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USA – The land of unlimited opportunities

PatrickJullien
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USA – The land of unlimited opportunities

The often and often cited unlimited possibilities – as far as travel is concerned, these still apply to the USA without restrictions. The USA is a fascinating, infinitely versatile destination and a very comfortable one at that. The Americans have always been a people who traveled a lot and so there is still everything the traveler needs everywhere in the country, from accommodation to many services to a rich selection of food. Enriched with the open friendliness of the Americans, the USA is such a country that you can easily discover on your own. How about, for example, one of the almost proverbial road trips over the dusty roads of the southwest? Or should it be a beach holiday in Florida ? Skiing in Colorado? Wild West experiences in Montana? Hiking in Tennessee? Thanks to its size, the USA offers an almost inexhaustible variety of individual design options all year round and thus has something to offer for every type of holidaymaker.

The skyline of New York, Image: cocozero / shutterstock

Numerous international flight connections make almost every corner of the country easily accessible. Among the most popular destinations for foreign visitors are the beaches of Florida, the street canyons and skyscrapers of New York, the sun-drenched coasts of California and the eternally tempting entertainment paradise of Las Vegas. But between the coasts, many more travel adventures await those hungry for adventure. In the New England region, for example, charming fishing villages can be discovered in the northeast, in the south magnificent architecture and relaxed atmosphere beckon, and the southwest has numerous unique natural monuments, for example in Texas, Arizona or Utah. It would probably take many lives to be able to discover all this in detail, especially since Alaska and Hawaii are two fascinating destinations outside the continental borders.

The most famous road in the world: Route 66, Image: trekandshoot / shutterstock

Where there is so much to experience, there is of course also a comprehensive range of leisure activities. As a spectator, you can experience first-class sport in usually state-of-the-art stadiums, and those who want to get active themselves will also find plenty of opportunity to do so between golf courses, ski slopes and sports facilities. In the cities, there is also a huge cultural offer, from world-class museums to great theatres and spectacular festivals. The different regions of the country differ significantly from each other, which can also be seen in terms of culinary delights. From the jambalaya in New Orleans to the clam chowder in Massachusetts to the authentic barbecue in Texas. The USA is a country of unlimited travel discoveries and can quickly turn out to be a dream destination for every holidaymaker.

The states of the USA (in brackets capitals)

Information about the USA

Capital Washington, D.C.
Form of government Federal Republic
Presidential system
Currency U.S. Dollar (USD)
Area approx. 9,826,675 km²
Population approx. 327,774,344 (2018)
Languages English
Electricity grid 120 volts, 60 Hz
Area code +1
Time zone UTC−5 to UTC−10

 

South Africa – a young state and the kick of the wilderness

PatrickJullien
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0
South Africa – a young state and the kick of the wilderness

The connoisseurs among the long-distance travelers argue about where the most beautiful end of the world can be found for them. But quite a few are of the opinion that this can only be Cape Town . Because a look at the globe reveals: South of Cape Town there is only the infinity of the oceans. And at some point, the region of Antarctica’s eternal ice begins. South Africa is a young country that celebrated the end of apartheid shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany. Much has changed between Johannesburg and Cape Town since then, even if the heirs of Nelson Mandela could not and did not always want to budget with their new freedom. But South Africa has nevertheless developed into a longing destination for many holidaymakers from Europe and America over the past twenty-five years.

With a bit of luck, you can experience the “Big Five” in the great outdoors on a safari, Image: Carcharadon / shutterstock

Rainforests and savannahs, the mighty Drakensberg Mountains, the picturesque lagoons on the coasts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, dust-dry deserts and the vineyards of Stellenbosch and Paarl. The south of Africa is full of wonders, and if you enjoy the 360 Grand Panorama at the setting sun on Blouberg Beach and see the silhouette of the nearby Table Mountain, you have no doubt that this is indeed something like the most beautiful end of the world. Although the country is not governed from Cape Town – that is reserved for Pretoria – it is from here, at the Cape of Good Hope, that the influence of the Europeans on this region began.

