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Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide

24 December 2019

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Santa Claus is right on the doorstep 😉 But wait, are you still looking for a unique Christmas present and can’t make it to the city or order something? No problem! With this gift, you can definitely surprise your loved one, and they will, for sure, not forget Christmas this year.

Did you know that you can now fly directly to New York from all major German airports for less than 300€ (return flight)? For this unique surprise, you have to do the following steps!

Open the page Google Flights, enter your departure airport, and don’t forget the destination: New York. Then you can choose the travel period. The date display shows you directly when it is cheapest. I recommend flying for 4-5 days. For example, from Wednesday/Thursday to Sunday. So you don’t need to take so many holidays.

Flights booked? First, take a deep breath and be happy!!! Because it goes straight to New York!
Don’t forget your ESTA visa. It takes about 5 minutes online, and you’d need it for the entry.
Now you probably need a place to stay. I usually always book via Booking.com. It is important that you live in Manhattan. This will save you transportation costs. It is also not necessarily more expensive. You just have to find the offers on Booking. You can also check out holiday pirates or holiday gurus. They always pick out hotels that often have offers. You will pay about 350€-650€ for a double room for 2 persons in a 3 or 4-star hotel. More expensive options are, of course, always available. The NoMad Hotels often have special offers or the Hyatt Hotel on Times Square.
Now you already have a flight and a hotel. All you only need are tickets for Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building. New York is not a cheap city, and, therefore, you should be well prepared.
How you can save time & money? Just get your New York Pass from Attraction Tickets Direct. The Pass gives you access to over 100 top New York attractions. You get the tickets directly to your smartphone, and at many attractions, you have a fast track ticket and don’t have to queue. All the famous attractions are covered by the ticket. I also ordered it before one of my New York trips.
- Some attractions included are:
  - Top of the Rock
  - Empire State Building
  - Statue of Liberty
  - Madame Tussauds
  - MoMa
  - NBC Studio Tour and much more!
After about 30 minutes, you will have booked your unforgettable Christmas present. Now you only have to wrap it. At Pinterest, you can even find instructions on how to make flight tickets, for example. Or get a nice card and be creative!

I wish you a Merry Christmas & a good trip!

The Best Christmas Gifts for Travelers

11 December 2019

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Only a few days until Christmas and quite possibly you must be missing a gift for your loved ones. There is nothing more beautiful than to make someone happy. The feeling is almost more beautiful than being given a gift yourself.

Just like every year, you wonder what you can give to your friends or family. I have put together a small list of gift ideas for those who enjoy traveling with your loved ones. Maybe someone of you is going to travel next year, so this might come in handy.

First Class Organization

A simple gift that I have been using for years is – cable bag. Finally, I no longer have to look for the mobile phone charging cable, the headphones or the USB charging cable in my pocket. At first, I thought I didn’t need this bag anyway. But now I don’t go on a journey without it.

In addition, I can only recommend a memory card case. It’s an important gift, after all, for the travelers who shoot countless pictures.

You can get both the cable bag and memory card case under 10€ and can be sure that nobody has this gift yet.

A Photo says More than a Thousand Words!

Every Christmas, my friends and family get a photo calendar from me with our best travel moments from the past year. Meanwhile, I am reminded weeks before Christmas that everyone would be very happy about the personalized gift again.

At the end of the year, I always give myself a calendar with the most beautiful moments I have experienced in the year.

If you don’t want to give away a calendar as a gift, you can, of course, also use other photo products. How about a photo book or your favourite skyline on a canvas? You will find a great selection of photo gifts at MEINFOTO.

Sweet Dreams

This year I forgot my inflatable neck pillow on a plane during a trip. An absolute nightmare! I don’t fly long distances without my neck pillow. Make your loved ones happy and give them pure relaxation on the way to your dream destination.

Recharge

How often have you forgotten a travel adapter in the past or haven’t had the right one with you? It has happened to me countless times in the past until I was given the travel adapter that works in 150 countries. An inconspicuous gift that brings a lot of joy and a little bit of carelessness. The recipient does not have to worry about enough electricity in the future.

