Te Travel Guide - brought to you by APL Media • Wednesday 4 March 2026


Worldwide Travel • 25 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE A cooler kind of summer: Hotel Der Löwe


As temperatures rise across southern Europe, many travellers are rethinking the traditional summer escape and find a better solution


At Hotel Der Löwe (The Lion) in the Austrian Alps, the appeal of the “coolcation” becomes immediately clear: fresh mountain air, restorative sleep and active days outdoors rather than seeking refuge from the heat. Set in the village of Leogang,


just an hour’s drive from Salzburg Airport, Hotel Der Löwe is a family- run boutique hotel of understated elegance. Recognised with both the European Union’s EU Ecolabel and the Austrian Ecolabel, and part of the Slow Travel Hotels movement, it combines environmental responsibility with relaxed Alpine comfort. The summer season runs from 13 May to 2 November, unfolding from bright spring days to a golden autumn, when forests and peaks glow in amber tones. The thoughtfully curated


“Summer Holiday in Austria” package ensures a seamless stay. Airport transfers and two daily mountain lift rides are included, granting effortless access to panoramic trails and high-altitude paths. Guests simply book their flight and everything else is arranged.


Leogang forms part of Austria’s


largest bike region, Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, renowned for its extensive network of routes. From scenic e-bike tours to the celebrated Epic Bikepark Leogang, the terrain offers an exhilarating experience alongside remarkable views. Hotel Der Löwe provides its own e-bikes and gravel bikes for hire, allowing guests to set out directly from the doorstep. Guided hikes, bike tours and even golf rounds with the host family add a personal dimension, sharing local insight beyond the map. Walkers are rewarded with paths


ranging from gentle Alpine rambles to ambitious summit ascents, while a newly created forest bathing trail invites mindful immersion in nature, an Alpine setting that invites exploration at every pace and for all generations. With just 45 rooms and suites, the


hotel retains an intimate atmosphere shaped by its host family. After active days, guests can


unwind in one of the two pools, three saunas and the serene yoga space, or with treatments in the massage and beauty centre. Two restaurants present refined Alpine cuisine, complemented by Austrian cooking as well as classes, wine- tastings and cocktail workshops.


In Leogang, summer isn’t endured,


it’s savoured — defined by clarity, comfort and cool mountain air.


READER OFFER 10% early bird saving with code


summer2026 — valid only until 31 March 2026, for all summer bookings and the “Summer Holiday in Austria” package. Scan the QR code to reserve your summer package with airport transfer, now:


For further information


Hotel Der Löwe Leogang, Salzburg, Austria T: +43 6583 7428 E: info@loewe.at Visit: loewe.at


One hour from Salzburg airport


ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Southern Poland: unlocked


Discover Southern Poland, a region of incredible density


There’s virtually nowhere else in Europe where a traveller can experience such a dramatic shift between royal grandeur, harrowing history, subterranean wonders and alpine peaks within a mere two-hour drive. While the key destinations, Kraków, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Wieliczka and Zakopane are well known, the challenge lies in weaving these disparate layers into a coherent narrative. Hello Cracow, an expert inbound tour operator, suggests that professional local insight is the key to navigating this intense landscape. The most critical logistical advice


concerns Auschwitz-Birkenau. It’s one of the most visited sites in Poland, yet it remains a place of solemn reflection. Experts from Hello Cracow emphasise that preparation is paramount: entry slots are strictly regulated and often booked months


AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU


in advance. Visitors should approach this Unesco World Heritage Site not as a sightseeing trip, but as a “duty to memory”, allowing ample time to process the experience. When it comes to the Wieliczka


Salt Mine, carved entirely from salt and famous for the stunning St Kinga’s Chapel, its true hidden value is the microclimate. The air 445ft underground is free of pollutants and allergens, providing a physical respite in a unique, constant atmosphere that remains refreshing year-round. In Kraków, the advice is to look


downwards. The city’s unique “cellar culture” means that some of the best jazz, history and dining happens below street level in medieval vaults. This is where the local heart beats and where history meets the plate. Seek out maczanka krakowska, the “great-grandmother of the burger”. This slow-cooked pork delicacy has fed Cracovians for


ST JOSEPH’S CHURCH, KRAKOW


centuries and offers a genuine taste of the city’s heritage. Finally, a journey south leads to the


Tatra Mountains. Here, the landscape shifts to the intricate “Zakopane Style” wooden architecture. No visit is complete without tasting smoked oscypek, a protected highland cheese with PDO status, before a restorative soak in the region’s geothermal thermal baths. These pools offer the perfect relaxation after a day of hiking or historical reflection. Navigating these diverse emotions


and logistics can be daunting. Hello Cracow acts as a local curator, ensuring that transfers are seamless and itineraries are balanced, allowing visitors to focus on the experience rather than the schedule.


WIELICZKA SALT MINE


LOGISTICAL STRESS READER OFFER Curated tours to Auschwitz, Salt Mines, Zakopane and more with local experts — readers can enjoy a 15% discount, using code HELLOPOLAND, valid for all bookings made by 31 August 2026 for any tours scheduled through the end of 2026. Visit hellocracow.com for more information. T&Cs apply.


EXPERIENCE SOUTHERN POLAND WITHOUT THE GUBAŁÓWKA HILL, ZAKOPANE For further information


Visit: hellocracow.com Tel/WhatsApp: +48 500 720 706


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28