DESTINATION PROPERTIES

CAPRI: A MEDITERRANEAN BEAUTY

“Capri, on the Amalfi Coast in Italy is my ultimate holiday vacation,” Vidal Sassoon, designer.

The Mediterranean region is noted to be splendid. The fertile wines dating back thousands of years ago in Italy always get boasted as a no doubt must-see. Nonetheless, Italy has the island Capri. It is a single block 4 square miles of limestone and the vegetation blossoms even though rain doesn’t fall regularly.

VILLA JOVIS

The Roman Period brought and left it’s imprint on mankind most likely forever. Tiberius was the second emperor of the empire and ruler during Jesus Christ teenage years. Later in his life he built the palace ($7 USD entrance fee) on the northeast of the island. The ruins are only accessible by foot up a mountain. According to Wikipedia, Tiberius had a lingering fear he would be assassinated so he built the marble slab villa on a secluded spot on Capri to make it very challenging for him to be reached. The route to Villa Jovis is long, and is suggested by capri.com, to break up the tour by stopping at Parco Astarita and Villa Lysis.

Parco Astarita (free to the public) overlooking the Bay of Naples. It is just $2.25 USD to enter. A very popular attraction are the wild goats. TripAdvisor rating is 5 Stars. The challenging comments tend to be the long flight of stairs to get to the breathtaking view. However, keep in mind Tiberius chose the secluded location to make his possible enemies difficult to reach him.
Villa Lysis was built in 1905 with superlative materials and marble by Swedish nobleman Jacques Fersen. With neoclassical design, Fersen dedicated it to the great kings of France. But the eventual name became Villa Lysis in memory of young Athenian Lysis, who was a friend of Socrates and commemorated in the homonymous Plato’s dialogue about philia (friendship). It was the intellectual circle for writers, poets, and artists who visited Capri during the 20th Century. Opens May – December. http://www.villalysiscapri.com

SUN BATHING IN WINTER

Marina Piccola is located the southeast corridor of the island. Steep cliffs prevent the chill winds blocked where tourists can throw on their bikinis and swim trunks and have glowing fun in the harbor’s water. Grotto Azzura (Blue Grotto) is a massive cave where small boat tour takes visitors inside Capri’s major tourist attraction for the past 100 years. The opening of the cave is barely a meter high, which make the visitors have to lie on their back to get through the cave.

CUISINE

Capri isn’t an inexpensive island due to a lot of things have to shipped in. But the sea offers a bounty of seafood for different cuisines.

Rio Bostrot gets 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor. 4 stars on Yelp. “Few steps from the sea.” Mediterranean, Italian, Seafood, European, Northern Italian, Ligurian, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten Free options. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch. Plus, Live Music. Price Range $10 – $44. TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.
Monzu receives 4.5 stares on TripAdvisor. $90 – $120. Italian, Seafood, Mediterranean, European. Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten Free options. TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. Lunch, Dinner. Table Service is part of features.

AIRBNB

Wikipedia defines a Roman Villa as a domestic building, often luxurious, and found in the countryside and the seashore, although in the periphery of urban centers. Since a traveler is headed to the arms reach of where they originated, a villa (doesn’t know how much genuinely Roman) is going to be the most likely name of the game rental space to the island–if they desire an authentic taste of the island’s Roman Period. But the nightly rentals go from $54 USD – $10,400 USD per night for a palatial spectacle. The former rand being of the middle class offering and the latter is being offered from the super wealthy; and it comes with housekeeping, chef preparing garden fresh meals, 18 rooms, marble floors, chandeliers, pool, and dock. https://www.airbnb.com/luxury/listing/20472223/?adults=1&children=0&infants=0&guests=1

SHOPPING

The tiny island of Capri brought the world, of fashion, Capri pants. Some of the top names in the fashion world–the likes of Hermes and Salvatore Ferragamo– have their products on shelves there. To round out the list are some definite familiar names, such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Saint Laurent, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Versace, Valentino, Moschino Spa, and Bvlgari.

RIDESHARING

On Ridesitaly.com, they share the important info: Only use official black taxi cab or pre-booked car services. Gypsy cabs or un-booked minicabs are illegal and are run by the local underworld. Official cabs have the government medallion. Also the site states for travelers to not accept rides from anyone at the luggage area or inside of a train station, but go the official taxi section. Official taxis will have a taxi sign on the roof (and make sure driver reset his meter once you get in). Furthermore, the site encourages travelers to only use ridesharing apps when a ride have been scheduled ahead of time. Here a few taxi ordering apps: Uber, Viator.com, mytaxi.com, ittaxi.it.

BE ON THE LOOK OUT

Smarttravel.com in it’s November 11, 2019 issue reports that there are 1 million cases of theft crimes in Italy reported annually (safe to assume Capri’s theft crime rate isn’t so low either).
Thieves on motorbikes are a real problem.
Street vendors selling counterfeit fashion goods.
Spiked drinks in bars are known to occur.
Italian thieves will impersonate Italian police and ask for wallet to see ID, then take one’s wallet.
If driving and riding, keep doors locked and keep windows rolled up.

CONCLUSION

Capri is a destination of choice that offers the incredible Mediterranean climate to explore the blue caves and the practically year round sunbathing. The Roman architecture from the First Century palace ruins of Villa Jovis, built by and for the emperor Tiberius of the Roman Empire found on top of Monte Tiberio, will impact one’s memory for quite a long time. Imagine waking each morning inside the villas, renting through Airbnb, overlooking on the coast lines; and taking in the majestic views of nearby islands. The finest of shopping (Valentino, Prada, Dior, Hermes, etc.) and Michelin star restaurants (Monzu, Rio Bostrot) add in the finer touch. However, Italy has an issue of theft lurking at practically every turn and the thieves can smell a crime victim before they step off the plane or cruise ship.

We hope this post helps you become more informed for your destination.

Thank You,

destinationproperties.home.blog

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g187783-Capri_Island_of_Capri_Province_of_Naples_Campania-Vacations.html?fid=d0b7cf31-12c9-42f3-998a-48047bb0ba4b

https://www.britannica.com/place/Island-of-Capri

http://www.landofthebible.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Jovis

HEALTH TRAVEL WARNINGS: THE FIRST STEP TO COMBAT DANGEROUS INFECTIONS ABROAD

The coronavirus has struck internationally. However, dangerous infections such as yellow fever, malaria, polio, ebola and a host of others. State Departments around the world, issue travel warnings regarding physical safety on countries around the world, which gets headlines. But an frequent over looked warnings are health warnings. The levels are range from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta:

Warning Level 3 (RED)–Practice usual precautions i.e. the outbreak is of high risk to travelers and no precautions are available to protect against the identified increased risk;
Alert Level 2 (YELLOW)–Practice enhanced precaution describes additional; precautions added or defines a specific at-risk population;
Watch Level 1 (GREEN)–Advises travelers to be up-to-date on all vaccines and practicing mosquito avoidance.

CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS

Sneezing within six feet of someone, germs on surfaces are the frequent and main ways the virus can spread. The symptoms are just like the common cold aches, headaches, sore throat. But the biggest concern is the deep respiratory infections that leads to pneumonia when the immune system overreacts producing excess fluid in the lungs.

EUROPE INCLUDED

Africa, The Middle East, Asia gets the first thoughts on when it comes to travelling vaccinations. But in recent years, Europe has seen an increase of mumps and pertussis (a highly infectious bacterial infection that primarily affects children) just to name a couple.

Hepatitis A and B is recommended for most travelers for all regions of Europe;
Typhoid is suggested for travelers of certain itineraries.
Rabies, which is spread by infected animals, is suggested for long time travelers who may come in contact with animals.

HANDWASHING

The CDC has a tutorial on their site about the importance of handwashing. It instructs with warm water and soap to vigorously (including under nails and in seams) wash hands for thirty seconds, (just like a surgeon going into the operating room). This step can’t be replaces with hand sanitizer. The recommended hand sanitizer contains 60% alcohol or above.

http://www.cdc.gov

Region DA: Western Europe

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices

MALAYSIA: A JEWEL DESTINATION IN ASIA FOR MANY YEARS TO COME

“Beauty shouldn’t be superficial and should come from within, and your eyes will tell the story,” Michelle Yeoh

At least in the Western Hemisphere, the most heralded Asian destination is Malaysia. There is a long list of attractions from the beaches and rainforest for the typical tourist. For the business person, it could be the involved in the business climate that places in the top 20 economies of the world with its vast young, trainable and knowledgeable work force–not to mention a well developed banking sector. Ching Ching.

BALI

During 2018, Bali, a mostly mountainous island off the coast of Indonesia had just over 8.2 million worldwide visitors. Unbeknownst to unaware travelers, Bali sits in the Indian Ocean 1,600 miles north of Perth, Australia. It is a haven for travelers who has to scratch their holistic itch, which will be soothe by ancient healers (who diagnose the emotional and mental states of patients before treatment i.e. the western side of medicine without the white clinical coats, maybe).

PRIMATES ONLY FOUND IN MALAYSIA

Located in the mangrove forest along the coastal line, is The Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. It has the timeless story of developer in the 1990s who had a change of heart when he spotted the primates there and decided to preserve the rare monkeys. The heartfelt mission offers lodging accommodations in the form of lodges or family housing; Nipah Resorts rent chalets and dormitories that can house up to 100 visitors–not to mention budget friendly. Nice.

CUISINE

Countries have a common theme: The top restaurants are in the capitols. Kuala Lumpur is the capitol and primarily the business hub for the country and a mover and shaker of Asia. So, quite naturally, that’s where the power brokers have their break-the-ice Johnnie Walkers Blue label to the serious caviar as-the-ink dry meetings.

Grella’s is a budgeted price Western flare combined with Malaysian. Meat and sausages they have in their signature dishes and is halal-friendly.
Cilantro is fancy and contemporary upscale with a modern French cuisine mixed with Japanese cuisine.
Li Yen at the Ritz Carlton has traditional Cantonese cuisine served in the world class environment the Ritz Carlton luxury brand offers. It’s signature dish is baked spare ribs with Chinese tea leaves and avocado cream.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g298570-c10741-Kuala_Lumpur_Wilayah_Persekutuan.html

https://www.proboscis.cc/

HAWAII: THE ISLANDS AND THOSE ACTIVE VOLCANOS REMAIN A JUGGERNAUT

“Aloha Aku No, Aloha Mai No” — (I give my love to you, you give your love to me). Famous Hawaii saying.

Enough can’t be said about the cluster of five islands that’s less than 2,500 miles from the California coastline. It’s sentimentally recognized as America’s official paradise. The image of warm greeters in flower print skirts welcoming visitors with lei flowers. Champion surfers gives Hawaii the devoted attention it needs during training season (winter) for the swells are some of the best in the world. The island is awe-inspiring leaving no one can say the island doesn’t live up to the brochure and travel website.

VOLCANO TOURS

Stepping foot on an active volcano might be asking for a bit much from any individual, but volcano tours have been a hot attraction around the world for decades. Hawaii Volcano National Park brings in roughly $60 million dollars annually. There are an estimated 1,500 active volcanoes world wide. The cost at this blog post are:

$30 for private non-commercial vehicle with 15 passengers or less
$25 for motorcycle
$15 for bicycle or pedestrian
$55 for annual Tri-park pass

HIGHLY RANKED RESTAURANTS

During the month of October 2019, Trip Advisor’s annual Traveler’s Choice Awards for Restaurants, which is based on annually tally of Trip Advisor reviews, placed three of the state’s restaurants in the top ten.

Lahaina Grill ranked 4th but has numerous plaques, on the wall, dating back to 1994.
Mama Fish House in Paia came in 8th. The eatery has vegetarian and vegan options. Gluten free is a choice also.
Merriman’s in Waimea took the 9th spot nationally. They began with the concept of being committed to Hawaii regional cuisine, the farmers, the local economy. All without sacrificing peak flavor.

JUGGERNAUT NUMBERS

Hawaii Tourism Authority released it’s December 2019 numbers and the hotel rates got all other rentals beat by $120. All the island hotels surpassed the rentals in the key ADR (Average Daily Rate). 2020 was expected to be a repeat of 2019 but the widespread of the Coronavirus has devastated the Far East to and from travel numbers. With no mass produced vaccines on the horizon, for the rest of 2020, 2019 will be very challenging to reproduce, which in turn may offer considerable discount rates for travelers. Stay updated.

AIRBNB

According to inside Airbnb.com/Hawaii, eighty five percent (85%) or 18,700 of the Airbnb rentals in Hawaii are entire homes and apartments. The rate is $283 per night. This is where things get tricky for Airbnb rental in the Aloha State. Entire homes available year round for tourists, which probably don’t have the owner present, could be illegal and more importantly, displacing residents. The high availability rate for the state, at this posting is 89.5%. Hawaii is shy of 20,000 high available listings. Seventy four percent (74%) of owners have multiple listings, which means they are running a business and not likely living on the property and in violation of most short term rental laws designed to protect residential housing. But if it’s happening in Hawaii, it’s happening all over the world, so hey…

RIDESHARING

There are numerous ridesharing apps vying for travelers business on the islands.