Unless he needs several battery charges at the same time.

But often, there is only one socket or only one travel adapter. What then? No problem! Because I have the solution: A USB charger with several ports. With my USB charger, I charge my smartphone, headphones, camera and iPad at the same time, so that I can fully start the next day on my journey again.

Special Travel Gifts

Of course, there is no upper limit on giving them! If you want to have a “big” joy, every travel enthusiast will be happy about having headphones, luggage or, undoubtedly, a camera for capturing those unforgettable moments.

A journey always begins with a flight, car or train. To reduce the time, almost everyone listens to music, podcast or watches a film. Without headphones, you won’t get far, because you don’t want to disturb your fellow travellers.

My faithful companions are my Apple Earpods because they don’t weigh much, are handy and small. Not to forget, of course, the great sound.

My Earpods have their own compartment in my stylish and unique Douchebags backpack! I never travel without it. The best part is that they really go with everything.

If you are going on an adventure trip, I recommend the Hook Up System from Douchebags. In the Hugger 30L and the Big Bastard 90L, you can easily take everything with you on a journey and still look cool.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuBr9dMAukY/

If your destination is a bit fancy, I would always consider a RIMOWA suitcase. I tried 2x a different brand, and they only kept me for 2 months. With my RIMOWA suitcases, I have been travelling for years and am always very satisfied.

The great equipment and the unique moments should, of course, be captured with a camera and its usage always depends on the purpose. For many people, a small, user-friendly digital camera is enough. If you are interested in my photographic equipment, you can have a look at my article about my equipment.

I hope that there is something in it for some of you and that you or your loved ones can enjoy it. Enjoy the holidays and come well into the New Year!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqDKWjEAQBX/

48 hours in Doha

9 December 2019

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Doha, Fasten Ur Seatbelts, Sheraton, Qatar Airways

Countless times I have landed in Qatar Airways in Doha and have always said that I have to look at such a city with such an impressive airport! On our trip to Australia, I finally managed to spend two days in the capital of Qatar. Since I only had 2 days to explore the city, I was afraid that it would be too short to get a feel for the city and the people. But I was wrong!

If you’re not sure what to do in the magical city in the Middle East, take a look at what we’ve done in 48 hours.

Where to stay

It was not so easy to make the right choice at the luxurious Doha hotel deal, but we chose the Sheraton Grand Doha!

Why?

It is one of the few hotels that also has a beach. If we are already in a warm country, we always want to spend some time on the water and of course in the sun! Also, from the beach you have direct views of Doha’s skyline and if that’s not enough, you can visit the Nusr-ET restaurant on the hotel grounds.

We did not make it locally, but I have seen many impressive moments from the Nusr-ET restaurants on Instagram. We had dinner in the restaurant “La Veranda” on the seafront overlooking the skyline. The Shearaton Grand Doha is a great place to relax before heading on the next trip! The central location is ideal for exploring the city and spending little time in the car.

The Sheraton Grand Doha won me directly when the airport shuttle had Wi-Fi. I also liked the modern equipment of the gym with sea view !

What to do

Visit the Museum of Islamic Art

The Museum of Islamic Art is an absolute must in Doha. It represents Islamic art from three continents and over 1,400 years. The building itself is also beautiful, with a downstairs café and a gorgeous upstairs gourmet restaurant with spectacular views of the Doha skyline.

Visit Katara Cultural Village

Opened in 2010, Katara Cultural Village is not only a beautiful place, but also offers various workshops, exhibitions and celebrations throughout the year. Katara Masjid is one of the most beautiful masjids in Qatar and you should definitely see them! Also the way to the Katara Cultural Village is the exciting development of the city of Doha.

Visit the famous Souq Waqif

We visited the Souq Waqif during the day, I can not recommend that to you!

Visit him in the evening when not only the tourists are there, but also the locals. In many shops you can see spices and crafts and, of course, take home as a gift.

Shopping

An absolute shopping highlight is the Venetian-style Mall. As in Venice, you can take the ferries through the mall. At shops you will not miss a big name here!

Things to know

In the summer months it can be up to 50 degrees. In November it is between 25 degrees and 30 degrees. We found it very pleasant!
Qatar is a Muslim country. Especially as a woman you should always try to cover his shoulders and knees. This makes you feel safer and avoids unpleasant situations.
During Ramadan in Doha you can not eat in public places from sunrise to sunset.
No alcohol may be brought into the country. Alcohol on the spot is not necessarily cheap.
In Doha there are taxis but also UBER, which you can order via the app.
Doha is also preparing to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, for which the country will build 12 eco-friendly stadiums, some of which can accommodate up to 80,000 people.
If you’re flying with Qatar Airways, you can enjoy a 5-star Doha hotel stay for only $ 23 offered by Qatar Airways and the Qatar Tourism Authority as part of their Qatar stopover program. This applies to both economy and business class tickets. Find out more here: Experience Qatar during your stopover.

So do not forget to check Qatar Airways on your next long-haul flight to see if you can make a quick stopover in Doha.

Übernachten wie Bill Clinton oder Ana Johnson im Steigenberger Grandhotel & Spa Petersberg

11 November 2019

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Steigenberger, Petersberg, Das Steigenberger Grandhotel & Spa auf dem Petersberg, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

The Steigenberger Grandhotel & Spa on the Petersberg has been known for years as the former guest house of the Federal Government. In the middle of the Siebengebirge, not only celebrities like Bill Clinton or Nelson Mandela were once guests here, but recently the successful blogger Ana Johnson too! Last weekend we were able to get an impression of the exclusive hotel on the Petersberg, which only recently reopened after two years of renovation.

The Hotel

Before I tell you about the 103 stylishly furnished rooms and the 9 spacious suites, I don’t want to miss out on depicting the idyllic scenery on our approach to the Petersberg. Already from here you have an enormous view of nature and the Rhine Valley.

Once you arrive at the top, you can feel the peculiarity of the hotel at first hand. You don’t just drive along the entrance to an exclusive five-star hotel, but a castle-like building that receives you accordingly.

Under a bright blue sky, we could check-in directly in our Rheinblick Suite. By the way, here, the name stands for its true meaning. For me, the view was particularly so special, because I could also see my home from up there.

In our spacious room, we missed out on nothing. Also, our French Bulldog, Chuck, enjoyed the spacious area very much.

Pure relaxation is offered by the very comfortable box springboard and the pillow menu. But if you need even more relaxation, you can visit the modern spa area. My absolute favourite was the fitness room with the latest Technogym equipment.

All sports fans can, of course, relax directly in the sauna, the indoor pool, or simply in the relaxation room with a view of the Rhine.

Restaurant

Absolute relaxation, can, of course, never be complete without a special kitchen. Already in the morning, you get everything your heart desires with a great view on the Rhine. In summer, you can sit on a beautiful outdoor terrace and savour the fresh delicacies.

At least once you should try the kitchen of the star chef Anthony Sarpong. We were not only impressed by the unique and remarkably delicious dishes, but also by the local wine accompaniment. If you like, you can even visit the winegrowers at the nearby winery the next day, and take back a souvenir with you.

The extremely attractive cuisine is also offered at festivities in the hotel, especially in summer, the hotel hosts a large number of weddings in the beautiful banqueting halls. Here, every bride gets 100%, a fairytale wedding!

Location

Only recently, the Lonely Planet ranked the city of Bonn 5^th, among the best travel cities in the year 2020. So, if you are planning a city trip to Bonn, you can enjoy the proximity to the centre of Bonn and nature in the Hotel Steigenberger on the Petersberg.

However, it is not a must to leave the Petersberg on a short weekend trip. The Petersberg offers a variety of hiking trails right in front of the door! But if you still want to explore the Siebengebirge, I’d recommend to drive to the parking lot of the Drachenfels and hike from there to the Drachenburg.

On the 30-minute way to the top, you will pass some rustic restaurants, the castle Drachenburg and some donkeys, which make the ascent easier for some.

From Cologne Bonn Airport, it takes only 25 – 35 minutes (depending on the traffic situation) to get to the hotel.

