Ski Holiday at Vitosha...

While not necessarily the most popular ski resort in Bulgaria, Vitosha is nevertheless a busy resort mostly because of its relative closeness to Sofia, which is the capital of the country. Just 10 kilometres out from the city limits, Vitosha is the highest ski resort in the country, and features a combination of hiking trails during the summer months and plenty of slopes for skiing during the winter ones. While it is accessible year-round, the winter months are more popular with tourists in Sofia for ski holidays, or for visitors who are looking for a day trip while staying in the city.

Above and beyond the ski slopes themselves, there are also two biosphere preserves on Vitosha: the Bistrishko Branishte and the Torfeno Branishte. The mountain is also host to one of the longest caves in Bulgaria. Known as Duhlata, it is nearly 18 kilometres long and has six underground rivers, combined with the eastern cliffs which are perfect for rock-climbing during the warmer months.

One of the main differences between Vitosha and the more ski-themed resorts such as Bansko is the simple fact that this is not one of the major ski resorts of Bulgaria, and while the skiing and snowboarding opportunities are well enough in their own right, perfect for people looking for a quick jaunt while staying in Sofia, the nightlife and slopes cannot compare to the bigger resorts such as Bansko and Pamporovo. Still, there are six different runs of various difficulties in length, so no matter the level of skill there is something for everyone.

Skiing Holidays Worldwide...

For those living in Europe and considering ski holidays, France, Switzerland and Austria are often the first choices. This is due to the fact they are easy to get to from most European departure points, and low cost budget airlines are making ski deals more affordable. However, it is thanks to these same low cost airlines that skiing worldwide is much more accessible and no longer a holiday just for the elite.

The United States has many well known ski resorts such as Aspen, Vail and Breckenridge. Located in Colorado and enjoying the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain range, these are amazing places for any skiing connoisseur to visit. Still in the Rocky Mountains but further north in Canada is yet another world famous ski resort – Whistler. Once the exclusive playground of the rich and famous, ski resorts such as these are becoming more accessible to even the budget conscious skier.

The results of internet searches produce many ski deals and fabulous locations for unique skiing holidays. Chile, for example, can offer excellent quality skiing even in the summer months, and who would have thought Australia could offer fantastic ski opportunities as well?

Ski deals can be found at many major resorts and low cost flights open up literally a whole world of possibilities where skiing is concerned. If you are able to travel at the last minute, usually within a day or two, you can often find unbelievable bargains. Some people who have never skied before are trying it just because it is now so cheap to travel.

Skiing Holidays Worldwide...

For those living in Europe and considering ski holidays, France, Switzerland and Austria are often the first choices. This is due to the fact they are easy to get to from most European departure points, and low cost budget airlines are making ski deals more affordable. However, it is thanks to these same low cost airlines that skiing worldwide is much more accessible and no longer a holiday just for the elite.

The United States has many well known ski resorts such as Aspen, Vail and Breckenridge. Located in Colorado and enjoying the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain range, these are amazing places for any skiing connoisseur to visit. Still in the Rocky Mountains but further north in Canada is yet another world famous ski resort – Whistler. Once the exclusive playground of the rich and famous, ski resorts such as these are becoming more accessible to even the budget conscious skier.

The results of internet searches produce many ski deals and fabulous locations for unique skiing holidays. Chile, for example, can offer excellent quality skiing even in the summer months, and who would have thought Australia could offer fantastic ski opportunities as well?

Ski deals can be found at many major resorts and low cost flights open up literally a whole world of possibilities where skiing is concerned. If you are able to travel at the last minute, usually within a day or two, you can often find unbelievable bargains. Some people who have never skied before are trying it just because it is now so cheap to travel.

Apartments and Villas in Italy...

Italy offers a wide range of luxurious apartments suited to all tastes and budgets. With a rich history and plenty of culture, Italy is the perfect holiday destination. There are apartments and villas available in most areas of the country, all equipped with a fully fitted kitchen, bathroom and a spacious living room. The majority of holiday apartments and villas in the country are located near to all local amenities, including shops and restaurants.

Italy’s apartments and villas are ideal for large families looking for self-catering accommodation. An ideal location for apartment and villa rentals is Rome. Rome is the perfect location for those wishing to explore Italy’s rich history and some of its apartments are set in historic buildings and located near to many fascinating ruins and monuments, as well as plenty of pizzerias.

Italy’s apartments and villas are equipped with everything you need to make your stay comfortable. All essential items, such as towels, hair dryer, linens and soap are provided and each villa and apartment is equipped with central heating and air conditioning to provide you with a comfortable environment during your stay.

Home to many fascinating attractions such the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy is the perfect destination for those looking for an interesting holiday location that provides excellent, affordable accommodation. Those visiting Rome may wish to stop by Travestere, which is home to a selection of medieval buildings and cobbled streets and is known for its romantic atmosphere, making it an ideal holiday destination for couples.

Stilted Apartments in Thailand...

One of the most exotic holiday locations are the stilted apartments on the island resorts around Thailand. Most tourists arrive in Bangkok and make their way to the paradise destinations of Phi Phi, Phuket or Krabi. These tropical islands are covered in rain forests, have excellent weather all year round and miles of soft golden sand and crystal blue waters to play in.

The resorts of Thailand feature apartments with glass bottomed portholes in the rooms through which you can catch the marine life. They are exquisitely decorated in the local style featuring rich fabrics, sturdy dark timber and bamboo.  Many of the resorts have all modern facilities like Wi-Fi, environmentally controlled air-conditioning and plunge pools and verandas.

Should you tire of relaxing on sun loungers or swimming with the fish on the delicate white coral reefs, there are many locations you can visit, all within easy reach of the resorts. Patong is the entertainment capital on Phuket, with an active beachfront full of bars, shops and restaurants while Phuket town is the commercial centre full of the real Thai lifestyle.

Krabi also has a vibrant nightlife scene with disco bars and world cuisine restaurants but also provides a great start from which to explore the natural wonders of Thailand, like the parklands of Kao Phanom Bencha, the roaring waters of the Namtok and Ton Ham falls, or the caving complex at Tham Khao.

Phi Phi is a low-slung island with little high ground but swathes of warm soft sand and an inviting turquoise ocean in which to swim. Phi Phi is the perfect place to lay back and do nothing.

Skiing Holidays in the French Mountains...

When going on a skiing holiday it can be hard to decide where to go especially if you have never been on that type of holiday before. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or an expert, skiing holidays France are perfect because it offers some of the best skiing in the world.

Apart from the quality of skiing in France there are many advantages of skiing holidays France, including the fact that it is so close to us here in the UK with the many methods of getting to the slopes. You can fly which is convenient and quick or you can make getting there by ferry part of the holiday, in addition we have the advantage of taking the Eurostar or “Snow Train” to the base of the Alps. Not only does the fact that France is so close mean a shorter travel time, it also means that it can be cheaper to get there.

You will be spoilt for choice when you go on skiing holidays France because there are 400 resorts to choose from. This means that no matter what your ability is or what you are interested you are going to find a resort that suits your tastes.

City Guide to Paris...

The largest city in France, Paris is the one of the most visited holiday destinations in the world, receiving around 45 million tourists each year. Known as “the City of Love”, Paris is the perfect holiday destination for couples seeking a romantic break and also offers plenty of fascinating attractions for those who love exploring.

Paris has many popular landmarks, the most famous being the Eiffel Tower. Constructed in 1889, the Eiffel Tower receives more visitors than any other monument in the world. In addition to providing stunning views of the city, the tower also has two restaurants.

Those interested in exploring the history of Paris and France may wish to visit Place de la Bastille, a district that was previously the home of the Bastille Prison. The prison was attacked in 1789, an event known as “the storming of the Bastille”, marking the beginning of the French Revolution. Today, the area contains a harbour and is the location of the L’Opéra Bastille, an opera house.

In addition to Place de la Bastille, Paris offers many historic areas. The history of Paris and France can also be explored in a number of museums, the most popular being the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN), also known as the National Museum of Natural History. The museum offers a wide variety of art galleries and artefacts, making it the ideal attraction for those wishing to learn about the history of Paris and France.