Uber and Lyft are there, as expected and are the apps with the most needs regardless of number of passengers from a single passenger to large groups.
Blacklane, who is German based and in 300 cities worldwide, is more in the realm of a chauffeuring service providing luxury vehicles (Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Cadillac, Toyota). The polished etiquette drivers will wear dark suits or dresses. However, they can’t guarantee the availability of a specific brand on a customer pick up. An interesting aspect of the requirements to be a driver is one must be certified in first aid. Competitor to UberBlack from airport to hotel. The driver will meet the rider in the terminal holding a card with rider’s name. Blacklane has in the past gave bonus travel points to riders using certain credit cards, so it is wise advice to riders to check with their credit card company to see if using Blacklane, will bring them bonus travel points.
In 360 cities around the globe, Carmel app has the feature of a sounding ping to let the rider know they are in the right car and not the wrong one that can turn into a hellish situation for the passenger. The right driver will answer the pin. The company’s #WhatsMyName encourages the passenger to check the name of the driver before entering. They have vehicles from 4-door sedans to 40-passenger seating buses. Signing up online will offer members Carmel points or airline miles (American, Delta, Alaskan, United, and El Al Matmid Frequent Flyers Club).
Jayride cover over 1,500 airports worldwide and tens of thousands of destinations. They are on six continents. A big plus with Jayride is they offer MTC (Medical Travel Companions) so travelers can live out there travel dreams regardless of medical issues (firstly, check with your doctor if one is able to travel). They MTC will be in the local city of one’s destination (if getting around by car). The program benefits the elderly, families, children, the disabled, groups, people recovering from surgery or injury, and customers who need assistance or companionship. From $450 USD, one receives 4 hours of assistance or companionship, airport expenses, travel time and other expenses. From $790/ per day, a travel nanny or nurse goes with one the entire day; support for individuals, families and groups; assistance with baggage, meals, mobilization, customs and immigration. There additional plans reaching up to $2,900 (which includes a doctor for the entire visit) per day are available so please check medicaltravelcompanions.com for complete info.
Talixo always displays the cheapest offerings for each booking class and considers discounts and special promotions, which are dependent on booked route and time and saves you additional money. Riders can save 50% of normal fare by this means. The company proactively monitor their drivers and cars so the rider has no surprises once they climb in. Booking confirmation is instant with no waiting for multiple hours. Taxis can be booked within 30 of pick up and limos up to 2 hours. check out their site http://www.talixo.com/benefits for more info.

CONCLUSION

Everybody has Hawaii on the vision board labeled TRAVEL. On would be insane if not. The volcano tours are undeniable. The fine dining from the Pacific containing wild game placed on fine china in some of the top ten restaurants in the country settles onto your soul. The bountiful ridesharing apps that bring is committed to top service, including the medically challenged, gives one not a single iota of an excuse to be greeted with lei flowers.

Hope this post has assisted you in the research of your next destination,

destinationproperties.home.blog

Hawaii hotels outperformed vacation rentals in December 2019

SOUTH AFRICA: THE GOLDEN DELIGHT OF AFRICA’S MOST SOUTHERN TIP

“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” Nelson Mandela.

The southern most tip of the continent of Africa, is South Africa, a country historical who’s who has some of the most influential persons in history. It has an ugly racial history but also has a history of great reform that has the country on a path to be one of the most industrialized and thriving economies in the world. Additionally, the Dark Continent, which it has known to be affectionately called, has a southern tip that engages the soul of its visitors.

THE SOUTHERN TIP’S DELIGHT

Cape Town touts itself as having so much to do that visitors will get dizzy from so many choices:

Table Mountain National Park is a prominent and popular attraction for the country. It has the largest flower reserves in the world containing flowers that are rare. It has the largest floral kingdom on the planet containing over 1470 floral species after withstanding 6 million years of erosion. Table Mountain, one of the oldest mountains in the world) is often covered in cloud, which is called “table cloth”. Numerous caves (100 plus) are on the mountain. Over 800,000 visitors in 2019. The rocks on the mountain is over 600,000,00 years old. Tour prices, at the time of posting ranges from $16 USD – $361 USD.

Cape of Good Hope, who got its name–from the 1481 – 1495 Portuguese ruler John II–because of its discovery that India could be reached by sea from Europe, has 1100 indigenous plants, a number are endemic which means they occur naturally nowhere else on Earth. The Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet at the southern tip. The cape is very ethnically diverse with Indian descent majority.
South Africa has been producing wines since the 17th Century. The top regions are in Stellenbosch (Western Cape) and Paarl (Southwestern Cape). To obtain the wonderful experience of the country’s rich wine history and distinguished rolling estates, there are wine trams (double deck buses on a rail line)that allow tourists to hop on-and-off at stops to experience tastings, lunch, tour wine cellars and wineries. The tour cost are $35 USD per person but each wine tasting is at an additional cost.

Johannesburg:

Opened in 2001, the Apartheid Museum exhibits film footage, stories and artifacts of the segregation period, from 1948–1994. The entrance fee per person is $6.40 USD for Adults and $5.40 USD for students and children.

In addition, Johannesburg has the Origins Centre which has paleoanthropological, archaeological, and genetic materials related to the origins of humans on earth. Entry is $5.18 for Adults; $2.56 for 12 and under; $4.22 for Seniors. The museum contains the foremost and the oldest collection of rock art anywhere in the world, that was led by the original South Africans, i.e. Khoisan people, who inhabited South Africa 2,000 years before the European settlers arrived.

CANOPY TOURS

Safaris are quite natural for South Africa and the rest of Africa. But canopy tours (tour pros included, so relax) have tourists sliding down a suspended cable up to 30 meters above the forest floor, uninterrupted from one end to the other. The canopy tours in South Africa, are considered the best in the world, drawing tour lovers from the world over year round. The cost ranges from $50 to $100 USD per person. According to sa-venues.com, the slides were designed to allow biologists access to mysterious forest canopies to study hard-to-get plants high up in trees. The biologists realized that sliding through the trees in such a manner was really cool and the recreation concept took shape and the rest is history. As partakers slide, their attached tour guide will point to interesting plants and animals.

FIVE STAR DINING

Great choices of dining establishment from world renown chefs and international award winning restaurants, will offer top notch dining experiences that will leave travelers with no regret of having made South Africa a destination of choice.