Conclusion

Do you want to visit this fabulous hotel?

Then have a look at our website. Even if you don’t live far from the Steigenberger Hotel Petersberg like me, it’s still worth escaping everyday life and just relaxing. It was certainly not my last time at the Steigenberger Grandhotel & Spa Petersberg!

Maldives Travel Diary – Faarufushi Maldives

9 October 2019

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Faarufushi, Maldives, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

Clearest crystal blue waters, the most beautiful beaches – the best time awaits you on your Maldives holiday! You don’t even need to do Photoshop or use any filters here. I had to look at my mobile several times before I could understand that the picturesque blue sky, the turquoise water and the white beach are really real!

One of the newly opened luxury resorts in the Maldives is the 5-star paradise “Faarufushi Maldives” in the Raa Atoll, which is about 35 minutes by plane from the airport in Malé. From the airport Ifuru, it takes only 10 minutes by speedboat to get to the resort. Raa is located in the western atoll chain and is one of the larger atolls of the 26 Maldives atolls. The beautiful resort was only opened in March 2019. Here you can also relax and unwind yourself in the warm temperatures of the Maldives.

Welcome to pure Nature

Already at the arrival, one feels that with the huge area of 411 x 173 meters, something is different about this big island that sets it apart from the others. And truly my sixth-sense didn’t deceive me!

Not as with many other islands, where everything was torn down for the construction of a resort and again “put on,” here the resort had integrated the beauty of nature in it.

Already on the way to the water or beach villa, one has to take countless pictures of the natural style. Apart from the click of the camera, the roaring sea and the flying bats, one will not hear anything on the island Faarufushi. One will not notice the silence at all, as one already feels it right after the arrival.

My first Ocean Villa

The 80 private villas are located either directly on the beach or above the water. On the island Faarufushi, I slept over the sea for the first time! Our “Ocean Retreat with Pool” was about 163 m² in size and shone in friendly natural wood tones. Every morning I could watch the sunrise from my bed and had a fantastic view of the sea 24/7.

On the terrace, we could choose if we wanted to cool down with our private access to the sea or in our infinity pool. Often I just enjoyed the view in the beach chair or the bathtub in our spacious minimalist bathroom. I didn’t like to leave our water villa for dinner or discovery tours. It was just that blissful!

The way to the heart is through the stomach

With three restaurants and two bars, you can embark on a culinary world tour. I personally had several culinary highlights at Faarufushi Resort. The breakfast in the Iru Restaurant could be served directly at the beach – A fantastic breakfast with an indescribable view!

But this gigantic view was topped again in the evening at the Boli Bar and the terrace of the restaurant “ECLIPSE” with a pink sunset and exquisite grill dishes.

My absolute favourite was the Athiri Restaurant on the beach with its Italian and Spanish cuisine as well as Teppanyaki.

Apropos Love…

The Maldives is probably one of the most understandably famous honeymoon destinations. But pure romance can also lead one directly to getting a taste of being married!

Why? Have you ever spent 2 weeks with your partner on a deserted island? No?!

Don’t worry! Sounds worse than it is!

But with a romantic couple massage in the Nika Spa area, all small tensions on the body are eased away and simply forgotten. And who can’t relax and glide in the breathtaking underwater world while snorkelling together?!

But the Maldives is not only a dream destination for those who have just arrived from the registry office. Also a long-lasting marriage, relationship or friendship is a reason for paradise!

My Recommendations

On the Maldives the whole year is summer but in my opinion, the best Maldives travel season is in May, June, September, or October. In these months there is generally less going on in the travel world, one gets better offers and enjoys the advantages of the low season.
Especially in the low season, you can fly to the Maldives for 550€-600€. Holiday pirates have mostly summarized the best deals! However, you often get a better deal if you book the accommodation and the flight together.
Don’t forget the sunscreen! Especially on cloudy days, you can get the ultimate tan!
You can definitely leave the make-up at home! The #beachlife look and the softly tanned skin will enchant you with a natural beauty that will make any make-up pale in comparison!

So let’s get started with booking your Maldives holiday!

