Rediscover Mallorca with a rental car

PatrickJullien

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30. May 2025

Without a rental car, a wonderful holiday in Mallorca is of course possible, without question! But with your own car, it can be an unforgettable and, above all, very varied holiday.

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Car hire for your hotel holiday

Individual tours are becoming more and more popular, and even if you have booked a package tour, it makes sense to take a rental car. Who has ever liked to commute for hours to their hotel in a shared bus? Every few minutes a stopover on the way to drop off all guests at their holiday home. A journey of one hour, for example to Cala Millor on the east coast of the island, can quickly turn into a 3-hour tour in a stuffy coach. With a rental car, on the other hand, you can get to the longed-for holiday destination quickly and easily. It is best to find out about the different providers early on:
Car rental in Mallorca – The best providers

Driving fun all over the island

Cala D'or, southeast of Mallorca — Cala D’or, Image: jasminepersson96 / Pixabay

The roads in Mallorca have been very well developed in recent years. Striking and unusual at first are the many roundabouts. But this makes exploring the island even more fun. A round trip on the popular Balearic island can be arranged in different ways. No matter which route you have chosen in the end, you will always come back on one of the very well-developed and smoothly to drive main connecting roads. This does not mean that the side roads are less passable. Maybe sometimes a little narrow, steep or curvy, but waiting times at traffic lights are hardly experienced anymore and potholes, gravel paths or cobblestones are rarely found.

Discover all facets of the island

Many hikers are looking for peace and quiet, and find it best on a small secluded rocky island on the west side of Mallorca. From the charming village of Sant Elm, a small boat goes to Sa Dragonera, affectionately known as Dragon Island. This beautiful square is difficult to reach by public transport.

If you are planning a trip to the beautiful Tramuntana mountains, you should not miss the serpentine drive. The winding cobbled roads offer a thoroughly unforgettable driving pleasure. On one side you can look into steep, sloping slopes and on the other side meter-high rock formations protrude from the ground. If this seems too exciting and dangerous for you, you can still come north to reach the small town of Sóller as your destination. On the way over the mountains, there are countless opportunities for a stopover. Be it the breathtaking view into the distance over thousands of olive trees, orange farms and wine-growing regions, or one of the small hidden mountain lakes. You will discover curious goats and sheep along the roadside, and occasionally small herds of cows by the water.

Party holiday with cultural programme

If you have booked a holiday with friends, a club or family in El Arenal , you most likely want to have a lot of fun, go partying, turn night into day, enjoy the beach and the sea. Of course, the cultural program will not be neglected either. In principle, public shuttle buses run to Palma and back several times a day. The closer you live to Ballermann 1, the higher the probability that the journey into the city in the morning will hardly be a problem. The prices are also affordable.

Streets Mallorca — Image: Juergen Faelchle / shutterstock

But if you live in the direction of Ballermann 15, in the quiet village of Can Pastilla, the buses are usually so full in the morning that you can’t get a seat and have to wait for a later one. After the day has started angrily, you might be able to laugh about it again in the afternoon after visiting the cathedral or an extensive shopping tour. Or not. Because in the late afternoon, everyone – tourists, hotel staff and party guests – wants to go exactly where they came from.

In fact, it is not uncommon for many buses to stop at some stops in Palma in the afternoon. Simply because they are simply full! With a rental car, you can get from A to B much faster. But he travels much more relaxed and will mainly remember positive experiences of his well-deserved vacation

Visas for travel to Australia – what to consider

Australia

PatrickJullien

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30. May 2025

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Visas for travel to Australia – what to consider

Australia is a fascinating country. Especially the flora and fauna and the scenic features make the country a real tourist magnet. But if you are planning a trip to Australia, you should not only deal with your itinerary when planning, but also remember that a visa Australia is necessary for entry. To ensure that the planned trip can be started without any problems, it is advisable to apply for the required visa in good time.

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Suitable visas for the Australia trip

There are different visas that can be applied for entry. The eVisitor is a so-called business and tourist visa and is the most commonly used. Alternatively, an ETA for Australia can also be applied for. While Germans and Austrians have the choice of applying for the ETA or eVisitor visa, travelers with citizenship of the USA, Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Brunei must apply for the ETA. Since tourists from Germany and Austria have the choice, the eVisitor is recommended to them, as it is associated with lower costs.

Requirements for obtaining an eVisitor

To use the eVisitor, it must be a business or leisure trip. Depending on the specific case, the eVisitor is also sufficient for voluntary work. However, this depends on the individual case. However, work for payment is not allowed with an eVisitor under any circumstances. So if you are planning work and travel, you need either a work permit or a working holiday visa. If a pure holiday trip is planned, however, there are no problems with the eVisitor and this is also completely sufficient. As a general rule, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months upon departure. The planned length of stay in Australia should not exceed 3 months at a time.