The Test Kitchen, has been long regarded as the continent’s best restaurant. 2014 – 2017 “Restaurant of the Year” at the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards. 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor and Travelers’ Choice Award by TripAdvisor given to the top 1% of businesses across various categories. The menu is Contemporary, Vegan Friendly, Vegan Options and Gluten-free Options.
Wolfgat, a trendy beachside restaurant received the inaugural award of the World Best Restaurant for the year 2019 in Paris, which a remarkable feat in itself. But the most fascinating award it has ever received is the number one ranking for the best “off-map destination” where it is nestled in a fishing village on the Western Cape of South Africa. 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award 2018 – 2019. The menu is Seafood. Gluten-free options are available.
The Restaurant at Waterkloof is a winery that has an on-site dining establishment, that sits nearly 1,000 feet above sea level into a mountain cliff. In 2008, the winery was awarded Champion Status by the Word Wildlife Fund’s Biodiversity and Wine for its enterprising endeavors, i.e. introducing a formal conservation plan; introducing several preventive erosion control measures; maintaining a small herd of cows, which are key to producing biodynamic composts and teas. TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. Menu is Seafood. Gluten-free options.

AIRBNB

South Africa remains a top destination for international and local guests, alike. According to businesstech.co.za November 13, 2019 article since 2008, 2,000,000 guests have stayed in homes listed in Airbnb; in 2018, the direct economic impact of Airbnb in the country was more than R8.7 billion (nearly $558 million USD); Airbnb supports 22,000 jobs across South Africa. The site property360.co.az states South Africa came in a respectable 22nd in 2018 globally for Airbnb hosts revenue ahead of Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and Argentina. The numbers reflect the small towns in the country are receiving some of the hosting revenues up as high as 80%. On a side note, word-of-mouth on South Africa’s small towns such as Mossel Bay, Knysna, Saldanha Bay hospitality and warmth, had a big impact on the rise in Airbnb number from the 2018.

RIDESHARING

Seeking to curb unemployment, citizens have turned to ridesharing jobs, which provides stable income.

Bolt, formerly named Taxify, is a tough challenger for Uber in the country. It is in 34 cities and towns across South Africa (bring to mind the growth of revenue host in the small towns mentioned in the above Airbnb section). Bolt has a large market share in the country and is growing steadily.
Yookoo charges less fees than other taxi apps. Fabulously, on the safety side is that the rider and driver are both identified with facial rec, which is a big plus for nighttime usage. Students, who are cash strapped, can pay less. Riders can share the travel cost with others through the Ride app Wallet. The clincher to the app that it has an Anti Gender Violent feature which signals that the rider is threatened. AWESOME.
Started in early 2019, inDriver is a unique app that gives the rider the bargaining option to negotiate the price for the ride during peak hours. The concept is known as Real Time Deals (RTD). They can even send proposals for the ride; and the driver can accept the deal or not. But the company has set the negotiated guidelines and policy to ensure there are boundaries and structure to make process fair for driver and rider.
Been around forever, Orange Cabs is the taxi brand that sets them apart from the rest with there outstanding customer service. The user of this app or website will have a peace of mind their ride is going to show up on time and take the rider to their destination. Yep.
Zebra Cabs have the zebra stripes to identify them. One can use the app, book online or use the call center to grab a ride. The cars come with air-conditioning and leather seats.
Taxi Live is an app that has a major feature, where a live chat can be held with service office, driver and rider in keep track of real time activity as the route begins maintains and at its end.
Scoop A Cab has three types of cars: taxis, hatchbacks and private cars. Plus, the app works with matching a suitable driver with the rider and a pre-booking system, a scoop wallet and a panic button for emergency situations.

CONCLUSION

After reading this post, the writer finds South Africa a destination that is very tempting to board a nonstop flight to Cape Town. The natural parks at Tabletop Mountain, which is one of the oldest mountains in the world, with its 1470 floral species withstanding 6 million years of erosion–and the 600 million year old rocks, who is old as the Earth itself, com’on. The wine tours to see where some of the first vineyards, on the continent, were planted in the 17th Century. The rock art that dates back 2,000 years before the European settlers set up shop. Oh, and don’t skip the Apartheid Museum that shows the diabolical and ugly history of often violent segregation era. Oh, and the setting sliding down a metal rope over a breathtaking gorge. International award winning ambiance and food when one becomes starved. A hot international Airbnb market will make the roof over renters head welcomed as it hits the cool pillows. And the numerous ridesharing apps, are fighting hard for your business.

Hope this post assisted you in the research for your possible destination,

destinationproperties.home.blog

https://www.elitetraveler.com/finest-dining/best-restaurants-in-south-africa/2

https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Africa

CAN NORWAY BE ANY MORE SPLENDID?

The late famous Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, observed, “The magnificent, severe natural environment surrounding people up there in the north, the lonely, secluded life–the farms are miles apart–forces them to…become introspective and serious…At home, every person is a philosopher.”

COASTLINE OF FJORDS

Norway rests in Scandinavia and is farthest north of any European country. It is the origin of the Vikings that came to influence during the 9th century. It’s coastline is estimated at 18,000 miles long, including fjords, which are narrow inlets with steep sides or cliffs typically created by glaciated valleys. The indented coastline has 50,000 fjords. The country has a population of 5.3 million people.

ATTRACTIONS

The North Cape is at the tip of northern tip of Norway that is the gateway between you and the North Pole. There, the sun doesn’t set between the middle of May and the end of July. 200,000 tourist visits the plateau annually. The elusive nature’s Northern Lights spectacle can be viewed there if you are lucky. No trees make it a haven for snowmobiles.

VIKING MUSEUM

Viking museums are a must for tourists, who have an interest for a dominating force throughout the 9th century. Leif Erikson if the most famous Viking explorer and was Norwegian. He is considered to have first find North America and not Christopher Columbus.

The Viking Ship Museum is located in the Bygdøy Peninsula in Oslo. Three burial Viking ships, which was discovered in separate archaeological finds, are on display. Way, way, way, way back in the day, the ships were used in burial rituals for their owners according to the site http://www.khm.uio.no. The diggings by archaeologists, discovered beautiful wooden carvings, diverse range of artifacts and skeletal remains. The museum receives 500,000 visitors annually. $13 USD for adults; $9.75 for seniors; under 18 if free; refugees and asylum seekers are free.

SUSTAINABLE DESTINATIONS

Norway is committed to the locals of the country by keeping the footprint low. There are low cost, cozy towns filled with traditions in Setesdal in southern Norway. The valley city has a expansive car park, yes–car-park–to charge one’s electric vehicle. The city is the southernmost in Europe where reindeer roams. Most people get there by bus or private car. There is no rail line nor airport.

