Category: All posts

Kalimera, compliments for a wonderful boutique hotel – Hotel Amarilia in Vougliameni. Contributed by Annamaria Veszeli and Jens Hoffmann Greece has always been famous for its feel good atmosphere vibrant city culture, mythology, cafe‘s and bars more than the other capital cities in Europe and its charming boutiquehotels. It offers joyful entertainment, local feelings and lovely beach sides. Forget about the islands hype, of course we like Hydra, Santorini, Mykonos eg. but Athens has a amazing riviera. For us it was easy to fall in…Continue Reading “Hotels we love: Hotel Amarilia in Vougliameni” →

Contributed by Annamaria Veszeli and Jens Hoffmann It was a wonderful trip. Athens is not only the capital of Greece, but it also offers a beautiful coastal stretch, the Athenian Riviera. Greek mythology has fascinated me my whole life. It’s rich with goddesses like Venus and gods like Zeus, who represent all aspects of life and nature. Zeus, the greatest of all gods, is the ruler of the sky and of all thunderstorms. Of course, there are many ancient marble sites and the unique blend…Continue Reading “Athens and its Riviera” →

Where Athens Stories echo in every corner Contributed by feature reporter Jens Hoffmann Photos: Annamaria Veszeli To make it short: It is easy to immerse yourself in the vibrant heartbeat of Athens at Athens Capital Hotel – MGallery Collection. A lot of charming hospitality. Perfectlly located, ideally situated in the city’s historic center at Syntagma Square, just steps from the Hellenic Parliament, the hotel offers refined elegance with curated artwork and impeccable design, offering a seamless connection to the city’s rich heritage and dynamic energy….Continue Reading “Glamour in Hellas: The Athens Capital Hotel – MGallery Collection” →

The charms of Skopelos “Mamma Mia Island”, a perfect location to get married? Yes! Contributed by feature reporter Jens Hoffmann I love the Mamma Mia (“ABBA”) movie. Here’s the plot. A beautiful girl named Sofie is getting married to a British guy on Skopelos. Both of them are dewy with youth. The girl has secretly invited three men from her mom’s past, each of whom may be her biological father. Hilarity ensues. That’s about it, a perfect (ABBA) musical with a easy plot. The main…Continue Reading “Islands we love – Skopelos on the Sporades” →

In Sydney, the intersection of city and nature is amazing. Countributed by Jens Hoffmann We travelled by Qamtas and landed at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport Kingsford Smith Airport is Located south of the Sydney central business district, in the suburb of Mascot. It is the main hub for Qantas, the flagship airline of Australia. Wow, a sunrise ocean swim is possible before drying off and doing some business. A stroll to a neighborhood cafe reveals a kaleidoscopic floral display: bobbing grevillea, flowering gum. But there…Continue Reading “Cities we love: Sydney” →

When the world ends. I`go to Vienna, the capital of a nation with around 10 million people. We tried the Palais Hansen – Kempinski Contributed by Jens Hoffmann At a time when more and more hotels are uniform in appearance I love hotels with unusual forms and style. At Palais Hansen every stone recalls a fascinating history, the luxury 5-star hotel Kempinski is a true gem. 
Designed as a hotel for the 1873 World Exhibition by Theophil Edvard von Hansen and Heinrich Förster, the building…Continue Reading “In Vienna Veritas – Palais Hansen Kempinski” →

Not travellust. Just travelove Joy Group in Marseille. Contributed by Jens Hoffmann We checked in at the cheeky addition to Marseille’s quiet back streets, the lovely Mama Shelter. It is a prominent trendy boutique hotel on Marseille’s hotel scene. 125 cosseting rooms are spread over six floors, fitted with 5* bedding mamamoji, smart screens and stylish schemes reflecting the palette of the Mediterranean mamamoji. They’re cool in the summer and warm during rare chilly snaps. Conceived by the French philosopher and urbanist Cyril Aouizerate and…Continue Reading “Cities we love: Marseille” →

Octant Evora opens its Enoteca in Alentejo, Portugal. Contributed by Jens Hoffmann The Octant Évora hotel introduces a one-of-a-kind experience in the Alentejo region of Portugal with the opening of its Enoteca, celebrating the best of local wineproduction, featuring nearly 140 producers and over 300 wine selections. Wow. That sounds amazing. Give it a try. The hotel is located near the historic city of Évora in Portugal’s Alentejo region. A redesigned space is dedicated to honoring the rich winemaking heritage of the area. This unique…Continue Reading “Destinations we love: Alentejo in Portugal” →

Hong Kong is magic. Contributed by feature reporter Jens Hoffmann The city stimulates your senses: the shimmering skyscrapers stretching endlessly upward, the air, the sun, the street food, the market stalls. A big wow. I love to be here. But Hong Kong can exhaust even experienced travellers like us. So lets find the right hideaway. Everyone knows that I am a Mandarin fan. The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is amazing, it offers tranquillity in the heart of the city for more than 70 years. A…Continue Reading “Hotels we love: Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong” →

The 2025 MICHELIN Guide selection in Vietnam Vietnam’s Culinary Ascent with 9 One Star, 2 Green Star, and 63 Bib Gourmand features a record 181 establishments: 9 One MICHELIN Star (1 new, 1 promoted), 2 MICHELIN Green Star (1 new), 63 Bib Gourmand (9 new), and 109 MICHELIN Selected (14 new) Contributed by Jens Hoffmann Michelin officially unveiled the 2025 restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City | Da Nang at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. The 2025 edition…Continue Reading “2025 MICHELIN Stars in Vietnam – Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang” →

Contributed by feature reporter Jens Hoffmann A foodtrip brought us to Bangkok. We checked in at the Mandarin Oriental. BKK is like a puzzle and the Mandarin is a destination in itself. It host royal guests and international visitors. Somerset Maugham used his hotel room as a hospital when he came down with malaria. John Le Carré wrote much of “The Honourable Schoolboy” in one of the suites. And Noël Coward would spend hours gazing down at the Chao Phraya, delighting in the river’s varied…Continue Reading “I am a fan: Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok” →

Lovely stay Contributed by Jens Hoffmann I am in love with the rhythm and music of this city. Nearly two decades after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans remains smaller in population, but richer than ever in cultural treasures. Forced to justify its very existence, the city doubled down on venerating its charming customs and neighborhood gems. Today, there are new ways to engage with the city’s history, arts scene and natural beauty, including the Lafitte Greenway, a biking and pedestrian path linking the French Quarter to…Continue Reading “Waldorf Astoria The Roosevelt in New Orleans” →