Vayama Travel Blog

On Monday we announced the launch of the Vayama Go Somewhere Tour, a 12-market U.S. campaign inspiring people to dream about international travel by means of an 18-foot custom-designed truck that serves as a hub for global discovery and travel inspiration at each event along the way.

The Go Somewhere truck will be driving over the next four months, covering well over 6,000 miles, and visiting 12 markets in the Western half of the United States. In each market, we will be inviting people to experience some of the world’s most interesting cities. A fun game show allows players to compete against one another on international trivia, and a custom-created iPad app allows people to play with an interactive map that shares facts, photos and videos of different cities around the globe. If interested, people can also easily sign up for destination-specific content on the city of their choosing.

One of the most unique experiences at the truck however, is the passport photo booth. Recent U.S. passport statistics reveal that only an estimated 39 percent of the country’s population has a valid passport. Those who dream about taking an international trip can walk away with a passport-ready photo, bringing them one step closer to making the dream of international travel a reality.

Over the course of the tour, people who visit the Go Somewhere Tour truck can enter the Go Somewhere Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize winner will receive an international trip for two on Emirates Airline, plus U.S. $2,000 spending money. 12 lucky First Prize winners (1 winner in each market) will receive a U.S. $1,500 travel voucher, redeemable on Vayama.com. Market stops include:

 
For full details on the Go Somewhere Tour, visit: http://vayama-go-somewhere-tour.com.

 


 

Whether you’re planning to jet set with your loved one or just give the gift of travel this Valentine’s Day, we’re here to help turn up the romance!

A number of the world’s most romantic destinations can be found in Europe and we want to help get you and your sweetheart there.

If you’re looking to be awed and inspired by cities that exude romance, these European backdrops are your answer:

Paris, France
Whisk your special someone away for a picnic beneath the sparkling Eiffel Tower or an intimate dinner cruise down the Seine River.

Barcelona, Spain
Admire the city lights and beautiful scenery in a hot air balloon ride over the surrounding mountains, or enjoy an intimate wine tasting, complete with delicious tapas at one of the many cafes and restaurants in the city.

Rome, Italy
Put the Rome in Romance this year when you take your sweetie to the birthplace of Valentine’s Day. Marvel at beautiful art in museums like the Galleria Borghese, or wander the city touring the many attractions, such as the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain or the Coliseum in the heart of Rome.

For the adventurous couple, enjoying the winter sports season, a jungle hike or exploring a distant rugged coastline might be the perfect journey. Consider visiting one of these destinations:

Verbier, Switzerland
Embrace the winter weather and hit the slopes with your loved one or get cozy by a warm fire in this charming village set against the snow-capped Swiss Alps.

Montego Bay, Jamaica
Share a Jamaican adventure this Valentine’s Day when you explore the white sand beaches, swim with dolphins or take a safari with your special someone.

Gisborne, New Zealand
Take a guided tour along New Zealand’s coast or take your love to the sea for some surfing or a boating expedition to the White Islands.

If your heart is set on relaxing on the beach and enjoying each other’s company away from the crowds, then plan your vacation to one of these beautiful, serene locales:

San Juan, Puerto Rico
Watch the sunset from a romantic horseback ride along the beach or take a moonlit kayak excursion into Fajardo biobay.

Palm Beach, Aruba
Get lost in the bliss of clear blue waters crashing against the sugary-white sand with your special someone by your side.

Maldives
Escape to one of the most romantic destinations in the world and experience a beachfront vacation basking in the warm sunshine or enjoy the shade under a perfect palm tree.

Even if you can’t get away for the actual Valentine’s Day holiday, giving the gift of travel is an incredible gesture, and what’s even more special is planning your romantic trip together!

Before you start booking your 2013 travel, consider referencing some of the trends we saw this year to see where and how people were traveling in 2012. Plus, find out which international cities were the most booked for the week of Christmas and New Years – it’s never too early to plan that holiday travel!

When looking at our 2012 travel data, which includes tickets sold and routes traveled, there was a noticeable shift in some booking trends. Here are some of the top developments:

• Flying in style – There was a slight increase in the number of people booking premium classes when traveling internationally this year
• Across the Pond is the Place to be - A look at the top 10 destinations from this year and last showed that London held its position as the number one city in terms of bookings among Vayama customers in 2012.
• The Far East for Far Less - Our data also showed popularity in bookings to Asian cities like Hong Kong, Shanghai, Thailand and Tokyo.
• Warmer Days for the Holidays – The booked international ticket volume during the week of Christmas and the New Year shows that a majority of travelers were headed to warmer climates. Destinations like Costa Rica, Mexico, Hong Kong, Delhi and Thailand are attractive to travelers seeking an international destination with minimal rain and higher temperatures than most U.S. cities that are enduring a winter chill.

