Ski Holidays in Bulgaria on a budget...

Skiing holidays in Eastern Europe are always cheaper than the more popular resorts in Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland. Skiing in Bulgaria is a popular budget choice.

The most popular budget resort with British skiers is Borovets. The town is fairly small and lies at approximately 1,300 metres in the Rila Mountains. It is comprised of three different zones. The upper half of the mountain is mainly above the line of the trees and has plenty of wide open pistes. Most of these are gentle which is ideal for beginners and intermediates. One of the big attractions of Borovets is the nightlife. Free or cheap drinks fuel the fun and there are plenty of bars, restaurants and clubs.

Pamporovo and Vitosha have also received much needed upgrades, but the pick of the bunch is Bansko which has seen huge investment in its facilities and hotels. Prices of course have inevitably risen as the quality of the resorts improves, but choose a travel company that can negotiate the best rates on ski rentals, lift tickets and other items and you can still get a bargain.

Booking and paying for everything in advance is often better than paying at the resort as prices tend to be fluid in Bulgaria in a way that they are not in North America or Western Europe.

The locals are friendly and the ski schools are of a high standard whilst being much cheaper than in the Alps. Eating out is also reasonable, although Bulgaria is not exactly known for its cuisine.

Bulgaria is in the south east of Europe so flights and transfer times tend to be longer and the road network is not that good. The exchange rate in the resorts tends to be poor and often there is a high commission charge. It is recommended that skiers take hard currency such as sterling or withdraw money from their UK bank account as required.

To find the best deals on skiing in Bulgaria packages visit several websites and follow the links to ‘Ski Holidays Bulgaria’.

Shopping in Manchester...

Manchester has one of the widest varieties of shops in the north-west of England.  The city centre houses one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, the Arndale Centre, where visitors can find most of the major high street retailers. Getting to Manchester is easy as it is connected to major road and rail networks and cheap flights to Manchester Airport are available from most European cities.

Streets such as Deansgate, St Ann’s Square and Barton Arcade are popular with shoppers who are looking for anything from designer labels to the ultimate bargain.  The area is also home to a number of cafés, restaurants and coffee bars, which makes it welcoming for those serious shoppers who want to spend all day browsing.

The city centre also has a number of specialist shopping areas.  The Triangle is home to independent jewellery shops and some designer names while those with an interest in vintage fare can visit the Northern Quarter.  This is popular with second-hand retailers, record and music shops.  Chinatown has a number of shops selling everything from food to fabric and there is even a Buddhist shop for yoga accessories.

There are also several shopping options for those who prefer not to visit the city centre.  There is a Designer Outlet Shopping Village situated next to The Lowry in Salford and the Trafford Centre offers nearly 300 different stores. 

Markets are always a popular choice with shoppers and Manchester has many to choose from.  Farmers’ markets are regularly held at various locations around the city for fresh produce and Christmas sees one of the country’s best European markets.  Stalls are set up at different locations in the city centre and vendors come from nearly every European country to sell their wares. 

Cruise holidays for groups...

In order to obtain the best cruise deals, there is no better way than to be part of a group. Every major line knows the importance of catering to group cruises and if your party is large enough, you can almost have entire ships all to yourself.

Theme cruises are a popular way of discovering different parts of the world and are often aimed at groups. There is no better way to boost camaraderie and moral than booking a themed cruise holiday and even if you book with friends and family you could stand to save a substantial amount on the listed ticket price.

Music, sports, lifestyle and gay and lesbian cruises are just some of the themed holidays on offer. Whether you are planning a big family reunion or taking your club or society on a big bonding break, theme cruises are highly recommended.

Also popular are the many excursion cruises that are available. Antarctica, Alaska and Caribbean cruises are just some of the sought after options in this category, but you can rest assured that you will be able to find a suitable adventure to suit everyone’s tastes.

Some solo travellers organise groups especially for cruise holidays and this is a great way to bring down the cost of your holiday, as well as meet new people. There will always be special cruises deals available for groups, but last minute cruise deals, may be less easy to find.

The Mediterranean Island of Capri...

The Italian island of Capri, situated off the coast of the Sorrentine Peninsula, can certainly lay claim to being the oldest resort in the Mediterranean. The island served as a resort during the age of the Roman Republic; ancient Roman ruins can still be found scattered across the island.

