There are many perceptions of what makes a happy city. Some would say that it is financial wealth or stability, others would argue that it is a happy family relationship or even a good health care system. No matter what the determining factors for happiness may be; it has recently be found that Hamburg is the happiest city in the world.

Why is Hamburg the Happiest City in The World?

According to the Happiness Atlas study, directed by Professor Bernd Reffelhüschen, Hamburg citizens are happier now than they have ever been before. Happiness levels ranked at a positive 7.38 points, as per the survey. Other cities in Germany that also ranked high in the study were Lower Saxony, Thuringia and southern Bavaria. It also showed that the happiest people in Germany where between 20 to 30 years old and surprisingly the people older than 65 years, where also content and happy. The study showed that the factors that contributed to this rise in happiness levels was firstly an increase in salary. This is not surprising as everyone has a desire to be financially secure. With your finances being more than enough to facilitate your bills, your mind is at ease and more relaxed. This gives you more time and appreciation for those other things in life that money cannot buy. Other contributing factors were happy marriages or relationships and spending more time with friends and family.

What Makes Germans the Happiest Nation in the World

The city has a vibrant nightlife that obviously keeps the youngsters happy. The city also has a busy harbour, which means plenty of money is coming into this happy city. This also means more job creation for those who are qualified enough to land those exclusive, best paying jobs. Hamburg is also filled with beautiful cosmopolitan restaurants, architectural wonders and of course the dazzling lake in the city center. Hamburg, like every other city of the world is filled with joys and sorrows, yet ultimately they remain a resilient nation that is quick to forgive and equally quick to embrace the bright future ahead.

(c) telesniuk – Fotolia

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We all look forward to that time of year when we get to pack our bags and head off on a much needed holiday. Rather than visiting the usual holiday hot spots, why not try a new and unusual holiday destination that offers a purely unique experience?

Holidays on ice

When we think of potential travel destinations, visions of warm beaches and cocktails in the sun come to mind. For a new experience, why not visit Jukkasjarvi, Sweden and stay in their famous Icehotel? Erected every year, from scratch, it offers both cold and warm room accommodations, an Icebar, church, and receptions area. The hotel itself never looks the same way twice because it is redesigned each season.

Antarctica is another area not many would think of as an ideal holiday getaway. This option is more for those who love adventure and exploration. Most of Antarctica is viewed from a cruise ship but there are opportunities to set foot on the ice itself and walk amongst the wildlife. October through March is the key times to visit this magical continent.

Off the beaten path

If ice excursions aren’t to your liking, you may want to visit Tunisia. It’s a small country that offers culture and history, and some brilliant dessert safari tours of the Sahara. April, May, and September are the best times for visiting this travel destination.

Perhaps it is a romantic and unusual holiday destination that you are after. The United Kingdom offers some quirky accommodations such as a stay in an ancient castle, old abbeys, and even an old train station overlooking the Derby Dales. The most unusual however are their lighthouse accommodations. They have a variety of settings to choose from and a plethora of scenic settings.

There are so many travel destinations to choose from that will offer you a unique and memorable experience to boast about. All that is required is a bit of imagination and an adventurous spirit.

(c) David Pruter – Fotolia

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Tourists are attracted to many scenic sites in Scotland. In fact, both the Atlantic and North Sea coast have historic Abbeys, beautiful isles and charming villages, while the Scottish Highlands are a major attraction for visitors. Furthermore, central Scotland has castles, beautiful farms, distilleries and expansive empty fields that stretch to the horizon. Visitors can explore these attractions by road or rail. The Royal Rail organises several tours during the year that pass through the most beautiful areas of the country. Private tour operators also organise road tours that allow customers to choose preferred routes. Other visitors find it more affordable to find accommodation in Glasgow or Edinburgh and hire cars to tour the country.

The Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands offer the most scenic drives around wild mountain landscapes. Narrow winding roads split the dramatic mountain ranges and pass by shimmering Lochs. Visitors driving from Glasgow reach the foothills of the highlands at Loch Lomond. They also access the highlands by driving from the town of Inverness to the Great Glen, a route that gives them a chance to explore the ancient hills of Torridon and Wester Ross. Around the highland Lochs, tourists discover lively fishing villages, breathtaking viewpoints and lonely bays with stunning beaches.

The North Sea Coast

There are scenic villages, historic sites, distilleries and castles overlooking the North Sea. The road from Edinburgh to Inverness passes through the scenic Trossachs National Park and the Victorian village of Pitlochry. Tantallon Castle and Dirleton Castle, the finest castles in Scotland, are near the town of Dirleton along the route. It is easy to reach these sites using accommodation in Glasgow or Edinburgh as a base.

Rugged Atlantic Coastline

The varied scenery along the west coast consisting of islands and mountains attracts many visitors. In fact, tourists use the excellent road network of the Isle of Skye to visit the many scenic areas on it. Further, the Isle of Arran, also located on the Atlantic Coast, attract many visitors because of its un-spoilt scenic sites. It is only accessible by a ferry and does not have many cars. Visitors to the isle see the King’s Cave, the ruins of Kildonan Castle and the seal colony near the castle.

