Sixt rent a car blog » Travel And Leisure

Luna Mora by candlelight

Victoria Morgan — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:07:07 +0000

During the next two weekends you can enjoy a magic experience that will envelop your senses. Discover the three highly rich cultures from which our Andalucía has nourished itself: Muslim, Christian and Sephardic.

The Luna Mora Festival is celebrated at the end of every summer in the village of Guaro, only 15 minutes away from Marbella up the Ojén-Monda road.

Savour the richness of the Andalusian folklore and enjoy the cultural diversity that this festival offers. During the day the artisan’s medieval Moroccan market, that extends along the white-washed narrow streets, offers you a wide variety of handmade products crafted locally. Let yourself be carried away by the colours, aromas and flavours that will take you without a doubt on a sensory trip. You can also enjoy a Moroccan tea accompanied by the most exquisite confectionery elaborated like centuries ago. The ambiance is contagious when the streets are flooded by medieval music, dance shows, theatre and parades.

Themed workshops can be found under the typical “jaimas”, cooking courses, documentaries that bring us closer to our roots, poetry… and of course the mandatory henna decoration.

But when the moon decides to show itself in all it’s splendour and illuminates a remote village called Guaro, an invisible magic aura takes over the town. At this moment those present help out by lighting 20,000 candles, which, with only the help of the moon, illuminate the old town’s streets.

The contagious ambiance renders magic under candlelight, where the sensuous dancers shows us their belly dancing, story-telling under the “jaimas” takes us back to our ancestors, and we can enjoy fantastic music. The programme for this year boasts great artists, just as in previous occasions.

Friday 10 Diana Navarro
Saturday 11 Paco de Lucía
Friday 17 Antonio Orozco
Saturday 18 Vicente Amigo

Discover the magic of this festival on it’s 14th consecutive year, taking place on the 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th of September, and let yourself be transported to a far away past that is nevertheless alive in every corner. And if you don’t have a way of getting there, Sixt rent a car Marbella has juicy offers and a devoted team that will assist you from the beginning to the end with your rental car.

Air France to offer free 2nd seats to larger passengers

Andy Aspden — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:14:27 +0000

Air France, who are one of the largest airlines flying out of Frankfurt Airport, Nice Airport, Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport, will be altering their policy regarding obese passengers from the start of February, revealing that it may prevent passengers from getting onto economy flights if they are full and the larger-framed passenger cannot fit into a single seat, for “safety reasons”. However, if the flight is not oversubscribed then bigger travellers who currently have to purchase an additional seat at a 25% discount will be refunded the purchase of the additional seat.

This is intended to bring Air France’s policies more in line with other airlines who also prevent overweight passengers embarking on oversubscribed flights. All passengers flying with the airline have the option of purchasing an adjacent seat at a discount, but only those considered to be overweight will get a refund.

The move is to ensure that the plane can be evacuated within 90 seconds in the case of an emergency. Ultimately the final decision belongs to the captain of the flight who can ask a passengers to leave the aircraft for safety reasons or can let them fly.

Granada – Andalucia’s not so hidden secret

Sixt rent a car News — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:41:22 +0000

Visiting Granada: A view of the Alhambra Palace

Are there any visitors who have gone to Andalucia and not visited the city of Granada? Granada is possibly one of the most beautiful cities in Spain.

Situated high up, near to the Sierra Nevada national park, the town is spread over two hills that dominate the skyline. The first hill is the location of an old Arabic palace, the Alhambra Palace. The second hill being the setting of the town’s historical centre ‘Albaicín’.

Granada is the best place to see the influence of the Arabic reign over the region, with much of the local architecture being built and influenced during the 700 years of occupation. The Arabs took control of the town in the year 711, and it wasn’t until 1492, when the Catholics came that the town and palace were surrendered. When the Catholics took control, the Arabic Sultan (Muhammed XII or Boabdil) left without a fight, to ensure that the Alhambra Palace would not come under attack and get destroyed.

This gesture from Muhammed XII ensured the safety of the palace, which remains untouched to this day, apart from the numerous visitors that go there on a yearly basis. Today the Alhambra Palace is seen as the symbol of Granada, and more tourists visit the palace more than any other attraction in Spain. Another absolute must to visit are the Cuevas in front of the Alhambra, at the top of the Sacromon, these are white caves which even today are lived in, very unique for Europe.

Granada has a very special Moorish flair and because of its outstanding beauty, the organisation UNESCO, has declared it a World Heritage Site. This is a place which has to be seen and explored by visitors and residents alike.

Not only is Granada alive with tourists, but the grand university there makes it very popular to both Spanish and international students, who are keen to try the vast array of bars and pubs. Around the city are a great selection of tapas bars also waiting to be tried.

All of these sights mean that Granada a must see for anyone visiting Andalucia.

Shopping in Vienna

Catherine Hope — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:18:41 +0000

This article was kindly supplied by the Vienna Tourist Board

An original gift for a friend back home or a pretty keepsake for yourself – shopping is a vacation treat in Vienna. This guide presents an overview of the city’s best shopping destinations, along with a number of insider tips.

Luxury and tradition in the city center

Shopping in Vienna: Luxury Brands

The range of shopping options is particularly rich in Vienna’s historic first district. The pedestrianized streets of Kohlmarkt, Graben and Kärtner Strasse form the so-called Golden U, a Viennese shopping Mecca. In recent years Kohlmarkt has developed into a center for luxury boutiques. It is lined with flagship stores of international labels such as Chanel, Cartier and Louis Vuitton. And at the heart of the Golden U, former Imperial court confectioner, Demel provides a reminder of Vienna of yore with its sweet treats and eye-catching window displays that showcase the high art of confectionary. A few buildings down is the equally illustrious Meinl am Graben, with its mouth-watering delicacies for gourmets and bon viveurs. On Graben, Altmann & Kühne awaits with its fine pralines, lovingly packaged in little boxes. Meanwhile Schwäbische Jungfrau is the place for exclusive tableware, bed linens, dressing gowns, and down comforters.

Zur Schwäbischen Jungfrau is a former purveyor to the Imperial Court. The title Purveyor to the Imperial Court dates back to 1782 and was a distinction bestowed upon merchants deemed worthy of supplying the Imperial Court thanks to the exceptional quality of their products. Over the years, the distinction became a highly prestigious honorary title and a truly first class seal of quality used by over 500 companies. While the Imperial Court disappeared long ago, the German-language title k.u.k. Hoflieferant endures as an assurance of quality to this day. Examples include textile and home furnishings business, Backhausen with its Wiener Werkstätte textiles; noble glass and chandelier maker Lobmeyr; jewelers Köchert, Rozet & Fischmeister and Anton Heldwein; elegant gentlemen’s outfitters, Knize & Comp; former court perfumery, J. B. Filz; traditional shoe maker, Rudolf Scheer & Söhne; and the Hotel Sacher home to the original Sachertorte – all of which are located in the First District.

Traditions must be upheld, as they say. It is therefore no accident that there are so many antique shops in the First District. The side streets around Graben, (incl. Dorotheergasse, Stallburggasse, and Bräunerstrasse and Spiegelgasse) are brimming with boutiques selling Baroque armories, renaissance chests, fine carpets, magnificent timepieces, paintings, porcelain and antique jewelry. The antique section of Musikhaus Doblinger still contains a number of original sheets of Viennese classical music. The Dorotheum auction house – one of the world’s largest – is a magnet for lovers of attractive antiques.

The Old Town’s attractions go well beyond the traditional. Anyone looking for international designer fashion will find what they are looking for at Firis, Chegini, 2006FEB01, Kasha and Sternlite, where gems from Dries van Noten, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Miu Miu and other designers line the racks. A number of Viennese designers have shops in the First District as well. Highlights include couturiers Michel Mayer and Schella Kann, Mühlbauer with hats from its own portfolio and international fashion labels, accessory specialist Robert Horn, and luxury shoemaker Ludwig Reiter.

Kärntner Strasse is home to one of just a handful of department stores in the city. Split across several floors, Steffl’s offers fashion, fragrances and accessories. The nearby Ringstrassen Galerien is a spacious, indoor shopper’s paradise.