South Africa, Table Mountain
Table Mountain at sunset, Image: Kanuman / shutterstock

In the beginning there was a supply station for sailors and a chamber of commerce of the Dutch at the Cape. That was in April 1652, when a certain Jan van Riebeeck landed on the stormy coast and encouraged the local population to exchange trade goods. But this very soon developed into the subjugation of the people of the Khoikhoi tribe. This servitude did not end until 1990, when Nelson Mandela was released from a long prison sentence on Robben Island and a process of reconciliation with the white population began. The gap between black and white and thus between rich and poor has remained, but the hope for a multicultural country and a farewell to racist prejudices has remained. Behind Table Mountain stretches the friendly South African wine country. The vines that are harvested here have helped the region to achieve a certain prosperity. Also because the wine produced is one of the best in the world. Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschoek are located on the edge of the Little Karoo semi-desert, picturesquely and protected by high and karstic mountains.

The Garden Route is the highlight of southern South Africa. Between Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth, the rainbow nation shows its most beautiful side with romantic bays and the deep forests of the Tsitsikamma National Park, where daredevils get their special kick at the highest bungee jumping in the world.

If you want to look around in the wilderness, you have the choice between various national parks in South Africa. The largest of them is the “Kruger“, where there are numerous lodges with all comforts and where the safaris are of special quality. However, the search for the so-called “Big Five” often ends with the realization that zebras and giraffes are also photogenic. So it doesn’t always have to be the “Lion King” on a round trip through South Africa that makes a safari so appealing.

Travel information South Africa

Capital Executive: Pretoria
Legislative: Cape Town
Judiciary: Bloemfontein
Form of government Federal Republic
Parliament-bound executive power
Currency Rand (ZAR)
Area approx. 1,221,037 km²
Population approx. 56,521,900 (2017)
Languages Afrikaans, English
Electricity grid 220-230 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +27
Time zone UTC+2
UTC+1 (March to October)

 

Switzerland – Boundless Freedom and the Summit of Harmony

PatrickJullien
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Switzerland – Boundless Freedom and the Summit of Harmony

If you want to feel the boundless freedom and experience it with all your feelings, you should travel to Switzerland. With the Confederates, you don’t necessarily have to be a summiteer to get closer to the Almighty, because even in the green valleys of this unique country, the visitor experiences the summit of harmony. The landscapes of the Alpine republic are undoubtedly balm for the soul and the people who live here are as self-confident as they are hospitable. If you stand on a blooming alpine meadow at the Riffelsee on a balmy spring day and look at the panorama of the nearby Matterhorn, you will get an impression of the extent to which Swiss nature beguiles all the senses.

The Swiss national anthem begins with the words “Rufst du, mein Vaterland…” This “fatherland” has many faces and has four language groups: German, French, Italian and Romansh. The majority of the country’s inhabitants speak German, and they jokingly call the language border with France “Röstigraben”. Holidaymakers can therefore communicate very well in Switzerland, because the somewhat more difficult Rhaeto-Romanic dialect is actually only encountered in a few places in the canton of Graubünden.

As different as the dialects and languages are, so is the landscape of Switzerland. From the lovely valleys of Heidi Land, the peaks rise to heights of exactly 4634 meters. It is the Dufourspitze in the Valais Alps, which was named after a Swiss general and cartographer. The Swiss attach importance to the fact that the summit is on their territory and not on that of neighboring Italy, which is a whole 160 meters away.

Switzerland, Lucerne
Lucerne, Image: Mariia Golovianko / shutterstock

The Swiss symbol of the happy cows on lush alpine pastures has received a few wounds in the recent past, because agriculture plays a subordinate role in this country. Rather, Switzerland is the epitome of the quality of its precise movement and the richness of its inventions. In this country, people earn well, and the exchange rate, which is not very pleasant for foreigners, makes a holiday between Basel, Zurich and Zermatt a rather expensive pleasure.