An eVisitor is denied if the applicant has outstanding debts to Australian authorities . Even those who have been sentenced to a prison sentence of more than 12 months do not receive permission to enter the country. In addition, entry is denied if tuberculosis is present at the time of entry.

Validity period of an eVisitor

It is no problem to apply for the eVisitor early, because the eVisitor remains valid for 12 months from the day of approval. During the validity period, entry is possible at any time. Entry is also possible again and again within this period, as long as a single stay does not exceed 3 months. It is not possible to renew an eVisitor, but new visas can be applied for as often as you like. However, at the time of application, it is imperative that the applicant from a visa is not in Australia.

Apply for visas conveniently online

View of Sydney, Image: Rudy Balasko / shutterstock

The eVisitor can be applied for very easily. There is the possibility to apply for an eVisitor for a single person as well as to apply for a visa for several people with one application. All this can be done conveniently online, so that the visa application takes hardly any time and is possible without much effort. Since the passport numbers are necessary for the application, it should of course be at hand. The cost of an eVisitor is €14.95 per person and must be paid directly at the time of application. This also applies to applications within a group application.

If you need a working holiday visa to be able to work during your trip, you have to reckon with significantly higher costs, because here the price for the visa is 450 AUS$ (approx. 280 €) per person. However, it is also true that a continuous stay of 12 months is possible. The special tourist visa can be applied for by German and Austrian backpackers who have not yet exceeded the age of 31.

Another alternative can be the Visitor Visa. This can be provided if a longer stay is planned. With this visa, travelers can enjoy a stay for up to 12 months at a time. It should be noted that costs of about 90 € must be expected here and that the processing of the application takes at least 3 weeks.

Short-term to visa Australia with urgent application

Anyone who wants to travel must already be in possession of a visa. Already at the check-in at the airport, it is checked whether a valid ETA or eVisitor visa is available. If this is not the case, the trip cannot be started. If you are planning to travel at short notice or if you forgot to apply for a visa in time, an urgent application can help. But here, too, a processing time of a few hours must be expected. In addition, a surcharge of € 17.50 is due for urgent applications. In individual cases, however, the approval can be delayed and so the urgent application should also be submitted a few days before the start of the trip, because this is the only way to be on the safe side.

Beautiful destinations for a cycling holiday

PatrickJullien

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30. May 2025

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Beautiful destinations for a cycling holiday

Cycling holidays are very much in vogue. Tour operators have long recognized this and are enticing with great offers. The possibilities are almost inexhaustible. If you like it, you can cycle through the most beautiful landscapes in Europe or along a themed cycle path. Many people don’t want to travel exclusively by bike on holiday. Then a hotel in a bicycle-friendly location with cycle paths right outside the door is recommended. Not only Germany can be easily explored by bike. There are very well-developed cycle paths throughout Europe, which often even lead past the most beautiful sights of the country. Below are all the tips for the most beautiful European cycling holiday destinations.

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Along the German coasts and the islands

Cycling holidays Germany — Relaxed cycling through Germany, Image: Oleksiy Rezin / shutterstock

The cycle paths in Germany are very well developed. Especially along the rivers and seas you will find a whole range of scenically inviting cycling routes. The north of Germany is particularly attractive for cyclists due to its flat location. Here you can cycle along the entire coast without any significant incline. Sylt is very popular with cyclists. The whole island is developed with cycle paths and many are located in the middle of beautiful landscapes or lead directly along the coast. From List to Hörnum you can cycle along cycle paths throughout.

Hotels and campsites are geared towards cycling day tourists and offer offers for holidaymakers who make a bicycle tour of the island. The East Frisian islands and coastal areas also offer attractions for bicycle tourists. Here you can cycle directly on the dike with a fresh breeze and enjoy a fantastic panorama. Most East Frisian islands are car-free and the bicycle is the only means of transport for tourists. A bike tour along the Kiel Canal is also unforgettable. Wanderlust arises, because many a big pot passes by and with a bit of luck you can even see a cruise ship.

Attractive cycle paths along rivers

Europe is crisscrossed by large and small rivers. They all score with beautiful cycle paths that lead directly past the well-known sights and always lead along the banks of the river. One of the most famous is the Elbe Cycle Path. Tourists from all over the world move along the river and discover the well-known landscapes by bike. In addition, the Elbe Cycle Path offers other attractions.

For example, it often runs along the former German-German border, because the Elbe was also considered the border river between East and West Germany. In addition, stages lead past the German Stork Road. For example, in the Wendland you can admire storks everywhere, which have built their nests on chimneys or old factory storms. Tours along the Rhine are also worthwhile. Interesting cities such as the fashion metropolis of Düsseldorf or the carnival stronghold of Cologne await you here. In between are picturesque natural idylls, such as the Rhine Valley near Königswinter with the island of Nonnenwerth or the Rhine floodplains near Bonn. Great cycling areas also await visitors along the Weser, the Isar and the Lippe.