The peace and quiet countryside atmosphere in the eastern part of Norway is Femund Engerdal. The sustainable destination has 67,000 mountain peaks and two national parks–throw in 900 lakes if you want to. Fly fishing is popular there with trout, pike, whitefish, grayling, perch and char. Femund is certified as a Sustainable Destination for it’s effort to reduce the impact of tourism. The annual Femund Festival allows tourists to mingle with the locals on the dance floors.

Bordering Sweden, Trysil is Norway’s largest ski destination and the fierce leader against the fight against CO2 emissions. According to the site ecobnb.com November 2018 article, Trysil is Norway’s biggest ski destination and was one of the first destinations in Europe to be certified with Sustainable Tourism. It has a generous list of eco-friendly activities such as mountain bike trail, fishing, hiking, safaris and sleigh rides (surely Santa drops in during the fall for practice). The area is also inhabited by lynx, bear, wolf, deer, and eagles.

Rørøs is an old mining town with not quite 4,000 residents. Nonetheless, like clockwork, millions of tourists drop by to say hi and wonder at the narrow streets and ancient courtyards.

Laerdal is an old wooden church dating back to 1180 A.D. The resort is promoted by local businesses and is committed to sustaining water, committed to maintaining cultural heritage and preserving natural areas.

FINE DINING

The region in the south can tempt you with the underwater restaurant Under, which is the first underwater restaurant in Northern Europe and serves an amazing 18-course meal 5 meters below sea level. Additionally, it is the world’s largest underwater restaurant as it opened in March 2019 with a seating capacity of 100 guests. It provides panoramic view of Skagerrak. Over a few decades the structure will become an artificial reef and home to diverse marine life. 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor; 5 stars (1 review) with Yelp at this posting. Cuisine is Seafood Norwegian, Scandinavian and European.

Maeemo is considered the top fine dining establishment in Norway–and the world ranking in the top 50 coming in #35 in 2018. TripAdvisor 2016 – 2019 Certificate of Excellence Award. It’s cuisine is Scandinavian and European as it highlights raw Norwegian produce and the finished product. 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor. It is a three star Michelin food guide restaurant. 4.5 stars on Yelp. Amazingly, over half of the diners fly in from out of town or country to dine in one of the top eateries in the world. Wow.

AIRBNB

Out of just under 3400 rentals in Norway, 74% are entire home rentals in Norway and they are heavily concentrated in the center of the country with the remaining southern third with a spotted trickle. The eastern and western edge percentage is the same as the southern with the northern upper third nothing (guess Santa needs the land to stock toy inventory). The over all Airbnb rating is 4.75, which came from 90% of renters). Twenty-one percent (21%) are available full time.

RIDESHARING

Of course Uber is there, but lets look at the primary option:

Began in 2015, Nabobil is a rent-a-car concept in-a-neighborhood and not in an airport terminal. The Norwegian company is in 300 cities around the world with some in the USA. The company has over 8,000 cars listed through its database just in Norway alone; and 800 keyless cars. So, when a person gets their Airbnb space, they can log onto the Nabobil app and search through listing of the cars, posted on the carsharing app for rent, in the neighborhood. They chose the listed vehicle and pay fee. They can rent by the hour or by the day. The vehicle listed must be ones where the app unlocks the vehicle without the owner present–basically, non contact transaction. But photos are on file for precaution against crime. Now for the challenging part, the app doesn’t set the price of the carsharing, but the owner does. There could be less flexibility in negotiating price. The maximum miles per rental is 745 miles. Each mile over comes with added pricing (think in comparable terms of late fee on a loan). For additional details checkout http://www.nabobil.no.

CONCLUSION

When the average person outside of Scandinavia, or even Europe for that matter, hears the country of Norway, the instant images are frigid ice, way too cold, vanilla, and downright plain. Contrary to those stereotypes, this remote corner of the planet just awaits for one’s arrival in order to leave an impression on those who believe preconceived notions are for the mundane. How can a visitor go wrong with the fjords? The Viking Museums of Nordic trailblazers, who was an imposing force during their era?The Great Northern Lights that paints the sky on the doorsteps of the North Pole? The sustainable cities that maintain traditions dating back centuries during the smartphone age the world participates in? Dining scene where tons of flyers fly in to satisfy their choosy palates? Airbnb rentals with one’s chosen car sharing transportation on the exact same street as the comforting pillow to lay one’s head?

Keep the world in awe, Norway.

Hope this post has assistance in your research of your next destination property.

destinationproperties,home.blog

https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/southern-norway/taste/worlds-largest-underwater-restaurant/

https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/green-travel/sustainable-destinations/

https://www.britannica.com/place/Norway

ARGENTINA: A MAGNIFICIENT MIX OF ITALIAN AND SPANISH

Famous Argentine saying, “Levantarse a alguien.” English translation: “To lift someone.”

Birthplace of the timeless tango, Argentina is the eight largest country in the world and the largest Spanish speaking nation. The earliest recorded human history of Argentina dates back to the Paleolithic period (2.5 million years before Christ – 10,000 years before Christ). Even though it has the largest Spanish speaking population in the world, nearly two-thirds of the population’s ancestry is Italian; and the entire country’s culture is significantly connected to Italian culture.

TOP ATTRACTIONS

Iguazu Falls are thunderous waterfalls that borders and shares part Brazil and Argentina borders. It is easily accessible from the Buenos Aires International Airport. It is comprised of 150 – 300 water falls. 5 star rating on and Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvsior. 5 star rating on Yelp. The climate is subtropical year round and has high temperatures year round. The entrance fee is around $2 USD.

A former post office the 11,000,000 square feet Kirshner Cultural Centre is located in Buenos Aires. Opened May 21, 2015, it is the largest in the Latin America and the fourth largest in the world. It has an amazing nine floors dedicated to art, music, theatre and dance. The famous Eva “Evita” Peron had her own dispatch office in the building in the 1940s which is recreated in the Salon Eva Peron. http://www.turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar.

Ushuaia is the world’s southern most city. It has an array of museums and famous lighthouses such as San Juan Salvamento Lighthouse which is also known as the Lighthouse at the End of the World. It was built in 1884 and refurbished in 1997. Unfortunately, it’s not open to the public. It received the nickname by the French adventure novelist Jules Verne, who also titled a novel by the nickname of the lighthouse.

