If you are in Berlin during this fantastic time, you should definitely put shopping to you list of the most impressive things to experience in the German capital. Even if you are not planning to buy anything, there are so many things to window-shop! You can first dive in to the shopping districts of the Friedrichstrasse and the Kurfurstendamm and then gravitate towards little charming stores around the Hackescher Markt and Kastanienalleein in Mitte and the Frankfurter Allee in Friedrichshain. Glossy trend-setting designer establishments and funky boutiques – what else do you need to satisfy the most dedicated shopaholic?

Fashion represents the city as it is with its unique mixture of small independent shops and department stores. If you are short on time and still want to get the most out of the urban, cosmopolitan and multicultural spirit of the metropolis, here are some suggestions to bright up your urban style. It’s shoptime!

1. Le Gang

Walking down the Pappelallee in Prenzlauer Berg, you cannot help but drop into this wonder store. Le Gang represents a vibrant Berlin style subculture. Except for the beautiful graphics on the walls, the store is free of fussy details. It is a wonderland of T-shirts and what if not a T-shirt has a simple style and always reflects a personal touch? This shop space is a paradise for young and hip shoppers. They say that soon they are going to expand their stock of this small T-shirt gallery to shoes and trousers. Besides, it a great place for some teeny-tiny robot toys shopping!

Address: Pappelallee, 85

2. Styleserver

Styleserver, previously known as a solely online style guru, expanded to the real land store to indulge the needs of Berlin shopaholics and their traveling friends. This place offers a lot of fiercely modern but street-friendly aesthetic wear to upgrade the look of fashion aficionados. Berlin fashion labels represented in this store can fulfill the dreams of demanding female audience. Styleserver mainly features collections by POP Cph, Tofu, Minimarket, Realitystudio, Esther Perbandt and Julia & Ben that will help you to generate creativity and express it through your look with unpretentious, energetic and casual fashion, smooth fabrics, fresh colors and unusual cuts. There is no way you can find better baggy pants and dress-able-shirts in the city!

Address: Oderberger Strasse, 49

3. Flagship Store

Styleserver is not the only shop you cannot miss being in the Oderberger Strasse neighborhood. Visit to the Flagship Store continues your introduction to the city’s designer scene. Looking for a perfect Berlin outfit by German designers? There is a unique concentration of seven fashion schools in Berlin not for nothing. Even though this place is surrounded by a number of other stores, the unique character of such designers as Froks, Butterflysoulfire, Klar Berlin, Ansoho, Stylein, and Slowmo make it stand out. And these are only a few of the featured labels. The Flagship Store is named so for a reason: it carries the leading affordable, unique creations from designers living in Berlin – and there are always fresh and exciting things to find!

Address: Oderberger Strasse, 53

4. Flex

If you value exclusivity and do not want to look like every second person on the street and still not willing to pay a fortune for your outfits, you should go check Flex out. This new shop offers really nice clothes by rare designers that are hard to find: sophisticated male attire by Van Dale, cheerful prints by Gitte Wetter, cute tube dresses and jumpsuits by Samsoe Samsoe, Surface To Air, Modern Amusement and fantastic knit wear by Wear It For The Boy. Most of the enumerated names are Scandinavian fashion labels and who if not them are famous for their stylish people. Here you are sure to find a stylishly Scandinavian bargain!

Address: Kastanienallee, 13/14

5. Made in Berlin

Bit by bit, Germans start to increase their interest in vintage clothing. And so do all world’s biggest shopaholics. The number of brand spanking new places selling second hand pieces in Berlin rapidly is rocketing. I especially like Made in Berlin. This place is sometimes too packed by local hipsters, however you should be patient in order to find you look. Made in Berlin offers tons of stunning pieces that are emblematic of vintage couture style. Here you can fuse different styles picking up high fashion clothes and fast fashion hot oldies; mix colors, shapes and fabrics and create your own Berlin vintage flare style. Look for Adidas, Nike, Burberry and Lacoste and some nameless but pretty special brands.