Denmark is a paradise for cyclists

Copenhagen has been voted the bicycle capital of Europe several times and rightly so. Nowhere else in a capital city can you find such good opportunities for bicycle tourists. The sights can be easily explored by bike. Buses also offer sufficient opportunities for cyclists to take them along. North of Copenhagen there are fantastically located bike paths that lead directly along the coast.

But not only the capital, but also Funen and Jutland attract with unique attractions for cycling holidaymakers. The coastal areas of the Little and Great Belt have a large number of national bicycle lanes. If you want to discover the whole of Denmark , you can simply cycle along the Marguerite Route. The coastal road leads exclusively along the Danish coast and always through particularly beautiful landscapes and nature reserves.

The good thing here is also the flat landscape. Cyclists rarely have to struggle with inclines and so this cycling holiday is guaranteed to be a relaxing experience. There is a lot to see on the routes along the Limfjord. On the Salling peninsula, the cycle path leads over the disused island railway route. From Skive to the Sallingsund Bridge, you cycle through quaint villages with chalk-white churches and the beautiful beaches invite you to linger.

Cycling through the Benelux

The Netherlands is the cycling nation of Europe. The whole country is crisscrossed with cycle paths and the capital Amsterdam also has an exemplary network of cycle paths. A bike tour along the canals or the Dutch North Sea coast is guaranteed to provide plenty of variety. Here you will find well-known cities, such as the cozy cheese town of Alkmaar or the port city of Rotterdam.

In the hinterland, Bruinisse and Andijk are top-class holiday areas. The border area with Germany and Belgium is also known for its very well-developed cycle paths. Here you will find the border town of Kerkrade with its idyllic market square and the region around Vaals, which is located in the middle of the border triangle. In Belgium, too, you will find excellent cycle paths along the coast. If you like it more sporty, you should set off on tours through the Ardennes. Here you can torture yourself over extreme inclines and are rewarded with fantastic views of picturesque Belgian small towns. Malmedy and the small town of Eupen near the German border are well worth seeing. For nature-loving cyclists, tours through green Luxembourg are a must. The area around Vianden is particularly beautiful.

Cycle tours to Southern Europe

Cycling in Mallorca, Image: kovop58 / shutterstock

The south of Europe scores with beautiful weather and well-known sights. Some areas are also attractive for cyclists. The Spanish coastal regions of Costa Brava and Costa Dorada offer charming roads that lead right past the busy beaches.

The island of Mallorca is particularly recommended. Mountain bikers will find the best opportunities here. France has less well-developed cycle paths. But you can cycle safely over remote roads here. These lead, for example, through the landscapes of Provence marked with lavender blossoms or through the green, historic and often deserted region of Picardy. Brittany is particularly attractive for cyclists.

In the low season you will find only a few tourists here and you can enjoy the beautiful beaches alone. If you want to reach these beaches, you have to pedal hard, because first you usually have to conquer extreme gradients. Then it goes steeply downhill directly to the beach with a dream panorama. England offers hardly developed cycle paths. Nevertheless, you should not shy away from a cycling holiday. Most holidaymakers cycle through the Lake District north of Manchester. Some are drawn to the border region with Scotland and the Pennines. But if you cycle here, you need an off-road bike and weatherproof clothing.

Winter camping: How to keep your motorhome comfortably warm

PatrickJullien

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30. May 2025

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Winter camping: How to keep your motorhome comfortably warm

Many motorhomes have long been winterized on their parking lot. Winter camping in snow and ice has its own special charm, because even in the freezing cold, outdoor life can be enjoyed to the fullest. If you take the following tips to heart, you will have it wonderfully warm in your camper throughout your holiday.

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Winter camping: Insulating the vehicle properly

Powerful heating and good insulation should not be missing on board when winter camping. To ensure that it remains comfortable in the vehicle at all times, a lot of equipment is added. Warm duvets and extra fleece blankets are a must on any trip to the snow. In many vehicles, there are so-called “cold bridges” in the floor area. If the camper has neither carpets nor underfloor heating, sleeping mats or special heating mats are laid out. This means that pets travelling with you will also be comfortable at night. Thermal mats or films on the windows and doors help against cold bridges on the windows. Icy air likes to penetrate the cab. To prevent the cold from entering the living area, a thermal curtain is simply hung between the areas. In the case of a panel van, rear door insulation is also recommended. Especially in winter, many campers shy away from the lengthy construction of the awning. However, as a climate lock and mud flap, it has many advantages. The summer models are not necessarily recommended for icy temperatures. Partial tents are ideal as winter awnings to reduce the snow load, as well as a wide rotten strip that keeps dripping and melt water outside. Another plus is the extra storage space. With a stove, the awning becomes a cozy terrace from which to watch the snow drift.

