ITB Berlin honours exhibitors

THE Creta Maris Beach Resort participated in ΙΤΒ Berlin 2018, one of the largest and well-known fairs worldwide, that took place from Wednesday, 07 March to Sunday, 11 March 2018 in Berlin. Among the 150 exhibitors, the resort had the honor to be awarded as "Top Hotel Partner 2017" by the German travel agency Schauinsland!

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Picture Credit: pintrest

Up in the air . . .

EASYJET, Europe's leading airline, today celebrated its inaugural flight from Tegel Airport in #Berlin and its first ever domestic flight in Germany. Flight EZY5569 to Munich took off at 10:30 local time, following a festive opening ceremony at the airport. Customers travelling on the flight all received a commemorative #easyJet Berlin teddy bear as a gift prior to departure.

easyJet has already announced 19 new routes from Tegel airport, including four domestic routes, connecting the capital to Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich and Stuttgart up to eight times per day.

Flights to 15 international destinations, including flights up to 5 times a day to key cities like Vienna and Zurich, as well as regular connections to popular leisure destinations like Mallorca and Catania will take off in the coming months.


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Green is the colour of Berlin

BERLIN is a green experience beyond the city limits . There are also green highlights to be found in the five municipalities that are conveniently connected to the city, such as Schlosspark, Stadtkirche and Orangerie in Altlandsberg, the Schlosspark and Gutshof in Fredersdorf, the Lenné Park in Hoppegarten or the Architectural Trail and the Museum Park in Rüdersdorf. 

The "Peter Joseph Lenné - Gardens, Parks, Cityscapes" app shows you the way to the most beautiful gardens, parks and cityscapes of Peter Joseph Lenné in your area. At the heart of this app is the multimedia tour of Schlosspark Glienicke. A comprehensive portrait of Peter Joseph Lenné (1789-1866), an overview of the most important gardens, parks and urban landscapes in Germany as well as a timeline are also included.

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Berlin has a starring role

THE new series "Babylon Berlin", with an initial run of 16 episodes, is adapted from Volker Kutscher's best-selling mystery novels and is set in the 1920s, an era of massive social upheaval and rampant inflation in #Germany. Young Cologne police chief Gereon Rath is transferred to #Berlin and uncovers an extortion ring. The series was shot on location in Berlin. Locations used include Alexanderplatz and the former Delphi silent cinema in Weißensee.

Visitors looking for Babylon and the 1920s in Berlin can learn about the series and immerse themselves in the life of Germany's capital and largest city in the 1920s. The visitBerlin.de/Babylon-Berlin website features numerous tips for all those who want to explore the Weimar-era city: tours, architectural highlights such as Berlin's Modernist housing estates and the Bauhaus Archive, 1920s-themed events such as Bohème Sauvage, swing dancing at Clärchens Ballhaus, and the Berlin Burlesque Festival in November.

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Pop into Berlin

IN September, October and November, visitBerlin opens pop-up restaurants in Cologne, Frankfurt and Hamburg. The Berliner Stadtmarketing-Organization is running for a short week in trendy locations for the diverse gastronomy scene of the capital. The temporary restaurant in Cologne is the first stop on the tour through the three German cities. From 2018, "Pop into Berlin" will be touring Europe.

"Pop into Berlin" in Cologne from 19 to 23 September 2017 in Marienstrasse 71-73, 50825 Cologne

"Pop into Berlin" in Frankfurt from 10th to 14th October 2017 in the Alte Textilfabrik, Taunusstraße 19, 60594 Frankfurt am Main

"Pop into Berlin" in Hamburg from 7th to 11th November 2017 in the Basecamp Hamburg, Warnholtzstraße 4, 22767 Hamburg


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Star attraction at Berlin Zoo

BERLIN keeps on growing, with the latest couple moving into the Zoo in July this year, Pandas Meng Meng and Jiao Qing were welcomed into their new 5,000 m² Panda Garden. Both Pandas also celebrated their birthdays . . . in the same week!

