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Posts tagged Ski
Irish give Spring Break Trade A Bounce
03 days
by admin
in Uncategorized
Directors of European travel agents, airlines and holiday resorts are facing an anxious 2008, as property rises fall and the economy faces a downturn and some of their customers decide that now is the time to save rather than take one or more holidays.
The travel industry has seen a rise in the number of tourists in recent years, and many companies have programmes based on 2007 customer bases, and any drop will result in a corresponding drop in profits and perhaps even job losses, as well as a drop in their share values.
So it was welcome news that the Irish took a record number of holidays over Easter.
Initial reports suggest that some 280,000 tourists travelled through Dublin Airport over the Easter weekend – an impressive seven per cent rise over 2007, and one that the hotels and holidays industry would love to see sustained throughout 2008, and mirrored in the UK too.
And it was at the crossroads of the ski holiday season turning to the early sun holidays that attracted the tourists – the big favourite for the skiers was Innsbruck in Austria.
Innsbruck is one of the best known European ski resorts, with first class facilities for both experienced and novice skiiers alike. Innsbruck is located in the federal state of Tyrol, located in the Inn Valley between high mountains, it is ideally suited to winter activities and skiing in particular. The name Innsbruck means “the bridge over the Inn”.
Tenerife is a perennial favourite for both the Irish and British, and with temperatures in the 70′s farenheit the island was a top Easter destination for the Irish taking sunshine holidays.
Tenerife is known for its beautiful climate, which attracts nearly three and a half millions tourists a year to its scenic 2,034 square kilometers.
Tenerife’s Costa Adeje, the area that includes Las Americas and Los Cristianos, offers visitors opportunities for recreation and sightseeing. Outstanding shopping, 9 beautiful golf courses, fine dining, water parks, zoos, and a magnificent theater that often features great musicals and of course the natural beauty of sun and sand on Tenerife’s gorgeous beaches are all attractions tourists love.
Tenerife’s northern section contains the tourist hub of Puerto de la Cruz. The town maintains its old harbour roots, while offering a distinct flavour of modernity. It is charming as well as cosmopolitan. Large and beautiful hotels dot its skyline.
The island is abundant with breathtaking natural beauty and opportunities for hiking and sightseeing. In fact, Tenerife boasts the tallest mountain in Spain, Mt. Teide, which is home to an extraordinary 48 km. crater left behind by an inactive volcano. Tourists who want to make a day of it can hike the crater – those with less time or desire to hike can catch a cable car to the summit where a magnificent view of this sublime paradise awaits.
Another of Tenerife’s natural tourist attractions are the Cliffs of the Giants. These astounding rock walls drop from heights of 500-800 feet almost straight down into the sea. Tourists can soak in the sights from one of the restaurants and other viewpoints located across the small bay in the resort town of Los Gigantes. They may opt for an up-close and personal look at the massive rock faces by taking a tour boat across the bay.
With Innsbruck for winter sports holidays and Tenerife for the sunshine, perhaps it should come as no surprise that the Irish travelled in high numbers over the Easter holidays!
Off The Beaten Path: Winter Activities In Jackson Hole
07 days
The Jackson Hole skiing area is often considered one of the best skiing destinations in the nation. The advanced trails, backcountry thrills and multitude of winter activities make it the perfect place for ski bums and vacationers to hang. Besides the obvious ski trails and mountain resorts, the Jackson Hole skiing area has a lot to offer thrill seekers.
Here are a few options for those ski enthusiasts looking for adventure off the beaten path:
Cross-Country Skiing
The Jackson Hole area offers many groomed and un-groomed trails for all cross-country expert levels. In Jackson Hole, skiing cross-country is more than just a recreational activity, however. It is an amazing opportunity to take in the splendor and beauty of Yellowstone National Park and its surrounding area.
Winter snows bring changes to the landscape and animals migrating or preparing to hibernate are often seen when cross-country skiing in remote areas. Remember, it is healthier for the animals if skiers observe through binoculars or high-powered lenses rather than trying to physically get as close as possible!
Heli-Skiing
Jackson Hole skiing also offers extreme thrill-seekers the opportunity to participate in a relatively new form of skiing called heli-skiing. Expert skiers or snowboarders can experience an amazing helicopter tour as they are lifted high above the valley floor to the untouched snow-fields of the Rocky Mountains. Skiing this pristine snow is often the highlight of any trip to the area. Heli-ski trips are typically exclusive and include a guide trained to find the best snow on the highest peaks and no more than five or six skiers.
Snowcat Skiing
One of the most unusual activities that Jackson Hole skiing offers is called snowcat skiing. For those groups who seek the thrill of heli-skiing but cannot afford its price tag, snowcat skiing is a great alternative. A snowcat is a tracked, truck-like vehicle that can literally climb snowy mountains. Trips usually take up to ten skiers and can cover up to 20,000 vertical feet in a day! It is the perfect way to push your skiing limits without emptying your pocketbook.
Dog Sledding
For some who visit Jackson Hole, skiing is not the only draw. The thrill of riding behind a pack of sled dogs as they twist and turn their way through snowy mountain trails is enough for even expert skiers to put their skis away for an afternoon! Jackson Hole is home to some of the most experienced sled drivers in the world. Several companies offer one-hour, half-day, full-day and even overnight trips to fantastic overlooks or hot springs pools.
Snowmobiling
For many in Jackson Hole, skiing takes a backseat to the thrill and excitement of snowmobiling through the amazing landscapes the area has to offer. Many companies offer guided tours into spectacular Granite Hot Springs, wildlife tours in the Gros Ventre area and even 2-3 day overnight trips. Floating on fresh powder, forging a trail where nobody has been before – these are the thrills that keep people coming back for more!