How is heating used during winter camping?

For winter camping, it is best to use a gas cylinder with a correspondingly high propane content, because the otherwise common butane is not able to change its aggregate state from liquid to gaseous in frost. Suitable models can be found online, for example.

Depending on how well the camper is insulated, the gas consumption is three to five kilograms per day. Two gas cylinders of 11 kg each last about five to seven days in the cold. Nothing is more annoying when winter camping than having to go out into the snow in the middle of the night to change a gas bottle. “Duo-Control” ensures a peaceful sleep. Two gas cylinders can be connected on board. If one is empty, the supply automatically comes from the other bottle. Some vehicles have a gas level indicator in the on-board electronics. If this is not available, the supply can be checked regularly with a gas scale or a special gas checker. Other heat sources on board are:

Infrared heating
Catalytic furnaces
Electric Radiant Heater
Heating lamp especially for the awning

Important: An electric radiant heater should only be connected in exceptional cases, as the power consumption in the vehicle is already higher in winter due to the early onset of darkness. Whenever possible, shore power should be used and the operation of power guzzlers should be restricted.

This is how the water supply works in winter in a motorhome

A big issue in winter camping is the freezing of the water pipes. Water tanks that can be heated provide a remedy and prevent frost damage to the system. Models with an antifreeze monitor counteract the freezing of the boiler. It should be noted here that the valve opens automatically at an ambient temperature of below four degrees Celsius and the water runs out. Before filling, the on-board heating is therefore put into operation one hour in advance. Most of the waste water tanks in the camper are not heatable. Here it helps to place a bucket under it and simply let the water drain away. If you don’t want the water to freeze, an antifreeze is added directly to the bucket. This is also filled into the sinks shortly before the caravan is parked so that the water in the pipes does not freeze. In frost, smaller tanks can no longer be emptied properly, which is why a bucket as large as possible is placed under it for the only slightly soiled gray water. If the grey water tank is not insulated, the drain gate valve is permanently opened at very low temperatures and a collection container is placed underneath.

Feel good in the right place

The success of winter camping stands and falls not only with the right preparation and equipment, but also with the place. If you are not a fan of a survival holiday, look for a place with heated sanitary facilities and drying rooms for ski equipment and other laundry. If it does get too uncomfortable in the camper, lounges with Wi-Fi are practical. The relaxation factor is also significantly increased if there is a sauna, steam bath or even an indoor pool on the course.

DLT Travel – The Italy Experts

PatrickJullien

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30. May 2025

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When German holidaymakers are drawn abroad, Italy is considered the most popular destination for Germans, along with the Balearic Islands. Whether it’s a city trip to one of the many interesting cities in the country, culinary delicacies in Tuscany or a beach holiday on the beach. Italy’s diversity is limitless.

However, the search for the right holiday destination can quickly become a challenge with the diversity of the southern European country. Support in planning your trip is available from the Italy specialist DLT Travel. In addition to personal contacts with hotels and agencies, the tour operator from Büchenbach in Central Franconia also draws on the expertise and hotel network of the Italian parent company DLT Viaggi, which has been present on the Italian market since 2006.

Vieste on the Adriatic Sea — Vieste on the Adriatic coast, Image:
By: Kite_rin / shutterstock

With more than 50 employees, the company is currently located in the port city of Formia (approx. 80 kilometers away from Naples) is active in the care of those interested in Italian travel.

More than half a million followers on Facebook and a satisfaction rate of over 95% ensure that the success story of the parent company was presented by Facebook in 2015 at the Confommercio in Rome . The Group has always distinguished itself by the fact that, in addition to the pure presentation of holiday destinations, it also promotes technical innovations. In addition to some innovations in the booking process, for example in video production for better presentation of the hotel facilities.

This quality is now being transferred to the German market with its own location.

But DLT Travel is much more than just an Italy specialist. True to the company’s own motto: “Simply travel with quality”, the portfolio includes a large selection of high-quality and low-cost offers to the most popular destinations. It doesn’t matter whether the holiday is to take place by the sea or in the mountains. When browsing the website, you can easily get alternative suggestions. Why not spend the first rays of sunshine of the year in Vieste in Puglia and get yourself in the right summer mood.

There is a particularly great variety in the range of group and bus tours. Take advantage of the next regulars’ table of your circle of friends and let yourself be inspired by the cultural possibilities. In 2020, for example, there will be the opportunity to experience the opera La Bohème as a group at the traditional Puccini Festival. The anticipation already begins with the joint journey by bus.

But the cultural offerings within Germany are also impressive. Anyone who has ever been a visitor to a major event (concert, musical) will confirm that the hectic journey to and from the event takes away a lot of the joy. With an organized bus tour, you can relax and concentrate on the main event.