But the many facets of a varied and enjoyable stay in Switzerland compensate for the supposed hole in your wallet. The hotels in this country are among the best in the world and their service is almost proverbial. In the grand hotels of Davos as well as in the pretty resorts in the Bernese Oberland or on Lake Zurich. In Saas Fee, the glacier is very close, and the icy band of the Aletsch still exists.

View of Zurich, Image: canadastock / shutterstock

Fine wines grow on the sun-drenched slopes of Ticino, and the chefs in the land of William Tell enjoy a worldwide reputation. Anyone who has tried a “Häfelichabis” in the canton of Uri will dream of this stew made of mutton and sliced cabbage for a long time to come. And from the homely atmosphere of the hut on the mountain.

For holidaymakers who move on the passes on four wheels, Switzerland is a unique territory. The former mule tracks have long been first-class alpine roads, and an overwhelming panorama is guaranteed almost everywhere. And if you are looking for ways to culture, you will find them, for example, at the Goetheanum in Dornach or in the museums of the canton of Ticino, which sees itself as the cradle of art.

Travel information Switzerland

Capital Bern
Form of government Federal Republic
Directory system
Currency Swiss franc (CHF)
Area 41,285 km²
Population approx. 8,482,150 (2017)
Languages German, French, Italian, Romansh
Electricity grid 230 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +41
Time zone UTC+1 CET
UTC+2 CEST (March to October)

 

Russia offers diversity like no other country in the world

PatrickJullien
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0
Russia offers diversity like no other country in the world

No other country in the world combines so many different sights and landscapes on its territory as Russia. The country in the east offers different climate zones, different mentalities and languages as well as a diverse cuisine.

Russia is an exotic holiday destination – whether adventure tours to the North Pole into the eternal ice, excursions into the endless expanse of Siberia or boat tours on the Volga or the Yenisei. And sun worshippers and ski fans also get their money’s worth: the Black Sea beckons with sun, beach and blue water and the Caucasus invites you to winter fun. If you want to learn about the history and culture of the country, the hospitable Russians will be happy to tell you more about their homeland.

Siberia delivers impressive images, Image: Valerii_M / shutterstock

A classic tourist destination is certainly Moscow. The cultural and economic heart of the country beats in the capital of Russia. The city is very important to Russians, and so there is probably no Russian who does not visit Moscow at least once in his life. The city is growing incessantly and is constantly striving for something new. The metropolis is a melting pot for the whole country. And yet: Moscow does not stand for all of Russia.

St. Petersburg is also very popular with many tourists. The more than 300-year-old city is considered the cultural highlight of Russia. The density of museums in the city is impressive. In addition, St. Petersburg offers a very lively and exciting sub-culture. The architecture is just as inspiring – it’s not for nothing that the city is also called the Venice of the North. A very special experience are the so-called White Nights of St. Petersburg. Due to its proximity to polar rice, it is also light at night in the period from late May to mid-July. During this time, the sun does not set completely.

Russia, S. Petersburg, St. Isaac's Cathedral
St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Image: Roman Evgenev / shutterstock

But Russia has much more to offer than just the exciting metropolises of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Nature lovers will find a unique natural landscape in Siberia, the Caucasus or the Urals. Here there is still an almost completely untouched nature, impressive landscapes, a breathtaking wilderness and a diverse animal world as well as a solitude like nowhere else in the world.

If you want to be really pampered, you should go to Crimea. There are well-known health resorts here that offer guests soothing cures and a great wellness program. And of course, Crimea is also an optimal holiday destination for sun worshippers and water lovers. The Black Sea offers bathing fun and pure relaxation for the whole family. Also on the Black Sea is the well-known seaside and holiday resort of Sochi. Here, palm trees and black beaches await the visitor. It is not for nothing that Sochi is also called the Russian Riviera.

A cruise on the Volga is an experience of a special kind. In addition to an impressive river landscape, the numerous old towns on the banks also invite you to experience. The river is considered the mother of all rivers in Russia. The Volga and the surrounding country are considered the cradle of the country. Here, the Russians say, you can find the soul of Russia. The big country simply offers just the right thing for everyone. Russia is always worth a trip!

