Hotel group launches "roadtrip" packages

(Lisa Turay)

A small hotel group has teamed up with car rental firm Sixt to offer "roadtrips" for guests visiting Germany and Austria.

The packages, which launched in 11 of Design Hotels' properties on March 29, combine a hotel stay with a tour of the local area by car. Guests use a GPS-enabled system to navigate roads and tourist sites that are off the beaten track.

Each participating hotel will offer a tailored package, including rental of a BMW vehicle equipped with ConnectedDrive services. Maps are "curated" (preprogrammed ) by each hotel to take in the local scenery in each area, which includes the cities of Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Vienna and Graz.

Design Hotels says that each "roadtrip blends cultural, culinary, historical and architectural highlights," to help visitors feel less like tourists.

Routes include scenic tours of Munich, tours of famous wine regions, a dairy specializing in handmade cheeses; contemporary art museums and culinary experiences at hot new restaurants.

The rates start from €102 per person at the Hotel Daniel in Graz, Austria.

http://www.designhotels.com/roadtrips