The holiday has been approved, the anticipation is growing - now it's time to plan. But where should the holiday go? Colleagues from the Dertour travel agencies help you decide - with their very personal travel tips: from Mediterranean chill and luxury addresses on Mallorca to a rental car tour above the Arctic Circle and a jungle/beach combination on Bali.
"Light-heartedness, joie de vivre, cosiness - after the coronavirus years, there is a great longing for that certain sense of well-being that usually only travelling can provide. Instead of travelling, we have made our homes beautiful, redesigned the balcony or garden, but the longing for freedom and faraway places has remained with many of us. Now almost all doors are open to us again and I am delighted to discover more and more hotels that follow the current zeitgeist and capture this feeling particularly well: The so-called BoHo hotels or BoHo-style hotels combine individuality, naturalness, creativity and cosiness.
My recommendation for families is the Hotel Eliros Mare on Crete; couples can enjoy the relaxed bohemian lifestyle at the Cooks Club or Casa Cook hotels in Greece (for example on Rhodes, see photos), Egypt or Turkey."
"It doesn't have to be to the North Cape," we said to ourselves as we set off on our first holiday to Norway without children. Our flight destination was Bodo, where we picked up our hire car for twelve days and a route of 1,635 kilometres in glorious sunshine.
From the pretty harbour town, we headed north past Salstraumen, the strongest tidal current in the world. The view of the 1,007 metre long bridge in Tjeldsundbrua from our hotel in the evening was impressive. With the sun almost never setting in July and a (unfortunately not cheap) beer, we really realised that we had arrived above the Arctic Circle!
In Narvik, we took the gondola to Narviksfjell and hiked over the remaining snow in shorts. On the way to northern Vesteralen, we saw the first Hurtigruten ship. We liked Andernes very much. Whale watching trips start here. Our accommodation in Bleik resembled a small hobbit hut and was situated on a marvellous sandy beach. Somehow it was far too good to sleep, so we simply enjoyed the beach at two o'clock in the morning above the Arctic Circle ..
Southwards along the coast, a visit to the Hurtigruten Museum is simply part of the programme. Another experience: spending the night in an old fisherman's hut, known as a rorbuer.
From here, we enjoyed the excursions to the beach in Hov, hiked the legendary 368 metre high Hoven, visited the beautiful Henngsvaer, also known as the Venice of the North. In Vikten, a small idyllic village, you could be forgiven for thinking that the trolls had left their stones on the beach. The fishing town of Nussfjord is also a popular destination for cruisers. We found the silence in the evening particularly idyllic. The engine museum is also worth a visit, as is a quaint little café next to it, where you can enjoy delicious waffles with sour cream and berry jam.
This was followed by our highlight: the overwhelming Reine. How happy we were when we decided to climb the 448 metre high Reinebringen on the day of our arrival. What a magnificent view - pure picture postcard scenery!
So we did everything right, we thought the next day when the weather changed. So we hiked once again to the southernmost town in Lofoten in the village of A along the Malstrom... at the end of our holiday in the footsteps of Edgar Alan Poe...Incidentally, the trip is based on the Dertour car trip "Dream destination Lofoten and Vesteralen", but we put it together ourselves."
"Lately, I've often been dreaming back to this wonderful day in Bali: enraptured, I let my gaze wander over the tropical greenery up to the blue sky, open the glass door of our villa and the warm, humid air embraces me. The small private pool glistens tantalisingly in the morning sun. I look forward to what lies ahead: a massage in the open air with the sound of the sea, my first snorkelling trip, a typical local dinner for two in the evening. A marvellous day... Bali has finally opened up to tourists again!
The island has its own special charm. My recommendation for Bali is a combination of jungle and beach holiday. The artist town of Ubud in the centre of the island offers incredibly beautiful hotels that offer walks through nature or the rice terraces during the day and where you can listen to the sounds of the rainforest in the evening. At the Candi Beach Resort or the Maya Hotel Sanur, you can experience affordable luxury and the special diversity of this enchanting island."
"During Corona, I have travelled on several river trips and cruises - as I did before. The opportunity to see a lot without having to change hotels every day, combined with wellness, sport and excellent food - that's what I love. And I always find time for excursions by e-bike into the countryside or through vibrant cities!
My tips: a trip to Sweden with Aida and a river cruise on the Rhone/Saône with Arosa"
"The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort is located on the south-west coast of Mallorca, not far from Palma, and offers spectacular sea views with magnificent architecture. My stay at one of the most famous luxury addresses in the midst of the Mediterranean, flourishing landscape of Mallorca was a delight. The Tramuntana mountains, the luxury marina of Puerto Portals and the Mediterranean Sea form the backdrop.
The tasteful 125 rooms and suites all have a magnificent terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. The private, customised St. Regis butler service is included in the price of certain suites at the resort - a very special trademark.
Dine-Around at the sister resorts, the Castillo Hotel Son Vida and the Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel, which are not far from each other, is an indulgent experience. Three luxury hotels with six unique restaurants - that's something very special!
My recommendation at any time of year is the five-star Hotel Kempinski Bahia Costa del Sol - bookable via Dertour de luxe. It is located directly on the beach and also has a wonderful wellness area in Kempinski The Spa, as well as three outdoor pools. Some of the best golf courses in Spain are within easy reach.
I really liked the location, and the Baltazár Bar is a really lovely place to sit with a fantastic view of the lush gardens and pools. You can watch the food being prepared in the open-plan kitchen. Luxurious weddings are also organised to perfection at the Kempinski Hotel Bahía."
"My hotel shows me the world" - this was AIDA's advertising slogan some time ago and does credit to the entire cruise industry. Exploring several countries, cities or islands in a very short space of time without having to pack your bags or leave your room is what makes cruises so unique and fascinating for me.
Just imagine: You enjoy your cocktail on board in the harbour of Marseille in the evening and are woken up by the Spanish sun in Barcelona the next morning. After breakfast with a fantastic view of the sea, you set off to explore the city - whether on your own or on an excursion organised by the shipping company. You can organise your stay ashore however you like!"
If you want to take it a little easier and the hustle and bustle of the big cities is too much for you, the numerous wellness and beauty treatments on board invite you to relax. Thanks to the Kids Club and adventure pool, even the youngest passengers will certainly not be bored on the ship!
As you can see, a cruise is the most beautiful and stress-free way to discover the world, whether alone or with the whole family!