Travel Diaries Maldives – Oblu Select Sangeli

30 September 2019

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Oblu Select, Fasten Ur Seatbelts, Oblu, Maldives, Oblu Select Sangeli

Recently I was lucky to visit the warm paradise of the Maldives again – five splendid days of luxuriating on private beaches, basking in balmy weather and weightless freedom. The powdery blue Indian Ocean is home to this cluster of 26 atolls, shaping a tropical nation out of coral islands and layered reefs.

Shortly before landing in Male you can admire all the paradisiacal islands! Make sure you get a window seat!! Upon arrival at Male International Airport, I was whisked away to my island of stay by speed boat. For 50 minutes, I enjoyed an endless sprawl of blue sea and surprisingly, Wi-Fi! You can post scenic Instagram stories real time.

As beautiful as the surroundings were, one highlight of my trip was definitely my temporary fort: the resort OBLUE SELECT. Newly opened, Sangeli’s branch is the youngest addition to long-established Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, a brand known for their many-star deluxe accommodations in the Indian Ocean. Emphasizing a hassle-free experience, the resort offers a comfortable atmosphere amid natural attractions and supplementary facilities. You can expect very quality service; the staff is extremely friendly and always ready to gift you with a smile.

Sangeli is made for fun!

I stayed in a Beach Villa, which tops the list of their various rooms. Think white-washed house with wooden fencing, straw accents for ambiance and cozy bedroom. The private villas are designed to be both trendy and traditionally Maldivian, combining modern luxuries with an airy feel. The best example of its dynamic design is the amazing outdoor bathroom, equipped with a showerhead and tub. The Deluxe version also features a mosaic tiled ‘pool’ that added pops of color to the clean space.

Of course, the Beach Villa’s winning point is that it is right in front of the beach. I loved being so close to the sea front, with a sandy strip of the beach smack dab at my door! It’s like having my own sand kingdom. There’s nothing more relaxing than lounging on the day-bed on the sundeck.

Making the best of this set-up, I spent most of my time in or near water. How could anyone resist the turquoise lagoons and extensive reefs? Snorkeling is a must. I enjoyed the beautiful corals teeming with small-reef fish. Professional guides (for both snorkeling and diving) will take you to the outer reefs as well as the inner lagoon for vibrant underwater sights.

You can sign up for courses at the TGI Dive & Watersports Centre. There are also a range of watersports you can do; I went kayaking as the cooling waters were hard to resist. And when I was fueled up on sleep and food, I played volleyball at the Recreation Center. If you’re feeling sore after a long day out, make sure to drop by the ELENA Spa! There’s also a yoga pavilion if you need to stretch out your muscles.

Speaking of food, Oblu Resort comes with two specialty restaurants: Just Grill, which serves fresh seafood and meat grills, and Simply Veg, gourmet vegetarian meals. I thoroughly enjoyed eating at their main restaurant The Courtyard, which caters a buffet. Their freshly made burgers are delicious.

And you can’t go without experiencing the stunning sunset at the sunset bar. Help yourself to the unlimited selection of beverages and watch the sun sink into a sky of watercolors. After a long, serene moment, nightly entertainment comes out to spice things up! I had so much fun every evening with their Music & DJ Nights – there’s even a live music show every week.

If you are currently planning a trip to the Maldives, I highly recommend an Oblu Sangeli resort stay. In fact, you should definitely take advantage of the great opening offer I found! For 2100€ to 2600€ per person from now until January, you can enjoy an all-inclusive 7-day holiday. It includes flight tickets from Germany, hotel shuttle services (the speed boat between airport and resort) and full coverage of food and beverages, as well as alcoholic drinks and cocktails.

You can also refer to The Serenity Plan on the resort’s website, which gives a detailed look at what experiences they offer. Apart from dynamic dining and free-flow beverages, you also get full access to the Recreation Center, seasonal activities, complimentary excursions and a one-time sunset fishing experience. Active people in particular will love it since they can enjoy a range of non-motorized water sports as well, such as paddle boarding, kayaking and pedalos.

Sounds like a dream right?