Addresses

2006FEB01, Plankengasse 3, www.2006feb01.com
Altmann & Kühne, Graben 30, www.altmann-kuehne.at
Backhausen, Schwarzenbergstrasse 10, 1010 Vienna, www.backhausen.com
Cartier, Kohlmarkt 1, 1010 Vienna, www.cartier.com
Chanel, Kohlmarkt 5, 1010 Vienna, www.chanel.at
Chegini, Plankengasse 4, Kohlmarkt 4, 1010 Wien
Demel, Kohlmarkt 14, 1010 Vienna, www.demel.at
Doblinger, Dorotheergasse 10, 1010 Vienna, www.doblinger.at
Dorotheum, Dorotheergasse 17, 1010 Vienna, www.dorotheum.at
J. B. Filz Parfumerie, Graben 13, 1010 Vienna, www.parfumerie-filz.at
Firis, Bauernmarkt 9, 1010 Vienna, www.firis.at
Anton Heldwein, Graben 13, 1010 Vienna, www.heldwein.at
Robert Horn, Bräunerstrasse 7 und Mahlerstrasse 5, www.rhorns.com
Kasha, Spiegelgasse 3, 1010 Wien
Kaufhaus Steffl, Kärntner Strasse 19, 1010 Vienna, www.kaufhaus-steffl.at
A. E. Köchert, Neuer Markt 15, 1010 Vienna, www.koechert.com
Knize, Graben 13, 1010 Vienna, www.knize.at
J. & L. Lobmeyr, Kärntner Strasse 26, 1010 Vienna, www.lobmeyr-zahn.at
Michel Mayer, Singerstrasse 7, 1010 Vienna, www.michelmayer.at
Meinl am Graben, Graben 19, 1010 Vienna, www.meinlamgraben.at
Mühlbauer Headwear, Seilergasse 10, 1010 Vienna,
Mühlbauer Mode, Seilergasse 5, 1010 Vienna, www.muehlbauer.at
Ludwig Reiter, Mölkersteig 1, 1010 Vienna, www.ludwig-reiter.com
Ringstrassen-Galerien, Kärntner Ring 5-7, 1010 Vienna, www.ringstrassen-galerien.at
Rozet & Fischmeister, Kohlmarkt 11, 1010 Vienna, www.rozet-fischmeister.com
Sacher, Philharmonikerstrasse 4, 1010 Vienna, www.sacher.com
Rudolf Scheer & Söhne, Bräunerstrasse 4, 1010 Vienna, www.scheer.at
Schella Kann, Singerstrasse 14, 1010 Vienna, www.schellakann.com
Schwäbische Jungfrau, Graben 26, www.schwaebische-jungfrau.at
Sternlite, Bauernmarkt 1-2, 1010 Vienna, www.sterngasse4.com
Louis Vuitton, Kohlmarkt 7, 1010 Vienna, www.vuitton.com

Mariahilfer Strasse and surroundings – shopping zone and creative center

Shopping in Vienna

Emperor Franz Joseph used to travel along Mariahilfer Strasse as he shuttled between the Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palace. This street connecting the Ringstrasse boulevard and the Gürtel beltway cuts an almost two kilometer path through the 6th and 7th Districts. Today it is Vienna’s number one shopping destination. This large thoroughfare features broad sidewalks and has attracted hundreds of shops and flagship stores carrying international brands, with a particular focus on fashion, footwear, accessories and interior design. There are also countless eateries, including cafés, ice-cream shops, fast food restaurants and pizzerias. Echoes of times gone can be heard at traditional shops like Walter Weiss which stocks virtually everything the heart desires when it comes to grooming – from combs to shaving brushes and mirrors.

A detour from the beaten shopping path is well worth it. A hip shopping zone has sprung up on Gumperndorfer Strasse in the 6th district on the south side of Mariahilfer Strasse. das möbel stocks home furnishings and interior design accessories created by young Viennese and international product designers. At Lichterloh there are furniture classics such as the LC4 chaise longue from Le Corbusier. Nachbarin has a focus on fashion from up-and-coming designers- And at St. Charles Cosmothecary premium natural cosmetics are the order of the day.

In the 7th District on the north side of Mariahilfer Strasse there is an even greater range of products for individualists to choose from. This district is Vienna’s creative hub. The recently gentrified Baroque buildings and narrow streets around the Spittelberg quarter are home to numerous highly-original shops. Lindengasse is a great example. The street primarily concentrates on highly original fashions and fashion-related products with many pieces from up-and-coming Viennese designers. There are attractive leather bags at Ina Kent, children’s fashion at Buntwäsche and Herr und Frau Klein, exquisite underwear in Sandra Gilles’ la petite boutique; original accessories at Lila Pix, and handmade one-of-a-kind jewelry at Werkprunk. Just around the corner on Kirchengasse, highlights include clothing from Viennese green fashion label Göttin des Glücks at Studio, while on Mondscheingasse Park stocks innovative designer labels. In Gutenberggasse Lena Hoschek’s presents a playful take on traditional Austrian dress.

A few streets further down, on Westbahn Strasse, be a good girl wins converts as a hairdresser-cum-boutique and Russian-born Lena Kvadrat’s showroom “ArtPoint” offers young fashion. The MuseumsQuartier fits in perfectly with this creative ambience. Cultural and epicurean delights are accompanied by stores such as the Lomo Shop (f Russian Lomo cameras), Combinat and gegenalltag, with a fine selection by young fashion designers. AtMusiktank customers can simply and inexpensively download the latest music directly onto MP3 players. Select shops in the 7th District are presented at www.7tm.at.