Special highlight: The latest offers and special specials can be found quarterly in the downloadable print catalogue. Even more inspiration to leaf through.

Other things to note about DLT Travel:

- Travel insurance: DLT Travel works with renowned travel insurers such as Hanse Merkur to secure your trip
- From a total sum of 400 euros, it is possible to pay off the trip in monthly installments (deposit: 100 euros)
- Here you can find the website of DLT travel: >>
  
  https://www.dlt.travel/de

You can download the current offers as a PDF here: >>

DLT Online Catalogue

Relaxed parking at Frankfurt Airport

PatrickJullien

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30. May 2025

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Before every flight, as a traveler, you have to ask yourself the question: How do I, and my luggage, get to the desired destination airport in the best and most comfortable way? Just recently I read a “virtual cry for help” in an online forum, in which someone had to quickly move from Mainz Central Station to Frankfurt Airport. The holidaymaker was unable to access public transport due to train cancellations and fully booked buses.

An alternative is to book an airport taxi. However, this convenient option is not cheap and therefore not suitable for every budget.

Frankfurt Airport, Image: Pradeep Thomas Thundiyil / shutterstock

So if you want to get to the airport comfortably and inexpensively, we can only warmly recommend arriving in your own car. The advantages are obvious:

You pack your car in good time before departure and can thus make your home fit for a holiday without stress, e.g. close doors and windows, use up food or distribute it in the neighbourhood, take electronics off the grid
You have the security of arriving on time and are not dependent on the reliability of the taxi company or public transport.
Even after returning from vacation, you return home stress-free
Cost-effective parking

Cost-effective parking? At the airport? Yes, you read that right. That is possible. We tested the Frankfurt provider parkfuchs24.de (booking the parking space was easy and fast via the online portal) and flew to Madrid for four days. Our flight at Frankfurt Airport did not leave until late in the evening at 8.50 p.m. on Saturdays. We had already done the most important errands the day before, so we spontaneously decided to travel to Frankfurt early to look around the city after dropping off our luggage.

But first things first: After we had parked our car in the parking lot in Neu-Isenburg shortly after twelve, the shuttle bus took us to the desired Terminal 1 in less than 15 minutes.

Sightseeing in Frankfurt

What do you do in the Rhine-Main metropolis of Frankfurt if you have set yourself a time limit of just under five hours? Of course, first go out for a bite to eat.

What could be better suited here than the “Freßgass”, which is known beyond the Hessian state borders. Since the 1st World War, grocery stores have been coming here on Große Bockenheimer Straße.

Freshly strengthened, window shopping on the Zeil followed. Although you have to admit that window shopping is only half as much fun if you know from the outset that you won’t buy anything so as not to burden your holiday budget unnecessarily. After a visit to the Römerberg and extensive relaxation on the banks of the Main, we made our way back to the airport.

Returning from vacation – The car is already waiting

Four days later. Unfortunately, the vacation went by much too quickly. After we had taken our luggage off the conveyor belt, we called the Parkfuchs team. After the message that we landed safely, we were picked up directly in the entry and exit zone and driven to our car. As expected, this was still in the best condition in our chosen parking lot.

We would always fall back on the possibility to park our car in the shuttle parking lot. There are many advantages to this travel option to the airport:

Cheap price compared to the classic airport taxi
No dependence on train and train
Easy online booking
Video-monitored pitches
Fast and friendly shuttle service

The provider we have chosen, parkfuchs-24, also offers other services, which we have not used. If you don’t want to use the shuttle bus, you can hand over your vehicle to the service provider at the valet parking service (Valet) and get the car keys back in person, including the vehicle, if you wish, after your return. The possibility of subjecting your vehicle to exterior cleaning and car care during the holiday season promises bright prospects.

And if you return from vacation late in the evening or at the weekend and the refrigerator at home is empty, you have fresh food directly in the car with the help of the shopping service.

As if out of your mind – 5 tips for your enjoyment on your Gastein ski holiday

PatrickJullien

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30. May 2025

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As if out of your mind – 5 tips for your enjoyment on your Gastein ski holiday

Enjoyment is a positive sensory sensation that is associated with well-being: this is what the encyclopedia writes. Holiday enjoyment with all the senses – that’s what Gastein is committed to both in the valley and on the mountain!

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See, feel and hear Gastein’s enjoyment

Hut cuisine in Gastein, Image: © Gasteinertal Tourismus GmbH, Marktl

The fresh mountain air that tingles on your skin during the ski descent. The intense rays of sunshine on the viewing platform on the Stubnerkogel. The sound of the wind during a walk through the winter forest in the Angertal. The splashing of the thermal water in the Alpentherme or the Felsentherme. Do you feel, hear and see it yet? This is a holiday in Gastein. Over 200 kilometres of slopes, two thermal baths and a unique winter wonderland await you in Salzburger Land.