Travel information Russia

Capital Moscow
Form of government Federal Republic
Semi-presidential system
Currency Rouble (RUB)
Area 17,075,400 km²
including Crimea: 17,102,344 km²
Population 144,526,636 (excluding Crimea)
146,877,088 (including Crimea); (As of: 2018)
Languages Russian
Electricity grid 220 volts, 50 Hz
Area code +7
Time zone UTC+2 to UTC+12

 

New Zealand – a destination of longing at the other end of the world

PatrickJullien
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New Zealand – a destination of longing at the other end of the world

It is a country where myths and traditions mean everything to many people. It is a country where nature celebrates triumphs in all its facets and fascinates holidaymakers from all over the world. It is a country where there is much more than cows in the meadows and shy kiwis in the forests. It is the country of which Europeans say that only the moon is further away than New Zealand. A journey to the other end of the globe leads to scenic wonders, pastures, wilderness and an almost unbelievable expanse. New Zealand is a country for people who have retained a sense of the important things in life and of originality.

New Zealand, Auckland
View of Auckland, Image: Sorang / shutterstock
New Zealand is simply a destination of longing for many holidaymakers. Some shy away from the long flights, but those who go to this distant country can interrupt this journey. For example, halfway – in Singapore. And if you go on a round trip by car or motorhome, you probably choose the right form of holiday. Because these different landscapes in New Zealand make almost every visitor euphoric. It is the residence of the “Lord of the Rings” and it is the ancestral home of the Maori. Only four million people live in New Zealand – and this in a territory that is as large as Germany with its two main islands. Even Sydney Parkinson, whom the legendary navigator and explorer James Cook took with him as a painter on his first voyage, raved about the landscape at Tolaga Bay in 1769, where the “Endeavour” anchored: “The area is indescribable and beautiful. It could represent a second paradise.”
Diversity New Zealand
The diversity in New Zealand is limitless, Image: Leelakajonkij / shutterstock
For the Maori, their homeland is the “Land of the Long White Cloud”. According to tradition, the seafarer Kupe once sailed from Hawaiki, the legendary homeland of the Maori, to New Zealand – and a white cloud showed him the way. The children of the Maori celebrate the old rites in their schools. They move to the beat of the historical incantation dances of the Polynesians. Anyone who passes by such a school should not be afraid to present themselves there, because guests from another world are always welcome. For all the inhabitants of New Zealand, their homeland is a promised land, created on an extraordinary day in the story of creation. This is a country full of contrasts, with green pastures where a few million sheep graze, with the romantic beaches of the Bay of Islands, with a colourful mix of vibrant metropolises such as Auckland and Wellington, with the ski slopes of Mount Ruhapehu and with the huge glaciers on the South Island.
Manuka Honey New Zealand
A popular souvenir from New Zealand is the Manuka honey produced there, Image: studio presence / shutterstock
These two islands between Australia and Antarctica are home to friendly people and strange birds. One of them is the kakapo, a parrot that can neither fly nor talk. On the coasts, visitors will meet many albatrosses on their round trip and, with a bit of luck, the increasingly rare kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird, in the forests. While the North Island is blessed with a subtropical climate, the icy mountain giants of the South Island present themselves with a tart charm. In the north, the muddy deserts of the active volcanoes swirl near Tongariro, in the south there are penguins and sea lions on the wild coasts. New Zealand is undoubtedly a godsend for people who can’t get enough of the beauties of nature.

Travel information New Zealand

Capital Wellington
Form of government , parliamentary monarchy, parliamentary democracy (Westminster system)
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Area 269,652 km²
Population approx. 4,793,700 (2017 est.)
Languages English
Power supply 230 volts, 50 Hz
Calling code +264
Time zone UTC+12 NZST UTC+13 NZDT (October to March)

 

Honeymoon: Romantic hours together on the beach and sea

PatrickJullien
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Honeymoon: Romantic hours together on the beach and sea

The honeymoon is the most romantic holiday together you can imagine. Because while the wedding celebration was also intended for the families and friends of the new couple, the honeymoon is only for the couple themselves. Now they have time for each other, can enjoy the first days and weeks as a married couple and recover from the stress of wedding preparation. Honeymoons are therefore not planned like an ordinary holiday trip, but with a focus on romance.

