Vakantiehuis Gardameer | Italie

About the destination: Zurich labours under the misconception that it is nothing more than a sterile banking city – don't believe a word of it. True, Zurich plays home to one of the largest stock exchanges in the world and is the financial motor of Switzerland itself, but step back from the markets and share prices and you'll find an arty, trend-conscious and vibrant city. Just hang in Zurich West for a while. Its former warehouses, viaducts and ship building caverns have been converted into art centres, funky bars and quirky boutiques. Along Langstrasse, the city’s notorious red light district, you’re now as likely to take home a chic handbag crafted by an emerging designer as you are a piece of skirt. Zurich’s character booms from the speakers of the annual Street Parade, a mammoth techno festival that weaves through the city with DJs and minimally-clad dancers on floats. There isn’t a banker’s tie in sight. If there is in the pretty east bank quarter of Niederdorf, it’s loosened. These medieval streets are abuzz with cafés on corners, trendy taprooms and world-class restaurants. It’s easy to while away an afternoon just absorbing its laidback atmosphere, especially in summer when the riverside take on a beach vibe. Winter is special too. Under the spell of snow, the cobbled alleyways, fountains, lakeside promenades and stunning architecture of the Old Town were made for the stroke of an artist’s brush. This is when one of Europe’s best Christmas markets rolls into town and the warming citruses and cinnamons of the glühwein (mulled wine) stalls fill the air. Shoppers will be in their element here at any time of year. Zurich’s flashy side is evident in the upmarket designer boutiques of Bahnhofstrasse, the city’s main shopping drag. But this is no longer a city for the smart set alone; there are plenty of unusual shops to be discovered down hidden streets. Sitting astride the River Limmat and the northern tip of Lake Zurich, Mother Nature certainly smiles down on Switzerland’s biggest city. Architects were courteous in their additions too - just check out the Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches, which face each other across the river. Then, when you’ve had enough of the city’s diverse array of restaurants, first-rate museums and pulsing nightlife, there’s always the nearby Uetliberg mountain or a boat trip on Lake Zurich to enjoy – if only to catch your breath before diving back into the city’s delights again.

About the destination: Salò is a town and comune in the Province of Brescia in the region of Lombardy (northern Italy) on the banks of Lake Garda, on which it has the longest promenade. The city was the seat of government of the Italian Social Republic from 1943 to 1945, with the ISR often being referred to as the "Salò Republic" (Repubblica di Salò in Italian).

About the destination: Poised right on the German border, sophisticated Strasbourg has been shuffled back and forth between Germany and France for centuries. Today it is a symbol of reconciliation between nations. In 1955 it was chosen the seat of the European Parliament. Cosmopolitan Strasbourg nonetheless remains thoroughly Alsatian in appearance, with its half-timbered houses, covered bridges and flower-lined canals. Start a tour at the mesmerising Gothic cathedral, whose light, open spire rises above the historic core of the city. While you wait for the delightful play of the horloge astronomique, astrological clock, be sure to see the Pilier des Anges, one of the high points of Gothic sculpture. Across from the cathedral are the elegant 18th Château des Rohan, housing a porcelain, archaeology, and fine arts museum and the Maison de l’Oeuvre Notre-Dame, a huge collection of medieval and Renaissance art. For folklore, visit the Musée Alsacien. During the summer, there are folklore and music programs, and a walk along the quays of La Petite France, the old quarter, is best on a warm summer night. Get a taste of the delicious Alsatian cuisine in one of the many riverside restaurants.