The Beachie Blog

The small Mediterranean state of Malta south of Sicily, which consists of the three inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino , is one of the smallest states in Europe. You might think that there isn’t much to discover here, but the opposite is the case: The history of the islands goes back over 6000 years and Malta is still characterized by unique historical architecture, a special mix of British, southern Italian and Arab Culture and varied landscapes with crystal clear beaches and impressive cliffs. Last but not least, Malta has over 300 days of sunshine a year – reason enough for me to finally fulfill my wish for a Malta vacation . I spent a total of 9 days in Malta and still I have the feeling that there is still so much to discover there and that I absolutely have to come back. In this article I’ll tell you the most beautiful highlights and sights in Malta and there are also a few insider tips on top. Here we go! Malta’s capital Valletta With only approx. 500,000 inhabitants, Malta is one of the smallest countries in Europe, almost 400,000 of the inhabitants live in the metropolitan area of ​​the capital Valletta. That seems like a lot at first, but it is still possible to explore the city center of Valletta with all its sights within a day on foot, because Valletta itself has just under 6000 inhabitants. Valletta is the smallest capital of an EU state and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 due to its cultural wealth. Let yourself drift between the colorful balconies of the old town The architecture, which immediately catches the eye, is very typical for Malta and especially for Valletta: In the entire old town, historical buildings and houses are lined up, all of which are decorated with colorful doors, balconies and bay windows. The city center is slightly elevated, you have to climb wide stairs again and again and the outward sloping side streets reveal the view of the blue glittering sea. Valletta is surrounded by thick, high city walls and is one of the best historically secured cities in the world. The best thing to do is just let yourself drift through the centuries-old alleys, shoot a million photos and just soak up the atmosphere of this fascinating city – you basically automatically pass Valletta’s most important sights. Wide stairs, colorful balconies, historic townhouses – that’s typical of Valletta The most beautiful sights of Valletta If you don’t just want to let yourself drift, but also want to go to and visit some sights, you should plan a second day for Valletta. Here are the most interesting spots at a glance: The Upper Barrakka Gardens St. John’s Co-Cathedral The Grand Masters Palace Fort St. Elmo The Casa Rocco Piccola The Theatru Manoel The Carmelite Church They are all within walking distance of each other in the historic old town of Valletta. The best way to explore Valletta is on a private tour with a local guide * , who can give you valuable background information on all the places. Here you can find out everything about Valletta’s most important and beautiful sights . The red telephone boxes are a typical remnant of the British colonial days in Malta My tip: Parking in Valletta is virtually impossible, so the best way to travel is by bus. If you want to come by car, then park outside of Valletta on the opposite side of the bay in the town of Vittoriosa. If you get there early enough in the morning, you will get a parking lot there at the harbor. From there you just take a water taxi over to Valletta – these are small wooden boats that strongly reminded me of the gondolas in Venice, only with an electric motor. The trip costs just € 2 per person, takes only 5-10 minutes and is an experience in itself that you shouldn’t miss. When you arrive at the port of Valletta, just a 2-minute walk away, an elevator for € 1 per person takes you up to the Upper Barrakka Gardens. There you start your city tour. For the way back you take a water taxi again, it drives back to the same place. There is a harbor tour for little money with the water taxi between Valletta and Vittoriosa The Three Cities: Vittoriosa, Senglea & Cospicua The “Three Cities” are the three cities that lie on a headland opposite the southern bay of Valletta: Vittoriosa, Senglea & Cospicua . It’s a lot quieter here than in Valletta, everything is less crowded and even more original. In Senglea it is worth visiting the small Safe Haven Gardens at the top of the city, from there you have a great view of the bay and Valletta with its thick city walls. Vittoriosa was one of my personal highlights in Malta – the picturesque streets with their old houses, which trump each other with colorful doors and pretty flower tendrils, are simply beautiful. We spent hours there drinking coffee and taking photos and couldn’t get enough, so now – sorry for that – a little spam pictures: The picturesque streets of Vittoriosa are among the top sights in Malta My tip for light photo equipment when traveling Would you like to take great photos on the go without having to carry too much with you? It doesn’t take much for that! The heart of my equipment, which I also used on Malta, are: My camera: Sony Alpha 6500 * An all-round lens from Sigma 17-70mm * (connected via adapter * ) A 30mm prime lens with 1.4 aperture from Sigma * (this prime lens will revolutionize your pictures, I promise!) A light, stable travel tripod * (for long exposures and if you want to take photos of yourself) My DJI Spark drone * With this mini-equipment I shoot 90% of my pictures. You can get a complete overview of my equipment here >>> my photo equipment * If you would like to learn more about the history of the Three Cities, a guided tour through the three cities * is worthwhile . Alternatively, you can do the whole thing as part of a leisurely harbor tour in a traditional Maltese boat * . My tip: As mentioned above, a water taxi runs between Vittoriosa and Valletta for only € 2. The drive through the bay is really impressive and the fastest way between Valletta and the Three Cities, so you can easily combine the visit. Mdina & Rabat Another charming town in Malta is Mdina. Although “town” is perhaps a bit misleading, because Mdina is after all the old capital of Malta . After Valletta was named the capital of Malta in the 16th century, the people of Mdina gradually turned their backs and moved to the new capital. Today Mdina has less than 300 inhabitants and time seems to have stood still hundreds of years ago. In Mdina you will see more horse-drawn carriages than cars (the city is car-free, only residents have access) and at least in the evening the labyrinth-like streets are deserted. Therefore Mdina is also called “The Silent City”. Mdina is surrounded by a massive fortress wall In no other city have I seen so many beautiful photo motifs (the colorful wooden doors! <3) and well-preserved medieval buildings in such a small space. The absolute highlight of Mdina is the imposing city gate, one of the most famous filming locations for Game of Thrones. If you’d like to learn more about the history of the city, you can join a guided tour of Mdina * . For me, Mdina is one of the most beautiful places in Malta – an absolute recommendation! My tip: The Café Fontanella in Mdina is known for the best chocolate cake Malta. There is a large selection of snacks and cakes (there are around 10 different types of chocolate cake alone), which you can enjoy wonderfully relaxed on the roof terrace of the Fontanella with a magnificent view of the island in good weather. The city of Rabat borders directly on the imposing walls of Mdina . Here it is also worthwhile to stroll a little through the pretty old town streets. There are a few small shops where you can buy souvenirs and, for example, around the collegiate church of St. Paul a handful of cafés and restaurants that looked very inviting. My tip: Do you want to try a real Maltese specialty, then there is the Is-Serkin super delicious in Rabat Pastizzi . Pastizzi are Maltese dumplings that are filled with chicken, spinach or cheese, for example. Although Is-Serkin doesn’t look particularly inviting from the outside, you can get authentic Maltese freshly baked pastizzi straight out of the oven for just 40-50 cents each. St. Paul’s Catacombs If you are already in Rabat, then you should not miss a visit to one of the most famous sights of Malta: St. Paul’s Catacombs . The burial chambers were probably used until the 7th or 8th century and around 20 of them are open to the public today. One of them even exhibits bones. You can visit them for 6 € entry. Gozo: A detour to Malta’s sister island The island of Gozo is a small neighboring island north of the main island and also belongs to the Republic of Malta. You can reach them easily with the ferry from Cirkewwa, which runs every 30-60 minutes throughout the day. There is no need to pre-book tickets, you just pay on the way back when you translate from Gozo to Malta. The journey takes about 25 minutes and you can travel on foot or by car. You should plan at least a full day for Gozo – we spent a total of almost three days on the islet to be able to explore everything. Gozo is much more comfortable than Malta, especially during the week. At the weekend, many locals use Gozo for a little mini vacation, because there is Ramla Bay, the longest sandy beach in Malta. Here is an overview of the most important highlights and sights on Gozo: The citadel in the capital Victoria The area around Dwejra with the Blue Hole, the Inland Sea and the former Azure Window, which unfortunately collapsed in 2017 Wied-Il-Mielah (the “new Azure Window”) Wied-Il-Gashri The salt pans Ramla Bay with the famous viewpoint in the Tal-Mixta Cave The temples of Ggantija The Tal-Mixta Cave on Gozo overlooking Ramla Bay The Gozo Salt Pans A hiking trail leads along above the Inland Sea You see, Malta’s little sister Gozo has a lot to offer. There are a number of providers with whom you can explore most of these spots as part of a day tour: Gozo day tour by jeep * Gozo day tour by quad * Explore Gozo with the hop-on / hop-off bus * If you want to stay 1-2 nights in Gozo, I can warmly recommend Andrew’s Airbnb , because there is a pool and Andrew is super nice. I stayed there for two nights. If you are not yet registered with Airbnb, you can get a discount of up to € 25 on your first trip here * . Comino & the Blue Lagoon The mini island of Comino is located between Malta and Gozo and is home to a very special highlight that you have probably already seen in countless pictures in connection with Malta: the famous Blue Lagoon . I really don’t want to exaggerate, but the water in the blue lagoon is so unbelievably turquoise and clear as I’ve only seen it in the Caribbean in Aruba and the Bahamas , in Europe a maximum of a few lagoons in Sardinia come close to this spectacle.   The blue lagoon on Comino is therefore quite rightly an absolute top highlight in Malta and if it had been up to me, I would have spent the whole day there. There is one downer, however, that I would not like to withhold from you: The blue lagoon is so famous that it is unfortunately completely overrun. If you are looking for peace and relaxation, you have come to the wrong address. There is only a tiny stretch of beach (but you can lie on the rocks) and thanks to the many stalls and people there is more of a fairground feeling than a holiday feeling. Nevertheless, Comino and the blue lagoon are definitely worth a visit, because the crystal clear turquoise sea alone will put a smile on your face all day long. It’s best to book a boat tour in advance. The boat tours cost about 25 € for a day trip and you not only drive to the blue lagoon, but also circumnavigate Comino and make various stops at some caves and beautiful snorkeling spots. Here are some recommended tours: Boat tour to Comino & the Blue Lagoon * Boat tour to Gozo, Comino & the Blue Lagoon * The fishing village of Marsaxlokk The small fishing village of Marsaxlokk is located in the very south-east of Malta and with its hundreds of colorful wooden boats and old fishermen’s houses is an Eldorado for every photographer. Not only do the boats line up on the harbor promenade, but also the restaurants and cafes. Take 2-3 hours to stroll a bit along the promenade and enjoy a cool iced coffee. If you like, you can have a fisherman take you to the nearby St. Peter’s Pool.     During the week there is a small market where you can buy all kinds of tourist souvenirs. However, it is more exciting on Sundays, because then the traditional fish market takes place in Marsaxlokk. St. Peter’s Pool (including insider tip) St. Peter’s Pool is just a few minutes’ drive from Marsaxlokk. The small bay has long been a major tourist magnet and is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Malta. Whereby “beach” in Malta is really a matter of definition, because a beach is anything that offers access to the sea and a little space to lie on. The St. Peter’s Pool is more of a rock plateau where the sea has eaten a kind of pool into the coast. In any case, the water is wonderfully clear and turquoise blue. The surrounding plateau consists of light-colored rocks – it looks nice, but also reflects properly in blazing sun and there are no shady spots. We were at St. Peter’s Pool in the early hours of the morning and it was so incredibly hot at that time that we ran away very quickly. My tip: Not far away is Il-Kalanka Bay, which is very similar to St. Peter’s Pool. You will hardly find any tourists there, almost only locals. There is a parking lot directly above the bay. Insider tip Il-Kalanka Bay: Only a few minutes away from St. Peter’s Pool The blue grotto The Blue Grotto is THE symbol of Malta. On the south-western steep coast of Malta, the sea has carved several caves into the coastline over the millennia, the largest and most impressive of which is the blue grotto with a height of 40m. On the road there is a lookout point, the Blue Grotto Viewpoint (just enter it on Google Maps), from which you have a great view from above of the imposing entrance of the cave. You can get even closer to the blue grotto, however, because boats from the nearby harbor go into the blue grotto every minute (the way to the harbor is well signposted from the viewpoint). The trip costs € 8 per person and takes about 15-20 minutes, and you will also head to a few other caves. If you prefer something a little more unusual, you can also book a several-hour kayak tour along the coast, e.g. with MC Adventure (the tours only take place in normal waves for safety reasons, so you should bring a little flexibility for this adventure, as the tours are accordingly must be planned depending on the weather). The ruins of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Very close to the Blue Grotto are the ruins of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, two more than 5000 years old temple complexes. They are among the most important sights in Malta, but since the island is home to many other temples and we have already looked at temple ruins on Gozo, we have left them out here. However, for the sake of completeness, they should not be missing. To protect them from the weather, these temples are under large tarpaulins, which makes taking photos a little more difficult (if that’s important to you). Entry costs € 10. The hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni Unfortunately, we also had to skip the hypogeum of flal-Saflieni, because the old burial chamber is only allowed to visit a maximum of 80 people per day as part of a guided tour. As the Hypogeum is one of the main attractions in Malta, tickets are often booked out weeks in advance. Of course, we missed that and the admission price of € 35 (or € 40 for last minute tickets at the box office) is really not a bargain, so we decided to go to St. Paul’s Catacombs instead. If you want to visit the Hypogeum, you can book tickets here in advance. Incidentally, photography is not allowed in the burial chambers. Force of nature on Malta’s west coast: The Dingli Cliffs (including an insider tip for an alternative hike) The Dingli cliffs are located on Malta’s west side and are a particularly impressive section of the cliff. It is best not to drive to the point that marks the Dingli Cliffs on Google Maps, because then you will be directly above the cliffs and unfortunately see very little. You have a better view from the Dingli Viewpoint or, if you walk a little further out onto the headland, from the Dingli Cliffs Panoramic View . It’s obviously quite windy at the Dingli Cliffs … Unfortunately, there is no hiking trail along the rocky coast here, but I have an alternative for you that hardly anyone knows: A little further north there is a kilometer-long hiking trail between Migra I-Ferha and Il-Blata tal-Melh directly along the steep coast. The view from there is gigantic! It is best to start your hike in the early evening hours in Migra I-Ferha (there is a large parking lot there) and take the breathtaking sunset with you (reminder: you are on the west side of the island, i.e. sunset side). You can either walk the entire route or just part of it and then just go back the same way. The stretch of coast between Migra I-Ferha and Il-Blata tal-Melh is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Malta At sunset, high above Malta’s golden beaches to the west For me an absolute chance find and THE highlight of my entire trip to Malta were 4 beaches in the west of the island: Golden Bay, Riviera Beach, Qarraba Bay and Gnenja Bay Beach . The beaches are located in the northwest of the island and are connected to each other by a hiking trail high above the individual bays . View of the Golden Bay The Riviera Beach I really didn’t know beforehand what to expect and only had a hunch that it could be pretty here at sunset – but the spectacle that we got then really exceeded all expectations. I don’t really know how to describe it, so I just let the pictures speak for themselves: Gnejna Bay Beach can be seen in the distance For me, this spot is definitely one of the most scenic in all of Malta and a real recommendation from my heart. Strangely enough, I didn’t read anything about it in advance when planning my trip, so it actually still seems to be a kind of insider tip. It’s best to start your hike at golden hour, 1-2 hours before sunset and just run as far as you can. There is a parking lot between Golden Bay and Riviera Beach, where you can park (a grandpa is charged according to the pay-what-you-want principle, we gave him € 2). If you want, you can of course spend a few hours in the sun on the beach beforehand. Golden Bay and Riviera Beach are among the most beautiful and spacious beaches on Malta, so a visit is worth twice as much. Popeye Village Less secret, but one of the most famous sights in Malta is the Popeye Village. The setting built in 1979 for the shooting of – you guessed it – the film Popeye is now a small amusement park, which is especially worthwhile for families with children (admission 15 €). For us adults, a short stop above the turquoise blue bay (Anchor Bay), which offers a great view of the colorful film backdrop, is enough. You can also swim in Anchor Bay, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Malta (… you know the Maltese definition of “beach”). By the way, the Red Tower (St. Agatha’s Tower) is nearby , which houses a small museum (which was closed for us, however). The Coral Lagoon & Malta’s northern tip Another insider tip is the Coral Lagoon in Malta’s extreme northeast, also called Devil’s Hole by the locals . On the way there you will pass a number of small beaches that are usually quite crowded. Just follow the path to Coral Beach , there you will find a fascinating rocky landscape that is much emptier. If you follow the cliffs further, you will eventually come across a natural pool . In contrast to St. Peter’s Pool, the sea did not eat its way into the rock here, but only dug a small tunnel into the interior of the pool and formed a real hole. The water is, how could it be otherwise, crystal clear and turquoise. Holidays in Malta: travel tips & practical information Finally, I would like to give you a few more tangible tips for planning your Malta vacation in a nutshell. For even more information and tips, a classic travel guide is definitely worthwhile.