Why do married couples travel after the wedding?

Honeymoon City
Romantic cities such as Paris or Venice are also popular destinations for young couples, Image: Ekaterina Pokrovsky / shutterstcok

In the past, honeymoons were reserved exclusively for aristocrats and wealthy citizens, the average population could not afford this luxury and did not have time for it. In the wealthy strata of society, on the other hand, marriages were concluded for tactical reasons and the couples had only seen each other a few times beforehand if they were lucky. On a honeymoon, they should be able to get to know each other in peace after the marriage and, of course, father children. In the 20th century, more and more middle-class couples went on honeymoons and used this time to celebrate their love and start their marriage with a beautiful experience together – a development that continues to this day.

What is on offer on a honeymoon?

A honeymoon is not an ordinary couple’s holiday, as most newlyweds have certainly done together a few times. On the honeymoon, the reception in the hotel often shows that this is about love and togetherness. The room is usually also romantically decorated, many hotels have their own bridal suites and spread red rose petals on the bed or prepare the bathroom accordingly when the couple arrives. The hotel offers candlelight dinners and sometimes there are also activities especially for couples, if the hotel is popular as a location for newlyweds. Especially in typical honeymoon regions like the Maldives, you can expect a lot and look forward to a great honeymoon time.

Where is the honeymoon going?

Honeymoon Candlelight Dinner
A candlelight dinner is a must on a romantic honeymoon, Image: Sven Hansche / shutterstock

Speaking of location – the honeymoon is something special and so should the location. Of course, the typical regions such as the Maldives or the Seychelles come into question. Here seclusion meets wellness and fantastic landscape, the sea and luxurious hotels are also available. Such a honeymoon is unforgettable, but it also has its price. Cheaper trips lead to the Mediterranean, for example, where there is also plenty of sun and great honeymoon hotels. But it can also be a great experience if the newlywed couple fulfills a joint dream for the occasion and chooses a honeymoon that does not correspond to the romantic cliché at all. Going to where both have always wanted to go as their first shared experience in marriage is also a romantic way to swear eternal love to each other.

Camping: Why caravans, motorhomes and tents are so popular

PatrickJullien
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Camping: Why caravans, motorhomes and tents are so popular

Pack your bags and just set off: the simplicity of camping is just one of the advantages of travelling with a tent or caravan. At the campsite or in the great outdoors, peace, relaxation and a lot of adventure await.

Whether with a tent or a campervan: the types of camping

Not all camping is the same. If you like it very rudimentary, pack a bag and a small tent and just drive off. Campsites are everywhere and the tent is quickly pitched and dismantled. The caravan is a little more luxurious, which brings a little everyday life to the campsite thanks to its bed and sanitary facilities. Similar to the tent, the motorhome is quickly saddled and parked on another pitch. No matter which variant: camping has many advantages – from tranquility to simplicity.

Camping: The advantages

A bit of independence: camping holiday in a tent, Image: varuna / shutterstock

Camping means distance from the stress of everyday life. Once the caravan is set up or the tent has been set up – which rarely takes longer than ten minutes – peace and relaxation in nature are the order of the day. Smartphones and laptops can finally be switched off, but if you need to stay up to date while on holiday, you will usually find wifi or even an internet café at the campsites.
Holidaymakers travelling by tent or motorhome determine their travel pace all by themselves. Whether the entire holiday is spent in one place or a new destination is on the agenda every day: everything is possible.

Be one with nature

Campers don’t have to worry about anything except the next meal. Depending on the destination, dinner consists of the offers of the local market or of your own catch. By the sea, campers have the opportunity to fish or collect fresh mussels. For breakfast, depending on the region, there are ripe figs or grapes that can be picked. City dwellers learn to enjoy the benefits of nature and nature lovers enjoy direct contact with the forest and sea.
Most campsites are also child- and pet-friendly, which means that camping holidays with dogs or camping holidays with children are no problem. On the contrary: children and four-legged friends feel much more comfortable in nature than in a hotel room.

