Many people travel to escape the daily grind but I love nothing more than a holiday routine. Call me boring, but I fully let go when I know how the day will unfold and all the little bits I can look forward to.
At Quellenhof Luxury Resort near Lazise on Lake Garda in northern Italy, my husband and I rose early so we could have the steaming hot outdoor pool all to ourselves. We meandered to breakfast - no rush with the buffet staying open until 11am - and went back for multiple courses, of course.
Our afternoons were spent napping in between the sauna, plush relaxation room and daily spa treatments. We rounded off the day with an evening ‘aperitivo’ in the bar before dinner at the very respectable 7pm - reflective of the majority German clientele rather than Mediterraneans.
I came to Lake Garda looking to switch off and recharge after a busy few months. The shores of one of Europe’s most famous lakes cover 160km so I had plenty of destinations to choose from.
Lazise, on the south-east shore, suited me perfectly as it’s only a half-hour drive from Verona airport and the last thing I wanted was a lengthy or complicated journey.
It’s a cute town of cobbled streets lined with restaurants, gelato shops and Italian-themed souvenirs. The Navigarda ferry across the lake stops in Lasize’s harbour making for an easy way to explore other towns.
Lazise is also halfway between the popular Garda towns of Bardolino and Desenzano, allowing for easy day trips by public bus or car.
If you want to explore further afield, Quellenhof offers guided tours to nearby cities, like Verona, and boat trips and e-bike tours around the lake. But don’t feel guilty if you can’t bring yourself to leave the warm and cosy cocoon that the hotel so expertly creates.
The sauna area is one of the best I’ve been in, with a whole circuit you can do from sauna to plunge pool to sumptuous relaxation bed. While some fellow guests were clearly regulars, I was glad of the instructions provided to help you reap the full benefits of the sauna experience.
Most of the other guests were families with children or teenagers while we were there, probably because it was school holiday time. The hotel has rooms, spa treatments and a sauna specially designed for families. So don’t worry if you’re coming as a couple wanting a romantic break - the adults-only sauna and relaxation area is a child-free zone.
We only crossed paths with our fellow guests at mealtimes, though, the rest of the hotel was quiet and tranquil. If, on the other hand, you come with kids or teenagers, you’ll appreciate the waterslide next to the hotel’s outdoor swimming lake and three theme parks within a 20-minute drive (Gardaland - Italy’s largest - CanevaWorld and Legoland).
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year. In the US, the leaves begin to change into vibrant hues, pumpkin patches and apple orchards welcome guests, sports seasons start to pick up, and, best of all, there’s a lull in the travel calendar causing prices to drop. One of the most highly anticipated sporting events this season is Formula 1's return to Las Vegas this year. Sin City is gearing up by offering bundle packages that combine race tickets with hotel stays on the strip. For hockey fans, Holston House Nashville is offering 10 percent off bookings and an exciting fan experience at their property. Guests can look forward to a custom jersey, dining credit, and themed cocktails.
Wellington, New Zealand straddles one of the world’s great natural harbors. It's a vibrant capital city, gently nestled along the corrugated landscape that rises from the water to meet the 650-foot ridgelines of Matairangi (also known Mount Victoria). As stunning as it was to observe this scene from the Interislander ferry port, I had to wonder what I was doing here: I came to embark on a nearly two-week long Great Journeys New Zealand train trip. But this was where the adventure was to commence—aboard a 1350-passenger sea vessel, with nary a track nor train car in sight.
Whenever you're dreaming of cosmopolitan cities, glistening lakes, and verdant mountain vales—that's the best time to visit Switzerland. If the mood strikes you to dip into Lake Geneva in the summertime, or cozy up in the winter for a dinner of raclette-covered everything, you need to go to Switzerland as soon as you can. As for the actual logistics of how to time your visit to this landlocked European country of centuries-old culture and commerce, it all depends on what you want to get out of your trip.
Hawaii recently took the top spot in a ranking of the happiest states in the US to live in — and it's also long been a favorite vacation spot for my family.
Amtrak currently operates 39 routes, with trains criss-crossing the country to service 500 destinations in 46 states. Starting November 10, 2024, however, the number of Amtrak routes will go down one notch to reach a total of 38. Amtrak is cancelling two routes and launching a brand new one between Chicago and Miami called The Floridian.