Ski toques: Pleasure to taste and smell

Taste is love of beauty, according to the philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson – and this love is raised far above the tree line in Gastein. Here, seven mountain restaurants and huts come under the ski hood. What does that mean? Seven award-winning chefs each create a speciality that is offered at one of the selected huts. In the four ski areas of the Gastein Valley, there are seven restaurants, each with a gourmet dish – and for less than 15 euros! Among the epicurean delights in recent years, there have been traditional Salzburg dishes with a certain twist: pickled fillet of organic beef with caramelized radicchio Tresiano, hot oven onions on buttered crumbs with smoked cheese and bacon, hearty venison soup, black pudding croquettes or buns have already been on the menu. Well, curious about what’s on offer this year? You have to taste that for yourself!

Summit breakfast in Gastein, Picture: © Gasteinertal Tourismus GmbH, Ausweger Daniel

That’s the (enjoyment) summit!

It is early in the morning, the first rays of sunshine touch the mountain peaks, slowly the mountain panorama of 400 peaks is bathed in velvety light. And you watch the scenery from a glass dome on the summit of the Kreuzkogel. In front of you is a richly laid table with fresh Salzburg bread, creamy cappuccino, hearty bacon and sweet jam. Accompanied by a freshly squeezed orange juice. This is the summit breakfast in Gastein. The Roman general Lucullus would also have enjoyed it. He was already known for his extravagant feasts 100 years BC. That is why the word “epicurean” is dedicated to him today.

Wahn-Sinn’s pleasure experiences by moonlight

Full Moon Dinner Gastein — A real experience: The full moon dinner, Image: © Gasteinertal Tourismus GmbH, Marktl Photography

Sophisticated and luxurious it continues in the Gastein Sinnes-Wandel. The Full Moon Dinner in Gastein is highly exclusive. During the full moon in February, March and April, you sit down at a long banquet in the middle of the open sky at an altitude of 1,590 meters. The surrounding mountains are wrapped in mystical, dark blue light. The table with torches is illuminated. On the plates an exquisite 5-course menu with ingredients from the region. Even the prominent Gastein spa guest and writer Franz Grillparzer knew: Moons and years pass, but a beautiful moment shines through life.

New round – new happiness

Another moment of pleasure is conjured up in Dorfgastein with very special ingredients. This includes a gathering of Gastein restaurateurs and locals, regional products, a 4-course menu and, as a highlight, a gondola! That’s right – the gondola is essential at the gondola dinner on the Fulseck, a 2,033-metre-high mountain peak. After a wine tasting, up to four gourmets take a seat in the gondola and are served one course per station during a complete round. The start is at the valley station, followed by two courses at the middle and mountain stations and the final course is again served at the middle station. Floating and dining through the Gastein mountains in the evening – these are literally the highest pleasures.

Enjoyment with all the senses in all corners

The Salzburger Land is one of the regions with the highest density of award-winning chefs. The Gastein Valley is no exception. But even on a small scale, the people of Salzburg know how to pamper the palates of their gourmets. Each hut has its specialty. Pinzgauer Kasnocken from the iron pan with their spicy cheese and fine fried onions are a real treat at every mountain hut. Those with a sweet tooth will grab the Salzburg dumplings, a sweet hint of fine beaten egg whites. To digest a regional schnapps. The well-being that only a real moment of pleasure can offer is already set in. And so the encyclopedia is right and Gastein remains true to its motto: On every corner you will find holiday enjoyment with all your senses!

Vienna City Adventure – The somewhat different travel guide

PatrickJullien

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30. May 2025

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Vienna City Adventure – The somewhat different travel guide

There’s no question about it: Vienna is beautiful. And has a lot to offer. Magnificent buildings, outstanding museums, music is in the air. And as a visitor to Vienna, you will also be spoiled with culinary delights from morning to evening. However, Judith Weibrecht shows that one can approach such a cosmopolitan city in another way in her travel guide “Vienna – City Adventure” (Michael Müller Verlag, ISBN 978-3-95654-829-1). In this way, she gets to know the city through experiences, not through sights.

We talked to Judith Weibrecht about Vienna and special experiences.

In the Mercer study, Vienna is repeatedly voted the most livable city in the world. What do you think makes the imperial city so special?

Something very special is the close connection between metropolis and nature: Where else is a hike up a mountain just a tram ride away? Or a visit to an island with a jump into the Danube water, just a few minutes on the subway? Above all, however, it is the Viennese themselves: the humour always puts a smile on your face.

In your book “Vienna – City Adventures” you deliberately deal with experiences away from the mainstream. From the strudel bakery to an overnight stay in the museum for children. What does the perfect day in Vienna look like for you?