Hands up: Who of you has ever struggled with a flight delay or even a complete flight cancellation and in this situation knew exactly how to behave correctly in order to receive compensation from the airline in the end? Nobody? Great, because neither do we. Fortunately, it has turned out relatively lightly for us so far and apart from a few hours delay nothing bad has happened, but that could have been different. Especially if you miss your connecting flight, the accommodation has already been paid for at the place of arrival or you have planned the start of a road trip or exciting adventure and now have to let all bookings expire, this is just extremely annoying and can really cost you money. How exactly do your rights look in the event of a flight delay, a flight cancellation or a rebooking of your flight? What is the airline allowed to do, what do you have to accept and where can you get compensation? In this article, we will tell you all of this and how you should behave correctly in a specific case in order to get your money in the end. Passenger rights: know your rights In the event of a flight delay, cancellation or short-term rebooking to your disadvantage, there is a legally guaranteed right to compensation. This has been regulated for several years by the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation ( EU-VO-261/2004 ), which ensures that you have to be provided for by the airline during the delay (e.g. with food, drinks or the possibility of making calls, whatever can be very expensive abroad). But the best thing is: You are also entitled to financial compensation from the airline! In addition to any services already provided by the airline, such as hotel accommodation or meals. The amount of compensation varies between € 250 and € 600 and is always based on how much delay your flight will ultimately reach the destination airport. What exactly do the requirements for compensation look like if your flight was delayed and what should be considered in the specific case so that you are not left empty-handed in the end? Compensation for flight delay, flight cancellation or rebooking of the flight: Requirements according to the EU Air Passenger Rights Ordinance Flight in the EU or EU airline First things first: The Air Passenger Rights Regulation only applies to the European Union. In concrete terms, this means that the flight must be attributable to the EU . This means that the flight must either run within the member states of the European Union or take off or land in a country of the EU. For the latter, i.e. a plane that only lands in the EU but did not take off there, the airline must also be based in the EU. British Airways will be out soon ? The important thing is where you booked the flight. For example, if you have booked with Lufthansa, but the flight is then carried out via code share, e.g. by United Airlines, it is still considered an EU flight – if it starts or lands at least within the EU. Under EU in the sense of the Air Passenger Rights Ordinance, the 28 EU countries including some overseas departments are to be understood, here is a detailed overview of the countries. It’s the airline’s fault Furthermore, and this is very important, the delay, flight cancellation or rebooking of your flight must not be due to exceptional circumstancesbe due. This term is a bit vague at first. Put simply: the delay must be the responsibility of the airline or the airport and could have been avoided. In the event of terrorist attacks, natural disasters or strikes, you should of course not expect compensation, but the airline will rebook you at short notice due to overbooking, for example. In short: if the airline is not responsible for the delay, it does not have to pay any compensation. That’s why airlines usually look for such vague reasons to avoid paying compensation to stranded passengers. Don’t let yourself be fooled here, butIt is best to have the reason for the delay confirmed in writing immediately. What if the flight is canceled or rebooked? If your flight is not only delayed, but also completely canceled, the same rules apply as for flight delays. Here, too, you are of course entitled to compensation. If your flight is rebooked, this question can no longer be answered in such a general way and it depends on the consideration of the specific individual case. If you are notified of the cancellation or rebooking more than 14 days before the flight, you can request a refund of the ticket price, but you are not entitled to compensation for the time being. If, on the other hand, the flight cancellation is only communicated at short notice, you are again entitled to compensation if the replacement flight offered to you reaches its destination late. Flight delay compensation: you are entitled to it But now butter for the fish: How much money and what benefits are you entitled to if your flight is delayed? The amount of the compensation basically depends on two factors: 1. The length of the flight route and 2. the duration of the delay. For a short flight of up to 1,500 km you will receive 250 euros if you are delayed by three hours. If the flight is longer than 1,500 km, the amount of the compensation is at least 400 euros. For a flight that is longer than 3,500 km and which is delayed by more than 4 hours, you will even get 600 €. Already for a delay of two hours you are so-called support services to. Regardless of who is to blame for the delay. That means you have to get food, drinks and food at the airport. That is not exactly regulated in individual cases, it also depends a little on the circumstances. Don’t expect a menu, but the airline should provide basic supplies. You are also entitled to free calls and emails so that you can deal with the delay (calls to the hotel, the rental car rental company or loved ones at home who have to pick you up). If the trip is pushed back so far due to the delay that the flight can only be started on the next day,the airline has to accommodate you in a hotel and organize the shuttle service there. This can quickly become a major issue, especially with connecting flights. How to behave correctly in the event of a flight delay or flight cancellation Secure evidence In order for you to be able to exercise your right to compensation, there are a few things to consider. In an emergency, that can make the difference between winning and losing, because you have to be able to prove that you are entitled to the claim. Logically this starts with the fact that you should keep all documents . Regardless of whether the delay occurs before boarding or in the air, try to have the reason for the delay confirmed in writing on site . The airline or the customer service representative at the airport must certify that the delay is not due to “exceptional circumstances”. Perhaps the employees will avoid it with vague statements or provide a flimsy reason, for example “strong winds”, but that is not enough. It must be a tangible circumstance that was not foreseeable in this form. Incidentally, to preserve evidence, it is advisable to take photos of everything with the (cell phone) camera , i.e. the displays at the airport or the departure boards. Make a note of all the costs that have been incurred at the airport and keep the receipts here as well . Any extra costs caused by the delay can be reclaimed later, but only if you can prove that you really had these expenses and that they were necessary. Reject insufficient offers It is also important to refuse insufficient performance on the part of the airline . The airline offers you to book a higher class at your own expense so that you can still take your overbooked original flight? Or you should stop at another place and you will only continue there after you have paid an overnight stay? Please refuse everything. If you are offered comparison offers that are far below the possible compensation, you should also be skeptical. Always think about what it would cost you at this moment to organize your onward journey. If the amount is significantly more expensive than the possible compensation, the comparison is rejected. The most important thing is: Please do not sign anything on site!Otherwise you run the risk of foregoing possible claims and payments. The airlines know exactly about the imminent compensation payments and will usually not offer you anything with which you are better off ? Stay friendly With all this stress, it is important