(c) a.ghizzi – Fotolia

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It seems that more and more people are being taken in by the kind of holiday scams which result in them losing deposits, or being defrauded on the cost of tickets. There are some steps which can be taken to avoid becoming entangled in a fraudulent scheme, and often being alert can make all the difference.

How Do You Protect Yourself When Booking a Holiday?

One of the ways in which holidaymakers are tricked is fake plane ticket websites, where people believe they are going to receive flight tickets at far less than the normal price. According to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, men are more likely to be caught out by this type of scam than women, so it’s well worth checking companies out before parting with any money. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) or Air Travel Organisers Licensing (Atol)are both reputable trade associations which most legitimate agents and brokers will be members of, you can check this quite easily. There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself as well as possible such as simply asking question. Do you know anyone who has booked with them? Can you Google them? Do they have addresses which exist, or phone numbers which you can check? These are all simple tasks which can make a real difference.

More Holiday Scams to Be Aware Of

Another field where those who run holiday scams excel in is the accommodation market. Holidaymakers pay for a villa or apartment, but upon arrival at their destination they that find that the property doesn’t exist, or has been booked already by a legitimate company. One of the main reasons that ABTA cite as responsible for a rise in this type of scam is the trend for renting directly from the owners of the property. If you wish to rent a property directly from an owner, do so through one of the many reputable companies which act as mediums for this type of rental. Unfortunately holiday scams, including event packages where you’re reeled in by the inclusion of hard to get tickets, scams for cheap visas, and more are on the rise. Be vigilant and try to always book via a properly accredited and recognised company.

(c) doris oberfrank-list – Fotolia

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The thought of planning for a vacation can be very overwhelming, especially with so many great destinations on offer all around the world. However, an incredible way to experience a more relaxing getaway is by taking a spa vacation, irrespective of whether you are going with your significant other, friends or by yourself. There are amazing spa holiday destinations in Europe established to cater for your needs. Probably, you will have to spend quiet some fortune for a few days and nights in some of the superior relaxation spots, therefore, you will need to find cheaper ways to fly and accommodation in order to avoid disrupting your vacation budget. You should not worry about splurging on spa treatment – you deserve to treat yourself.

Incredible spa holiday destinations in Europe

Perhaps a great place to start would be Capri Palace Hotel Spa in Italy. The Capri Beauty Farm has two of the most exceptional features – The Leg School and The Heart School that focus mainly on health, beauty and relaxation. Therefore, for stimulation and enhancement of blood flow in the legs through massages and submersions, The Leg School would be ideal for you. The spa also offers wellness programs to help treat cardiovascular related problems.

Treatments

If you are looking for a wide range of treatments, then a trip to Lausanne, Switzerland would give you incredible spa experience at the Beau-Rivage Palace. The palace has prides for Cinq Mondes Spa that has a fully equipped indoor and outdoor pool and gym. Therefore, whether you are looking for a Japanese bath or a slimming ritual, then you will not be disappointed. Alternatively, if your desire is to have quiet moments of meditation, then Cinq Mondes Spa offers daily yoga classes too.

Furthermore, if you feel like your mind is as stressed as your body, then Mavida Balance Hotel and Spa in Salzburg, Australia is the place for you. This spa is renowned to pay extra attention to your mental balance. It is a prime relaxation spot for acupuncture, Mavida stone massage, anti-stress treatments as well as a seven-day slimming program. They also offer detailed astrology and life planning services.

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Imagine spending a weekend in a luxurious hotel that is self-contained, is packed with leisure amenities and facilties…and is under water! It sounds like something from the stories of Atlantis, but Dubai has recently unveiled its plan for just such a hotel.

Rooms with a view

The Dubai hotel, Water Discus, is not the first to venture under water. In Key Largo, Florida the Jules Undersea Lodge offers three underwater rooms. The Maldives is another place that hosts several underwater ventures such as the Rangali Islands resorts underwater restaurant.

The Water Discuss, however, is the biggest planned underwater hotel to date. It was originally designed by a company who design underwater vehicles. The Dubai hotel is made of two huge discs, one above water and the other submerged, which will host 21 suites, an underwater bar, and a diving centre.

Each room in the underwater hotel has been designed to blend in with the underwater environment as much as possible with large viewing areas for you to watch and enjoy the local underwater habitat. One would worry that this view would compromise on privacy. But each room is said to be completely sound proof with curtains that allow you to adjust the transparency for your comfort level.

Imagine sleeping surrounded by the lulling sounds of the ocean, or relaxing in your living space as you watch the fish flit on by. What could be more serene than that?

Safety in mind

A really interesting feature of this hotels design is its transferable buoyant upper pods. They can be detached from the main structure and double as lifeboats in the event of a natural disaster. And if the area becomes economically or environmentally unstable for any reason, the hotel can be moved to a better location.

The ideas for future underwater hotel and resort facilities are endless and we will probably see even more spectacular creations as this industry moves ahead to create super exotic holiday getaways.

(c)  Christian Schoettler – Fotolia

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