Mendoza is popular with outdoor enthusiasts equally in the Winter and Summer. Hikers and climbers go for the 6960-meter (23,000 ft) tall Aconcagua Mountain, which is the highest mountain outside of Asia and the highest in the Southern and Western Hemispheres. It rest on the border of neighboring Chile. According to summitpost.com, the altitude poses the biggest risk for climbers and every year people under estimate that particular risk. The site recommends hikers not hike alone. A ‘climbing permit’ is needed and takes at least two hours to obtain and longer to obtain during peak season. The fee is $600 – $800 USD per person. There are very strict rules and fines up to $200 USD if litter and fecal bags aren’t used and properly handled and handed over to park Climbing services and tour packages are available. aconcaguamountainguides.com/aconcagua-climber-services/

Patagonia, for sure, is at the base of the Andes Mountains that spreads into Chile also. There can’t be enough said about Patagonia and its capacity to draw hikers, bikers, and mountain lovers. In the western region of the country is Los Glaciares National Park, which contains the most famous glacier Perito Moreno–a three mile wide and 19 mile long glacier. Blogpatagonia.australis, the glacier is 18,000 years old. The towering ice is one of 48 large glaciers in the Patagonia region and is the third largest fresh water reserve on Earth behind Antarctica and Greenland. And if a trekker is feeling courageous, there are 90 minute glacier hikes over the mammoth ice block.

FINE DINING

Buenos Aires makes up the culinary tone of the country. One would be led to believe the cuisine is dominantly Italian or Spanish: But there are exceptions to the obvious ones such as:

Japanese-Peruvian fusion (Japanese, Peruvian and Seafood) restaurant Osaka gets 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor, 4 stars on Yelp. Received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2016-2019. Out of 166 restaurants in Buenos Aires, it ranks 3rd. Vegan Options, Vegetarian Friendly, and Gluten Free Options. The price range is $50 – $100 USD.

Mediterranean-meets-New York Basa Basement Bar & Restaurant. 4 stars on TripAdvisor and Certificate of Excellence 2017 – 2019. 4 stars on Yelp. The cuisine is International, European, Local, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options and Gluten Free Options. Valet Parking. Free Wi-Fi. Elegant and Romantic. The menu on-line at the bottom reads: COVER $79 – tips not included.

Tegui is an Argentinian, Contemporary restaurant in Buenos Aires. Came in 25th in 2019 Latin America’s Top 50 Restaurants. 4 stars on TripAdvisor and 2018 Certificate of Excellence Award. 4 stars on Yelp.

AIRBNB

According to the Buenos Aires Times post in 2-2-2019, just over 900,000 renters rented from Airbnb hosts (35,600) in Argentina during 2018. The USD was $55 per night in Buenos Aires for two guests and as little as $10 per night for small, private rooms. Business sizzled for hosts in Tilcara (Western Central), Puerto Iguazu (Eastern Central), Ushuaia (Southern and literally most Southern edge of the world), and the capital San Martin de los Andes (Central edge at the foot of the Andes Mountains).

RIDESHARING

According to the March 8, 2020 article in wander-argentina.com, Buenos Aires has a staggering 40,000 taxis alone, making 80 taxis for every person there. They have the red light that reads LIBRE in the corner of the windshield. Of course Uber is operating in Argentina and Lyft is currently unavailable. But lets look into the other choices below:

Cabify has no price surging and more high standards for its drivers and cars, but is more expensive than Uber.
Easy Taxi is popular through Latin America. The fares are usually paid with cash, with just a few cars accepting credit cards. It only operates in the second largest city of Cordoba (Central Region), Rosario (Central Region), and Buenos Aires (Southeast Coast).
BA Taxi is a for registered taxis only and the platform is in Spanish but does accept credit cards.

CONCLUSION

Like most readers living outside of South America, no one could imagine a country at the end of Earth’s edge could offer the beauty and diversity contained on it’s tall, vast geography. The remnants of the history of humans dating back to the Paleolithic Period (2.5 million years B.C – 10,000 B.C) can be traced there. The giant waterfall that brings tourists to one of the largest in the world. A world class museum totaling 11,000,000 square feet in size, an has nine floors dedicated to art, dance, music and theatre. What about a towering glacier 18,000 years old and is the fourth largest fresh water reserve in the world, simply mindboggling. The popularity of the mountains in Patagonia speak for themselves. Contemporary cuisine combining Far East and Argentinian to leave your tongue desiring more. A hot and very affordable Airbnb market. Enough taxis and ridesharing to get you to most of your desired locations without the wait. Yeah.

Hope this post has assisted you in your research for you next destination,

destinationproperties.home.blog

https://www.10best.com/destinations/argentina/buenos-aires/restaurants/fine-dining/

23 Top Tourist Attractions in Argentina

TRAVEL SCAMS JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES & MAKE SURE THEY DON’T HAPPEN TO YOU

“Don’t compromise yourself–you’re all you have,” John Grisham, The Rainmaker.

Well, if you think the movies and television shows are just for entertainment purposes, one can fall back on the ol’ familiarity of thieves and impostors ripping off tourists, switching bags at airport terminals, local guides sending tourists to the spot he owns to fill their own pockets.

WEAR A MONEY BELT

According to travel guru, Rick Steves, he suggests travelers get a money belt for a peace of mind. It can be tucked in like a shirt tail. One can place it over their stomach for easy access.

Another item is a neck pouch which can be worn like a necklace but under a shirt.

Thirdly, a hidden pocket which loops onto a belt then tucks behind it.

Steves suggest to leave your belt and pouches in your hotel room while you are swimming. Plus, the belt is primarily for your deep deposits and withdrawals anyway. He recommends taking your daily budget with you for each individual day and not one’s entire vacation budget.

Upgradedpoints.com recommends travelers buy a belt that RFID blocking the bad people can’t clone one’s credit cards through electronic devices. The sites claims their belts are hygenic (less skin irritation) and waterproof.

FAKE HOTEL REVIEWS

One third of all online hotel reviews are fake noted by the fraud detection agency Fakespot. The company also notes that 36% of the reviews on TripAdvisor are fake. TripAdvisor returned with a statement citing the findings are “inaccurate and misleading” and that Fakespot doesn’t have the access to TripAdvisor’s technical data to make a thorough and complete conclusion.

According to Fakespot, the city with the highest fake reviews are headed by Houston, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and lastly, Boston in that respective order.

What to watch out for in reading reviews to see if they are legitmate:

Nothing but five star reviews or nothing but one star reviews.
All positive or negative reviews come from first time reviewers.
Reviews without many details.

What should a reader do?

