Munich
Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten Munich Review
When you step off the bustling Maximilianstraße and enter the Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten, you enter a time capsule, one that places you inside one of the grand old hotels of Europe.
Once in the salon-style lobby, which features a mosaic glass roof portraying the four seasons (the hotel’s name, Vier Jahreszeiten, means Four Seasons), you could bump into royalty: former guests include Empress Elisabeth of Austria (known to her subjects as …
Munich’s Beer Gardens
The Biergarten (literally, beer garden) dates back to Munich in the first half of the nineteenth century and the reign of Ludwig I of Bavaria. Thanks to a royal decree specifying brewing temperature (fermentation had to take place at temperatures between 4° and 8° Celsius), beer was brewed in colder months and breweries would dig beer cellars (Bierkeller) along the banks of the Isar River to keep the beer …
Novotel Munich Airport Hotel Review
It’s always interesting to be among the first guests at a hotel, especially during a “soft” opening. The last pieces of equipment are being delivered to the fitness center, the shrubs are still being planted, and the staff is getting acquainted with the hotel and with each other.
When you enter the Novotel München Airport hotel, you immediately understand why this is the brand’s flagship property. Guests are greeted by …
Jonathan Spira’s Munich
[Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles about Munich and covers museums and music. Virtual tours of both Munich and the BMW Museum are at the bottom of the page.]
The letter “B” is not found in “Munich” but it might as well be. The letter B is everywhere in the city, whether it’s on the street (BMW), in a restaurant (Bier), or in a political …
Lufthansa Flight 4758, London to Munich
Admittedly, I arrived at London Heathrow’s Terminal One a bit late for my flight, 26 hours late to be exact. I did have a good excuse, however: the 35 cm of snow at JFK that delayed my initial outbound flight. London had snow as well, all flights were delayed, and my scheduled flight was not until 8 p.m. (I arrived in London around noon). Despite the long lines everywhere, I …
The Charles Hotel, Munich, Germany
The Charles Hotel is different. Unlike the typical luxury hotels of Europe, it is new construction (opened in 2007). Its cool white stone exterior nonetheless blends in with its surroundings, such as the 19th-century Justizpalast and the almost secret Alter Botanischer Gärten (Old Botanical Garden).
This neo-classical hotel was built as a monument to Italian-born Charles Forte, who became one of England’s greatest hoteliers. I arrived at the Charles after …