These ruins, combined with the island’s ruggedly spectacular scenery, make Capri one of the Mediterranean’s most fascinating islands. The two settlements of Capri Town and Anacapri serve as the major tourist hotspots with their chic restaurants and stylish hotels. Venture into the surrounding areas, however, and a rural landscape emerges full of traditional charm and stunning scenery.

Capri cannot lay claim to wide expanses of golden sand; the island’s small yet attractive beaches can be found in small nooks and coves carved into the rocky cliffs, many accessible only by boat. The Marina Piccola and Bagni di Tiberio beaches are two of the most popular. La Fontelina, meanwhile, is perhaps the islands most famous beach, situated at the foot of the iconic Faraglioni rocks.

The island is home to the ruins of numerous Roman villas, the most notable of which is Villa Jovis, the former residence of Emperor Tiberius. Capri’s other must-see destination is the Blue Grotto, a sea cave of legendary beauty. To access the cavern, tourists must lie down in a boat while entering through the grotto’s low opening.

Capri can be reached by ferry or hydrofoil from Naples, Positano, Sorrento or Amalfi. Ferries from Naples take about 80 minutes, or 40 minutes from Sorrento. Hydrofoils are slightly more expensive, but cut the travel time in half.

Are you adequately insured for your ski holiday?...

Many who take their annual ski holiday are under the mistaken impression that they do not require to take out additional cover as their normal holiday insurance will be adequate, or worse still that the European Health Insurance Card, which is the reciprocal arrangement for emergency health treatment will be adequate, which it most certainly will not!

If you have taken out annual holiday insurance for your usual two week jaunt with the family to the Mediterranean, together will the other odd holiday you may embark upon, you should ensure that this also has winter sport cover added to the policy for yourself or any other members of the family who may be going to enjoy a skiing holiday with you. Often the better way is to take out specialist winter sport holiday insurance for your trip to the Alps or to North America. Many ski holiday specialists will be happy to arrange this cover for you, or you could search through a broker or by a comparison site. If you choose the latter way to find winter sports insurance, please make sure that it covers all eventualities and has a minimum medical expenses cover which should be not less than £5million.

Another useful tip is to make sure that you always carry a credit card stowed safely in your ski suit as more often than not you will be asked to pay up front for the trip down the mountain and in the ambulance, in fact in Austria this will cost you around €230 and the ambulances there are equipped with a machine to take card payments on the spot. Happily just about everyone comes home with fewer bruises than they might get playing football!

Edinburgh – city of history, arts and cultur...

Edinburgh is a city of two parts. There is the traditional medieval town mixed in with eighteenth century Old Town buildings, and the new town. Its main attractions are its architecture and history, not to mention culture and the arts.

Five hours on a train from London King’s Cross and you will arrive in the heart of the city.  There are a number of cheap flights to Edinburgh from many of the main cities in Europe and will get you to Edinburgh Airport in a matter of hours. From the airport it’s a short bus, or taxi ride into the city centre.

The main attractions of this great city are Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle and The Golden Mile, but the old wynds (narrow streets) and closes of the Old Town are steeped in history. Some of these are so narrow that you can stretch out your arms and touch the walls on both sides of the street. This area still keeps its medieval character and is a World Heritage Site, which means that it is properly protected.

This city is also well known for the Edinburgh Tattoo held in the castle grounds.  This is a festival with military marching bands that attracts thousands of people each year.

The Edinburgh Festival is famous throughout the Western World for its arts and music. At festival time you will find concerts, street plays, street entertainers, drama groups and what is known as fringe theatre in all the main venues and on the streets. The 2010 festival runs from the 13th August to the 5th September and it promises to be just as special as the previous events. This year there is a mix of Central and South American dance, music and theatre as one of the main official events.

Cruising with Royal Caribbean Cruises...

Royal Caribbean cruises are nothing short of perfect and by sailing with them you will have a massive choice, with pleasure and excellent service being guaranteed at all times.

Royal Caribbean have a fleet of 21 ships and as they operate one of the world’s freshest, youngest and extremely innovative cruise fleet, they are extremely proud of the service they offer each and every customer.

With amazing itineraries to the most beautiful destinations, fantastic activities events both on and off the ship, your time as a guest of Royal Caribbean will be unforgettable.