With more than three million visitors per year, the Berlin Zoo and its Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in the German capital. About 63 per cent of its visitors come from abroad, while German visitors from outside #Berlin make up another 11 per cent.

www.zoo-berlin.de

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Picture Credit: about.visitberlin.de, "Meng Meng" 

Light up your life

EACH fall, two festivals turn #Berlin into a sparkling metropolis. Brandenburg Gate, the TV Tower, and other icons will shine in the brightest colours.

Berlin leuchtet: various locations, 29 September - 15 October 2017, berlin-leuchtet.com

Festival of Lights: various location, 6 - 15 October 2017, festival-of-lights.de

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Paradise in Berlin

A large open-air exhibition between Easter and Whitsun will be held in Berlin to celebrate the anniversary of the Reformation: under the heading "Paradise is everywhere".

Kulturprojekte Berlin GmbH will mark more than 70 places in Berlin with information about the Reformation and its impact on our everyday life and the way we live together. 

This exhibition also links up with the International Horticultural Exhibition (IHE), which will be launched on 13 April, revealing a little paradise within the city.

paradiese.berlin

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Welcome to Berlin

THE official tourist ticket for Berlin is getting even easier to use, since the beginning of the year, the Berlin WelcomeCard may now also be used separately from the accompanying voucher guide. 

Users who would like to keep their hands free whilst sightseeing can now download the guide as an e-book to their smartphones so that they can find out about the available tours and discounts wherever they head. 

The Berlin WelcomeCard (fare zone AB) can also easily be booked, paid for, and printed before leaving home.

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Picture Credit: Tourists with the Berlin WelcomeCard, (c) visitBerlin, Foto: Dirk Mathesius

Welcome to Berlin

TRAVELLING to #Berlin this January? The cheapest and easiset way to get around would be with the Berlin WelcomeCard. Save up to 50% on tourist attractions it also serves as your ticket on all public transport within Berlin, and on request, also outside the urban area. With each ticket, up to 3 children aged 6 to 14 years old travel for free.

• Berlin Fashion Week January 17-20, various locations throughout Berlin.

• Berlin Six-Day Race January 19-24, Velodrom Paul-Heyse-Straße 26 10407 Berlin

• International Green Week 20-29, ITB Berlin Messedamm 22 14055 Berlin

www.berlin-welcomecard.de

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Picture Credit: NicoTrinkhaus flickr.com/photos/63817584@N03/30122920313 Berlin Skyline Panorama via photopin

Destination Germany campaign 2017

THE German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has designated the International Garden Show in Berlin one of the focal points of its international advertising campaign for #Destination #Germany in 2017. 

This unique event will feature in the GNTB's worldwide marketing activities and highlight the aspects of sustainability and nature in Germany’s urban areas. 2017 International Garden Show: a highlight for city tourism The International Garden Show (IGA), held every ten years, is a festival and horticultural lifestyle show rolled into one - Germany’s largest – and next year will take place in #Berlin for the first time. 

The IGA will open its doors on 13 April 2017. The extensive park grounds of around 100 hectares represent one of the largest urban development projects of the decade, doubling the area currently occupied by the internationally acclaimed Gardens of the World attraction in Berlin-Marzahn. 

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Picture Credit: mripp flickr.com/photos/56218409@N03/31114689574 Berlin Icons via photopin.

Berlin tops for Michelin stars in Germany

THE new #Michelin Guide has been introduced and the associated star awards for fine dining restaurants announced. There are now 18 #restaurants boasting 25 stars altogether in #Berlin. 

The restaurant einsunternull in Hannoversche Strasse in Mitte has received its first star. Just around the corner in Chausseestraße is the restaurant that is the second winner of the evening: Rutz, which already had one star and received two this year from the Michelin judges. The team led by chef Marco Müller has already received many awards and the Rutz with its accompanying wine bar is well-known name in the Berlin restaurant scene.