More family time camping

Camping Caravan
With the caravan you take a little comfort with you to the campsite, Image: welcomia/shutterstock

There are no domestic distractions when camping. Families spend time together playing board games or going on joint excursions to sights and tourist spots. Tip: With an
inflatable family tent, the set-up is even faster
 – then the holiday can start right away and the children can have fun helping with the set-up.

For couples, a camping holiday is an opportunity to enjoy togetherness in nature. When cooking and barbecuing outdoors, everyone can help to prepare a delicious meal from fresh ingredients. At many campsites, barbecues are held together until late at night.

Learn and discover

Life in a tent or camper van cannot be compared to the routine at home. Giving up luxury is a liberating experience that makes you appreciate the benefits of daily life more. Children discover a lot of new things at the campsite and also learn a lot. Whether it’s how to drive an inflatable boat or how to prepare certain dishes: new experiences await you around every corner when camping.

Affordable holidays

Since a camping holiday is usually very inexpensive, the resources can be invested in exciting excursions. Short trips are no problem thanks to the proximity of the campsites to the tourist sites. The nice thing about camping: if everything has been experienced in one place, the tents can be broken up and pitched again somewhere else. Travelers are not tied to any place and enjoy the vacation days where they like it best.

Getting up when the sun rises, going to sleep under the stars: camping is ideal for nature lovers who like to drift. The natural rhythm shows where to go and the next experience often comes naturally. That’s why a holiday with a tent or caravan is a must-have experience.

Cycling holiday: Relax and discover on a bike

PatrickJullien
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Cycling holiday: Relax and discover on a bike

The most precious weeks of the year, the holiday season, are spent by more and more people on bicycles. What makes cycling holidays so fascinating?

Cycling is healthy per se. Joint-friendly, moderate movement sequences in the fresh air offer a high degree of relaxation and have a stress-relieving and condition-promoting effect. Cycling is beneficial and also great fun. If the sight of exciting landscapes and the enjoyment of art and cultural sites along the route provide variety, a cycling holiday can be very relaxing and memorable.

Booked as a package or planning your own?

Cycling holidays have not only been booming since yesterday. In the mid-90s, the boom began with river cycle paths. This popular form of travel by pedal on a riverbank has proven itself to this day. It is not only the idea of fitness that gets holidaymakers in the saddle of their bikes. Along the way, rivers are experienced in the truest sense of the word and accompanied in their course; the spirit of adventure and discovery is not neglected either. Despite modern GPS equipment, cycle path apps and detailed cycling maps, a sense of direction and cleverness are required during an individually planned bike tour. If you travel on your own rim, you will take care of supply and overnight accommodation, rest areas and “sights” along the route.

Bike Tour City Trip
Exploring the city by bike, Image: Akhenaton Images / shutterstock

Package cycling tourists have it easier. They book a trip from A to B, get rental bikes, maybe a scout and know in which town and in which accommodation they can recover from an eventful day of cycling. In addition, package cycle tourists cycle WITHOUT luggage. This will be transported by the organizer to the next place of accommodation.

Themed cycle paths and rugged coastal tours

In addition to the popular river cycle paths, themed cycling tours such as regional castle routes, gourmet routes, industrial monument routes and also the combination with a boat holiday are now offered. In the course of the relatively young history of cycling holidays, not only has the range of all-inclusive cycling holidays developed and expanded, but cycling tourists have become more demanding. Anyone who has already ridden the queens of the river cycle routes, the Danube and Elbe cycle paths, in Germany and neighbouring countries, is striving for “higher things”. The North Sea Coast Cycle Route is almost 6,000 km long and requires not only a good level of fitness, but also professional equipment and detailed, long-term planning. The tour leads from the German North Sea coast via Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Great Britain and the Netherlands and offers great adventure potential in addition to magnificent nature experiences.

