Wolfgang Busch

If you’ve ever has the pleasure of visiting France, you’ll understand that to the locals, wine isn’t just a drink – it’s a way of life. That’s especially true in Montmartre, where the annual Fête des Vendanges celebrates the region’s wine culture and the year’s harvest with five days of festivities, music, food and of course, plenty of good wine!

This year’s Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre takes place from the 10th to the 14th October, during which time the streets will be filled with stalls selling tempting French delicacies and selling wine by the glass, fresh from the local vineyards. Live musical performances and displays of dancing also help to create a party atmosphere, so don’t be afraid to grab a glass of red, white or rosé and join in with the fun.

The highlight of the festival will take place on the Saturday, on which day a colourful parade of masked performers and extravagant floats will delight the crowds, followed by a magnificent fireworks display. Visitor numbers can often top multiple thousands so if you want a good view of the proceedings, be sure to head there early.

As Montmartre has a unique location just north of Paris, making it one of the few cities in the world with a functional vineyard, the Fête des Vendanges makes a perfect excuse to take cheap flights to Paris with low-cost specialist airlines like Jet2.com. As well as drinking lots of delicious, locally-produced wine, you’ll also be able to experience all of the fantastic sights that Paris has to offer.

October is also a fantastic time to visit Paris as it will not be so busy with tourists, meaning you’ll be able to snap up a table at the city’s most in-demand restaurants, find a seat on a rooftop terrace or just browse the shops in peace.

The city of Paris itself will also be celebrating its annual Autumn Festival during October, perfect for culture vultures with a thirst for opera, dance or theatre so don’t forget to check the schedule before you go – and don’t drink too much wine in Montmartre!

Wherever you go in the world, you will find some breathtaking landscapes, from idyllic islands to lush rainforests. A few of the most spectacular sights you will lay your eyes on are some of the world's tallest mountains - here is a guide to which peaks you should make sure you visit in your lifetime.

It might not be as famous as Mount Everest or as tall as K2 in the Himalayas, but Mount Kilimanjaro is a great mountain to visit - and not too difficult to climb as well.

This peak is situated in Tanzania and is the tallest mountain in Africa. What's more, it is the highest free-standing peak in the whole world, so it's definitely worth taking a trip to the East African country to take a look at the magnificent spectacle.

You will certainly be impressed as well, as the mountain reaches 5,895 m - don't let this put you off, though, if you're keen on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as it is one of the most popular mountains to climb. Many avid walkers - and even some whose fitness is rusty at best - reach the summit every year on a trip that lasts between five and seven days.

You might be planning a holiday to New Zealand but want to fulfil your desires to go mountain climbing. In this case, we thoroughly recommend visiting Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand's tallest mountain at 3,754 m.

This isn't the only tall peak in this area though and it is among 27 that are more than 3,050 m - so even when you complete the climb, you'll have other adventures you can embark on while in New Zealand.

Walking isn't the only option here either - so holidaymakers who haven't been to the gym in a while can breathe a sigh of relief. This is a great place to enjoy a trip in a four-wheel drive or go horse-riding. For a truly special holiday, you could go on a scenic flight over the area, which will give you great views of Aoraki Mount Cook's snow-capped peaks.

A few thousands miles away in Japan is Mount Fuji - the tallest summit in the country at 3,776 m. The image of this conical volcano with a top covered in snow is famous the world over and seeing it in real life will feel very surreal.

If you want good views of the mountain from afar, head to the nation in the colder seasons when the clouds have gone and visibility is clearer. For those who have their walking boots at the ready and want to climb the peak, visit here between July and August when the hiking routes are officially open.

And if you're concerned the volcano might start to blow when you're in the country, you don't have to worry, as its last eruption was in 1708 and it has remained dormant since then.

This article wouldn't be complete without a mention of Nepal's Mount Everest - the world's tallest mountain.

At 8,850 m, this Himalayan peak really is a feat to conquer, and only a few professional climbers make their way to the top every year. You don't have to reach the summit though if you are keen on scaling the mountain (or at least some of it).

It takes nine day to get to Everest Base Camp, and despite it being a long distance away from the peak, it is still at an impressive 5,380 m - so it's hardly a walk in the park!

Photos via Flickr Creative Commons (click on each image to get more info about the photographer)

When we visited the charming city of Lubeck in Northern Germany earlier this year, we stayed at Hotel Baltic, a budget and family friendly hotel located just one minute away from the Lubeck Central Station and the bus station and only a few minutes from the heart of the city. As we arrived by train, the location of this hotel was ideal, as there was no need to use the public transport to get to the hotel, nor to carry our luggage for long.

The room was basic but comfortable, with a small flat screen, carpet covered floors, and free Wi-fi. We really liked how comfortable the beds were, which provided us with a very good night sleep, especially that the double glazed windows were protecting us from any unwanted noise from outside. Even though the bus station was just in front of our window, there didn't seem to be very many (if any at all) buses running during the night. The only real inconvenience was that the hotel has no elevator, and we had to struggle with the luggage for three floors.

The bathroom was newly renovated, spacious and very well organized. Everything one needed, from towels to shampoo and soap was provided, and everything sparkled.

We simply loved the setting in which the breakfast was served, with all kind of interesting little details in the sailing theme and the fact that there was a lit candle on each table. I think this was the first time ever we had breakfast by candle light and we were thrilled. I mean, what a great idea! We should totally do this at home too. It really adds a festive mood to what is supposed to be the most important meal of the day.

The guys at Baltic Hotel are currently working to fit the very green inner courtyard for breakfast purposes as well, so I can only imagine just how even more wonderful having breakfast here it would be in the near future.

For it's location and value for money, Baltic Hotel from Lubeck is the ideal place to spend the night when visiting the town, be it for business or tourist purposes. Especially for the budget conscious guests traveling by train, either using an Interrail or Eurail pass or not, this hotel is a God sent.