The definitions of the stars have been in place since the 1930s: One star: “A very good restaurant in its category”. Two stars: “Excellent cooking, worth a detour”. Three stars: “Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey”

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T-Rex on tour

THE "Pop into Berlin" tour to promote #Berlin as a tourist destination kicks off on October 17 in Warsaw. A full size replica of the head of Tyrannosaurus Rex Tristan Otto will be heading to Warsaw, Madrid, and Zurich as part of the “Pop into Berlin” tour to promote Berlin as a tourist destination. Poland, Spain and Switzerland are among the top 10 core European markets for Berlin tourism.

Showcasing the trendiest Berlin products in the pop-up store for an entire week followed by the opening of the new pop-up club in cooperation with Kulturprojekte Berlin. Berlin will be promoted as a cultural and creative centre with displays, live acts, and lots of Berlin performance art.

“The idea of ’Pop into Berlin’ has been so well received that we’re expanding on the idea this year,” saysBurkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin. “We are pleased to be able to expand the project with our existing and new partners. Together with Kulturprojekte Berlin, the Museum of Natural History, and young fashion companies, we are taking the diversity of Berlin on tour to Warsaw, Madrid, and Zurich.”

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Picture Credit: © visitBerlin, Foto: Dirk Mathesius

Christmas Markets in Berlin

#BERLIN celebrates winter in its own unique style: Christmas shopping on the festively lit Kurfürstendamm, sipping mulled wine in the historical setting of the Gendarmenmarkt, or skiing on the grounds of former Tempelhof Airport. Those seeking relaxation will find it in the spa and wellness areas offered by many hotels, while numerous restaurants offer reinterpreted regional cuisine. Or for something completely different, snuggle under the covers of the BettBike as you tour the city.

Try one of these for a unique experience in Berlin in the run up to Christmas.

Christmas Market at Gendarmenmarkt 21 November to 31 December 2016. The Konzerthaus and the French Cathedral are lit up in bright light with a small tent city built in between. Handicrafts of the noblest kind are sold here, including hand carved cribs, mouth-blown glassware or replicas of historical steam engines. You can see the craftspeople busy in their work whilst enjoying a glass of mulled wine.

Christmas market at the Rotes Rathaus 21 November to 29 December 2016

Visitors can experience the long tradition of Berlin's Christmas markets up close. Puppeteers, storytellers, and children's carousels take Berliners and tourists back to former times. Facades with original images of the old town houses show how everything used to be at one time in Berlin.

Potsdamer Platz  4 November 2016 to 1 January 2017

It is all about winter sports: Whether hurtling down Europe’s largest mobile toboggan run, skating on the ice rink for free or joining a curling competition – fun times for young and old are guaranteed. Free iceskating lessons are available for children ages four to seven. Live music at the Schmankerl-Hüttn creates authentic après-ski atmosphere, while visitors can indulge in Austrian delicacies.

Christmas market on Alte Potsdamer Straße from 21 November to 26 December 2016

Lovingly decorated market stalls with handicrafts and culinary treats while crafts market will help put visitors into a festive mood with some seasonal crafting.

Lucia Christmas market in the historic Kulturbrauerei 21 November to 22 December 2016 

The market is named after Lucia, the bringer of light, who is especially revered in Sweden. Even the sounds are Nordic: music from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden helps spread a festive cheer. To get another perspective on the festive bustle, take a ride on the nostalgic chairoplane.

Holy.Shit.Shopping at Kraftwerk Berlin on 3 and 4 December 2016

Young Berlin designers gather and present their latest fashion, matching jewellery and fancy artistic works. Anyone looking for a special gift will surely find something adequate – astonished faces are guaranteed on Christmas Eve. Well-known DJs will once again be bringing the beats this year.

21st Eco Christmas Market on Sophienstraße in Mitte, more than 50 traders offer their treats, textiles and art for sale.

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Picture Credit: Robert Emmerich Photography 53386035@N05/16072453662">Robert Emmerich - 10 OoF Christmas dreams out of focus in Berlin - Germany  via photopin.com

Up in the air . . .

