Month: December 2008

With its crisp, clean air and snow-capped mountains, Germany is a vision for the soul. You’ll find any number of interesting villages from one end of the country to the other, each with its own special charm.

Bavaria is an absolute must, and Munich is the center of it all. You could easily spend a week exploring the city, but be sure to venture out of town and discover some of the villages and towns that dot the landscape, as well as one of the world’s great castles Neuschwanstein- the inspiration for the Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty castle. The Rhine and Mosel wine regions offer their own selection of castles and unique towns, such as Trier, which was founded in 15 B.C. and beautiful scenic drives. Another enjoyable travel option is to venture along the highways and byways of the famous Black Forest and explore its beautiful countryside.

KarenBrown.com has several interesting itineraries for travelers to Germany. Each offers detailed descriptions of various regions, as well as driving directions and suggested pacing. In addition to this helpful information, our readers also have voted and chosen the following inns and hotels as Germany’s best lodging experiences:

Romantik Hotel Markusturm

With its cheerful yellow exterior, tucked on a quiet residential street, the Hotel Bulow Residenz is a hidden gem just across the river from the main part of Dresden. The elegant setting has earned this boutique hotel the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Award as the “Most Romantic” hotel in Germany. The restaurant, The Caroussel, has held a Michelin star rating for more than a decade and is an excellent spot for a formal dinner. The hotel also has a cozy bar tucked in the old wine cellar, and guests often enjoy breakfast, an afternoon cup of coffee or a glass of champagne in the ivy-covered courtyard.

The Romantik Hotel Markusturm was chosen as the winner of the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Award for the “Warmest Welcome” in Germany. Located in Rothenberg, a fanciful medieval town surrounded by turrets, ramparts and walls, the hotel is just as charming as its surroundings. Hosts Lilo and Stephan Berger will make you feel right at home and pamper guests with inviting individually decorated guest rooms and plenty of hearty cuisine, complimented by Stephan’s signature homemade beer.

At Gasthaus Die Krone, visitors enjoy comfortable accommodations, excellent food and warm hospitality-all at a reasonable price. The hotel, located in the Black Forest village of Staufen, was named by Karen Brown readers as Germany’s “Greatest Value.” Guest rooms are simply decorated with light pine furnishings and beds topped with soft pillows and crisp, white comforters. The hotel’s restaurant is housed in two rooms and features wainscoting and country curtains, infusing it with plenty of German charm. The guest house is located in Staufen’s pedestrian-only area, so you’ll enjoy the quiet and avoid the noises from cars and buses.

The Romantik Hotel Benen-Diken-Hof is an excellent spot for every type of traveler. Its location is unusual, located on a sand-dune island in Germany’s northernmost spot; the hotel is surrounded by acres of prairie land. There is a wellness center where guests can enjoy a relaxing spa treatment, as well as a sauna and swimming pool. The inn’s restaurant serves breakfast far longer than traditional breakfast hours, so you need not rise early and rush to get in the morning meal. Children will adore the hotel as there is plenty of room to run and play, and the hotel has a children’s program, baby sitting services and a room filled with toys. Hiking, fishing and golf are among the many local activities available. Karen Brown readers have chosen Hotel Benen-Diken-Hof as Germany’s best “Splendid Splurge.”

Explore more of our hotels in Germany and find all the details you need to plan your next great trip.

Italy is a place where you could spend a year, exploring every day, and still not scratch the surface of all the things to do and see. From Tuscany to Rome to Florence to Venice and all spots in between, you’ll find some of the world’s finest art, architecture, food and scenery.

Italy offers so many unique and interesting experiences; it can be difficult to narrow them all down for one vacation. Perhaps the best way to approach Italy is to plan to follow several different itineraries and focus on a few unique places. You might decide to combine a visit to Sicily with a driving trip that takes you from Rome to Milan. Another option is explore southern Italy and hit Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Capri and the remote area around Apulia. A unique option would be to head inland and explore the mountain towns and lake regions of Italy. For more information, check out our list of itineraries for Italy.

Il San Pietro di Positano - Italy

In addition to these wonderful itineraries (complete with maps, local attractions and excellent lodging suggestions), also check out what KarenBrown.com readers have voted as Italy’s best hotels and inns:

If you wish to bask beneath the romance of a Tuscan sun, look no further than Locanda dell’Amorosa, which was chosen by Karen Brown readers as Italy’s “Most Romantic” hotel. The hotel is located in what once was a small village, which has been converted into a hotel, restaurant, extensive wine cellar and wine-making facilities. You can wander the grounds, take a dip in the pool or sip a glass of wine from one of the well-appointed common areas and share your daily adventures with other guests. The guest rooms are simple, yet elegant with a few antiques and lovely views. The hotel’s restaurant boasts an amazing setting, perfect for a romantic Italian dinner for two, featuring traditional Tuscan recipes and an extensive wine list.