to remain friendly and nice. A flight delay also means stress for airport employees and friendliness can really work wonders here. In case of delay, make your point of view clear, decline insufficient offers, but don’t get bad tempered. There is also a very pragmatic background to this: if you get quarrelsome or quick-tempered at the counter, the airline can refuse you boarding. The airline must assess each passenger as to whether they could pose a potential danger to those on board. If, in the opinion of the staff, you are clearly misbehaving, you may be refused transport. It sure doesn’t happen very often, but there is an option. Air passenger rights: How to get your money if your flight is delayed So, the child has now fallen into the well: your flight was delayed or canceled completely, you had a lot of stress on site and a lot of costs. How do you get your money now? Basically there are three different ways in which you can claim both the costs incurred and the compensation to which you are entitled under the Air Passenger Rights Ordinance. That’s how it works! Claim compensation for flight delays yourself The most obvious way is to contact the airline directly for compensation. To do this, you should first calculate how high your own demands are. To assert your claim, you can  download and fill out a sample form . Although this route is the direct one and is possible without additional costs, the experience of many travelers shows that the prospect of success is very slim. The airlines are usually cross or deaf and simply do not react. Be prepared for extensive correspondence and expect to have to claim your claim with the help of a lawyer. This in turn is associated with further costs and also with the risk of going out of the thing at a loss. Use the SÖP as an intermediary If the airline refuses or plays dead, you can call in arbitrators. The Arbitration Board for Public Transport (SÖP), which can check and mediate the claim, helps . However, this arbitration procedure will take some time, unfortunately we cannot say anything about the chances of success of this procedure. In any case, there are no further costs. Enforce passenger rights with the help of professional service providers Over the years, many professional service providers have established themselves who strive for the rights of passengers by collecting compensation claims from the airline themselves. This means that a success commission is due for the respective service provider (usually around 25% of the compensation amount), but all of the work is done for you. Since lawyers who specialize in travel law sit on the part of the professional providers, the chance of a successful payment is much higher than if you tried it yourself. With all providers, the commission is only due in the event of success , ie you will not incur any costs until then. The basic offer of all these service providers is basically almost identical: with Fairplane, for example, you pay 24.5% of the compensation amount in the event of success, with Flug-verspaetet.deit is 25% (plus VAT). With this basic offer you usually have to wait 8-10 weeks for your money. If you would like to have your money immediately without waiting, the world looks a little different: You assign your claims in full to the service provider with immediate effect and of course that means an increased risk for the service provider because he cannot yet assess the chances of success. For you this means that you have to pay a correspondingly higher commission for this speed variant, usually between 35 and 50%. So if you choose this option because you want to have the compensation immediately, you should look carefully when choosing the provider. Think about the statute of limitations The right to compensation for flight delays or entire flight cancellations applies not only to flights that have just taken place, but also to previous flights. Limitation is the keyword! A limitation period of three years according to § 195 BGB applies to these claims from the past. So think about whether you haven’t had a flight with a long delay in the last few years. The anger you had with it at the time could now turn into small earnings. The only important thing is that all documents and documents are still available for this flight so that you can prove that you actually booked this flight at the time and that there were problems with it. Whether you are still entitled to compensation payments for flights in the past, You can check with most providers with a few clicks directly on the homepage, just like with flights that were not long ago. If the machine spits out a positive result – go for it! ? Self-inflicted flight cancellation? You can do this if you need to cancel your flight At this point we would like to deal with a small special case that many of you are probably not aware of. Have you ever been in the situation that you have booked a non-cancelable ticket for cost reasons (of course without cancellation or cancellation insurance) and then it happens – you cannot or do not want to take the flight under any circumstances. Either because you are really sick, a hurricane has just swept over your holiday destination, your dog is sick or your friends have chosen exactly this one for their wedding 365 days a year, which falls in the middle of your vacation – JUHU! And now? If it is up to the airlines, you will be completely or at least partially seated on the cost of the flight. Pretty nasty when you consider that the airline can simply sell your seat again in the event of a ticket cancellation. So what can you do? Again, there are providers such as Ticket Refund who will help you enforce your contractual right of termination. You can get back a large part of the ticket costs for a commission (usually max. 30% of the price reimbursement), even for tickets that cannot be canceled. However, it is important that you cancel your flight in any case and as soon as possible, ie as soon as you know that you will not be able to take it. If you simply let the flight expire, you unfortunately have no chance of a refund. The same applies here: Even flights canceled some time ago are still refundable – you can have the relevant providers checked what works and what doesn’t. Restrictions on passenger rights and compensation at Ryanair: are they allowed to do so? Some of you may have noticed: The airline Ryanair hit the headlines in mid-2016 with a change to its general terms and conditions. Accordingly, passengers were unceremoniously prohibited from assigning compensation claims to third parties in the event of delays or cancellations. This means that Ryanair has prohibited its passengers from making claims with the help of the service providers described above . Unbelievable, is not it? So if you wanted to insist on your compensation, you could only claim it personally, with the time and risk involved. However, these GTC changes have since been declared invalid in several legal proceedings. So you don’t have to worry anymore: Even if you flew with Ryanair and had to contend with a delay, you can use the help of professional service providers to collect your compensation within the scope of the passenger rights. Ryanair is not allowed to exclude this route with its terms and conditions! Passenger rights and compensation payments: our conclusion For most of us, the topic of air passenger rights seems pretty complicated at first glance, so in this article we have tried to make it as understandable as possible for you. I hope we succeeded. On closer inspection, the topic quickly loses its complexity and when you have the most important points on the screen, nothing can actually go wrong on site at the airport (you can save the table above and take it with you on your travels, then you will know always informed). Still, collecting your compensation payments on your own can be quite frustrating – not because you’re wrong, but because it’s David versus Goliath. We therefore recommend that you seek professional help from a specialist provider . The airlines know that these providers do not shy away from expensive legal proceedings and therefore usually pay the compensation without objection. That costs you a little commission, but it also saves you all the hassle. Unfortunately, we ourselves have only had really severe delays outside of the EU and unfortunately haven’t seen a cent for them. What experiences have you already had?