London, England

Overall international bookings compared to 2011:

Underground River in Palawan, Philippines

Top 10 destinations booked from U.S. departing cities for the week of Christmas:

1. London, United Kingdom
2. Manila, Philippines
3. Bangkok, Thailand
4. Mumbai, India
5. San Jose, Costa Rica
6. Delhi, India
7. Paris, France
8. Hong Kong, China
9. Beijing, China
10. Cancun, Mexico

Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica

Top 10 destinations booked from U.S. departing cities on December 30:

1. Manila, Philippines
2. Mumbai, India
3. Delhi, India
4. Chennai, India
5. Stuttgart, Germany
6. Hong Kong, China
7. Tokyo, Japan
8. Medellin, Colombia
9. Dakar, Senegal
10. Guangzhou, China

Red Fort, Delhi, India

For those of you thinking ahead for Spring Break travel, we wanted to share the Top 10 destinations booked from U.S. departing cities during March and April in 2012 as well as what’s already booked for 2013:

Dublin, Ireland

Istanbul, Turkey

In search of fashion, art, food and music in Dusseldorf

I knew almost immediately that Dusseldorf was a place I wanted to visit again. With only two days to explore, it seemed I had only scratched the surface of this city with its old and new contrasts. Dusseldorf is a destination that offers your typical European charm, but the bigger find is that it is also a city on the edge of the fashion, music, food and impressive art scene.

With over 26 museums and 100 galleries, it wasn’t hard to get my art fix – even when I found myself underground. The Kunst im Tunnel (KIT) gallery leverages an unused tunnel along the Rhine to display the works of local art students. Just off the Rhine promenade, this gallery is a must see for only 4 Euro per person.

As dusk starts to set, the city really comes alive at night and crowds fill the pubs and bars along the Altstadt, the old town. With the “longest bar in the world,” there were plenty of places to sample the local brew variety, Alt. At the suggestion of our tour guide, we also sampled some Killepitsch, a local liquor that has been around since 1848. With 42% alcohol content, this is the drink that’s sure to warm you up on a cold winter evening.

The highlight of my time in Dusseldorf was getting to go backstage at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein (aka. the opera house) before a performance of La Boheme. As a guest of the media director, we also got to explore the costumer archive and dine with performers before the show. Getting to explore the 50,000+ costumes was an awesome experience and I was secretly hoping they’d let me take my pick – the black swan perhaps? With daily performances, the Oper am Rhein is a great way to spend an evening.

If you are planning a trip to this wonderful city, here are some recommendations based on my experience this trip:

Where to stay

Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf

What to eat

Monkey’s Restaurant Group
Monkey’s East – I dined at this location and enjoyed all of the Asian fusion dishes and hands down some of the best curry
Monkey’s South
Monkey’s West

Zum Schlüssel
Traditional German eats

Things to do

Christmas Market
November 22^nd – December 23^rd, the city center will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland with hundreds of vendors offering local treats for the holiday season.

Museum Kunstpalast
Escape the cold and head into the Kunstpalast to explore the paintings and modern art exhibits. The Andreas Gursky exhibit is on display until January 13, 2013.

Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Daily opera and ballet performances.

MedienHafen
District of Dusseldorf along the harbor with Gehry buildings.

How to get there

Airberlin offers daily flights from the US directly to Dusseldorf.

By Allison Tebbe

Everyone here at Vayama is passionate about travel and more importantly about sharing the best fares, flight options and travel deals to make people’s travel dreams a reality.

That is why today I am leaving sunny California for the chillier parts of Europe in search of the best winter destinations. On my twelve-day excursion, I will be on the lookout for the best winter travel specials, accommodations, tours and sights in Germany, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland to help everyone become a savvy traveler and have the insight to plan their perfect winter Euro-trip!

The first leg of my trip begins with an airberlin flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Dusseldorf International Airport in Germany where I will spend three days touring the city and visiting sights like Benrath Palace and Garden. From Dusseldorf I will venture to Copenhagen, Denmark for three days, then Vienna, Austria for three days and finally make my way to Zurich, Switzerland for the last four days.