Cycling holidays in the mild Mallorcan climate

Cycling holidays in the countryside
Cycling holiday in the countryside, Image: Samo Trebizan / shutterstock

If you like it milder in terms of climate, book a cycling holiday in Mallorca. Whether with your own bike – airlines transport the bike at moderate prices – or with a borrowed bike from one of the numerous bike rental companies on Mallorca. It is important to book accommodation in good time during the peak travel season; this is not likely to be easy in the high season and in the tourist strongholds. This is because cycle tourists usually only stay one night, and accommodation providers have little interest in making their accommodation available only for short overnight stays. Tip: Decide on the route with stopovers and overnight stops at home and clarify whether you should make a reservation before starting your journey from Germany .

Perfect cycling holiday

The idea of relaxation, fitness and adventure should not be missing on any cycling holiday. And if the weather cooperates – after all, cycling tourists spend most of the year in the open air – nothing stands in the way of a perfect cycling holiday!

 

The luxury of freedom: holidays in holiday homes and apartments

PatrickJullien
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The luxury of freedom: holidays in holiday homes and apartments

Barefoot and disheveled at the breakfast table, drinking coffee in pajamas while the first one takes a shower – every day begins like a Sunday, you spend your holiday in a holiday home or apartment. The self-catering holiday gives you all the freedom you could wish for. Casual privacy, plenty of space to live, live and relax, as well as time and financial flexibility are privileges that are always included in the booking price for holiday apartments and holiday homes.

Holiday homes and holiday apartments: holidays with character

As colourful as the world, as diverse are the holiday apartments and holiday homes around the globe. And individuality is not immediately expressed in the price. From family holiday home settlements with beach access to lonely fireplace houses in the mountains, there is accommodation for every taste in all price ranges. The self-catering variant is also enjoying growing popularity for city trips. You live particularly curiously if you rent a tree house or houseboat for your holiday.

And it’s not just the location that counts: authentic local colour is part of the basic atmospheric equipment of holiday homes and holiday apartments. In North America , people snuggle up in front of the fireplace with a hot chocolate in Canadian woollen blankets, while in the West Indies , people fry their fish in the open-air kitchen of the stilt house.

Holiday apartment and holiday home: local recreation included

Almost as a matter of course, holiday homes and apartments offer beautiful opportunities to spend time outdoors. Roof terrace or veranda, garden plot or community pool on the holiday resort – no one needs to sit in the room.

In addition, the larger space with bedrooms, kitchen and living area also gives you all the possibilities to retreat or socialize indoors. So you have ideal conditions for a harmonious group or family holiday!

Whether it’s an uncomplicated log cabin, luxury villa with a bathing area and marble floors or something in between: you are sure to find the right accommodation for everyone thanks to the wide range of offers.

Eat what your heart desires in the holiday home

There are no fixed meal times, so neither late risers nor early risers have to start the day hungry. You put what you like in the fridge and everyone can fully pursue their culinary preferences.

The fact that you always have the choice of when and where you eat also keeps your schedule and budget smooth. Before breakfast, no one has to wait in their room until everyone has freshened up, if you prepare your daily provisions in the holiday kitchen, you don’t have to look for the right snack on the way. Whether you dress up again in the evening for a fine dinner or prefer to slip into comfortable clothes and prepare a simple pasta dish “at home” can be decided anew every day.

Exciting discoveries at the holiday destination

When shopping for groceries, you get to know the holiday destination from a completely different side, and what is everyday life at home becomes an experience. You rummage through foreign sweets and nibbles and discover curious canned food. In the Croatian supermarket, for example, there are meters of nuts and dried fruit to fill yourself, in the Azores you can shovel mussels into your bag and in Norway you stand in front of the refrigerated shelf and are amused by the riddle that the fish pudding poses to you. Of course, as a self-caterer, you always have the best access to the regional specialties and can try your way through as you please. In addition, foreign foods such as myrtle honey, chestnut beer, cod in tomato dressing or chestnut jam are wonderful as individual souvenirs for those who stayed at home.

Practical: everything fits in the holiday home!

