provide a beautiful panorama along the route.

With its numerous waterways, rivers, canals and sea, the Netherlands is also one of the most beautiful destinations for a houseboat charter. The Dutch metropolis of Amsterdam is particularly beautiful from the water. What better way to explore the “Venice of the North” than on a trip through the typical canals. They stretch all over the city and take you past important landmarks. Friesland in the north of the country is also known for its enchanting water landscapes. It is particularly suitable for family trips by boat. In South Holland you sail past typical windmills and blooming tulip fields – a ride through a picture-book panorama!

France is considered the country of water tourism par excellence: countless waterways run through the entire country and connect the various waters of the regions with each other. One of the most popular areas for new houseboat captains is the Canal du Midi in the south of the country. Past the picturesque southern French city of Toulouse , it reaches into the Mediterranean. A tour on the Nantes-Brest Canal takes you across Brittany in northwestern France. Experience breathtaking natural landscapes and discover the traditional history and culture of the “Grande Nation” from the water!