Hotel ‘De Beukenhof’ in Oegstgeest, the Netherlands

Cloudy days like today awake memories of sunny summer time and make me appreciate the good times even more :) My idea of escaping Brussels is exactly that what hotel ‘De Beukenhof’ in Oegstgeest in the Netherlands is all about: one of the places where you find nothing you would like to change… maybe except of the wine price ;)

When buying on Groupon, I often don’t know much about my destination but without any doubts this time it turned out to be a combination of luxury and comfort, delicious food, gorgeous scenery and great weather! To be frank, this place was perfect for the first relaxing holiday getaway of the year. We bought the Groupon in February, and the first available weekend was well in July. After arrival, I understood the reason for this gap right away. The upscale, elegant and unique hotel creates a tasteful balance between modern accents and a historical setting. Upon entering from the back-side through the magnificent English country style garden in search for the check-in desk, we were noticed right away and welcomed by attentive and friendly personnel, who guided us to our suite. A nicely decorated, clean room, soft pillows, a comfi bed, our own coffee machine plus cookies and free Wi-Fi make you feel like at home. On top of this we couldn’t resist of using the breakfast service to the room… at the end free of charge J All this and the seven course delicious dinner next day under 300 year-old tree was enough for me to madly fall in love with this place and put it on my short list of Dutch hotels. As to every place where I have been spoilt, I wish to come back during another season and experience a different charm of every season. Great location!

Thank you for reading, don’t hesitate to leave your comments and thoughts below :)  

       

Macedonia

                   It has been two weeks since we came back from one week off in Macedonia. Coming back to reality and work after great holidays is always tough, but at least the memories of great people, food, sunny weather and undiscovered nature stay for long; much longer then the sunburn on your skin.... ;)

From the moment we landed in Macedonia we were welcomed by the friendliness of the locals, by traditional dances, champagne and a welcome cake! ;) This was very surprising and the best welcome experience ever at any airport! And it was only the beginning…. 

           I won’t go over the top if I say that Aurora Resort and Spa in Berovo, located in the mountains in Eastern Macedonia is one of the most luxury mountain resorts in Europe or even the world and absolutely the best in the Balkans! :) Not that we have been to many; it is still in our travel plans…. ;) but in comparison to the experience we have made so far, this place impresses enough to fully deserve its five-star rating. 

The hotel is located in such an outstanding surroundings that neither me nor my boyfriend could stop taking pictures. In addition to the charm and scenic beauty of this place, the attention to detail is absolutely stunning. This clearly is a resort designed with luxury in mind. One of the examples could be the infinity pool and the high quality wood material it is built from as well as the breathtaking view overlooking the valley from our room balcony. The staff is always there to help, care about your comfort and coordinate the housekeeping so that you are never disturbed. For a truly rest, relaxing and romantic treat we could use the spa facilities almost every day one hour for free :) The food is everyday different, fresh and very traditional. The wine list includes some of the great wines from the region, which we enjoyed every evening and is one of the things I miss the most... :) 

We were happy to get to know Slavcho, who is the owner of the place and has a very personal approach to the guests. Being born in the nearby village of Berovo, this resort is more than his business, it’s his passion and lifetime achievement. Thanks to him it is difficult to forget the stay there and you want to plan an escape there at least once in the year. We definitely want to come back soon, it is worth it! :)

view from the other side of the valley

view from the balcony

favorite hot spot

gift from the owner of the hotel

ZELNIK, traditional Macedonian dish

Our one-day ambitious montain bike tour along the river Bregalnica got us soaking up fresh montain air, seeing more of the untouched landscape and the waterfalls. Here are some snapshots:

   
The Orthodox monasteries belong to the Macedonian landscape and are a testimony of the local culture. For me personally they are a piece of art. 

  
Thank you for checking out the story, hope you enjoyed reading as much as we did writing it :) All of your comments and questions are much appreciated :) cheers, K&M