Address: Neue Schoenhauser Strasse, 19

And just some more friendly tips:

• Take a BIG shopping bag with you. When it is Sales Time, people running crazy in the stores will pass this addiction to you and you will need a huge bag for your purchases!

• Take your best friends – credit cards. You might find some items that will leave you no chance to stay indifferent. And cash might do no good for you in this case.

• Tell you shopping-unconcerned friends or parents that you are visiting some museum or at least a gallery, so they would not be too worried if you get disappeared for hours and hours. Enjoy the shopping!

Photo of vintage clothing shop in Berlin, Germany, by ariaddna

Book a room or a suite in one of these beautiful Paris hotels that boast the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a dirty weekend in the City of Lights.

1. Le Fabe Hotel – Paris Left Bank

Passion, Desire, Together, French Romance, Opium, Silk & Drops and Happiness are some of the 17 guest rooms available at the trendy Le Fabe Hotel Paris. Divided into 3 categories – Pleasure, Charm and Cozy, these sexy hotel rooms boast modern amenities, stylish design and intimate atmosphere. Located in the romantic Paris Left Bank area, Le Fabe boutique hotel also offers a sauna open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (tip: book your free sauna session in advance).

2. Hotel Gabriel – Paris Le Marais

Boasting high-tech amenities and zen-like atmosphere, the Hotel Gabriel advertises itself like the first “Detox Hotel” entirely devoted to relaxation and well-being. Since its opening in February 2009, this brand new boutique hotel in Paris has welcomed guests in a superb Art Deco building in Le Marais district. Offering massages, detoxifying treatments and NightCove sleep system in guest rooms, the Gabriel is a great hotel for a relaxing weekend hidden in a private setting right in the heart of Paris.

3. Sezz Hotel – Paris Passy

A member of Design Hotels, the Sezz boasts sexy hotel rooms and suites in Paris, all featuring modern amenities, special stone walls, handblow lights, think carpets, woolen curtains and furniture designed by Christophe Pillet. At the Hotel Sezz guests are welcome by a personal assistant and can have a drink in the intimate alcove area of the first Veuve Cliquot Champagne Bar in the French capital. This Paris design hotel also offers a wellness center with Jacuzzi, steam baths and massage room.

4. Champs Elysées Plaza Hotel – Paris Champs Elysées

Centrally located next to the world famous Champs Elysées avenue, this Luxury hotel in Paris offers spacious and exciting Jacuzzi suites boasting the perfect atmosphere for a night of love and passion. The Hotel Champs Elysées Plaza also features an oriental sauna, a hammam, a fitness center, a hip bar and a gourmet restaurant offering the perfect setting for a romantic dinner in Paris. The Champs Elysée Plaza is amongst the best rated hotels on venere.com.

5. Elysées Regencia Hotel – Paris Champs Elysées

Perfect for a night of romance in Paris, the Elysées Regencia Hotel offers elegant guest rooms and two beautiful suites: the French fashion-inspired Blue Suite and the Lavander Suite filled with lavender scents. This Paris boutique hotel also features an exclusive lounge bar with red sofa and dark-colored parquet where you can relax and have a drink in an art deco setting. Personal massage service is available in either your hotel room or the “well being space” which boasts the perfect atmosphere for abandoning yourself.

We asked the staff of Axel Hotels, a Spanish gay friendly hotel chain that owns Hotel Axel Barcelona, Spain, Axel Hotel Berlin, Germany, and Axel Hotel Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their “Top 5″ list of gay friendly restaurants in Barcelona includes Kitchen by Axel, Suculus, Tafino, Sazzerak and Iurantia.  All located in the trendy area of Eixample -  also known as Gayxample for being the heart of the city’s gay scene, these  Barcelona restaurants offer great food in a modern atmosphere. Five great places for an amazing dining experience in Barcelona!

1. Kitchen by Axel

The Axel Barcelona’s restaurant is not a gay-only restaurant, but an hetero friendly place where guests can meet beautiful people in a urban, cosmopolitan atmosphere.  Kitchen by Axel has imported in Barcelona a culinary tradition from Buenos Aires called ‘pasos‘. The ‘pasos‘ is a step-based menu that allows guests to choose three yummy steps (or courses) and adapt dishes to their own personal tastes. The Axel Hotel Barcelona also features the Sky Bar: Included in the “10 World’s Hottest Places to Be” list, this lounge bar offers great cocktails and features swimming pool and Jacuzzi.

Kitchen by Axel
Aribau 33
08011 Barcelona, Spain

2. Suculus

Located in Barcelona gay district, just a few minute walk from Joan Miro’ Park, Suculus is an excellent international restaurant that offers some great food in a chilled-out atmosphere.  Chef Alex Castillo has  concocted a fresh, creative menu  inspired from different world cuisines. Cod brandade-filled ravioli with Roquefort sauce and artichokes crisps,  pork filet with cinnamon and orange peel and pears in wine, Japanese steak Tartar, peppered chocolate sablé and pistachio cake withe Greek yogurt are some of the delicious specialties that guests can sample  in the trendy, relaxing décor of Suculus. Created by Barcelona young designers,  this Manhattan-style restaurant pays special attention to light and sound.

Suculus
Diputacion 172
08011 Barcelona, Spain

3. Tafino

Located in the heart of Gayxample,  Tafino is the perfect place to enjoy an intimate dinner and start a night out in Barcelona.  This Barcelona restaurant boasts elegant decors with white walls, candles, chandeliers,  old lamps and black mirrors.  In this gay friendly restaurant,  you can sample delicious, creative cuisine by young chef Armando Tovar while listening to acid jazz,  Bossa Nova and world music.  Tafino’s menu includes English bread toast with goat cheese and apple sauté,  Venezuelan  Pabellón Criollo, the Leche por todos lados (a special dessert made of evaporated, condensed and cream milk), and more succulent, innovative dishes.

Tafino
C/ Consell De Cent 193
08011 Barcelona, Spain

4. Sazzerak

This Gayxample restaurant boasts a modern, laid-back ambience that will make you feel at home during your stay in Barcelona. Sazzerak Barcelona is also a bar and features a sunny terrace: the perfect spot to start the day having coffee and croissants.  You can sample a large variety of Mediterranean tapas or have an early dinner and take the international menu that includes bruschetta, pasta, tartar of smoked salmon  pan-fried camembert cheese with a mango-dip, grilled meat, fajitas, fish specialties, mild thai curry and vegetarian dishes. From 6pm to 8 pm, it’s “Happy Hour” and you can also enjoy yummy cocktails, such as Mai Tai, Caipirinha Mojito, at half price. A great spot to start the night in the Barcelona Gayxample area.

Sazzerak Bar Restaurant
Calle Consell de Cent 211

5. Iurantia

If you’re looking for a pizzeria in Barcelona and want to enjoy a relaxing dinner in a laid-back atmosphere, you will love Iurantia.  Situated in Gayxample, this gay-friendly restaurant serves excellent Italian style cuisine in a stylish setting with modern furnishing, white and red walls, and chillout music. Iurantia’s menu offers excellent starters such as crispy corn chicken or Spanish ham with traditional tomato bread, a vast choice of pasta, pizza and risotto, as well as a wide variety of carpaccios including kangaroo carpaccio, octopus carpaccio, beef carcapaccio, salmon carpaccio, cod carpaccio and beef carpaccio. This trendy Barcelona restaurant also offers delicious winter desserts including brownie sandwich and orange mousse with bitter orange caramel, homemade bitter chocolate truffles with mint, Bailey’s sponges with natural vanilla ice cream, yin-yang chocolate couland, and many more treats. And if you like Trip-Hop, Ambient, Nu Jazz and Lounge music, get Iurantia’s first chillout CD called “Ultra Sophisticated Chill Out”.

Iurantia
Casanova 42

All ideally located in the city center, these Paris hotels offer modern amenities and trendy interiors designed by famous French artists.

1. Hotel Bellechasse Saint-Germain Paris

The Bellechasse Saint-Germain is a small boutique hotel in Paris boasting unique interiors by famous French fashion designer Christian Lacroix. This wonderful design hotel also enjoys an outstanding location near the Musée d’Orsay, and a 10-minute walk from the Louvre Museum and the trendy Latin Quarter. The perfect spot for fashionistas, style junkies and art lovers visiting Paris!

Completely renovated in 2007, the Hotel Bellechasse offers very special guest rooms. All individually decorated by Christian Lacroix with beautiful frescoes and rich fabrics, these splendid hotel rooms feature iPod station, free wifi and flat-screen TV.

Hotel staff speak English, French and Spanish.

2. Hotel des Académies et des Arts

The Hôtel des Académies et des Arts is a great hotel for a romantic break in Paris. Ideally located in a small quiet street in the area of Boulevard Montparnasse, near the Luxembourg Gardens and Place Saint-Sulpice, this lovely boutique hotel in Paris welcomes guests in a warm, modern space and provides them with excellent, personalized service.

Des Académies et des Arts hotel rooms are small and cozy. Guests can choose between Art Deco bedrooms, Creative Art bedrooms and Classic Style bedrooms. In addition, some rooms overlook the hotel courtyard where are some of the greatest art works by French painter Jérôme Mesnager.

The perfect hotel in Paris if you like modern art.

3. The Five Hotel

The  Five is a fantastic design hotel situated in Paris Latin Quarter. Guests will enjoy the charm and the style of this small boutique hotel designed by Isabel Emmerique and characterized by the use of Chinese lacquer and fresh shades.

Hotel rooms boast ultramodern design and are decorated with different colors creating various atmospheres. Guests have the choice between the energy of the orange room, the tranquility of the black room, the discretion of the beige room, the richness of the violet room and the quietness of the green room.

Hotel staff speak French, Spanish, German, Italian and English.

4. Hotel Ares Tour Eiffel

The Ares Tour Eiffel is a design hotel located in Paris city center. Situated in the lively Motte-Piquet district, just a few minutes walk from the Eiffel Tower, the Champ de Mars gardens and the Village Suisse antique market, this charming Paris hotel welcomes guests in a contemporary décor with soft shades and modern furnitures.

The Hotel Ares Tour Eiffel offers spacious comfortable rooms featuring modern amenities including 26′ TV, movies on demand and free Internet access. This boutique hotel is a great spot for international guests and design fans visiting Paris.

Hotel staff speak French, English, Spanish and Italian.

 5. Hotel Odéon Saint-Germain

The Odéon Saint-Germain is a small, charming hotel situated in the heart of Paris, just a few steps from Odéon metro station, Place Saint-Sulpice and the Luxembourg Gardens. Featuring trendy but non-minimalist interiors, this elegant Paris hotel welcomes guests in a luxurious lounge that blends Middle-Age style and regency furnishing design harmoniously.

Th Odéon Saint-Germain offers romantic hotel rooms and suites boasting an intimate atmosphere. Room amenities include wireless internet access and satellite TV.

Hotel staff speak French and English.

Until November 2, 2008, the park is hosting the “Jardin de Cristal.” The regional council of Lorraine and the four most prestigious French crystal houses – Baccarat, Daum, Lalique and Saint Louis – have joined forces for this beautiful event. Scattered across the park are individual displays: Lalique has placed transparent crystal swans in the water that blend in seamlessly with the real ones; Daum has donated a school of fish that hover just above the pond, their colors spanning the rainbow. Fairytale colors such as baby pink offset the scenery and muted, sanded, crystal lies low in the surrounding landscape.

The main gallery, the Organerie, is surrounded by Roman inspired statues and sets a romantic stage for what lies inside. On a practical level, there is a video explaining how crystal is made and a showcase of some of the tools used to shape and cut them. The primary attraction however, is the large scale installations by the crystal houses that dazzle the eye. Massive chandeliers, Buddha statues and little doves are just some of the elements that make up this unique exhibition’s composition. There are four gardens, one for each house, and elements of the outdoors such as plants and water blend perfectly with the park’s surrounding.

Along with the gorgeous crystal, there is also a photography exhibit by Claire Xuan. Celebrating the 150th anniversary of French-Japanese relations, Xuan’s exhibition, “À l’air libre”, shows off 50 original photographs of regions throughout Japan. The room itself is minimalist, with circular eastern cutouts and a black and white color schemes. The photos explore wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Many of the images are saturated with color and stunningly portray the ephemeral beauty of nature.

Getting to this magical place is a bit of a trek, but well worth it. There are entrances at the corner of Route de Sèvres-à-Neuilly and Allée de Longchamp in the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement, Paris. Buses 43, 244, and 241 stop nearby. Entrance into the park is 3 Euros for adults, 1.5 for students and children younger than 7 are admitted for free. The park is open daily from 10am – 6pm. Be sure to give this lovely installation a visit if you have the chance.

Photo of crystal exhibition in Parc de Bagatelle, Paris originally posted by collinox

There are so many second hand shops in Amsterdam, but below is a list of five of my favorites. They all have something different and special to offer…

1. 1953 – Retro en Chic

Staalstraat 2
1011 JL Amsterdam
+ 31 (0)64 280 8455

If beautiful vintage is your thing, this is the store for you. Perhaps you are looking for a fabulous party dress, or a vintage bustier, or maybe both? Though confined to a pretty tiny space, 1953 manages to house quite a bit of inventory. Bear in mind the more intricate dresses can run a bit high in price, around 150 euros, but the dresses in this price range are usually quite beautiful, and truly unique pieces. 1953 is also home to lots, and lots, and lots of great second hand shoes. There is a small rack of men’s clothing as well, but the there is clearly a feminine focus.

2. Episode

Waterlooplein 1
1011 NV Amsterdam
+ 32 (0)20 032 3000

Episode’s inventory tends to have less of a vintage feel, and a more kitsch (think your grandmother’s housecoats) and a retro (think old school, brightly colored Adidas) vibe. The Amsterdam store is part of an international chain, and carries a wide variety of items from many different decades. There is a good lingerie section, some great winter coats and everything you need in between to dress yourself. And half of the store is dedicated to men’s clothing. Of-course if you are in this area you have to check out the Waterlooplein Market as well!

3. De Tweede Ronde (The Second Round)

Kromme Waal 10
1011 BS Amsterdam
+31 (0)20 420 1425

While the clothing here really tends to be regular contemporary second hand items (with some older pieces thrown in) the prices are reasonable and the vibe is mellow. Located down a residential backstreet this place has a local and unpretentious feel, a place you could bring mom. In addition to clothing, this store has some nice jewelry, cute used kitchenwares, and a beautiful old cupboard full of lovely antique linens.

4. Zipper

Huidenstraat 7 1016 ER Amsterdam
+31(0)20 623 7302
Nieuwe Hoogstraat 8 1011 HE Amsterdam
+31 (0)20 627 0353

Zipper probably has the most comprehensive inventory on this list. Located in the heart of the shopping district known as the “Nine Streets,” Zipper is spread over two floors, and offers a huge range of items from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s plus some new items as well, for both men and woman.

5. Wini

Haarlemmerstraat 29 1013 EJ Amsterdam
+31 (0)20 427 9393

Wini, which is located on the great shopping street, Haarlemmerstraat, has a fun selection of vintage clothes. Focused mostly on the female customer (though there is a couple racks of great men’s stuff too) you can peruse the large selection of shoes and boots, hand bags, sweaters, dresses and more. There is also a rack of children’s stuff that is really cool as well.

These stores offer a good selection for both men and women, including shoes and accessories, and many eras of the past are represented, but the sixties and seventies get the most floor space. These shops are very popular, and vintage has a big impact on Stockholm style.