Addresses

Art Point, Westbahnstrasse 3, 1070 Vienna, www.artpoint.ru
be a good girl, Westbahnstrasse 5 a, 1070 Vienna, www.beagoodgirl.com
Buntwäsche, Lindengasse 31-33, 1070 Vienna, www.buntwaesche.at
Combinat, Museumsplatz 1, MuseumsQuartier, 1010 Vienna, www.combinat.at
Lena Hoschek, Gutenberggasse 17, 1070 Vienna, www.lenahoschek.at
Gegenalltag, Museumsplatz 1, MuseumsQuartier, 1070 Vienna, www.gegenalltag.at
Ina Kent, Lindengasse 46, 1070 Vienna, www.inakent.at
Herr und Frau Klein, Kirchengasse 7, 1070 Vienna, www.herrundfrauklein.com
la petite boutique, Lindengasse 25, 1070 Vienna, www.sandragilles.com
Lichterloh, Gumpendorfer Strasse 15-17, 1060 Vienna, www.lichterloh.com
Lila Pix, Lindengasse 5, 1070 Vienna, www.lilapix.net
Lomo Shop, Museumsplatz 1, MuseumsQuartier, 1070 Vienna, www.lomography.com
das möbel, Gumpendorfer Strasse 11, 1060 Vienna, www.dasmoebel.at
Musiktank, Museumsplatz 1, MuseumsQuartier, www.musiktank.at
Nachbarin, Gumpendorfer Strasse 17, 1060 Vienna, www.nachbarin.co.at
Park, Mondscheingasse 20, 1070 Vienna, www.park.co.at
St. Charles Cosmothecary, Gumpendorfer Strasse 33, 1060 Vienna, www.saint.info
Das Studio, Kirchengasse 17, 1070 Vienna, www.das-studio.at
Walter Weiss, Mariahilfer Strasse 33, 1060 Vienna, www.walterweiss.at
Werkprunk, Kirchengasse 7/11, 1070 Vienna, www.werkprunk.com

Around the Naschmarkt

The Naschmarkt: Vienna's largest market

Vienna’s largest market is a mandatory destination for lovers of fine food and drink, featuring fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, cold cuts and cheeses, spices and gourmet vinegar. There is practically nothing that the Naschmarkt doesn’t have. And if that was not enough, there are countless chic bars and restaurants where visitors can enjoy a culinary break. On Saturdays the area adjoining the Naschmarkt is transformed into a flea market where antique dealers and private stallholders sell treasures and trinkets. While in the area, the neighboring streets are always worth a visit. Schleifmühlgasse boasts a burgeoning gallery scene and a variety of great shops. Choose between high quality vintage fashion from Flo, austere clothing designs from Jutta Pregenzer, classic 20th century furniture from Rauminhalt or one of the hundreds of cookbooks from Babette’s. Kettenbrückengasse, at the end of the Naschmarkt, has come on strong in recent years. Attractive knick knacks are on sale at Anna Stein, alongside eye-catching retro fashion from Bananas, delicious desserts and pralines from Fruth and the city’s most original souvenirs from WieWien. Designer boutique Elfenkleid is just a stone’s throw away, and just a short walk from feine dinge, where Sandra Heischberger’s porcelain designs are on sale.

Addresses

Babette’s, Schleifmühlgasse 17, 1040 Vienna
Bananas, Kettenbrückengasse 14, 1040 Vienna, www.bananas.at
Elfenkleid, Margaretenstrasse 39, 1040 Vienna, www.elfenkleid.com
feine dinge, Krongasse 20, 1050 Vienna, www.feinedinge.at
Flohmarkt, Wienzeile, 1060 Vienna (U4 Station Kettenbrückengasse)
Flo Vintage, Schleifmühlgasse 15 a, 1040 Vienna, www.vintageflo.com
Fruth, Kettenbrückengasse 20, 1040 Vienna, www.fruth.at
Naschmarkt, Wienzeile between Getreidemarkt and Kettenbrückengasse, 1060 Wien
Jutta Pregenzer, Schleifmühlgasse 4, 1040 Vienna, www.pregenzer.com
Rauminhalt, Schleifmühlgasse 13, 1040 Vienna, www.rauminhalt.com
Anna Stein, Kettenbrückengasse 21, 1050 Vienna, www.anna-stein.com
WieWien, Kettenbrückengasse 5, 1050 Vienna, www.wiewien.at

Off the beaten track

The 2nd District is only separated from the 1st District by the Danube Canal. Just a short stroll over the bridge is designer boutique Song, with collections from international fashion stars such as Maison Martin Margiela, Balenciaga and Bernhard Willhelm. The area around the Karmelitermarkt is coming back to life thanks to countless interesting shops and bars. Kabine in Glockengasse features fashions from young Viennese designers alongside fun accessories. Nagy knits pullovers and dresses from its own wools. And Wundertüte always has the right gift for adults and children.