For me, it starts at Café Jelinek, where I slowly wake up to a melange or two and one or two daily newspapers. Then I take a walk through Josefstadt, because I always discover something new there. Afterwards I take a ride on the Ringbahn to rest my feet and still see something. At noon, I take a break at one of the legendary sausage stands to fortify myself and set up the eavesdroppers. Do I understand anything of what the neighbor is saying? I go for a walk in the Central Cemetery in the afternoon, or I take one of the guided tours described in the book. Especially those of homeless people or “Vienna ugly” I always like and each time a little different. Where I will have dinner and which concerts with original Viennese songs are really worthwhile, I won’t tell you now … Even an author has to live on something 😉

Which of the 33 city adventures described above has particularly shaped or inspired you?

I found the dialect workshop “leiwand”. You have to imagine that you attend a course in your own language and learn new words and pronunciation rules. We had a lot of fun and applied what we had learned right away at the sausage stand. Now I also know what a “Krokodü” and “a Oarschpfeiferl” are.

They are often on the road by bike. Which part of the city is particularly suitable for friends of the bike?

The whole of Vienna is crisscrossed by cycle paths, and it is difficult for me to single out one part of the city in particular, as I have been cycling almost everywhere. The Wiental cycle path is beautiful and a highlight is the cycle path around Lake Neusiedl, which is easy to reach from Vienna.

Vienna always has something to offer. Is there still a season in which Vienna lets its charm play out in a very special way?

In spring, because in the middle of the city there are many gardens such as the Burggarten or the Volksgarten. But I also find Vienna particularly charming in winter, when the city belongs more to the locals and you can, for example, skate on the Rathausplatz and drink orange punch.

About the author:
Judith Weibrecht has been writing for as long as she can, and has been travelling since she is allowed to – preferably by bicycle.
She likes to get off the saddle again and again to listen to the stories of an old woman, browse a curious bookstore, taste local specialties or simply experience little adventures.

After studying pedagogy, psychology and modern German literary history in Erlangen, Weibrecht worked as a lecturer for “German as a Foreign Language” before devoting herself entirely to her passion. Since then, she has been traveling and cycling around the world, working for magazines (e.g. Radwelt, Slow Food Magazine), daily newspapers (e.g. taz, Nürnberger Nachrichten) and websites (e.g. schwarzaufweiss.de) and telling stories about people, countries or landscapes as a freelance journalist. www.judith-weibrecht.de.

Experience the beauty of the Austrian Alps while winter hiking

PatrickJullien

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30. May 2025

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Experience the beauty of the Austrian Alps while winter hiking

A hike through the snow-covered landscape of the Alps is always a pleasure. On lonely paths, you can hear the snow crunching under your shoes and you can observe one or the other animal. On somewhat busier paths, there are usually inns or snack stations where you can warm up while indulging in culinary delights. But what all hikes have in common is the clear, fresh air, which seems to be a tad fresher in winter.

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Animal hike in the Montafon

The Montafon offers guided hikes with llamas. In Innerberg, hikers meet with the llamas and their owner. The animals, which are native to the South American Andes, are very tame and therefore perfect for long leisurely walks.

At the beginning of the excursion, hikers warm up with a punch while getting acquainted with the animals. With the llamas, you can then leisurely walk along old miners’ paths through the former mining region. The Andean animals slow down the hike and thus also the hikers on their way. The first stop is the Panoramagasthof Kristberg, where holidaymakers can warm up and fortify themselves.

Next we go to the St. Agatha Miners’ Chapel. It is the oldest church in the Montafon. A lot of information about the former mining region is given here. Raw materials such as silver, copper or iron were mined in the Montafon for centuries. After this short excursion into history, it goes back to Innerberg.

Winter hikes in Innsbruck

From Tyrol’s capital Innsbruck there are many opportunities for wonderful hikes in winter. The vast majority of these tours also offer many opportunities for refreshments. To get out of the city and into the winter landscape as quickly as possible, the Hungerburgbahn is a good choice. Here you will find the most popular winter hiking trails to the alpine pastures in the Karwendel mountains. Probably the most frequented path is the one to the Arzler Alm, which is also open in winter. About 150 m above is the Rumer Alm, which is easy to reach and open even in the cold season. This hike to the alpine pastures in the Karwendel offers a magnificent view over the valley with Innsbruck to the Patscherkofel to the south.

On high-altitude hiking trails through wintry Styria

Bad Mitterndorf in Styria, Image: photoflorenzo / shutterstock

The winter high-altitude hiking trails offer an alternative for holidaymakers who do not want to ski up a mountain. The hike from the Tauplitzalm to the Lawinenstein is a wonderful summit hike on groomed slopes for pedestrians.