I will be sharing regular updates of my experience, including everything from the airports and flights, to my hotel stays and various activities. Stay tuned for photos of my adventure and recommendations for how to plan the ultimate winter vacation in Europe!

By Allison Tebbe

From its pagan Celtic origins in the festival of Samhain (Summer’s End), Halloween is now celebrated all over the world. Discover the best international destinations to celebrate your own Halloween getaway in an appropriately spooky fashion: From Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, to Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris and everywhere cool spooks reside.

Halloween Inspired Getaways

By Max Milano *

November and early December’s chill is ideal for a Halloween inspired getaway. Check our top five destinations to get you in a spirited mood.

1-Paris
Paris has its charms all year around, it’s just that the city’s charms change with the seasons. Once the leaves begin to turn on the Bois de Boulogne (Paris’s Central Park), you know it’s time to dress up in retro-black before hitting an Absinthe bar. Once appropriately in the mood, take a tour of the Paris Catacombs or head for a spirited climb up Notre Dame’s famous bell towers in search of Quasimodo (Victor Hugos beloved hunchback). Save a full day to explore the antiquaries of Village Saint Paul (for Victorian era mourning rings and top hats) before visiting the tombs of Père Lachaise cemetery, a veritable who’s who of France’s 19th and 20th century literary and artistic luminaries (from Moliere to Edith Piaf, plus illustrious ex-pats Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison).

Père Lachaise Cemetery: It's Wilde.

Discover Paris for less with Vayama’s cheap flights.

2-Prague
Prague is custom made for Halloween inspired explorations. Start early in the morning from Prague Castle’s hilltop balcony, for a bird’s eye view of the city’s gothic and medieval spires waving in and out of the mist. Then walk downhill from the Castle to Franz Kafka’s house, while reading a passage from “The Metamorphosis” to set the mood. Head on to Prague’s Old New Synagogue to hear about the legend of the Golum (a Frankenstein type mud-monster said to live in the attic and come alive during times of crisis). Finish your tour in Prague’s Old Jewish Cemetery; this mound of crooked 17th century tombstones in the heart of Prague’s Jewish quarter, for a picturesque Memento Mori experience.

Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague.

3- Transylvania
Transylvania is Rumania’s historical central region; it can be reached by a three hour train ride from Bucharest. Transylvania’s jagged Carpathian Mountains, dark wolf and bear infested forests, fortified churches, medieval citadels and Saxon castles set the perfect mood for Halloween inspired travels. The area’s rich folklore was the inspiration for Bram Stokes Dracula, so follow in the footsteps of Vlad the Impaler with a visit to Bram Castle (a.k.a Drakula’s Castle) and the medieval walled city of Sighișoara. Round up your trip with a visit to the Merry Cemetery of Săpânţa, for its colorful tombstones with naïve paintings that celebrate life.

Bran Castle, Transylvania.

Discover Rumania for less with Vayama’s cheap flights.

4-London
London is perfect for a Halloween inspired getaway that will equally satisfy children and adults. From Madame Tussaud’s wax exhibits, to night walking tours of Whitechapel, following in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper. The kids will love a scary-fun visit to the London Dungeon, for lively recreations of many gory and macabre historical events in a comedic ‘gallows humor’ style (from the Plague to Sweeney Todd and Bloody Mary’s hapless victims). For a more historically accurate experience, visit the Tower Of London, home to the Crown Jewels and the execution place to many disloyal royals.

London: To the Tower!

Discover London for less with Vayama’s cheap flights.

5-Tokyo
The Japanese have elevated the American style cheesy theme restaurant into an art form (and their forte is horror inspired themes!). Visit the Vampire Café, in Tokyo’s glitzy Ginza district for a horrifyingly fun evening of coffin shaped desserts and blood inspired drinks. For an even more other worldly experience, visit Yurei Bar in the Kichijoji district for cocktails that glow in the dark and “pool of blood soup.” Of course, the wait staff is all done up in ghostly makeup, and you’re even allowed to dress up yourself!

Dinner is Served: Vampire Cafe, Tokyo.

Discover Tokyo for less with Vayama’s Cheap fligts.

* Max Milano is a world traveler, travel blogger and published author.

Head for the Southern Hemisphere this Holiday Season and enjoy the hottest Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations on the planet; from Rio’s Ipanema Beach parties to Hobbits in New Zealand, the holidays are hotter than ever this year.

