Pillow Talk from Venice

The canals, gondolas, splendid palazzi and, of course, the fine food – there are many reasons for visiting the “Serenissima” more than once. Indeed, the “City of Bridges” is considered one of the most exciting destinations in Europe, e.g. to spend an unforgettable weekend. In addition to its sights, the city is well known for numerous events, most notably the famous carnival in winter and the Festa del Redentore (feast of the redeemer) in summer (this year on 16 and 17 July), celebrating the end of the plague in 1576.  

Otello, Easter Eggs and Pastry Galore

In addition to being Mozart's birthplace, Salzburg also hosts the annual Salzburg Festival in July and August as well as one of the world's most prestigious classical music event, the Salzburg Easter Festival. Today is the day when the curtain rises on the Easter Festival, with Verdi's “Otello” being the highlight of this year's program. As always, classical music aficionados will be rewarded with an exclusive blend of opera and concerts.

Pillow Talk with Top Model Sarina Arnold

Catching her between arrival and departure, we met Sarina Arnold (35) for a quick cup of coffee in Zurich. Arnold divides her time between being a top model, a jewellery designer, a working mum and a dedicated envoy for the Swiss charity “Zuversicht für Kinder”. In Switzerland she is best known for her appearance in a TV commercial, but making the covers of Vogue Spain, Elle Germany and Madame Figaro has introduced her to a much wider European audience. One of the most successful Swiss models, Arnold's international career has been quite impressive. She has lent her face to distinguished brands like Armani or Nina Ricci.  

London Calling, for Sure

Whether it is for Valentine's Day, a change of scene, a shopping trip or a foodie tour – London keeps reinventing itself time after time, and is always worth a visit. At the last count, no less than 80 Michelin stars sparkled above the metropolis on the Thames. Go for care-free fine dining and elegant yet casual boutique hotels – it is the thing to do.  

10 Tips for a Smashing Weekend:

Santa, Nutcracker, and other Revellers

Here we are again: Christmas is just around the corner! Candles are lit and delicate Christmas decorations are aglitter everywhere you look, and the scent of home-made cookies and fresh-cut spruce is in the air. A rich and eventful year of travel is drawing to a close. We visited more than 400 hotels and restaurants across Europe, testing and evaluating them anonymously and independently. About the 302 finest venues that made a lasting impression on us we wrote detailed profiles that we present to you on pillowandpepper.com. But now the time has come to pause for a few days; time to feel grateful, and time to celebrate.  

Paramount Delights – these are the Places to be in Zermatt

What do snow bunnies, It girls and foodies have in common? That's right, they all love Zermatt. Surrounded by 39 peaks taller than 4,000 metres lies this car-free alpine village, which has done a fabulous job preserving its original character and avoiding architectural blunders. Leaving your car in Täsch (5 km from Zermatt), you take a leisurely train for the rest of the way, terminating right in the town centre. So before you even get to Zermatt, you can start taking it easy. Up on the slopes, elegant ski lodges offer rustic or sophisticated fare, whatever your palate may fancy. Zermatt is the culinary hot spot in the Swiss Alps, as no other town has a comparable density of top chefs and celebrated alpine restaurants. Let us tell you the best places to go!  

10 Tips for a Perfect Stay in Zermatt

Schnitzel, Kaiserschmarrn and Plenty of Icing on the Cake

«This city is a scream, it is high and modern. Everybody loves its scent, everybody likes it.» This is how singer-songwriter Rainhard Fendrich phrased his homage to Vienna. We share his enthusiasm, because we love the sheer diversity of the Austrian capital: the opulent Belle Époque façades in the First District, formerly court-appointed retailers like Knize and Loden Plankl, the bustling Naschmarkt, the Secession museum with Gustav Klimt's Beethoven frieze, and of course the Austrian cuisine, that has rid itself entirely of a sugar-coated past.  

10 Tips for a Smashing Weekend:

And God Created Saint-Tropez

Since yesterday, Saint Tropez has been bustling with revellers again as the annual rendezvous of fancy yachts for the prestigious Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. regatta got under way. More than 300 classic and modern sailing boats up to 50 metres long congregate here for this unique maritime event that has traditionally marked the end of the season and the culmination of the regatta series of ocean-going yachts in the Mediterranean.  

Trading the Umbrella for a Straw Hat

Tuscany is a coveted destination not just for wine lovers, culture buffs and connoisseurs of the “Cucina Casalinga” – or Italian country cuisine. September is also a great time of year for sun worshippers to visit. The sea retains a pleasant warmth from the summer months, and you need not to make reservations weeks in advance to get to lounge in your favourite front-row “bagno.” A wonderfully elegant thing to do is to travel in a vintage Fiat 500 from Florence all the way to the Mediterranean via Arezzo, Montepulciano and Siena, and to explore the beauty of Tuscany on the way.  

Keep calm and think of Ibiza

Ibiza is a favourite travel destination not only for merrymakers who fly in just to see the sun rise twice over the club rooftop deck but also for bohemians who love doing their yoga exercises on the beach and are glad to have left their high heels back home. It is a wonderful experience to explore the island's beauty with sand between your toes.  

10 Tips for a Smashing Holiday:

We Don't just Fancy Fine Hotels, We Love Staying in the Best Rooms.

It's time to celebrate our first birthday today! It was on 21 June 2014 that we went live with our online travel guide. The Pillow & Pepper travel team visited more than 500 hotels and restaurants across Europe, testing and evaluating them anonymously and independently. About the 279 finest venues that made a lasting impression on us we wrote detailed profiles that we present to you on pillowandpepper.com. The past few months have been highlighted for us by plentiful feedback from you, dear members, partners and friends. Thank you very much.  

Berlin for the Seasoned Traveller

Berlin is an exciting and bubbly city, subject to constant change, absorbing everything and always open for new impulses. Our work keeps taking us back to the city, where we invariably encounter amazing and amazingly free-spirited people. As it so happens, Pillow & Pepper itself originated in Berlin. Germany's first city is a highly popular destination not just for creative minds, for it offers an exciting mix of art, fashion, and culinary culture that is always worth a weekend trip. Let yourself be inspired, and rediscover Berlin – far from the standard tourist trails!  

10 Tips for a Smashing Weekend: