There are places so magical that they can engage in a conversation with you. The beautiful Ottmanngut is one of those places. Ottmanngut is located in the spa town of Merano, in the region of Northern Italy called Südtirol, and its history dates back to 1290. We had the pleasure of speaking with its owner, Martin Kirchlechner, whose family has owned the house for generations.

Why did you decide to open a bed and breakfast?

I did not actually decide to open it. We simply decided to renovate the family house. At the time, my grandmother was 82 years old and could not manage the house by herself anymore. Our original plan was to renovate the house and then hire someone to take care of it. However, the renovations took almost two years instead of the planned six months, during which we became intimately acquainted with every inch of the house. After putting in so much effort, I couldn’t just hand it over to someone else. This is how my dream of having a bed and breakfast came true.

What was the most challenging element of the renovation?

The house had not been touched since the 1950s or 1960s, and like many other houses from this era, there had been work done that wasn’t particularly good. Our main focus was on revitalizing the house and restoring some of the original features. We discovered the old wooden floors beneath the linoleum and opened the entrance from the breakfast room to the orangery. At the same time, we wanted to modernize the house a little bit, as before our renovation there was only one bathroom per floor and no heating. Right from the beginning, my father knew exactly where he wanted to place the family furniture and hang paintings, so we didn’t really cooperate with any designers or architects.

What sets Ottmanngut apart?

I believe, one of the significant differences is that Ottmanngut is our family house – it always has been and still is. As a result, the interior features antique family furniture. Our family is constantly somewhere nearby, which emphasizes the importance of ensuring everything is to our liking and that we feel comfortable and at home here. Many of our guests share that they sense this atmosphere, feeling as though they are entering a welcoming family house.

If you had to choose, what is your favorite aspect of the house?

Without a doubt: our breakfast. Since 2014, we have taken a unique approach to our breakfast offerings. We create a three-course breakfast menu that changes daily, and we bring it directly to your table. This approach gives us the opportunity to stay true to ourselves, using almost only seasonal ingredients, sourced from mostly organic farmers in the area. It also allows us to reduce food waste to a minimum. Moreover, it provides us with the freedom to experiment and be creative.

Can happiness be found in a weekend getaway that feels like home?

Absolutely! We often emphasize the feeling of being at home. However, it shouldn’t replicate one’s own home, where the laundry basket is full and the dishwasher is waiting to be put in order. But it should have a warm and inviting ambience of a home.

How would you characterise your guests?

For the most part, our guests understand what it means to run a house in the manner we do. They treat everything and everyone with respect. Yet, the most delightful moments occur when guests arrive, and an immediate connection is established. It's like being on the same page right from the start.

When choosing a place for your own travels, what matters most to you?

Several things need to align for that overall feeling. I consider the sourcing of food, how it is produced and where it comes from. I check if the place seems to have cozy spots to read and relax. As well as getting to know, who my hosts are. Also, I am interested in how they treat the environment.

What is the one thing that you want your guests to leave with?

I hope that they leave with this ultimate feeling – the one you have after spending a great evening with interesting people, sharing delicious food and good drinks. When you’ve had great conversations, and it leaves you with a blend of happiness, tranquility, and newfound knowledge.

Ottmanngut is… an authentic place that allowed us to be ourselves, we don’t change for our guests. We embrace ourselves.

Upon entering, what is the most likely sight or scent you will see or smell…

You are likely to spot one of our three turtles and catch the aroma of lemon blossoms.

When in Merano, you can’t miss… the panoramic Tappeinerweg walking path above the town, slow strolls along the river promenades and a dining experience at restaurant Meteo. Exploring the Steinachviertel, the old historic town center, is also a must.

Andrea Juckem is a writer and co-creator of the bi-lingual online magazine NIKA (which means niche in English). She has always been attracted to people's stories and communication but it was not until recently that she decided to put it all in words that have an impact: Andrea now uses her (Czech and English) writing to express emotions and share meaningful thoughts and stories.

After several times of re-booking and moving dates (for the most obvious reasons that have faced many of us during the past two years), we finally made it to Croatia last month. We holidayed in a lovely little seaside town called Nerezine that is located on the beautiful island of Losinj.

We had the opportunity to stay at a cute little house ten minutes away from the town centre. It never took us long to reach the beach, restaurants and shops - which was ideal, especially given that we were travelling with a toddler. Today I’d like to share my heiter “Nerezine” spots with you here, hoping that they might be useful for you one day.

SOHO shop

A cute little boutique that offers fun gifts, cards, lifestyle products and clothing. Many items in their range are from sustainable brands.

Restaurant Konoba Promenada

Probably our favourite local restaurant for us as a family. The staff is friendly and considerate, the (traditional) food brilliant: we really enjoyed their seafood platter. They also offer “half portions” for kids.

Porto

The little bistro/bar right by the sea offers (stone oven baked) Napolean pizzas and burgers. We loved their laid back and more international atmosphere.

Bistro Rio

The bistro next to the marina seems to be a secret meeting point for locals too. It is small but stands out with freshly cooked seafood. We can highly recommend it to everyone who is on the hunt for great fish and chips for their lunch.

Hotel Televrin

Many tourists not just eat but also stay at the beautiful hotel that’s situated right next to the marina. Their menu consists of traditional and more cosmopolitan dishes (note: you even find vegan options) and you’re also expected to pay a little more than in other restaurants in town. J particularly loved the playground next door.

Pekara (Bakery) Martina

The best spot to get traditional Croation bread (which tends to be a white loaf) but also treats such as crossaints and little cakes. We stopped there at least once a day.

Day trips:

If you’re up for a day trip or two, we can recommned the old town of Osor and Mali Losinj, home of the Apoxsyomenos museum. You could also go on one of the organised dolphin watching trips from Mali or Veli Losinj. J is a bit too young for those so we didn’t do any this time round but might give them a go on a future trip.

Good to know:

the network on the island is not the best so we would not recommend going to Losinj for a workcation. We also had no wifi where we stayed but kept in touch with family when going for dinner in the evening: pretty much every restaurant and/or bar offers wifi.
it is great that you can return plastic bottles (and get your deposit back) at the local supermarket. You do need to bring in the original receipt (as proof that you got your water/milk etc there) though so make sure you don’t lose it.
if you don’t stay right next to the beach, make sure you bring a mosquito spray along. There are quite a few of them.
Croatia is famous for their pebbled beaches. If you are not used to running barefoot on stones, consider bringing jellies or other swimming shoes along.
the local post office is only open on weekday mornings (Mo-Fr, 8am-12pm). Make sure you get there before the weekend so that you’re in time to post postcards to your loved ones.
the people of Nerezine are used to tourists from Austria, Germany and Italy. So used, that they might ask you to speak German or Italian (instead of English) at some of the restaurants and shops.

Words & images: Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter

Ottmanngut: a place so beautiful that it will carry a conversation with you

Croatia: heiter spots to visit in Nerezine, Losinj