Independence of the Seas is royal Caribbean’s newest addition to their already massive fleet. This is currently the world’s biggest cruise ship and features 15 decks of show-stopping activities to pass the time between ports. Sailing from Southampton, the Independence of the Seas will be operating in the Mediterranean and around Europe.

Royal Caribbean Cruises believe that you shouldn’t be spending most of your holiday flying to ports of departure or arrival, which is why they have more departures from the UK and around Europe than other cruise companies.

The onboard experience on Royal Caribbean ships will have you playing brilliant games of bingo, singing classic hits at karaoke nights, busting those moves you have just learned at the dance classes and with many more activities to take part in, you will never be short of something brilliant to do.

Sailing with Royal Caribbean is a breeze and also promises fun for all the family.

Lake Baikal in Russia...

Lake Baikal is one of Russia’s most popular natural tourist attractions. Not only is it the deepest and oldest lake in the world, it is also one of the clearest and most voluminous. Located in the southeast of Russia’s Siberian region, Lake Baikal is also home to thousands of plant and animal species.

Whether they are adventure seekers or nature lovers, visitors to the lake and its surrounding area will be dazzled by the natural beauty of one of Russia’s most special destinations. The mystery and charm of the lake is reflected in the locals themselves. Their way of life is still permeated by traditions and rituals which developed due to the lake’s ancient role as a holy place of worship. As such, the local culture is distinctly different from that found in the rest of Russia.

As well as the stunning landscape and unique culture of the region, there are also plenty of activities to pursue. The area is perfect for camping, trekking, biking, mountain climbing, kayaking and fishing, all of which can be arranged in the nearby settlements. Most tourists head to Lake Baikal in the summer to avoid the freezing winter. However, winter visits are gaining in popularity due to activities such as skiing, dog-sledging and ice-fishing.

The fastest way to reach Lake Baikal is by plane. Flights to the nearby towns of Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude are available from all of Russia’s major cities. The Trans-Siberian railway route also runs through Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. Roads lead from both these towns to the lake itself, the eastern shore being the most easily accessible overland.

Travelling from Heathrow to London...

There are a number of ways of getting into London once you’ve landed on your flight to Heathrow Airport.  There are options to suit all preferences and budgets.

National Express coaches run from the airport to Victoria Station in London as well as to a number of other destinations in the UK.  Heathrow has its own bus station which is situated between terminals 1, 2 and 3, but is easily reached from terminals 4 and 5 too. 

The Heathrow Connect is a train service which links terminals 1, 2 and 3 and Paddington Station in London via five other London stations.  There is a free service which links terminals 4 and 5 to the others so the Connect service is available to all passengers. There is also an Express service from London Heathrow airport to Paddington. 

Travellers can also travel into the city on the London Underground.  There are three Tube stations at the airport which connect to the Piccadilly line.  Services run for most of the day and evening and the average journey into London takes around 50 minutes.

For those who prefer a car journey then a taxi may be best.  However, this is an expensive option and journeys into the city may be considerably longer than other methods depending on the traffic.  Booking in advance may be cheaper and different vehicles can be hired depending on the number of passengers.

Using public transport in London is cheaper with an Oyster card.  These cards can be used on tubes, buses and some overland trains.  Information on obtaining and using the card can be found at the airport.

Group Ski Holidays Take Planning...

It may seem challenging enough to try to plan ski holidays for a couple or a family, but how do you go about organising one for a larger group of people? It may seem a bit daunting at first, but there are resources available to help you.

When planning group ski holidays, look for resorts offering special rates for groups of guests. If no information about group discounts is posted on the resort’s web site, contact the manager directly to ask about special pricing for your party. You can always move on to another option if the management is unwilling or unable to give you a break on the price.

Look online for companies catering to groups interested in ski holidays. They can help to make organising the trip a lot easier. If you have people who will be coming in from different destinations and then travelling to the resort, be sure to ask whether any group discounts you are being offered on air fares will apply in that case.

There are a number of accommodation options available for people going on group ski holidays. Depending on the number of people going, you may want to consider staying at a chalet or booking a block of rooms at a hotel. That way, everyone can stay together while enjoying their ski holidays.

The idea of booking a holiday for a group of people to go skiing together is for everyone to get some exercise and enjoy the fresh air. Ask about the possibility of a discount and the facilities the resort offers to groups. That way, everyone will have a wonderful time they will remember for years.