My name’s Renee Hannes, otherwise known as The Holidaymaker!
I am a travel enthusiast!
I’ve been travelling to Europe for 35 years!
As a full-time travel blogger, I travel exclusively to Europe and explore it extensively, returning to the same countries again and again to get that priceless locals’ perspective.
My goal is to help as many people as possible to experience the authentic side of Europe.
If you would like to contact me, my email address is renee@dreamplanexperience.com
Social Media
I love to hang out on Instagram where I have 18,000 followers. There, you can see my Story Highlights of all my blogs. I also post daily on my Facebook page and Twitter.
Travel News & Tips In Your Inbox
My email subscribers receive an email from me every Saturday.
My helpful emails contain the latest travel news, tips and experiences to make the most of your next trip.
Download your free 15 Practical Tips to Slow Travel. Learn what slow travel means in practical terms and how you can easily embrace the art of slowing down for a more authentic travel experience.
Every subscriber will receive four freebie offers upon joining!
Helping You to Plan Your Trip
I know many people find planning an international trip to be overwhelming. There’s just so much you have to do from initial research to booking, planning your days and packing. That’s why I created digital Destination Travel Guides.
Let me take charge and create a personalized trip without the hassle! I provide custom trip planning services tailored to your travel style, interests, and preferences. Leave the details to me, and I’ll create a perfect itinerary for you.
In The Media
I’ve appeared on the podcasts sharing my travel experiences.
- The Amateur Traveler is an award-winning online travel site and weekly podcast where Travel+Leisure mentions it as the “best independent travel journalist”. Listen to my episode about the UNESCO Road Trip in Germany with host Chris Christensen.
- The Nomadic Foodist Show, with host Chris Kretzer where we talk about Paris, Europe travel tips and some foodie experiences from Rome too, listen here.
My work has been featured in local news and travel publications like BlogTO, Toronto’s favourite source for experiencing the best of the city, as well as, tourism boards, like Niagara-on-the-lake.
While living abroad and in Berlin, Germany in 2023 I partnered with the Berlin Tourism Board to promote the city’s top attractions and experiences.
My articles have been shared with their partners, for example, Fork & Walk Food Tours. You can find my articles by visiting my Germany Destination page.
I have partnered with countless PR Firms, hotels and property rentals both in Canada and Europe. To read more, go to Work with Me.
My Background
I’m a 50-something, retired career professional from Canada.
My real love of travel began when I was 17. I travelled solo to Germany for 3 months, and ever since, I was hooked. I fell head over heels with Europe.
For many years it was only one trip each year, and the rest of the time was spent dreaming and planning my return trip. That annual Europe trip crept into two per year and then three per year. That’s where I learnt all the Europe travel tips and tricks that I share on my blog.
I understand that you want to make the most of your vacation time. That your Europe trip takes a lot of research and planning, especially if it’s to a destination you’ve never been to before.
I created this blog to help people find the right information to make travelling to Europe as easy as possible. And, to experience an authentic side of Europe.
As a cultural traveller, I like to experience Europe as a local, embracing the customs, food and everyday life. My articles aim to inspire a deeper connection with destinations by going beyond typical tourist attractions and encouraging others to explore off the beaten path for authentic and memorable experiences.
I am also a co-partner in a women-led company called Dream Retreats Europe which hosts luxury wellness retreats centred on culturally immersive experiences in Europe. To read more, go to Dream Retreats Europe.