Paris offers a thriving nightlife. There are a variety of bars, clubs and venues offering live music. The city is also known for its wide selection of theatres and opera houses. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from, most of which offer French and English cuisine.

Whether you are looking for a romantic break or a destination that has a strong history and plenty of culture to explore, Paris is sure to be the ideal destination.

Experiencing Beirut...

Beirut is the capital city and the largest city in Lebanon. A popular way to get a feel for the city of Beirut is to take a guided walking tour of the neighbourhoods of West Beirut.  The guides provide visitors with a great deal of the history of the city through story telling.  Another interesting attraction is the Jeita Grotto which is an underground cavern which can be explored on foot or by boat.  The attraction is typically busy on the weekend so it is better to visit on other days of the week.  To the northeast of Beirut are the ruins of the Roman temple complex of Baalbek.  The temples were built to honour the gods Jupiter, Mercury and Venus. Another impressive sight in Beirut is the Churches of Harissa.  Visitors can enjoy incredible views of the city and Jounieh Bay and see Our Lady of Lebanon, which is a 15-ton statue of the Virgin Mary. 

Beirut has several museums which can be enjoyed by visitors.  One of the historical museums is the National Museum which has over 1,300 ancient artefacts on display.  Some of the artefacts are more than 3000 years old. The Sursock Museum features displays of Japanese and Islamic art.  Beirut also has a science museum in Planet Discovery which is great for children. 

Flights to Beirut are available from many airports in the United Kingdom.  Those interested in travelling to the Middle East can search for cheap tickets using an online search engine.

Ski Alpe d’Huez – perfect for all the fami...

Ski in Alpe d’Huez, one of the premier resorts in the French Alps with superb skiing holidays for all abilities and a wide variety of night life! This is a true skier’s paradise and is considered France’s big hitter, with first class piste design, lift system and snow. With an exclusive focus on excellent ski holidays, Alpe d’Huez is blissfully easy to use and continuous investment and dedication keeps it State of the Art.

The slopes are friendly to all levels of skier beginners have vast nursery slopes close to the resort centre. There’s an array of wide, gentle greens to potter on before venturing further a field where you’ll find beautiful, endless, wide-open pistes. For the better skier up to intermediate standard, they can cover the area on cruising blues or testing reds that usually have a black alternative. Alpe d’Huez ski holidays give experts all the challenge they can handle, including the longest black in Europe and some fantastic challenges from the top of Pic Blanc at a height of 3300m you can ski black runs almost all the way to the village at 1860m!

Snowboarders are not forgotten either, they have plenty of opportunities in Alpe d’Huez with a couple of boarder-cross parks and snow parks with ramps, jump and rails. They also have vast powder fields and natural gullies. Skiing and boarding Alpe d’huez is a must for your next winter sports holiday.

Renting a Holiday Apartment in Tuscany...

It goes without saying that the Tuscany hills are sumptuously beautiful and almost surreally serene. But if you’re planning a holiday there, you’re going to need accommodation which won’t have the effect of undoing the soothing and soul-boosting effects of the region’s natural beauty. This is where an established company such as ‘To Tuscany’, which has won glittering accolades from reviewers in the British Telegraph and Daily Mail, can come to your aid.

There is little point in seeking solace, comfort and recuperation in the beauty of Tuscany if you’re doing so in accommodation so primitive it makes you want to curl into a foetal position and rock. With established tour operators like ‘To Tuscany’, you can rest assured that you’ll have a magnificent variety of options to choose from depending on your tastes and pocket – you could stay in anything from a modern self-catering villa to a fairy-tale castle. There are plenty of villas, farm houses and holiday cottages in between to choose from, too. Companies like this take care to hand pick the accommodation they’re willing to put their name against. For less than £800 per week, you could be experiencing the majestic natural splendour of Tuscany in a 12th century stone farmhouse with 21st century equipment installed.

Just make sure that, whichever Tuscany apartment operator you’re exploring, there are plenty of photographs of the properties (inside and out) available online and downloadable background information – ‘To Tuscany’ also includes detailed floor plans.