By Max Milano

The holidays are upon us, it’s the happiest time of the year and a perfect reason to visit friends and family. Another great way to celebrate the holiday season is to take your loved ones on a holiday they will never forget. How about the Southern Hemisphere?

Southern Holidays
The Southern Hemisphere offers world class destinations, breathtaking landscapes and amazing wildlife. Enjoy spring and summer (this fall and winter) in these hot Southern Hemisphere destinations.

Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is hot all year around, but nothing tops New Year’s Eve on Copacabana beach (only the Rio Carnival matches it). The locals dress all in white; eat traditional New Year’s food (farofa), dance the samba and light floating candles on the beach. And just when you think nothing can top this amazing celebration, the skies above Copacabana Beach will light up with the biggest fireworks display of the year. So head down to Rio for the Holidays, it will surely be a holiday to remember.

Rio's New Year's Eve Fireworks

Cape Town
Summer in Cape Town during the Holiday season means sunbathing with the penguins on Boulder Beach, hiking to the top of Table Mountain for one of the best views in the world, wine tasting in Stellenbosch (South Africa’s premier wine region), or going on a lion safari in a private game reserve. But nothing beats Cape Town’s ‘Kaapse Klopse’ carnival on New Year’s Day. The whole town pours into the streets to dance and sing in colorful costumes and painted faces. Join in the fun and find out why Cape Town is one of the top holiday destinations of the Holiday season.

Cape Town's ‘Kaapse Klopse’ Carnival

Auckland
Auckland is called ‘The City of Sails.’ It’s a beautiful port city of gorgeous bays, beaches and inlets, world class restaurants, a spectacular skyline, suburban wineries, and bungee jumping right downtown. The locals celebrate Christmas with a traditional ‘Santa Parade’ and New Year’s with a fireworks display above Sky Tower (the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest structure). But nothing can match spending the holidays in Middle Earth. Tolkien may have been inspired by Iceland and the British Midlands when he wrote his Hobbit sagas, but thanks to Kiwi director Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit movies (all filmed entirely in New Zealand), you can now wonder through the streets of Hobbiton, and even drive to the top of Mount Doom. The town of Matamata, just a two hour drive from Auckland, has preserved the entire Hobbiton set used in all the movies. Tours are offered daily and the remoteness of the location (you can pan 360 degrees and never see a modern structure) will have you convinced that you’ve just landed in Middle Earth. A bit further south of Matamata rises Mount Ruapehu, a massive stratovolcano that stood in for Mount Doom in the Lord of the Ring movies and the highest point of the North Island. Doesn’t a holiday in Middle Earth sound perfect for the Holidays?

Welcome to Hobbiton

 

Max Milano is a world traveler, travel blogger and published author.

From Diwali to Chinese New Year, fall and winter in Asia is the best time to experience the most colorful festivals in the world.

By Max Milano

India – Diwali (November 13, 2012)
Diwali has gone global; it’s now celebrated from Palo Alto to Paris and everywhere where the Indian diaspora has taken it (including Africa and the Caribbean), but nothing beats experiencing Diwali in India. Known as “the festival of lights,” Diwali is one of the most colorful and important celebrations of the Hindu calendar, it commemorates the return of Lord Rama from a 14 year exile and the vanquishing of the demon-king Ravana. The festival is celebrated by lighting earthen diyas (ghee candles), bursting firecrackers and eating traditional Diwali sweets. Most regions in India will try to outdo each other Diwali with extensive light decorations and street festivities. Good areas to celebrate Diwali in India include Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Goa, where they also burn demon effigies. Happy Diwali!

How To Get There: Fly to Delhi for less with Vayama’s India flight deals.

Happy Diwali!

Hong Kong – Chinese New Year (February 10, 2013)
Chinese New Year is Hong Kong’s biggest festival – only New Year’s Eve (Dec 31) comes even close. It runs for three days and marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. 2013 will be the Year of the Snake and most Hong Kongers will celebrate by visiting flower markets and enjoying a traditional new year’s feast of fish and dumplings with their family. The festival closes with a huge fireworks display above Hong Kong harbor. Kung Hei Fat Choy!

How To Get There: Fly to Hong Kong for less with Vayama’s China flight deals.

Chinese New Year's Fireworks above Hong Kong Harbour

Vietnam – TET New Year (February 9 to the 12, 2013)
The TET New Year is Vietnam’s biggest celebration. It begins quaintly enough with flower markets, TET decorations and family visits to exchange gifts and red envelopes for luck; then on New Year’s Eve nigh, total pandemonium begins. Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and every town in between will compete in making as much noise as possible with fireworks, the banging of gongs and throngs of masked street revelers called Mua Lan (the Lion-Dragon). Grab a gong and join in!

How To Get There: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City for less with Vayama’s Vietnam flight deals.

Vietnam TET a TET

Japan - Merii Kurisumasu! (December 25, 2012)
Yes, Japan is not a Christian country, not even a little. So how come Christmas (or as the locals call it; Kurisumasu) is one of the most colorful celebrations of the year? Leave it to the Japanese to embrace every commercial aspect of western Christmas, sans the Jesus bit. So get ready for bright decorations galore, with every store in Tokyo’s posh Ginza district dripping with Christmas lights and stuffed with Santa dolls. Friends exchange gifts and go out for dinner. Since whole Turkeys are hard to get in Japan (and Japanese homes lack large ovens), you will see very long lines at Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas Eve! So enjoy the gift giving, have a glass of sake or two with your newly made Japanese friends and dig into your bucket of Colonel Sanders Chicken. Kanpai!

How To Get There: Fly into Tokyo with Vayama’s Japan Winter Deals.

KFC We're Big in Japan for Kurisumasu!

South Korea – Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (January 7 to the 29, 2012)

One of South Korea’s most wintry tows is Hwacheon, whose river freezes solid by January—  making it the ideal home for the the annual Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival. Each day of the festival, 32 tons of mountain trout are released for enthusiastic fishermen try their luck at catching them trough ice holes with traditional lures. Scoring your catch of the day is quite a task in the bone chilling cold, but you can always get a pre-caught and nicely a grilled trout from one of the many outdoor vendors lining the streets of the festival. Mini ice hockey, snow sculpture competitions and other winter sports round up the festivities. Dress warm and join the fun!

How to Get there: Fly into Seoul with Vayama’s South Korea flight deals and then take a limousine to Chuncheon, then a bus to Hwacheon.

Here Fishie Fishie!

By Nomadic Matt

No one wants to spend 20 bucks every time they enter a museum or full price for a tour and sightseeing can really add up. After all, we come all the way to a new destination toe explore it and its wonderful attractions not sit in our hotel rooms. Luckily, you don’t ever have to pay that much money. There are a lot of easy ways to save money on activities.

Here’s how:

Get Tourism Cards

Tourism cards are something I will never figure out why travelers don’t get more often. Local tourism offices issue cards for all their attractions, tours, and restaurants. This card gives you free entry and/or substantial discounts on all the attractions and tours in a city, free local public transportation (a huge plus), and usually some discounts are restaurants.

These cards are great for saving money because you get free transportation around the city (saving money on transportation) and free entry into museums, attractions, or other tours. For example, in Oslo Norways, the VisitOslo card offered by the city tourism board costs $60 USD. However, each museum in the city is between $12-15 USD. I saw 9 museums in the city which means I saved $30 USD with the pass plus got free public transportation. Not a bad deal.

Don't Pass on the London Pass

When I was in London, I used the London Pass. This tourist card cost me $95 USD for two days of sightseeing. It covers over 32 destinations and offers free public transportation. You can get a pass for up to 6 days for $150 USD However, I didn’t have much time or the desire to see all 32 spots. Without this pass, these attractions would have cost me $170 USD. I saved 45% by using the London Pass and I didn’t even use it for everything it offers.

Most travelers never think of these passes because they aren’t very well advertised or promoted but if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing, head to the local tourist office and pick yourself up one of these cards. Pretty much ever major destination in the world offers them!

Free Museum Days

Most museums have special discount times or free nights. Even famous museums like the Louvre and the Guggenheim offer free entrance. If I don’t have a tourism card that offers free entrance into the museum I want, I look up the museum on the internet to find out which days and times the museum offers free entrance into the museum.

Love the Louvre on Free Days

Use Discount Cards

There are a lot of discount travel cards in the world – from the international student card, the youth card, VIP card in Australia, to the Hostelling International card. All of these cards can get you discounts on attractions throughout the world. Some of these cards cost money (usually around $20 USD) but are good for at least a year and work throughout the world. You usually save between 30-50% off the listed price.