Via the Tauplitz Alpine Road, the path leads by car or ski bus to the valley station of the gondola lift. This takes you up a few metres in altitude, with a wonderful view of the valley to Bad Mitterndorf, the Grimming and above all over the Tauplitzalm ski area from here. From the mountain station, it then goes on groomed paths to the summit of the Lawinenstein, from which the holidaymaker has a 360-degree panoramic view. The view sweeps over the valley to the Grimming, over the Dachstein to the Totes Gebirge. From the summit it goes back to the mountain station, which takes the hiker back towards the valley. However, if you still want to stop for a leisurely snack, the path leads past the mountain station of the gondola lift to the Krimandlhütte at the Lawinenstein chairlift.

Torchlight hike in the Hohe Tauern

Krimml Waterfalls in winter — The Krimml Waterfalls, Image: Cristian Andriana / shutterstock

The Krimml Waterfalls are located in the Hohe Tauern National Park. With a height of 385 m, they are the largest waterfalls in Europe.

In the period from the end of December to mid-March, torchlight hikes to the Krimml Waterfalls are offered every Wednesday. It starts at the Krimml music pavilion and goes via the village of Krimml to the waterfalls. Since the hike only covers about 30 meters in altitude, it is classified as easy. On the half-hour trail, the hiking guides provide valuable impressions.

At the foot of the waterfalls, the Krimml innkeepers invite hikers to a drink and there is a small supporting programme.

Winter hiking at Lake Wolfgang

At Lake Wolfgang, there is a suitable hike for every taste. A very nice and also flat hike is the Seeweg circuit. On a cleared winter hiking trail, which is suitable for all weather conditions and also for prams, you can walk through a fairytale winter landscape for about an hour. The start and finish point is the Strobel village square. The path leads along Lake Wolfgang on a narrow path through the “Blinklingmoos” nature reserve. From here there is a wonderful view over the lake to St. Wolfgang and the mountains around Lake Wolfgang. At the fork in the road with the signpost “Zum Lipphaus” it goes to the Bahndammweg and back to Strobel.

Emigrating to Paraguay – What is there to consider?

Paraguay

PatrickJullien

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30. May 2025

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Emigrating to Paraguay – What is there to consider?

There are plenty of good reasons to emigrate to Paraguay. Even though the comparatively small country in South America is rarely in the spotlight in this country, it offers exactly those advantages that emigrants usually want when they want to live outside Europe. In Paraguay, it is not only very easy to obtain permanent residency. After only three years in Paraguay , one can also obtain citizenship. And the taxes are lower than almost anywhere else, and the mentality of the people really invites you to think about emigrating to Paraguay. Last but not least, the great climate should be pointed out, which guarantees many sunny days and certainly increases the joy of life.

So why not emigrate to Paraguay? How does it work? What do you have to consider if you want to emigrate to Paraguay? Here is an overview of the most important information.

Documents and applications required for a visa in Paraguay

First of all, all you need for a single entry into Paraguay is a valid passport, which every German can easily obtain, unless he or she is in possession of one anyway. As soon as you are in Paraguay, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. At least that’s how most immigrants to Paraguay proceed.

What do you need locally to obtain such a permanent residence permit? By the way, this is called Cedula or Migraciones. This is what you need:

a certified police clearance certificate
This can be applied for at the citizen’s office in your place of residence, and it is required in Paraguay for people aged 12 and over.

It is important that it is not older than 3 months when applying for the permanent visa.
Health certificate
In this way, Paraguay protects itself against the fact that the entrant does not carry any serious illnesses. You can get it in a German hospital, but you can also have one made locally in Paraguay.
Certified copy of passport
Alternatively, the original passport with a copy is sufficient, but you should be on the safe side here.
Certified copy of the international birth certificate
You can apply for one at your responsible registration office in Germany. The costs for this are usually around 10 euros. It must not be older than 12 months.
Marriage or divorce certificate
A certified copy of this must also be submitted, which must not be older than 5 years. Of course, this point only applies to those immigrants to Paraguay who are married or divorced.

If all the necessary documents or certified copies are available, they must be sent to the Paraguayan embassy in Germany. The following processing costs around 70 euros, although prices may change here. Once the embassy has given permission, you can enter Paraguay. There they then take care of the permanent residence permit, which is usually easy to obtain – especially for immigrants from European countries. And the initial effort for the general entry into Paraguay is also manageable, as the above list demonstrates.

Conclusion on emigrating to Paraguay

In summary, it can be said that compared to most other countries, it is very easy to emigrate to Paraguay and gain a foothold here. This applies in particular to the official regulations, but also to the way of life of the people. As an immigrant to Paraguay, you are rarely perceived as an intruder. Rather, the Paraguayos perceive new fellow citizens as an enrichment. Which is why it is always worthwhile to think about Paraguay as your new, permanent domicile. Which, as you read, is also supported by the fact that it is child’s play to obtain citizenship – as long as you behave, which, as is well known, applies in all states.