BLUE AIR has announced a thrice-weekly flight service from Birmingham to Cluj, the second largest city in Romania, which will start in December with fares from £19.99 one-way including taxes and charges. 

BRITISH AIRWAYS is offering 16 direct flights a week from Berlin-Tegel to London City Airport. ‘With up to 11 London flights a day – London City, Heathrow and Stansted – we are complying with demand to and from Berlin,’ says Katja Selle, at BA.

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New Ryanair flights from Berlin

RYANAIR has launched three new services from Berlin-Schonefeld. 

• There are now three weekly flights to the Italian city of Pisa, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday. 

• A service to Malta leaves twice weekly from Schonefeld, on Thursdays and Sundays. 

• The airline’s new service to Zadar in southern Croatia leaves on Mondays and Thursdays. 

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BA increases German flights

BRITISH AIRWAYS has announced plans to expand its German network and aircraft fleet at London City Airport this summer with two new routes and an additional Embraer 190 jet. 

BA will launch new thrice-a-day flights to both #Berlin and #Hamburg. Together with the existing services to Dusseldorf and Frankfurt, the airline will operate more than 70 flights each week to Germany direct from London’s Docklands.

This is the first time that British Airways has operated to Berlin from London City. The new route will start on June 19 on an Embraer jet, with each-way hand baggage only fares from £49. While Hamburg is currently served by British Airways’ franchise partner SunAir, starting May 8 BA will serve the route using larger Saab 2000 aircraft, more than doubling the number of seats available. Each-way hand baggage only fares are available from £79.

Luke Hayhoe, British Airways’ general manager commercial and customer, London City, said: ‘Germany is a very important market for us and these new routes give both our business and leisure customers a much wider choice of destinations with a well-timed schedule.’

The airline has recently announced more seats to European holiday hotspots this summer from Heathrow (to Athens, Lisbon and Gibraltar) and from Gatwick (to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Funchal).

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Spring into these top cities

SPRING guides to Barcelona, Berlin, Istanbul, London, Moscow, New York, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, Sydney, and Tokyo are available now at www.seasonalcities.com.

The guides, written by resident travel journalists and updated every season, are an insider's edit of top fives (sights, events, shops, restaurants, bars and clubs, and hotels), and they provide three-day weather forecasts for each of the cities. 

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Picture Credit: Cherry Blossom in Paris</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin

Ryanair beefs up Berlin winter schedules

RYANAIR has launched its biggest ever #Berlin winter 2016 schedule, with 15 new routes - to Budapest, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Lisbon, Manchester, Rzeszow (Poland), Seville, Sofia, Thessaloniki, Timisoara (Romania), Toulouse, Vilnius, Malta, and Pisa. They will help to support 3,500 jobs as Ryanair doubles its Berlin Schonefeld operation. 

German consumers and visitors can choose from 39 Berlin routes this winter.

Ryanair will continue to connect Berlin with Europe’s major centres of business, including London (4 daily), and Barcelona (2 daily).

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Top cities for shopping

EXPEDIA has compiled a list of the world’s top 25 travel destinations for shopping.

Based on data that includes blogger recommendations, visitor numbers, value for money, and friendliness.

The top four in the list are New York, Berlin, Los Angeles, and London, while Edinburgh comes in No.20

The complete list is:

1. New York 
2. Berlin
3. Los Angeles 
4. London 
5. Kuala Lumpur 
6. Tokyo
7. Singapore 
8. Istanbul 
9. Paris 
10. Madrid 
11. Sao Paulo 
12. Bangkok 
13. San Francisco
14. Dubai 
15. Milan 
16. Rome 
17. Hong Kong 
18. Seoul 
19. Marrakech 
20. Edinburgh 
21. Melbourne 
22. Vienna 
23. Cape Town 
24. Amsterdam
25. Bucharest 

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48411817@N04/11327286036">2013 Holiday Train - Midway Station</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)