Compare reviews on multiple sites and how the reviews average out.
Balance the reviews with other recommendation from numerous publications and sites.

AIRBNB

There is absolutely no denying Airbnb is a juggernaut to the tourist industry. According to the site ipropertymanagement.com, the San Francisco, CA company pulls in over 2 million people staying per night, over 7 million listing globally, 150 international users, over 100,000 cities with Airbnb listings. In December 2019, 10.4 million stayed in an Airbnb for the holidays with 2,574 stayed in castles, 1031 stayed in treehouses, and 121 rested their heads in windmills–yeah. And in 2018, Airbnb accounted for 5.5% of the total lodging in the USA. Certainly, Airbnb has it going on.

The bad guys and women love those numbers because it increases their chances of landing a catch. And astonishingly, at the time of this posting, Airbnb doesn’t do a background on host–amazing, right. The company believes if their recent increasing the standards of the rentals and reviews will drastically attract counterproductive behavior in their host–get it. Below are a few ways to be careful from the jump:

Check with the local databases in your destination choice for criminals. Rental scams range from fake profiles; and to bait-and-switch of property advertised to actual property rented.
ONLY pay through the Airbnb app. Don’t use second or third party app. Airbnb has a record of the transaction they can pull up on a moment’s notice.
Human trafficking has made it’s way through the Airbnb sector without compromise. Men and women get trafficked so its best to go in groups of threes or more if possible. Take a few months training of self defense classes.
Is it safe to drive a car? Are drivers allowed to park their car on the street or does it have to be a few block over?
Terrorism. Always notice what’s going on in your surroundings. Text message or face time someone back home details of anything out of the ordinary. Look for vehicles parking around the same time heading into a particular location, especially in the middle of the night. It will seem like a Die Hard movie, but it could, repeat could be very much real.

Just some more stats for safety sake:

13.45% of guest issues partially involves unsafe or unpleasant conditions, including hostile/intimidating hosts, hidden cameras in the unit.
12.2% were caused by misleading listings.

RIDESHARING

If Airbnb scams are enough, ridesharing and taxi scams run parallel. http://www.thrillist.com offers these scams to be aware of:

Driver wants to share the cost of tolls or miscellaneous cost of the ride. But remember, all costs are in the final price one purchased through the app or website. Don’t be pressured to give credit card. Show the breakdown of the fare on the app.
Don’t leave the ride until the trip is ended on your map. If the trip hasn’t ended, ask the driver to end it in a safe place that is well lighted.
Unexpected upgrade when you ordered a certain vehicle and a more luxurious one appears without your approval. Be sure to take pics of the vehicle to send to customer service to not get bamboozled.
Drivers have known to request a re-request. NEVER-EVER re-request a ride without first going into the app to verify if there is issues with the app. Even if one has to contact customer service to verify if there were issues with the app since you requested and verified a ride. Screenshot your first fare estimate and send it to the ride-share company and they will make the adjustments.
If a meter isn’t in sight, after getting in, get out. DO NOT get into a cab without a meter. Driver will want to charge anything to head to the strip club later.
Driver say you were messy. Always take pic or video of you leaving car clean to protect you from the loose goose, who claim you trashed the backseat with to go containers and spilled drinks. Shady drivers are known to purchase plastic vomit and decorate the backseat to get a cool extra $150 out of the unsuspecting passenger.

CONCLUSION

In the 1980s NBC television hit show Remington Steele (Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist) Brosnan was one-half of detective team who in tight quarters, during each episode, would quote famous scenes from famous films–and their year of release–to the obvious dismay of Zimbalist. After the quoted scene and motivation played out during the chase scene, Laura realized thieves have identical motivations and patterns fictitiously and in real life.

Hope this post has assisted you in researching your next destination.

destinationproperties.home.blog

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/roadwarriorvoices/2016/03/03/travel-scams-in-europe/81213082/

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/theft-scams/tourist-scams

Warning: Here’s where you’ll find the most fake hotel reviews

https://www.bestneworleanshotels.com/travel-tips/8-ways-to-spot-fake-hotel-reviews?

NOVA SCOTIA IS COOL

“I grew up in Nova Scotia, so there weren’t a whole lot of rules.” Diego Klattenhoff, Canadian actor.

On the East Coast of the Great White North, is Nova Scotia–which in Latin means “New Scotland”. It is known for high tides, blueberries, lobsters, fish and blueberries and shipwrecks. It is a favorite spot for paleontologists due to Jurassic and Triassic fossils unearthed in the country. Evidence of Nordic exploration has been found in the country.

MUST SEES

Opened in 1981, The Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens has 17 acres of historical and monument horticultural beds. The first permanent European settlement took place in 1605 in the city of Annapolis Royal, which is on the southeast coast. It is popular place for weddings. 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor. It showcases gardening, designs and materials representing 4 centuries of Canadian history. Also, contains the largest rose collection in Eastern Canada. Kids under 18 are free with ID. Seniors (60) and Students are $12.50. Youth (12 – 18) is $6; Child 6 – 11 is $3. Under 6 is Free. Family is $32.00.

The Halifax Public Gardens are the oldest historical gardens in all of North America with it’s opening in 1867. The Victorian style garden has a 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor and TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. Length of tour is 1 – 2 hours. Admission is Free. Closed from December until mid-April.

Southeast of the capital, Halifax, is Peggy’s Cove, which has one of Canada’s most photographed lighthouses: Peggy’s Point Lighthouse which was erected in 1915. Visitors must be cautious of Rove waves (unpredictable, rough waves) that even on a calm sunny day can splash upon and over the rocks–not to mention don’t attempt swimming. The cove has art galleries that line the roads of the maritime city. The coastal city is known for whale watching, kayaking, birding activities, golf courses and pristine beaches. There are numerous theories how the name Peggy’s Cove came about so the site http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com is asking for everyone’s help in obtaining the most accurate info on the origin of the name.

FIVE STAR DINING

The Agricola Street Brasserie is a well respected and highly praised restaurant in Halifax. 4.5 on TripAdvisor. 4 on Yelp. TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2016 – 2019. Price range, at this posting is USD $7 -$27. Gluten Free Options and Vegetarian Free menu choices. It was once a printing shop that now has commercial stoves and ovens with a contemporary tone decorations and a menu priced for tourists who appreciate a five star meal with a four star price.

Since Bedford is the fastest growing Airbnb city in Nova Scotia. Well, since it’s a hot destination here is a top fine dining restaurant for travelers once they work up an appetite: Charlotte Lane Café and Gift Shop, opened in 1995, dishes out Swiss inspired meals. vegan, Gluten Free and Lactose Free menus are available. The menu categories are International, Canadian, Vegetarian Friendly, and Seafood. 5 stars on TripAdvisor 2016 – 2019 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. Best Small Restaurant in Nova Scotia (2013). Requires reservations. Price range USD $7 – $29.
Mateus Bistro has 4 Stars on TripAdvisor. 4.5 Stars on Yelp. Canadian, Contemporary and Vegetarian Friendly. 2016 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. Has their annual Hops & Chops Music Festival celebrating Maritime music and Maritime farmers with two days of music and pig roasts. Its the last weekend of July always.

AIRBNB

The hottest spots for short term rentals are Halifax peninsular, northwestern Cape Breton, and the Town of Lunenburg. Bedford (central coast near Halifax) is the fastest growing Airbnb market in Nova Scotia.

Halifax vacancy rate runs around 2%, which are incredible numbers.

RIDESHARING

Uber and Lyft are there but there are a couple of others.

Ola is based out of India and places the emphasis on riders being picked up on the same route sharing the total cost. Additionally, the company wants their concept to reduce the carbon footprint. The company has three separate tiers such as 1) Ride Express which the riders gets around faster without deviations during peak hours; 2) Flat-fare zones tier has no peak pricing as Ola pinpoint key zones in the city and Ola allows riders to travel from those zones with a flat fare; 3) Share Pass is when you lock-in a price for each day in advance; and no peak pricing.
Didi is a Beijing company with 550 million worldwide users. They have the app in use in Nova Scotia and claims to have better rates than the competition and have better rider experience than the competition. riders can order rides from small to luxury to multi-passenger.

CONCLUSION

Nova Scotia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Canada. There’s amazing fossils of dinosaurs, which draw paleontologists and enthusiasts. The distinguished, impeccable gardens that dates back over 150 years to indicate horticulture runs through the veins of the province. Not to mention they are popular wedding destination for exchanging vows–beautiful. The Airbnb is hot in the southern half, where much of the cultural activities are located. The eastern region of Canada is one of the top seafood trading centers in the world, making fine dining menus impeccably fresh and tasty. Competitive ridesharing apps vie for riders business will be a big aid in the memorable experience the famous Peggy’s Cove adds.

Hope this post has assisted you in the research for your next destination,

destinationproperties.home.blog

Agricola Street Brasserie

https://www.novascotia.com/explore/top-25

LUXEMBOURG

‘mir wellebleiwewatmirsinn’ English translation ‘we want to remain what we are’.

The tiny country in Europe surrounded by Belgium, France, and Germany, has a population of over 650,000. The northern region has forest and nature parks, rocky gorges in the east and the Moselle valley in the south. The valley is 22,000 acres total but out of that number, 3,200 acres belong within the Luxembourg border. And a little known fact, is Luxembourg has the highest proportion of millionaire households in Europe. The country that consists of 998 square miles, has 50 castles remaining from the Medieval Times, which some have been restored. Some of the castles are surrounded by charming old towns. Soccer is the country’s most popular sport.

TOP ATTRACTIONS

The Three Towers, made of ancient brick, are located in Luxembourg City. 4 Stars on TripAdvisor. There are two towers which flank a middle tower (dating back to 1200 and the flanking two goes back to the 1400s). According to Wikipedia, it was part of a fortification that took nine centuries to construct from the tenth century to 1867.

HOLY GHOST CITADEL, yes there is such a location, and it is located on the stretch of land bearing the same HG name. The military fortress was founded in 1234. 4.5 Stars on TripAdvisor.

FINE DINING

Like it was stated in the very first paragraph, statistically, the tiny country in the heart of Europe has more millionaires per household (25% or 1 out of 4 households) than rest of the continent. So with all the “rich blood” floating around the country, surly their taste buds are have high standards.

Restaurant Mosconi is 4.4 stars on TripAdvisor with 141 reviews. The food menu items are the most beautiful one will ever lay eyes upon. http://www.mosconi.lu. The Italian menu is served 8-course. They are prepared mostly with imported ingredients from Italy. Michelin describes the food as “…a fireworks of flavor”. The establishment uses white truffles from Alba; tomatoes from Sicily, beef from Tuscany; veal from Piedmont.
Brasserie Guillaume is a French, Seafood, with 4 Stars on TripAdvisor, with the menu emphasis on carpaccio and seafood. http://www.brasserieguillaume.com. It’s site is committed to the freshest produce and is definitely committed to working with serious seafood suppliers. Exclusive events of lobster and carpaccio festivals are held March 31, 2020.

Oberweis

Breakfast, Lunch, and Brunch are the café’s focus. Vegetarian, Vegan Options. Certificate of Excellence 2016, 2017, and 2019. TripAdvisor has it at 4 out of 5. Dessert, Café, European. http://www.oberweis.lu.

LAKES, RIVERS & GARDENS

The country has lakes and rivers crisscrossing plains and rivers to create splendid sceneries. Water sports, fishing, and boating are popular activities which can be partially performed year round.

Garden attractions such as Parcs de la Petrusse, is a hit amongst TripAdvisor’s reviewers mentioning the trees were red, yellow and green. TA’s Certificate of Excellence. 4 Stars on TripAdvisor, as well.

AIRBNB

The millionaire capital of Europe evidently isn’t so greedy as the data coming out of its Airbnb sector indicates. In 2020, Luxembourg became the payment center for Airbnb in the European Union (EU). From the beginning of 2017 – the final quarter of 2019, the rental growth doubled form 400% – 800%. The overall Airbnb rating is 4.69%. 84% gave it a 4.5 rating overall. 34% of rentals are available full time. The most active rentals are in the trendy city of Gare (260 acres in size) with 106 listings at this posting. The district of 11,000 residents have 84% of its population are foreign. It has contains charming apartments dating back to the 19th Century.

RIDESHARING

No data ridesharing apps to report on at this posting.

CONCLUSION

The heart of Europe contains as much history as there is anywhere else on Earth. Castles continue to hook our imagination when chivalry romanticized. The Medieval Period left the world a fascination of chivalry and war that have been brought life in books and Hollywood. Luxembourg has a fine dining scene that’s combines with the back drop of ancient bricks fortification that will have travelers respecting the millionaire have for there home in the heart of Europe.

Hope this post has assisted you in the research of your next destination.

destinationproperties.home.blog

https://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/what-to-do/arts-culture/castles-fortifications

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g190356-d10748367-Reviews-Parcs_de_la_Petrusse-Luxembourg_City.html#REVIEWS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iS6tqc6mTM