Off the Beaten Path: A European Summer with Minor Hotels
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (NewsVoir) While much of Europe hums with peak-season crowds, Minor Hotels offers the opportunity to carve a quieter path, one that leads to alpine hideaways, historic palaces, and riverside retreats away from the usual tourist trails. From Port wine tastings in Portugal to private opera access in Budapest, these destinations offer a … Continue reading "Off the Beaten Path: A European Summer with Minor Hotels"
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The Print
9 hours ago
- The Print
Off the Beaten Path: A European Summer with Minor Hotels
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 9: While much of Europe hums with peak-season crowds, Minor Hotels offers the opportunity to carve a quieter path, one that leads to alpine hideaways, historic palaces, and riverside retreats away from the usual tourist trails. From Port wine tastings in Portugal to private opera access in Budapest, these destinations offer a refined, insider's perspective on Europe, one that's curated, considered, and comfortably removed from the expected. Explore the handpicked hotels below for a unique European Summer in 2025: Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel, Austria Following an extensive renovation completed in May 2025, Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna now stands as the brand's first hotel in Austria, merging imperial architecture with serene, contemporary living. Originally designed by Theophil Hansen for the 1873 World Exhibition, the building has been reimagined with 152 spacious guest rooms and suites that pair warm, neutral interiors with bespoke Viennese detailing, from glossy and matte finishes to soft lighting that filters in through three revitalised courtyards. Culinary focus finds its peak at Edvard, the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, where exquisite seasonal tasting journeys with locally-sourced ingredients are driven by a low-waste philosophy. Experiences include following in Theophil Hansen's footsteps, taking in some of the city's most iconic architectural masterpieces, or discovering Vienna's in-city vineyards and enjoying some of the local vintages. The Anantara Spa completes the journey with wellness rituals rooted in traditional thermal therapies, personalised yoga sessions, and tailored in-room treatments. Deluxe rooms start from EUR 500 per night. For more details, visit: Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel. Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel, Hungary Set in a restored 19th-century architectural landmark, Anantara New York Palace Budapest blends Belle Epoque elegance with distinctly local flavour. The hotel's grand centrepiece, New York Cafe, often called the most beautiful cafe in the world, has been the heart of Budapest's coffee culture for over a century. Today, guests enjoy breakfast beneath the cafe's golden stucco, marble columns, and Murano chandeliers. Experiences give travellers a deeper understanding of the Hungarian capital as one can step into a vintage VW Samba minibus for a guided city tour across Budapest's architectural icons or choose a more culinary path with the hotel's signature Gastronomic Walking Tour. That journey winds through hidden alleys and family-run food stops to discover local delicacies like chimney cake, cold-smoked sausages, and Tokaji wine. The hotel's Anantara Spa is inspired by the city's thermal heritage, offering rituals that echo the natural healing waters below the surface of Budapest, while the rooms bring together velvet upholstery, classical detailing, and city-facing balconies. Deluxe rooms start from EUR 239 per night. For more details, visit: Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel. NH Collection Alagna Mirtillo Rosso, Italy The newly opened NH Collection Alagna Mirtillo Rosso marks the brand's debut in the Italian Alps. Located two hours north of Milan, the hotel is a serene alpine retreat designed for all seasons with activities for the entire family. In summer, it becomes a base for hiking, e-biking, and high-altitude adventure. The 56-room hotel blends chalet-style charm with NH Collection's signature contemporary polish, featuring guest rooms with panoramic mountain views, warm timber accents, and understated alpine details. Wellness is a key focus, with two distinct spa zones-one tailored for families and another reserved exclusively for adults-with heated saltwater pools and a panoramic sauna. A Piedmont-inspired restaurant and a welcoming communal fireplace lounge round out the experience, making this a design-forward gateway to the wild beauty of northern Italy. Superior rooms start from EUR 120 per night. For more details, visit: NH Collection Alagna Mirtillo Rosso. Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia, Portugal Set across the Douro River in Vila Nova de Gaia, Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia was built from the restoration of Kopke cellars, the world's oldest Port wine house. This newly launched property reimagines Portuguese tradition in a luxurious, contemporary form. With 150 guest rooms and suites, many facing over the river to Porto's old town, the hotel combines terracotta tones, carved stone, and sleek wood textures to reflect its heritage. In the heart of this 20,000 sqm property there is a century-old Kopke cellar, where more than two million litres of wine are aging. The cellar is open to guest visits, private barrel tastings and expert-led pairing dinners. There are two signature restaurants led by the Michelin-starred chef Nacho Manzano, a rooftop bar with striking river views, and a Tivoli Spa where grape-based treatments and sensory rituals reflect the region's natural richness. The location provides direct access to the riverfront promenade but remains tucked away from the bustle of the busier neighbourhoods north of the river in Porto. Superior rooms start from EUR 300 per night. For more details, visit Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia. Travelling elsewhere in Europe? Discover Minor Hotels' over 280 hotels and resorts across Europe all in one place at Minor Hotels is a global leader in the hospitality industry with over 560 hotels, resorts and branded residences across 57 countries. The group crafts innovative and insightful experiences through its eight hotel brands – Anantara, Avani, Elewana Collection, NH, NH Collection, nhow, Oaks and Tivoli – and a diverse portfolio of restaurants and bars, travel experiences and spa and wellness brands. With over four decades of expertise, Minor Hotels builds stronger brands, fosters lasting partnerships, and drives business success by always focusing on what matters most to our guests, team members and partners. Minor Hotels is a proud member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and recognises its guests through one unified loyalty programme, Minor DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY. Discover our world at and connect with Minor Hotels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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Business Standard
10 hours ago
- Business Standard
Europe vacay? Malta, Belgium among top 10 rejectors for Schengen visa
If you're planning a trip to Europe this year, it's not just flight tickets and hotel bookings you need to worry about. Schengen visa rejections are a growing concern and some countries are significantly more likely to turn down your application than others. According to official data released on the European Commission's website, the visa rejection trends across Schengen countries have remained high over the last three years, with Malta, Belgium, and France consistently ranking among the most difficult countries to secure a visa from. Malta remains the most reluctant In 2024, Malta topped the list for the second year in a row, with a rejection rate of 38.5 per cent. This follows a near 40 per cent rejection rate in 2023, and 35 per cent in 2022, showing a consistent tightening of visa approvals by the island nation. Belgium and France: Persistently high refusals Belgium has maintained high rejection levels over the past three years. In 2024, it rejected 24.6 per cent of visa applications, closely matching its 2023 rate of around 24 per cent, and about 25 per cent in 2022. Similarly, France, which processes the largest number of visa applications among Schengen countries, saw a 15.8 per cent rejection rate in 2024. This is lower than around 22 per cent in 2023, and about 18 per cent in 2022, but the sheer volume of applications (over 3 million) still makes it one of the countries with the highest absolute number of refusals. Other notable trends · Croatia, which had a high rejection rate of around 26.7 per cent in 2023, saw a drop to 19.3 per cent in 2024. · Estonia wasn't among the top in previous years, but rose sharply in 2024 to 27.2 per cent, from around 22 per cent in 2022. · Italy and Spain also showed year-on-year improvement, with rejection rates in 2023 of about 15 per cent and around 17 per cent, respectively, compared to about 11 per cent and around 12 per cent in 2022. In 2024, both countries registered even better numbers, with Italy's rejection rate dropping to approximately 13.5% and Spain's to around 15.5%, reflecting higher acceptance rates of 86.5% and 84.5%, respectively. Countries with highest Schengen visa approval rates On the brighter side, some Schengen states have consistently shown high visa approval rates over the past three years. If you're looking for smoother processing and better chances of approval, these countries stand out: · Portugal tops the list with an impressive acceptance rate which averages around 88.3 per cent. · Poland follows closely with around 87 per cent approvals. · Italy maintains a solid approval average at about 86 per cent. · Netherlands comes in at around 85.2 per cent. · Spain rounds out the top five with a strong about 84.5 per cent acceptance rate. While rejection trends highlight the need for careful planning, knowing which countries are more visa-friendly can help travellers make informed choices when planning that long-awaited European getaway.
The Wire
12 hours ago
- The Wire
Off the Beaten Path: A European Summer with Minor Hotels
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (NewsVoir) While much of Europe hums with peak-season crowds, Minor Hotels offers the opportunity to carve a quieter path, one that leads to alpine hideaways, historic palaces, and riverside retreats away from the usual tourist trails. From Port wine tastings in Portugal to private opera access in Budapest, these destinations offer a … Continue reading "Off the Beaten Path: A European Summer with Minor Hotels"
