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Posts tagged ‘austria’

Nov 16

Favourite Travel Experiences of the Month #18

With the British winter setting in, you are forced to either embrace or escape the weather when it comes to a holiday. Over the past month the team have been on researching a huge variety of trips which reflect the above; enjoying autumn in Germany and Norway and soaking up the last of the northern hemisphere sun in Morocco. As well as that, while back in NJaH HQ we have been scouring planet web for the best travel ideas and stories out there.

We have narrowed them all down to present our 10 favourite travel stories and features for you to enjoy.

photo courtesy of uggboy

1) Ever fancied living the life of a secret agent? To coincide with the release of Skyfall, Trivago compiled a list of the top 10 hotels featured in Bond films.

2) You don’t have to look that far for a sense of adventure, have a look at 10 alternative ways to explore London.

3) A ‘rarely fulfilled dream’ say The Guardian. East Tirol, Austria - a ski resort with empty slopes, cheap food and drink and incredible panoramic views.

4) Fancy skiing  a little closer to home? Check out Sawday’s Top 10 chalets in France

5) The 25 most photographed places on earth, how many have you snapped?

Photo courtesy of alfieianni

6) The Caribbean or the Indian Ocean? Escape to the sun on a budget this winter with The Telegraph’s guide to cheap winter holidays.

7) The best roof-top hotel views ever? Apparently so.

8) Austrian Felix Baumgartner sky dives from the edge of space, breaking a 52 year old record. Have a look at these shots of Joseph Kittinger’s jump in 1960.

9) Photography has never been so accessible, make the most of your camera phone with Mashable’s  top Instagram tips.

10) How to make the most of a business trip! Lonely Planet give a guide to the essentials to maximising your spare time.

Holiday of the Month

Montreal is a genuine an all-year-round destination, but autumn provides its true beauty. A city known for its abundance of open spaces, its parks transform into a collage of red and brown. As the summer comes to an end, the prices fall so it is also a cheap time to visit before the Canadian ski season kicks in. Montreal is known for its culture and the French blend makes it a truly unique city, well worth a visit.

photo courtesy of abdullahh

Apr 10

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3 Great Bike Routes in Germany

Mannheim to Bingen loop

Using the Rhine River as your constant companion, this loop takes you through some beautiful scenery on the Rhine Rift Valley including the Black Forest, the Palatime forest and Rhine-Hessian Hills to the west.  As well as scenic beauty you will also get a great view of the historical cities and towns such as Worms, which is one of the oldest cities in Germany.  Additional sites on this route include the world-famous Speyer Cathedral, which was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage monument in 1982, and the castles of Johannisberg and Biebricher.

To find the route simply follow ‘theRhine’ signposts and route logo, which is well integrated into local signposts.  Additionally all along the Rhine Cycle route, you can park your bike safely at any of the ‘Fahrradstationen’ or cycle centres.  Further details about this route can be found on the Rheinradweg website.

Black Forest Cycle Route

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/avoyali/

Lake Constance Circuit

Again using water as a constant guide, biking around Lake Constance allows you to make your way through Germany, Austria and Switzerland on a picturesque 270km bike ride.  The route runs past vineyards and through medieval towns whilst always sticking close to the beautiful lake and it’s often steep shoreline alongside pebble beaches.

The route is very well signposted and you can challenge yourself to complete the whole route or, if time is limited, there are obviously a variety of smaller routes along the way.  One of the most enjoyable parts of the route is around the picture-perfect meadows leading into Altenrhein in Switzerland.

You can get a guided tour from Lake Constance Cycle Path Service, who offer a great variety of routes.

Lake Constance Circuit

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcdemoura/

Mountain biking in St. Ingbert

Originally intended only for mountain biking marathons, the circuits are now open to mountain bikers at all times.  The town has two mountain bike routes which are well signposted, one 40km and one 50km.  The route itself runs through the countryside of St Ingbert and varies in difficulty.  Just under half the trail runs along single-passage trails which run alongside scenic forests in one of Germany’s most densely wooded town.

More information about this route and countless others in Germany are available on Germany.travel/EN.

St Ingbert

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/timothep/

Oct 4

To Ski or Not To Ski – That is the question!

Ski's up!We know it’s only just the beginning of October, but as the nights draw in and the weather gets chilly, we can’t help but start thinking about a winter getaway.

Speaking personally, whenever I get the chance, the highlight of my year is hitting the glorious snowy slopes for a long weekend, or if I’m lucky, a whole week – pure, snowy bliss!

Over the years of going skiing I have found that different destinations can provide a ski trip that differs greatly and have a particular strong point.  Therefore, I have put together a mini-guide on where you should be heading to this Winter depending on your preference:

Good night life
If its après ski you’re after, somewhere like Val d’Isère, France is where you should head.  The skiing is great throughout the season, although very busy in peak times, but après ski is one of the best. There is a surplus of bars, restaurants and clubs and they’re all open until the early hours. This is a ski hard –party hard destination.

Beautiful scenery
If it’s all about the scenery somewhere like Zell am See, Austria might be more your thing. The views are spectacular, and the slopes are less crowded – especially higher up. The best thing about Zel em Zee is that you can ski there all year – the glacier has snow in and out of season. In season the snow is amazing and the views magnificent.

First time on the slopes
If this year will be your first time, you’re probably best heading to somewhere like Les Arc, France. There is a range of nursery, green, red and black slopes that make this a great place to learn to ski and the après ski isn’t half bad.

Night Skiing
Les Arc also offered the best night skiing! At the top of the mountain, after fondue, too much wine, and some stomping on the tables in your ski boots, they let you ski down the mountain in the dark and behind your now foggy (beer) goggles! Although possibly not the safest thing to do – an amazing experience. Perhaps something for the last day of your holiday – just in case!

Whatever you go for, all the destinations have one thing in common – some great skiing opportunities. Have a great trip!

Anne Harris

Ski Jump!

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