The 16th District’s two large markets in Brunnengasse and on Yppenplatz are a magnet for new business ideas. Vienna jelly makers Staud’s has long been a fixture at the Yppenmarktwhere a lively bar and restaurant scene has gradually emerged. A short walk from the market, Mano Design on Grundsteingasse offers designer hand-finished porcelain.

Addresses

Brunnenmarkt/ Yppenmarkt, Brunnengasse and Yppenplatz, 1160 Vienna
Kabine, Karmelitergasse 6, 1020 Vienna
Karmelitermarkt, Im Werd, Krummbaumgasse, Leopoldsgasse, Haidgasse, 1020 Vienna
Mano Design, Grundsteingasse 36/1-3, 1160 Vienna, www.manodesign.at
Nagy Strickdesign, Krummbaumgasse 2-4, 1020 Vienna
Song, Praterstrasse 11-13, 1020 Vienna, www.song.at
Staud’s Pavillon, Yppenmarkt 93, 1160 Vienna, www.stauds.com
Wundertüte, Karmeliterplatz 2, 1020 Wien, www.wundertuete.at

London is ‘world-class city’

Sixt rent a car News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:13:39 +0000

Visitors to London will find a diverse city which is full of sporting, cultural, family-orientated and historical activities, attractions and events to keep visitors busy.

London is a world-class city full of attractions to keep tourists and locals entertained.

That is the view of Mary Rance, chief executive for UKinbound, who made the comment in reaction to the capital being named as one of the top ten destinations for value in 2010.

She said: “London is a fantastic world-class city, full of cultural, sporting, historical and family-orientated activities that you simply cannot experience anywhere else in the world.”

Ms Rance added that the diversity of the city means that there is something for everyone.

She also said that increasing awareness of the capital and new marketing schemes mean that 2010 is set to be a “bumper year” for travel to the city, which could boost demand for London car hire.

The recent Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2010 placed London as one of the top destinations for value, saying that its expensive image has been left in the past.

Car hire users should ‘shop around for flights’

Sixt rent a car News — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:25:11 +0000

A travel representative has suggested that users of car hire should shop around when looking for flights, adding that they should also be wary of additional charges.

Car hire users heading on breaks abroad should shop around for flights to get the best deals.

That is the view of a Which? Holiday spokesman, who warned consumers that many airlines are suffering losses in the current climate and could increase the cost of flights as a consequence.

He said: “It is going to push the prices up a bit but you really need to shop around and look at the prices very carefully before you book.”

The representative warned that one way in which carriers could hike the cost of travel for users of car hire could be through extra charges incurred during online booking, with baggage fees one example given.

This warning comes after Air France announced a revised luggage policy for some of its flights.

The change means that travellers flying from the US to Europe in economy class will be charged $50 (£30) to check-in a second 23kg bag.

The Best Kept Secret In Car Hire

Mike Osolinski — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:40:32 +0000

Sixt voted world leader in Car Hire

We are delighted to announce that Sixt have been voted the best car hire company in the world in the highly coveted Travel and Leisure magazine awards, up 3 places on our position of 4th last year.

This award comes despite the fact that we have no actual rental locations and limited brand awareness in the United States and the presenters discussing the awards had never even heard of us!

For more details on this you can view the coverage run by MSNBC

Our Managing Director Of Sixt UK – Ian Lawrence Had the following to say

“We are delighted to achieve our place in this prestigious list and to be recognised alongside such well-known and respected travel brands.

We are always striving to find ways to improve our services for our customers and to offer rental solutions to satisfy any customer need, from high-end business travellers to holiday-makers with a family to consider. An award from consumers themselves always means the most.”

It is always particularly gratifying to win awards of this type as they are actually based on the real customer opinions of those using our services and we would like to express our thanks to all of the T & L readers who voted for Sixt during the process.

If you are visiting the UK and need to arrange car hire page then consider giving Sixt a try to see for yourself why we have been voted the worlds number one car rental company.