The journey starts at your doorstep – Travel Inspirations for the Trip to Green Pearls® Accommodations
The peak travel season in Europe is about to begin. For many holidaymakers, the question is now: How do I want to travel? In this newsletter, we would like to inspire you to consider the journey as part of the holiday and the experience. Making the journey the destination, if you will.
We asked the sustainable accommodations of the Green Pearls® network which journey they would recommend to their guests. The result is a mix of panoramic roads, detours to special places and breathtaking train routes that really make the journey part of the adventure.
Experience Mountain Worlds
In the Alps, it almost doesn't matter which route you take: The mountains are always a breathtaking sight. Nevertheless, some routes offer even more beautiful views than the motorways suggested by the navigation system. And if you decide to travel by public transport, all travelers can enjoy the mountain panorama.
Daniel Ganzer from Naturhotel Outside, for example, suggests taking the train to Kitzbühel and from there taking the Eilbus to Matrei. The bus route takes you over two passes, including Pass Thurn with its view of Austria's highest peaks. Of course, you can also travel the entire route by train: via Salzburg and Spittal an der Drau, you go to Lienz, from where you take the shuttle to Matrei and the Naturhotel Outside.
The railway line to the Swiss resort of Zermatt also offers magnificent views of the rugged Vispertal Valley. In Visp or Brig, board the newly upgraded narrow-gauge railway of the Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn and enjoy the ride through the wild and romantic landscape for a good hour and a half. In Zermatt, two Green Pearls® partners welcome you: the family-run Hotel Bella Vista in the center of town and the CERVO Mountain Resort just outside.
The Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld encourages its guests to come by train. After all, Seefeld has the highest ICE railway station. Those who prefer to travel by (electric)car, however, have several options that promise more adventure than the motorway. For example, a side trip from the A7 to the royal castles and the Lech Falls in Füssen is a worthwhile detour. Then make a stop at Ehrenberg Castle, the Highline 179 suspension bridge, and the Zugspitze.
The journey from or via Munich can be combined with a lake tour: Starberger See, Ammersee, Tegernsee, and the Kochelsee and Walchensee lakes are only a short trip away. For a longer excursion, the Klosterbräu team recommends traveling via the Sylvenstein reservoir and along the pristine Isar River. A toll is charged for the adventurous route. Alternatively, the route to the hotel leads past Achsensee.
On Foot or by Bicycle
The saying "the journey is the destination" seems nowhere more true than when traveling on foot or by bicycle. But it doesn't have to be the entire route. Guests can start their stay at the Naturhotel Gut Guntrams with its three unique accommodations with a short hike along a forest nature trail. To do this, take the train from Vienna to Pitten. There the half-hour nature trail to Gut Guntrams begins and sets the mood for a relaxing stay surrounded by nature.
As an awarded ADFC business and climate-friendly hotel, the team of the Creativhotel Luise is delighted by every guest who arrives by bike. "You can choose great cycling routes to get to Erlangen," they tell us. One of these passes through the Franconian Sand Axis, a nature conservation project to protect the sandy areas formed during the ice age.
You can also travel to the family-run Hotel Okelmann's in Lower Saxony by bike. The Weser Cycle Path, which is about 520 kilometers long, passes almost by the hotel's front door. After a long bike ride, Okelmann's is just the place to relax and recover. With yoga sessions, massages, and delicious food in the adjoining Café Heimatliebe.
The Road less traveled
Coastal roads have a special charm and that is exactly why we like to use them for our travels. You can look out over the sea and the salty air drifts through the open car windows. Unfortunately, many people want to experience this at the same time in many locations, which means a relaxed drive along the coast can quickly turn into a stressful car journey. So why not take a route inland instead?
Several inland routes lead to the Relais del Maro in the Ligurian village of Borgomaro. Especially if you come from the Passo della Teglia or the Prino Valley, you almost feel lost on the lonely roads. Perfect for enjoying the Ligurian landscape to the fullest.
On Gran Canaria, too, the owners of Casa León encourage their guests to take the route through the island's rugged interior. Although the route partly leads over gravel and sandy roads, the views make up for the dirty car. Some guests have also done the tour on foot or by mountain bike, the Casa León team reports.
Scenic Routes
Road Trip Along the Baden Wine Route
If you want to visit the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, you should definitely take your time. There are numerous detours along the Baden Wine Route. Small half-timbered villages and winegrowers' estates tempt you with places to stop and enjoy the view. Castles and palaces also offer opportunities for pit stops, not to mention the large cities such as Baden-Baden, Karlsruhe and Freiburg with their rich cultural offerings.
The Panorama Road, which is now almost 70 years old, is just the thing for an enjoyable road trip. How about starting in Freiburg? The Green Pearls® partner Green City Hotel Vauban with its convenient location is an ideal starting point for exploring the city and the sustainable district of Vauban. From there, head north to the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. With numerous stops in between, of course. And at the destination: pure relaxation in the sustainable wellness hotel in the health resort of Bad Herrenalb.
Water and Wine Along the Moselle Panorama Road
The Moselle Panorama Road is also all about wine. Following the meanders of the river, it offers ever-changing views of the sunlit vineyards. For those who are interested, there are also numerous opportunities to hike up and take a look at the Moselle valley from above. Along the way, wine lovers will find themselves in paradise: Numerous vineyards and pubs entice visitors with cool white wines on their terraces, especially in summer. But the focus is not only on wine. Cities such as Cochem or Trier also cast their spell on travelers every year.
A relaxing retreat after an exciting day on the Moselle panorama road is offered by the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten in Bernkastel-Kues. Here you can reflect on the day over a delicious meal and, of course, a fine Moselle wine.
Romantic Road with a Fairytale Ending
The Romantic Road, which stretches 470 kilometers from Würzburg to Füssen, is internationally famous. Art and culture are the focus here and the royal castles around Füssen are the crowning glory. Or is it perhaps the romantic Hotel Das Rübezahl instead? As the "finale", this hotel offers a view of the fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein and an all-around feel-good package with delicious food, wellness, and, of course, plenty of romance.
On the Frenchman's Path in the Langen Rhön
Several paths lead to the STURM on the edge of the Rhön nature reserve. One of the most beautiful is the so-called Franzosenweg (Frenchman's Path). The narrow serpentine road runs off the usual main road through the Lange Rhön and offers a first glimpse of the holiday region. Fields, untouched forests, fantastic views, and numerous wild animals accompany the journey along this route. And time and again you'll find a cozy spot for a picnic. The Franzosenweg is also the starting point for hikes and mountain bike tours or ski tours in winter, which take holidaymakers as far as the Red Moor or the Basalt Lake.
The Journey is the Destination and the Trip is an Adventure
This is how you could summarise the recommendations and tips of the Green Pearls® partners. If you want to learn more about the individual properties, visit www.greenpearls.com or the websites of the sustainable hotels.