Hospitality and Italy are practically synonymous, and a stay Il Falconiere Relais is further proof of that fact. This Tuscan hotel was chosen as the recipient of the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Award for the “Warmest Welcome” in Italy. Just outside of Cortona and nestled in the Italian countryside, the hotel provides an excellent home base for day trips to Florence, Assisi and Siena. After a day exploring, return to the inn for a scrumptious dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. Hotel guests can opt for special themed visits, one of which includes a mini cooking school and another includes guided tours of five different wine regions, such as Chianti and Montefalco.

Albergo Villa Belvedere is proof that you can eat your cake and have it too. This beautiful villa was chosen by Karen Brown readers as Italy’s “Greatest Value.” While not luxurious, the guest rooms are clean and comfortable with simple furnishings, and some have pleasant views of Lake Como. Breakfast and dinner, both filled with hearty fare, are included in the rates, adding to the value of this lakeside retreat. The Cappelletti Family and their warm hospitality are another huge plus, and you’ll be treated more as a friend than a hotel guest.

Spend a few days at Il San Pietro di Positano and you may never want to leave. Located in Capri on the Amalfi Coast, this glorious hotel boasts spectacular sea views and has its own private beach cove. The guest rooms, many of which offer an excellent view, are spacious and elegant. The hotel’s restaurant is fabulous with a huge wine list. There’s a full-service spa, fitness center, swimming pool and tennis court. During the summer season, complimentary boat charters are available for morning rides along the coast.

Here is more information about these hotels in Italy and other Italy details.

A wise Irishman once noted, “Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible.” Travelers to this Emerald Isle are sure to discover the truth of that statement. Exploring ancient sites, wandering through castles and sampling a pint or two of fine Irish ale are just a few of the happy adventures awaiting visitors to Ireland.

Your journey might begin in Dublin, a beautiful city full of quaint, historic charm. Dublin is a perfect spot for exploring on foot, and driving here is not recommended so save your rental car for trips out of the city. Museums, historic sites and, of course, the Guinness Brewery await guests to the Republic of Ireland’s capitol city. From there, you can head north up to the coast and the attractions of Northern Ireland and Belfast, or perhaps head south and enjoy the Killarney Lakes or take a trip to Blarney Castle.

The Quay House, Connaught, Ireland

We have created a variety of unique Ireland itinerary ideas for visitors to Ireland, all of which are detailed on our site. KarenBrown.com readers have chosen the following lodgings as Ireland’s best:

Located in Ireland’s picturesque region of Connemara, the Quay House has been chosen by Karen Brown readers as Ireland’s “Most Romantic” inn. The view alone invites romance. Most of the guest rooms and studios face the town harbor of Clifdon. The inn is the oldest building in town and originally served as the harbor master’s house. It now houses seven guest rooms and seven studios, each with a unique theme. The decor ranges from posh Irish country to the eclectic Out of Africa safari room.

The enthusiastic innkeepers at Ballyvolane House encourage their guests to relax and enjoy themselves. Their passion for innkeeping has earned Ballyvolane the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Award for Ireland’s “Warmest Welcome.” This idyllic Irish country home is surrounded by spectacular gardens, and also offers seven kilometers of private salmon fishing along the River Blackwater. The tastefully furnished guest rooms include special items such as clawfoot tubs perfect for a long, restful soak. Spend an hour with a good book in the drawing room or ask the innkeepers to prepare a picnic lunch and you can find a sunny spot on the inn’s grounds. Four-course dinners are served each night in the beautiful dining room, featuring an ever-changing seasonal menu.

The grounds at Ballaghtobin are part parkland, part tillage farm where acres of wheat and Christmas trees are grown. An old ruined Norman church rests next to the charming ivy-covered main house. The interior is elegant and includes three lovely guest rooms, each with a private bath. Guests are encouraged to put on their walking shoes and tour the extensive grounds, taking what 18th-century Irish gentry would no doubt praise as a proper country walk. Ballaghtobin was chosen by Karen Brown readers as Ireland’s “Greatest Value.”

If you plan a trip to Dublin, The Merrion is ideal if you want to treat yourself to one of Ireland’s poshest hotels. Named by Karen Brown readers as Ireland’s top “Splendid Splurge,” the Dublin hotel consists of a main section and a garden wing, both with elegant rooms and suites. There is a full-service spa and fitness center, which includes an infinity pool. There are also two restaurants (one is the only two-star Michelin restaurant in Ireland) and a relaxing pub. Christmas at The Merrion, and just about everywhere else in Ireland, is a special time and the hotel is decorated to the hilt for the season.

If you need more information, KarenBrown.com has it. Read further for more on Ireland hotels and related trip planning information.