Whether it’s a surfboard or children’s toys, there is room for everything you need in a holiday home or holiday apartment. Even if you take your dog with you on holiday, you are in good hands here. Two-person apartments are available as well as two-storey residential buildings for large groups. Or you can rent two neighboring houses with a family friend and thus combine conviviality with privacy.

In the common rooms you can spread out casually – a big plus, especially for children – and because room service doesn’t snow in every day, you just leave your things lying around unabashedly when you feel like it.

Having space in the fridge even on holiday is also a nice thing. A washing machine in the holiday home also reduces the luggage; Shower and tea towels as well as bed linen can usually be rented on site for a small surcharge.

The Netherlands: Is it all just cheese?

PatrickJullien
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The Netherlands: Is it all just cheese?

“Holland is the coolest city in the world” says a song by the band “275ers”. The Essen band knows what they are talking about. Because the Netherlands is not far from the Ruhr area. But also coming from Lower Saxony, the Lower Rhine or the Rhineland, people crossed the border quickly. If you prefer to travel by plane, you should fly to Amsterdam or Maastricht near Aachen. From the German border, several trains and long-distance buses run to Rotterdam, Amsterdam or Eindhoven. The well-developed road transport network and the numerous ferries ensure that you can get to the many islands of the Netherlands safely and quickly.

A picturesque sunset at the North Sea in the Netherlands, Image: Rudmer Zwerver / shutterstock

Colloquially, the Netherlands is often referred to as Holland. North and South Holland are two of the country’s 12 provinces. Together, they make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The head of state is King Wilhelm Alexander, who has ruled since 2013. In his honour, there is the “Koningsdag” (King’s Day) every year, which takes place on the king’s birthday. On April 27 every year, the Dutch celebrate exuberantly on the streets, sell drinks or homemade food and dress in the national colors. On this day, the whole nation lights up in orange.

In addition to French fries with frikandel, stamppot, a hearty stew, is a popular dish of the Dutch. You can get a delicious soft ice cream or poffertjes that look like small pancakes on almost every corner. After a leisurely walk along one of the many canals or a leisurely bike ride along the windmills and tulip fields, such a meal is just right.

Tulips Amsterdam Netherlands
A beautiful sea of tulips in the middle of Amsterdam

The Netherlands is known for its different types of cheese: there is always something going on at the weekly and cheese markets and so buying a cheese wheel becomes a real spectacle. In the cities of Gouda, Edam or Alkmaar, cheese merchants gather on different days of the week, competing in their classic outfit of blue and white striped shirts, wooden slippers and caps.

The Netherlands has a mild climate and it can be a bit stormy, especially in the coastal areas. If you are on the road with e-bikes, you are on the safe side and make good progress. For this reason, cities such as Hellevoetsluis or Eegmond aan Zee are very popular with windsurfers and sailors. But the IJsselmeer is also a real surfer’s and sailor’s paradise. The dunes and the sea are a relaxation for the soul. An overnight stay in a tent or camper van is not only very popular with the locals. Make sure that the places for camping and camping are advertised. It is not always allowed to spend the night on the beach.

Somewhat more sheltered from the wind and more popular with families are the more southern coasts. The cities of Domburg, Kamperland or Oostkapelle are also very popular with couples and single travellers. The quaint shopping arcades invite you to go shopping.

Mudflat walks and museums explain to visitors the beauty of nature, which is protected in many nature parks. The nature parks offer holidaymakers peace and seclusion from everyday life.

If you need a little more action, you should visit one of the many amusement parks. The Dutch love fast roller coasters and the like. In most amusement parks, French fries, soft ice cream and drinks are included in the price.

Travel information Netherlands

Capital Amsterdam (seat of government: The Hague)
Form of government constitutional monarchy
autonomous country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Currency Euro (EUR)
Area approx. 41,500 km²
Population approx. 17,140,000 (as of 2017)
Languages Dutch
Electricity grid 230 Volt / 50 Hz
Area code +31
Time zone UTC+1 CET
UTC+2 CEST (March to October)

 

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