Is there really a place called Maria Alm? Yes! Even if it does sound a bit like you’ve discovered an isolated place with an impressive name, a pilgrimage church and an idyllic mountain and meadow panorama. And in Maria Alm there is also a Josef, although his surname is Sepp. He’s the one who’s in charge of all the excitement round here with his eponymous hotel for “children over 21”, as he calls his guests.

Sunny dune landscapes, beach chairs, cycling by the bay – when you think of the German Baltic Sea, you probably dream of mild summer holidays. But what does it actually look like here in winter? Especially in the run-up to Christmas, the Baltic Sea shows a very special side. The sea becomes rougher, the play of colours in the sky is more intense and other enchanting natural phenomena delight guests. The SeeHuus Lifestyle Hotel on Timmendorfer Strand is a cosy retreat for a winter stay.

At 2000 metres above sea level, the air is fresh and pure. Ideal for clearing your head, isn’t it? A unique place at this altitude is The Crystal VAYA Unique in Obergurgl in the Ötztal Alps. Is it a coincidence that the wellness area is exactly 2000 square metres in size? Probably. In any case, it offers enough space to achieve mental focus and sharpen the senses.

Mindfulness: no, it’s not just a word for grown-ups. Children can be mindful, too. They might even be better at it than us adults. At the Mia Alpina in the Zillertal, young and old can experience moments that make it easy to stay in the moment: the avid observation of a squirrel as it leaps from tree to tree. The exuberant joy before going down a water slide. The careful stroking of a fluffy rabbit. Or the pleasure of cuddling up to mum or dad to read a book. And from December, there will be even more.

How do you capture the essence of a place? One way to do it is through language. Learning basic words and phrases doesn’t just show respect, it also helps you to understand the people and their region a little better. It’s particularly interesting in South Tyrol, where melodic Italian meets rustic Tyrolean, resulting in as many dialects as there are valleys.

From 23 November 2024, the Palm Springs Art Museum will be showing almost 200 works by this visionary artist in the exhibition ‘David Hockney: Perspective Should Be Reversed’. The show, which runs until 31 March 2025, offers insights into Hockneys quest to capture the world from new perspectives while emphasising his personal identity.

The magical effect of the full moon is hard to ignore, don’t you think? I mean, it can move the sea, cause wolves to howl, make dreams more vivid, enhance creativity and bring hidden feelings to the surface. It can also transport you to a different world, like it does at the La Valise San Miguel de Allende hotel in Mexico, where a door shaped like a full moon leads to a secret internal courtyard.

Recent studies have shown in test series how museum experiences can significantly increase mental well-being. The Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy estimates that around 30% of the population will struggle with psychological symptoms at some point in their lives, and more than half of Austria’s young people already suffer from depression. Immersive experiences allow people to discover their inner child and take their creativity to a whole new level, giving both mind and body a break from everyday worries

The Alentejo region, one of Portugal’s most untouched areas, has been gaining more and more attention in recent years. In particular, the small coastal village of Comporta has become a magnet for travelers seeking the antithesis of mass tourism. Nestled amidst rice fields, pine forests, and endless sandy beaches, a new form of tourism is emerging here—one centered on mindfulness, sustainability, and slow living.