Lisa Larsson

This store has been open for more than twenty years, and it remains the favorite of the most fashionable vintage seekers for a good reason- it has the best selection. A small space crammed with pieces mostly from the sixties, seventies, and eighties, it is easy to find something great. The clothes are well-chosen and fairly priced, and the store is always crowded even when the rest are empty. There are new designer shoes for sale in addition to a great vintage shoe selection, and fantastic accessories including men’s ties, unusual jewelry, and nice scarves.

Pakladeriat

A cute little store with a whimsical touch, decorated with vintage undergarments and child mannequins in costume, there are some great pieces to be found here. This is the best place to find your own pair of personality glasses, an important accessory in Stockholm. In the basement, there are vintage clothes from the 1700s up to the recent past, available to rent for parties and film shoots, with fascinating racks of clothes organized by era and every vintage accessory you could ever need, from lace veils to pineapple hats.

Repris

Repris is a kitschy ode to the past, with lots of super-high platforms on view and several prized pieces of band memorabilia for collectors, including a Beatles dress covered in the Fab Four’s faces, and a kooky wool Abba anorak from a ’79 tour. Along with colorful sixties gear, there’s a great selection of mod lamps and furniture. A huge selection of colorful leather jackets and a fun jewelry selection are the best buys.

Beyond Retro

This is the punkiest vintage store of all, catering to a younger crowd seeking a subversive, colorful look to distinguish them from the sleek black & white styles of Stockholm. The emphasis here is on vintage clothes that are nearly costumes- leotards, bustles, wigs, funny hats, and more- much more, because this is the biggest store in the area. It is a giant basement floor with endless racks of clothes organized by patterns and styles. This store prides itself on getting American vintage, and it shows in the jeans, cowboy shirts, and prints of the clothes.

Photo of vintage shoes by Laura Rose Rysman

The Starwood Collection luxury Hotel Marqués de Riscal in Elciego, a lovely town in the Basque Country of Northern Spain is a cutting-edge landmark hotel. It first opened in 2006 by Pritzker Prize winning architect Frank Gehry, whose world famous buildings include the Guggenheim Museum of Bilboa.
43 Guest rooms offer splendid views of views the vineyards, the Gehry Wing, and the town of Elciego.

2. Hotel Silken Puerta América

The masterpiece of architecture and 5-star Hotel Silken Puerta America is located in the heart of Madrid. The 75 million dollar project involved world class architects such as Zaha Hadid – the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize – Oscar Neimeyer, Arata Isozaki and Victorio & Lucchino. Every floor has a different concept and design, from the car park to the 12th floor.
The hotel boasts 342 guest rooms, including 12 suites on the top floor. All rooms and suites all offer state-of-the-art technology, such as high-speed wireless internet.

3. Miróhotel

The 4-star Miróhotel in Bilbao was transformed from a music school by architect Carmen Abad Ibáñez de Mata. The interrior design is by Antonio Miró, one of Spain’s top fashion designers. The hotel has its own photography gallery where it showcases works from contemporary local and international artists.
The hotel’s 50 Miró style guest rooms offer great amenities for your stay in Bilbao.

4. Hotel Omm

The 5 star luxury Hotel Omm is truly the cat’s meow when it comes to architecture and design. Located in Barcelona ’s trendy Passeig de Gràcia district, it is a collaboration between architect Juli Capella and interior designers Sandra Tarruella and Isabel Lopez.
The hotel’s Restaurant Moo has 2 Michelin stars.

5. Casa Fuster

The five star luxury Casa Fuster is located in Barcelona, designed by famous Catalan architect D. Lluís Domenéch Montaner (1850-1923). The beautiful Spanish-Arabic inspired architecture of the building makes this hotel a listed landmark in Barcelona. The hotels lovely roof terrace offers a spectacular view of the city below.
A range of amenities are at your disposal in the 96 luxury guest rooms.

