As a part of our journey to Europe, we spent one week in Sylt with my mother and her accomplice. Odds are that almost all OMAAT readers haven’t any clue what Sylt is. And admittedly I didn’t both, aside from the truth that my mother actually loves it there, and for years had been borderline harassing us about visiting. 😉 I’m so glad she did, as a result of we beloved Sylt, and may’t wait to return!
For context, Sylt is a 22-mile lengthy island in Northern Germany, proper on the North Sea, just a few miles from Denmark. It may solely be accessed by practice or aircraft, so there’s no technique to drive there (with out placing your automotive on a practice).
My mother’s Sylt gross sales pitch
I’ve been past lucky to take so many wonderful journeys with my mother prior to now few years, since she was identified with most cancers. We’ve gone in every single place from Hawaii to Greece, and since she’s nonetheless in a position to journey (in opposition to all odds), we requested her the place she wished to go this summer time.
Right here’s roughly how that dialog went (or no less than my takeaway from it):
Me: “The place ought to we go this summer time? Perhaps different islands in Greece, or Turkey, or what sounds greatest to you?”
Mother: “Child, I wish to present you and Ford Sylt. It’s my favourite place.”
Me: “However what’s there to do?”
Mother: “Effectively, you may sit on the seaside. Simply be sure to deliver ski underwear.”
Me: “Ski underwear? To sit down on the seaside in summer time? How chilly is it?”
Mother: “Effectively, it will probably get very windy.”
Me: “How windy?”
Mother: “You realize, possibly 30 mile per hour winds, and the temperatures are typically within the 50s. But it surely’s so stunning. The air is so contemporary.”
Me: “You perceive we may go to Greece or someplace with good climate, however you wish to go sit on the seaside on the North Sea in ski underwear?”
Mother: “Sure, it’s my dream that you simply go to as a result of you’ll find it irresistible.”
Me: “Okay, if that’s what you need…”
Shortly after this dialog, Ford discovered an excellent Airbnb in Sylt, and subsequent factor you understand our journey was booked. Whereas I don’t suppose my mother had probably the most convincing gross sales pitch for Sylt, I’m thrilled we listened to her, as a result of we had an unforgettable time.
Our expertise visiting Sylt
Sylt jogs my memory of a mixture between the Hamptons and Fogo Island. The island has half a dozen small cities, every with their very own appeal and highlights. It’s straightforward to get across the island, as there’s one important street going north to south, and you may as well hire electrical bikes to simply get round. The island has wonderful topography, with every part from seashores, to sand dunes, to a rugged and rocky shoreline.
Whereas Sylt solely has round 20,000 residents, it’s a particularly common vacation spot in summer time, and does get a number of (German) vacationers. So that is not at all some undiscovered hidden gem, although it’s very a lot a home vacation spot for vacationers.
It’s laborious to place into phrases what makes Sylt particular, and in some methods my mother wasn’t too far off with how she described it. This isn’t your conventional summer time vacation spot — the air is absolutely crisp, it does get windy, and also you’ll wish to deliver a jacket.
Sure, there’s the seaside, although we by no means truly sat on it, however fairly simply loved strolling on the promenade by it.
There are limitless strolling trails in Sylt, whether or not you wish to stroll previous farms, or alongside the water.
Sylt has probably the most constant housing model I’ve seen wherever on the planet, as nearly all homes are the model of Previous Frisian Homes.
There are biking paths spanning the entire island, so you may bike wherever.
I used to be shocked by how high-end Sylt was, for higher or worse. I noticed extra G-Wagons per capita than simply about wherever, which I wasn’t anticipating. And my jaw dropped once I noticed actual property costs, because it makes New York actual property seem like a discount by comparability.
I used to be a bit involved about eating in Sylt, since I figured it will be very North Sea-centric. I’m not an enormous fan of herring, or pickled this-or-that. So I used to be pleasantly shocked by the meals, as there have been a number of worldwide eating choices. There have been additionally a number of enjoyable out of doors eating places and bars the place you could possibly seize a drink and simply chill.
Our Airbnb expertise in Sylt
Whereas I’ve stayed in some Airbnbs booked by others, I’ve by no means booked an Airbnb with my household, so this was a primary. Sylt appeared like the appropriate place to try this. Resorts listed below are outrageously costly, and likewise aren’t notably luxurious. You’ll pay $500 per evening in peak season for one thing that may very well be a Vacation Inn.
A beautiful-looking new resort named Lanserhof did simply open in Sylt, however go determine it’s a “wellness resort,” and stays embrace a urine evaluation. Laborious go. Why couldn’t it’s a Six Senses, or one thing?
On condition that we have been touring as a bunch, we spent ~$400 per evening on an attractive 4 bed room home, which was lower than even mediocre resorts have been charging for only one room. Our expertise was constructive — it was so good to have a number of area, a yard, a fridge, a washer, and many others.
I did miss some elements of resorts, like simpler and extra versatile check-in and check-out, simpler communication prematurely, providers, and many others. However for a vacation spot like Sylt, this was the perfect choice, and I might hire the identical home once more in a heartbeat.
We will’t wait to return to Sylt
We couldn’t have had a greater time in Sylt. Admittedly I feel our impressions of locations are largely knowledgeable by who we’re touring with, and the overall circumstances of the journey:
- We’re extremely grateful that we nonetheless have the prospect to journey with my mother, and I’d get pleasure from spending time along with her wherever
- Ford began studying German two years in the past, and loves something that lets him follow his German and expertise German tradition; Sylt is absolutely German, in order that made Ford tremendous glad, and in flip made me glad
- We got here in with low expectations and people have been tremendously exceeded, and I feel that at all times makes a visit disproportionately enjoyable
- Ford and I each like strolling round and having fun with nature in a pleasing local weather, and that’s precisely what we bought in Sylt
- I feel we actually lucked out with climate, as it may be hit-or-miss in June; there was solely rain for at some point, and in any other case we had virtually good climate, with a breeze and temperatures within the 60s
Am I suggesting that everybody from across the globe ought to go to Sylt? No, most likely not. But it surely’s a singular vacation spot, one we loved immensely, and one we plan to return to sooner or later. We’ve had so many wonderful occasions with my mother, however our time along with her in Sylt was among the many most particular.
Backside line
I can’t say I used to be initially enthusiastic about touring to a summer time vacation spot the place ski underwear is really helpful on the seaside to remain heat. Thankfully Sylt exceeded all my expectations, and we had an unforgettable time that I’ll cherish endlessly. Ford and I are each grateful to my mother for introducing us to Sylt, and it gained’t be out final go to.