Traveling with hand luggage is unfortunately often the only way to keep the costs of a short vacation from getting too far in times of reduced services by many airlines. We already did this when we were studying and saved a lot of money and running systems shouldn’t be changed, right … that’s why we still practice traveling with hand luggage today, both for reasons of cost and time. We’re already going to Prague for a few days tonight and we’re definitely not going to take anything more than hand luggage there! , then you ‘ll be there live. We have put together the most important points for you, with which you can get the most out of your hand luggage without getting into the wool with your airline or the people from the security check. Liquids in hand luggage First things first: The point that causes most problems for many travelers is the hand luggage regulations regarding the amount and size of liquids or the liquid containers that can be carried in hand luggage. It is actually quite simple, because there is only one rule worldwide: You are allowed to carry a maximum of 1L of liquids with you, divided into containers with a maximum capacity of 100ml, packed in a single transparent, sealable bag. The number of containers does not matter as long as they all fit in the bag and do not exceed 100ml in size. The filling level of the container is also irrelevant, a shampoo bottle with 200ml may not be in hand luggage, even if it is almost empty. So what do you need? 1. A transparent, sealable bag with 1L capacity: It is available in an uncomplicated and inexpensive way as a freezer bag with a zipper. If you want it to be more sustainable, you can get this transparent cosmetic bag * , for example . 2. Containers / vials with a maximum capacity of 100ml each: In the drugstore ( e.g. at DM) you can buy ready-made sets with vials and containers as well as individual bottles, which, however, rarely have the maximum allowed 100ml. If you really want to almost max out the permissible maximum size and it is important to you that nothing leaks, then these bottles are for you . Your products / liquids do NOT have to be transferred to the transparent bottles. You can just throw everything as it is in the transparent bag, as long as it doesn’t contain more than 100ml and everything fits into the bag. Incidentally, medicines are generally excluded from the hand luggage regulations! All you need is a certificate from your doctor stating that you have to carry the medication (s) with you in your hand luggage. At the ADAC there is a form for taking medication with you .   Make the most of airlines’ hand luggage regulations This point is a little more complicated, because the hand luggage regulations of the airlines differ considerably. There are basically 3 aspects that must be taken into account: 1. Dimensions of hand luggage: The airlines’ regulations are largely very similar here; the maximum permitted dimensions are usually around 55x40x23cm, including handles and castors. You can find a good overview of the maximum dimensions allowed by many airlines here or here, but please check back with the airline itself, the conditions change frequently. The search for the piece of hand luggage in the optimal size and shape is a little tricky and requires some perseverance, as you should, for example, depend on which airlines you fly with frequently. Wizzair, for example, has completely different regulations than Ryanair, but since Wizzair does not fly from our home airport at all, we don’t care. Here you will find a good pre-sorting of luggage in hand luggage size, unfortunately Amazon does not do that well. 2. Weight of hand luggage: The regulations on the maximum permitted weight differ considerably, sometimes you can only take 6kg with you, sometimes a whole 12kg. Therefore: When buying the piece of luggage, pay attention to the weight, less is more. In any case, do your research and take advantage of the airline’s regulations! A luggage scale * is really worth gold , even when it comes to normal luggage. At the end of our vacation we often stood at the check-in and joked to see if everything was going through. With a mobile luggage scale you no longer have this stress. 3. Number of pieces of luggage: With some airlines you are only allowed to take a single piece of hand baggage with you, but with most of them a large and a smaller handbag (there are also maximum dimensions for this handbag, please be smart!). Some even allow you to take a laptop bag and / or a garment bag with you.   Inception: Bag in Bag (in Bag) Point 3 leads us to this trick, which is more of interest to the ladies among us: Inception! Ha! Traveling for several days with just one handbag is stupid. After all, you need a large bag for the daytime, a small one for the evening and it’s not so easy in terms of color, but there’s no more space in your luggage … you know that. My trick: Take a large handbag as a second piece of hand luggage and then the smaller bag stuff in. If the small bag is just big enough, your liquid bag can fit in here and you can use every millimeter. Not elegant, but efficient. Roll it up! You probably all know the roll trick by now, right? At the beginning we neither believed nor understood why you should get more clothes in your suitcase this way. Somehow doesn’t make sense. But trying is better than studying and lo and behold: it really works! The vulture knows why. We’ve only packed like that since then. What is not true, however, is that the rolling technique means that the clothes remain wrinkle-free. Rethink your cosmetic routine This appeal is directed again at the ladies: If you are not one of the lucky women who can simply walk around without make-up in everyday life, you always have to carry at least a basic stock of cosmetic products with you. And yes, there is also a little bit of chick behavior at the start. The liquid regulations in hand luggage regularly present me with a tough challenge and the total amount is simply a problem. This is exactly why it is worth rethinking your personal cosmetic routines. Here are a few tricks that work well for me, at least for a few days over the years, that will reduce the number of products I carry with me: – A brown eyebrow pencil can also be used as a kohl / eyeliner. The other way around, however, does not work well, since an eyeliner is too greasy and soft for the eyebrows – Eyebrow powder also works as a matt eyeshadow and vice versa (use your eyeshadow as an eyebrow powder, please make sure that it is really matt and without shimmer!) – Mineral powder = foundation + powder. The best mineral foundation is and will remain Bare Minerals * – Concealer also works as a foundation, dose carefully! – Buy a Cheeks & Lips Stick and you have blush and lip color in one – Straighteners in hand luggage? Oh dear … if you can’t do without it, there are also mini straighteners * – Hand cream = face cream. But make sure that it is not greasy and that it absorbs well, otherwise the make-up will slip away. It is also the other way around, but it is the worse option for reasons of cost – Buy all cheap products locally: shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are cheap everywhere. Most of the time the products are also available in the hotel and you don’t need to take them with you

I know that at the start of the year, many of you, like most people, are in the middle of planning your vacation. Maybe you already have a concrete idea of ​​where it should go, but maybe you are still completely haphazard. It is very likely that the money is causing you a little problems thanks to all the insurances that arise at the beginning of the year and the fun electricity and gas back payments – and so dreams are big, but the travel budget is rather small (struggle of my life: p). But there is good news: REWE Reisen has a pretty cool campaign on Valentine’s Day that could solve this problem. Last year I already pointed out the campaign to you on my Instagram channel and without wanting to promise too much for this year – last year, among other things, there was a trip to Mauritius for very little money. Since it’s twice as good, I would like to take this opportunity to once again present the REWE Reisen Valentine’s Day campaign in detail. REWE #meinbesterdeal: This is how it works From 02/10 Until February 16, 2020 there is a new travel deal every day under #MEINBESTERDEAL as part of the # meinbesterdeal campaign by REWE Reisen . On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, the travel deals are basically designed for two people, so it’s best to think about who your company might be (if you don’t already know). The principle is very simple: True to the motto ‘pay half’, there are, for example, deals in which you travel as a couple but only pay the price for one person. Or there is, for example, a combination of a beach holiday and a round trip, but you only pay one of them. I admit that this doesn’t make sense at first glance – but trust me as soon as the deals start on February 10th. go online on REWE Reisen , you can see immediately what it is about. And there are no hidden costs or similar, everything is very transparent and you can in any case assess whether the price is okay for you for two people. What you get is what you see ? 7 holiday deals at a bargain price A total of 7 holiday deals will be activated in the REWE Reisen Bargain Week, a new one every day. This deal can then be booked for 24 hours or as long as the quota lasts. The highlight: Unfortunately, you don’t know beforehand which deal there will be, ie you have to be surprised and simply decide spontaneously. My observation from last year’s # meinbesterdeal campaign shows me that you sometimes have to be really quick! Some of the deals were actually sold out within a few hours. And that actually shows impressively that you can get some really great bargains on the trips offered, because we Germans are not necessarily known for spontaneous decisions, especially when it comes to travel planning, are we? ? But I can tell you that it was precisely these spontaneous decisions and the openness to goals that were not necessarily high on my bucket list that were often the best decisions in retrospect. My trip to Lofoten in Norway, for example, was made with a very short lead time, I was still on the plane in panic researching how to take photos with the northern lights and finally, in the dark with my feet in the maybe 5 degree cold water , I used the manual mode for the first time almost blindly used my camera. Hawaii was also a super spontaneous decision (because when are there flights to Hawaii for less than € 700 ?!) and I couldn’t have a flight to the west coast of the USA for a flight to the west coast of the USA in 2016 without waiting for the approval of my former employer Booked just € 200 if this travel blog wouldn’t exist today (and I might still have the job from back then, but that’s another story ?) Long story short: Sometimes you just have to let life happen. By the way, I myself discovered the # meinbesterdeal campaign too late last year and I couldn’t find anyone in a hurry who would be tempted to travel with me … and to be honest, I still mourn the lost Mauritius trip a little . Valentine’s Day is not just for lovers At this point, another thought that I would like to bring you closer: The vacation deals of this Valentine’s Day promotion are for two people, but that doesn’t mean that you have to travel with your partner. I myself used to travel exclusively with my partner and when this relationship broke up I stood there and didn’t know what to do next. Out of necessity, I tried to travel alone, some of these breaks were also very good, but in the end I realized that I prefer to travel with other people. For me, there is nothing better than experiencing things together with someone I like and who is just as enthusiastic as I am and sharing these experiences and stories. So if your partner may not want or be able to decide as spontaneously as you yourself or doesn’t feel like going to certain travel destinations – why don’t you travel with a girlfriend or boyfriend? My learning from my time as a single is that you should never limit yourself to someone else. You yourself are the most important and valuable person in your life and that is precisely why Valentine’s Day can be a day on which you first and foremost give yourself presents ? Cheat Sheet: This way you can find out beforehand which trip there will be the next day I know … spontaneity is often somehow not as easy to implement in practice as one would like it to be in theory. Therefore, there is a very simple way for the # meinbesterdeal campaign as you can find out one day in advance what offers will be available the next day: Subscribe to the REWE Reisen newsletter . Or even easier: Subscribe to the REWE Reisen Facebook page and check out every day which deal is in the starting blocks. So you can agree with your travel partner a day in advance whether the offer is something for you and, if necessary, quickly apply for a vacation from your employer. In any case, I’m following the campaign closely this year because I don’t want me to miss another great offer like Mauritius last year. I am definitely curious where I will end up this year!

the latest, the Amsterdam Red Light District has developed into a real tourist attraction. And so you can even see families with children strolling through the narrow streets in the early evening hours past the red-lit shop windows in which the women offer their services. Sounds strange? Don’t worry, the families disappear at a later hour and the quarter is taken over by curious couples, partying tourists, bachelor parties and all sorts of really strange characters. All of this can be disturbing, especially if you are in Amsterdam or a red light district for the first time. I was no different. For fear of being ripped off or even stolen from somewhere, you often don’t do much more than take a quick glance in the shop windows or open doors of the shops, although you may be curious and would like to see more. That’s why I’m giving you a little guide by hand and tell you which establishments in the red light district of Amsterdam you can visit without hesitation. The red light district of Amsterdam The red light district is seen from the station forecourt of Amsterdam Central Station slightly to the north-west, between Nieuwmarkt (Neumarkt) and De Oude Kerk (Old Church). The center is located on Achterburgwal, there are numerous shops in which there is nothing that is not there. Between the Achterburgwal and the Nieuwmarkt meander the sometimes very narrow streets, in which the ladies loll around behind glowing red windows and thus create a unique image of a red light district worldwide. On Saturday evenings from spring to autumn, thousands of tourists and locals push their way through the narrow streets – prostitution is an attraction in Amsterdam. But if you actually plan a little more than a “window shopping” and want to experience something as a couple or group of friends, Live shows in Amsterdam’s red light district There are a number of shops in the red light district of Amsterdam where you can watch table dance or live sex shows. Yes, you heard right. As a tourist in particular, you are often misled here and you have to be a little