Amongst the many delights that the Danes have given the world are the sweet flaky pastry called the ‘Danish’ which is a popular breakfast favorite, wonderful magical fairy tales like the Little Match Girl and the Ugly Duckling, written by Danish author and Copenhagen native, Hans Christian Anderson in the 19th Century and Lego, the popular industrial toy which is a perennial favorite with children all over the world.

Apart from the above mentioned products the Danes, are also known the world over for their inimitable sense of style and design. The capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen is a charming and vibrant city which is full of indigenous stylish lifestyle and clothing stores which are ideal showcases for the cutting edge Danish design sensibilities and are always worth a visit for design aficionados.

Most of these stores and art galleries are located on Copenhagen’s chic Bredgade Street, a street which is also home to Denmark’s leading auction house called Bruun Rasmussen. This auction house, which was established in 1948, sells art, furniture, jewelry etc through its various live and online auctions and it’s filled to the brim show rooms are always worth a visit.

Jorgen L Dalgaard

This small store is the veritable treasure trove of Bedgrade Street which presents a smorgasbord Scandinavian style including much Danish modern furniture and art works from Sweden and Finland. It specializes in Danish porcelain, stoneware and glass.

Georg Jensen

The world famous Danish silver company which was founded in the late 19th century and has outlets all over the globe is also located here on Bredgade Street. This fine store sells a wide variety of household and personal silver products which are the embodiment of Danish style and design.

The Royal Copenhagen

This fine porcelain company has been associated with Danish Design ever since it was founded in 1775. The flagship store of the company is located in the heart of Copenhagen in Amagertorv. The store has displays of its various world renowned lines like the Blue Fluted with its blue and white patterned dinner service which is always in demand. The store also displays its new and contemporary lines like the Blue Fluted Mega which is the result of collaboration with a young ceramist called Karen Kjældgärd- Larsen and which was created to appeal to a new generation of customers. At the four storied store you can actually watch the artisans work on their delicate designs and also shop for bargains from past seasons from the factory outlet in the basement.

The Danish Design Center

This exciting display of Danish style is housed in a high tech building on Hans Christian Andersens Boulevard opposite Copenhagen’s other famous landmark, the Tivoli Gardens. The building itself has been designed by a world famous Danish architect called Professor Henning Larsen and has several changing exhibitions which display the works of eminent Danish designers like Arne Johnson, Piet Hein, Jørn Utzon and iconic Danish products from Danish companies like the stylish Hi-fi company Bang and Olufsen, Bodum and Lego. The building apart from its offices and exhibition halls also has a café called Café Dansk which retails Danish cuisine and has a store called the Danish Design Center store where you can buy books, home products and a line dedicated to traveling light called Travel Light, which consists of stylish multi use products that enable you to travel light with much oomph and style.

Copenhagen design hotel on venere.com: The Square Hotel Copenhagen

This Copenhagen hotel is centrally located on Radhuspladsen Town House square, within easy walking distance of Stroget, Tivoli Garden amusement park and Copenhagen Central Station. The Square is an exclusive design hotel that boasts Scandinavian style interiors including the famous ‘Egg’ circular sofa by Arne Jacobsen. The Square Hotel Copenhagen also offers a lounge bar and a breakfast restaurant enjoying breathtaking views over Copenhagen city’s rooftops.

Photo of Danish Design Center, Copenhagen by jetheriot

1. Watttredici Hotel – Milan Famagosta

The Watttredici is a brand new Milan hotel enjoying a great location in the capital of Italian style. Situated only a few steps from Alzaia Naviglio Grande waterways – a trendy area offering a vast choice of shops, cafés, and dining venues – this design hotel is the perfect spot for discovering Milan fashion district and experiencing the city’s lifestyle. In addition to modern guest rooms, this 4-star hotel offers relaxing lounge areas and a modern lounge bar, where you can participate in the traditional Milanese ritual of aperitif and taste yummy cocktails until midnight. The Watttredici Hotel also boasts a meeting room fully-equipped with innovative technologies.