Visit the Local Tourist Office

Make sure you also visit the local tourist office. They usually have discount cards for major attractions and can let you know what deals are happening at that time. While at the tourist office, take some of those advertisement brochures. Most of them (especially the maps) contain ads for discounted tours and meals.

The Tourist Office is Your Friend

Book Tours Together

Booking tours together can save you between 10-20% off the listed prices. Heading into a tourist agency and offering to book a lot of tours from them will make them more amicable to lowering the price. Whenever I am going to book a tour, I always ask if there is a discount for a single tour, booking tours together, or multiple people. Agencies won’t tell you about them right away but if they know it will get the sale, they will give in. Negotiate and play hard ball.

Want more? Here’s a blog I wrote with 20 more interesting facts about me!

Have a Wunderbar Winter in Germany with Airberlin

Germany is hot this winter with airberlin’s Winter Wonderland free ticket giveaway. So get ready to discover all the fun things to do in Germany this fall and winter season: From Berlin’s Festival of Lights, to Cologne’s Christmas Markets- and everything in between!

By Max Milano

Germans will tell you to avoid their country during the winter season. During my visit to Berlin last summer, I lost count of how many locals complained about Berlin’s cold winters. So there’s no wonder why so many of them head south to Spain the minute the snowflakes begin to fall! But what these German snowbirds fail to grasp is that when coupled with the cheap hotel and airfare deals available, the smaller crowds, and colorful Christmas Markets, Germany’s winter wonderlands become an attractive and affordable getaway. Are you ready to discover Germany’s wunderbar winters?

Germany Winter Wonderlands

1-Oktoberfest
Ok, Oktoberfest is not celebrated in the winter; it doesn’t even begin in October! But Oktoberfest is undoubtedly the official end of summer, and the beginning of winter festivities. This year Munich’s famous Oktoberfest begins on Sep 26th and will run until October 7th. All large breweries in the city set out massive tents, to serve their best beers and traditional Bavarian food. You can book a table directly on a  brewery website, or just walk around and join in with friendly locals. Take advantage of airberlin’s hot winter deals from the USA to Germany, and find out what all the Oktoberfest fuzz is all about (Lederhosen not included).

Prost! Let the festivities begin

2-Berlin’s Festival of Lights
Berlin has been described as “a grey, unbeautiful city crammed with history and ghosts”, and this can be more evident in the winter. But for history and art lovers, there is no better time to explore this city’s world class museums and trendy art galleries. The city itself is an open air museum, with the remnants of the Berlin wall, the restored Reichstag, the iconic Brandenburg gate and the socialist chic Fernsehturm Tower; all telling a chapter of the city’s sometimes painful past. This year’s Berlin Festival of Lights will bathe the city’s historical landmarks in colorful lights and will feature neon sculptures, ‘light boats’ and rickshaws.

Get well lit! Berlin's Festival of Lights

3-Ski Germany
Austria and Switzerland may have the most famous German speaking ski resorts, but the Bavarian Alps offer world class skiing, smaller crowds and better prices than their Austrian counterparts on the other side of the mountains. Head over to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, located at the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak. This resort is the jewel of the Bavarian Alps, with world class skiing, pristine landscapes, and culinary delights to ensure the best après ski experience in the German Alps.

Ski Bavaria!

4-Germany’s Christmas Markets
Germany’s Christmas Markets are a wonderful tradition and a great way to experience how the locals get into the Christmas spirit. Berlin, Cologne, Nuremberg, Munich and Dresden all have world famous Christmas Markets, offering everything from hot Glühwein mulled wine, to hand carved nutcracker dolls. Don’t miss the traditional Christmas cakes and freshly baked cookies.

Traditional German Christmas Market

5-Berlin’s Museum Hop
Berlin is a city of museums, there is even a museum dedicated to the city’s favorite food (the Currywurst). Winter offers the perfect opportunity to be indoors, admiring all the history and art that Berlin can throw at you. Start at the German Historical Museum, then on to the Neues museum (ancient art), one of the five large museums on Berlin’s Museum Island. Hop over to the Reichstag’s ultra modern viewing platform, and then on to the DDR museum for displays of everyday life in the former East Germany. Berlin is also a city of Art Galleries, the hippest ones located in the Mitte district. This former run down area of East Berlin is now home to the trendiest, shabby chic art galleries in Germany. Visit Gallerie Zink, for the hottest new artists in Europe.

Not the wurst museum in Berlin!

Max Milano is a world traveler, travel blogger and published author.