careful with the famous shops when it comes to ticket prices and services. Therefore, at this point, an overview of the known and trustworthy shows: Theater Casa Rosso (OZ Achterburgwal 106-108) The most famous live sex show in Amsterdam takes place in the Casa Rosso Theater. ES is the oldest live sex theater in Amsterdam and also the largest, seating up to 180 guests. There is no fixed program and you cannot buy tickets for a certain show – you only find out what the evening will bring when you are inside. You cannot miss the Casa Rosso in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, you can recognize it by the neon pink elephant. Admission prices: For 45 € or 55 € including two drinks at the box office or via online ticket for 42 € or 52 € you can stay and watch as many shows as you want. If you are traveling as a bachelorette party, the groom or bride receives free entry and can actively be part of the show (true story …). You can find more information here. Moulin Rouge Amsterdam (OZ Achterburgwal 5-7) The Moulin Rouge basically offers the same shows as the Casa Rosso, here too there is a live sex show in addition to strip shows and other performances. Unfortunately, tickets cannot be purchased online in advance. Since I haven’t been to the Moulin Rouge myself, I can’t comment on the prices, allegedly at around 40 € they are a little lower than in Casa Rosso. The reviews of the Moulin Roge are also worse. You can find more information here. Bananenbar Amsterdam (OZ Achterburgwal 37) The banana bar doesn’t look really inconspicuous from the outside, but it is harmless. No red flashing lights, no ladies and gentlemen in front of the door trying to lure tourists in, no loud and brightly advertised program. If you get lost in the banana bar looking for a few drinks, you are not fundamentally wrong, because there are drinks here. And bananas? There are here too, yes. But not in a cocktail … The entrance fee is 60 €, you can drink as much as you want for 1 hour. One can only guess what will happen here in this hour. Something with bananas …?: P The Banana Club is a bit more dignified, for € 25 there is a drink and strip shows with no time limit. Private shows cost extra, of course. More information here. Sex Palace Amsterdam – The last peep show in the Netherlands (OZ Achterburgwal 84) There used to be six establishments in Amsterdam alone that held peep shows. Today there is exactly one peep show in the whole of Holland and it is located in the Sex Palace in the red light district of Amstardam. But what is such a peep show anyway? Strictly speaking, this is a special form of a strip show or a strip club, in which a woman can be seen stripping from the cabins. For a certain period of time, usually a few minutes, you can look through a peephole for a fee. And that already explains why peep shows have slowly but surely died out in the age of the Internet – you can watch in a protected atmosphere and do whatever you want to do for free from home. Nevertheless, the peep show is something of a classic among sex shows and those who want to experience a little nostalgia should dare to go to the Sex Palace. For 2 € there is 2 minutes of viewing time. Red Light Secrets Museum – The oldest prostitution museum in Amsterdam If all of this is a little too extreme for you, you can first find a gentle introduction to the history of prostitution in the prostitution museum Red Light Secrets. The museum is located in the middle of the red light district and guides you through the otherwise hidden world of Amsterdam’s prostitution history with stories from Inga, a former prostitute. Everything is very lively, from replicas of a brothel room to typical work clothing from the different centuries, even sitting in the window is part of the program. Incidentally, I found the ‘Wall of Confessions’ at the end of the museum tour particularly impressive: Here, visitors anonymously wrote their most blatant sex confessions. But see for yourself … Tours through the red light district If you want to find out more about the red light district that goes beyond the historical part or you just don’t feel comfortable without a guide, then a guided tour with a local is recommended. Unfortunately, I was unable to do a tour myself due to lack of time, but I have selected some exciting tours with very good reviews: Extra long 2-hour guided tour through the red light district * Red light district and café tour in German * For the foodies: red light district and food tour * Red light district tour in German in a small group (max. 4 people) * Coffee Shop and Red Light District Tour * Rules of conduct for the red light district In the red light district of Amsterdam there are a few rules that every visitor should adhere to (not least for their own good). 1. No photos or videos of the prostitutes! Not in the windows, not anywhere else. We saw some Asians who probably ignored it out of ignorance – that was stressful. The ladies first make themselves known by knocking loudly on the window, if that doesn’t help, they come out and make sure that the recordings are deleted again. So stick to this rule. It also has something to do with respect for women. 2. It can get very crowded in the narrow streets between the shop windows and bars. So full that you are pushed through the alleys, crowded together. Pickpockets use these situations in particular, so store your belongings safely and take good care of them. 3. Don’t buy anything from street vendors . Nothing to smoke, no other substances. To smoke, go to the coffee shops, preferably a well-frequented, lively shop instead of a dark, dingy-looking one on some side street. This may cost a little more, but you are on the safe side when it comes to quality. 4. In general, most tourists are subject to a fallacy when it comes to smoking: You can legally buy weed etc. in coffee shops in the Netherlands, but open consumption on the street is just as prohibited as it is in Germany! In Amsterdam the police usually turn a blind eye to this, but you don’t have to provoke it. If you want to smoke, just go to a coffee shop . 5. Always move in the alleys in the red light district in pairs . The pickpockets and other dark figures target women and men who are no longer in control of their senses and their musculoskeletal system due to too violent partying. If you lose your group and sit down alone in a corner to breathe, you will quickly get visitors. Frightened? Admittedly, that might sound a bit daunting for one or the other. But if you stick to the rules, then you can experience extraordinary evenings and nights in the red light district of Amsterdam as few other places in the world without having to live with long-term effects such as stolen valuables. A few thoughts on prostitution With the legalization of prostitution in the Netherlands, the Amsterdam red light district has lost its once dingy image over the years. Amsterdam itself advertises its open approach to drug use, sex and prostitution. The shop window miles have become a real tourist attraction “for the whole family”, which of course belittles the topic itself. It is therefore important for me to say that I do not want to thinklessly advertise the Amsterdam red light district as a “must see”. What happens here is and remains prostitution. If you were to ask women whether they are doing this job voluntarily, the answer would be almost 100% “yes”. And of course there is hardly any pimping there and the women are there voluntarily – as voluntarily as you can be there, if you come from a country where you can hardly survive with a normal job. Everyone should think in advance about their position on this topic.