2. Enterprise Hotel – Milan Fiera

Located in the lively neighborhood of Milano Fiera, the Enterprise Hotel offers comfortable rooms within short walking distance of FieraMilanoCity fairground and close to some of Milan’s trendiest night clubs. Representing the city’s creative spirit, The Enterprise is the first design hotel in Milan and is the perfect venue for social events, business meetings and fashion shows. Boasting a relaxing atmosphere, this 4-star Milan hotel features a gym, a cozy lounge area, a garden courtyard, the Event Plaza meeting room, the fashionable Privé wine bar, and the Sophia’s Restaurant offering excellent creative cuisine in a splendid, spacious loft.

3. Hotel Straf – Milan historic center

Hotel Straf is ideally located in Milan city center, a stone’s throw away from Via Montenapoleone shopping street and close to the Duomo Cathedral and La Scala Opera House. Combining classic elegance, Italian style and minimalist design, this luxury Milan hotel offers 64 rooms and suites with high-tech functionalities and comfortable amenities. The Straf Hotel Milan boasts fantastic interiors featuring innovative materials including cement, black stone, iron, burnished brass and scratched mirrors, as well as beautiful furnishings by Italian fashion designer Vincenzo De Cotiis. This design hotel also offers meeting facilities, a fully-equipped gym, a stylish cocktail bar and a modern restaurant open for lunch.

4. Hotel The Gray – Milan historic center

Situated in the city center, a few steps from La Scala Opera House and the Duomo Cathedral, The Gray is amongst the newest Luxury hotels in Milan. Set opposite the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, this design hotel offers meeting facilities and comfortable, spacious guest rooms in the very heart of Milan’s financial and shopping district. Boasting stylish interiors with modern Italian design by Florentine architect Guido Ciompi, The Gray Hotel also has a splendid lobby and the ‘GBar’, which welcomes guests in an intimate atmosphere with background music. Serving delicious Mediterranean and International cuisine, the hotel restaurant ‘Le Noir’ is the perfect setting for your banquets and cocktail parties in Milan.

If you are a ‘Sex and the City‘ fan planning a trip to NY, visit the new Sex and the City film locations including Hotel Giraffe and its piano suite, New York Public Library and Bryant Park in Midtown East Manhattan.

Good news for the fans of Hollywood movie ‘Sound of Music’ too: Situated just outside Salzburg, Austria, Von Trapp House is to become the Villa Trap Hotel.

And for those of you who love Italian style, Missoni fashion house will open its first Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh next year.

• Mornings must include a water-based wake-up activity, in particular surfing, bodyboarding or sea-fishing.
• Middays are to be spent recharging the energy levels and should include a small siesta, some gentle muscular work, such as kneading the bread, filleting the fish or waxing the surfboards. Time must be allowed for a small top-up of sun on the beach.
• In the afternoon there should be a group cardiovascular workout plan, daily sessions of the Afro-Brazilian martial-arts influenced Capoeira, will be held in small gatherings throughout the beaches.
• Evenings must close with a high-impact aerobics session, the energetic Forró dance is a local favourite.

Clothes must be worn appropriately for the occasion. Havaiana flip-flops are mandatory for both sexes. It must be noted that, unlike Rio de Janeiro, small beachwear is not appropriate for the streets of Itacaré and must be covered up with a modest sarong, t-shirt or boardshorts for the walk home from the beach. However, it is important that while on the beach, clothes must allow for maximum sun penetration for that all-over tan.

Guys please note, that you MUST wear a small thong while sunbathing, but these MUST be changed immediately to boardshorts as soon as you enter the water. Please do not surf in a thong, the locals will spot you immediately. Ladies, you can actually surf in the small bikini that you were sunbathing in.

Finally, do not attempt to buy a bottle of beer from a shop without taking an empty bottle to give in exchange. You will note that most locals will be seen entering the supermarkets with empty bottles, if you do not do this then you will be ratted out immediately as a tourist.

Want to enjoy the Brazilian lifestyle in Itacaré? Check out the Inn Pousada Coqueiro Verde on venere.com.