Jackson Hole offers even more winter activities like snowshoeing, mountain climbing, telemarking, sleigh rides and wildlife tours. It is truly a destination for everyone – families, retirees, extreme athletes and weekend skiers.
How To Choose Holiday Apartments For A Skiing Holiday
034 days
by admin
in Ski Vacations
The growth of skiing holidays has led to a rise in the number of holiday apartments that can be selected on the internet. There are some great holiday apartments in most of the ski resorts around the world.
Many families now stay in holiday apartments when going on skiing holidays. In the past accommodation was very expensive on skiing holidays and many people were not able to afford it. In recent years there has been a tremendous growth in the number of holiday apartments in skiing resorts. They have now opened up skiing holidays to a whole new market place that could not afford skiing before.
Staying in an apartment on a skiing holiday can be great fun. You can ski during the day and at night sample the local night life. The apartment can act as a base to explore the local area and you can choose to eat what you like when you like. Most ski resorts now open up during the summer months and the holiday apartments can make for a very cheap holiday. There is still plenty to do with stunning scenery, long mountain walks and breathtaking views.
By using the internet you are able to find some great holiday apartments around the world. It possible to find apartments with direct holiday bookings. By selecting your holiday apartment on line, you are able to compare it with the other holiday apartments available to stay in. This will enable you to get the best possible value holiday apartment to stay in during your holidays.
By looking for a holiday apartment on line will also allow you to see exactly what you are going to be staying in. You will be able to view pictures of your holiday apartment and also see what facilities you will be provided with during your stay in the apartment during your holiday. It is also a convenient way of checking out the area that you will be staying in and you will have some idea about what shops and restaurants are near to your holiday apartment.
Holiday apartments are a great form of accommodation during your vacations. There is a tremendous choice of apartments to choose from to stay in during your holidays. It does not matter if you want a cheap holiday or are prepared to stretch your budget as there are holiday apartments to suite all needs and price ranges.
When staying in a holiday apartment on a skiing holiday you can choose to eat out at the local restaurants or cook back in your holiday apartment. The good thing about a holiday apartment is that it gives you the freedom to do what you want, when you want on a holiday.
Staying in a holiday apartment is a great way to spend your vacations. There are holiday apartments by the sea, in the city centres and even by the ski slopes. There are one bedroom holiday apartments with sofa beds all the way through to large luxurious penthouse holiday apartments. People of all ages with different needs and requirements now stay in holiday apartments all over the world. It is no wonder that staying in a holiday apartment is now such a popular kind of holiday.
Ski Holiday Prices On A Hike
042 days
by admin
in Ski Resort
Research in the ski industry shows a surprise rise in the typical price of a skiing holiday this year.
The surprise report shows that the price of a typical ski holiday for the 2008 ski season rose everywhere in both Europe and Noth America – except for Germany and the United States – with Canadian ski holidays rising in price fastest as a direct result of the strong Canadian dollar against the Euro and British sterling.
Pushing prices up for the 2008 skiing season were not just higher aviation fuel costs and government levied flight taxes, but lift passes, equipment hire and ski instructor lessons all rose faster than inflation.
Comparing different ski resorts striking differences emerge with ski lift passes costing 90 sterling in Bulgaria and Romania – but over 240 sterling in Banff, Canada – nearly treble the cost.
And private ski lessons also showed great price differentials. Some ski resorts in Romania were offering lessons for 11 sterling this year, in Switzerland 35, but in Banff it went up to 65 sterling, nearly six times the cost of their Romanian counterparts.
Once the skiing is over for the day the price differences were still as sharp for skiiers this year. While a cup of coffee in Italy is around one Euro, in Norway it is nearer to three, and for those who prefer alcohol a beer in Bulgaria is a pound, but astonishingly over five pounds in Norway – and the cost of a meal shows similar price differentials.
Commenting upon the report, an Andorra travel guide who include ski holidays information comments that ‘The difference in prices between different resorts is surprising. We would expect some regional and local variance but not to the extent we saw for the 2008 ski season in Europe and North America.’
The lower priced ski countries could see an upswing in visitors in 2009 – much needed after a poor 2007 season in countries like Austria and Andorra, both of which recovered well this year but could do with a good second year in a row. Both countries are investing in their ski infrastructure and benefitting too from low cost airlines offering more flights to skiiers.
Several airlines recently announced a plan to encourage more trips to ski resorts by opening up additional routes for travel to European ski resorts.
These fly passengers directly to the airports that are closest to several of the major skiing destinations for many individuals and families on holiday. For example, the UK’s biggest low cost airline flies passengers on holiday into Barcelona, which is the nearest airport to the Andorra skiing resorts.
In addition to the flights taking passengers to ski at Andorra, there are several more flights connecting skiiers to their favourite ski destinations. Flights from London, Glasgow, Bristol, Liverpool, Blackpool and Newscastle all connect UK ski holidaymakers to their favourite ski resorts.
The reason airlines have chosen to increase the number of direct routes they provide to ski resorts for the 2008 and 2009 winter holiday periods is due to the fact business is booming. As of the end of October last year for example, one airline had over 2.5 million bookings for individuals and families wanting their flying services to travel to skiing destinations in Europe during this winter, and 2009 could see even more people taking a ski holiday.
Skiing Accommodations More Than Just A Place To Stay
048 days
by admin
in Ski Resort
My recent ski chalets experience left me feeling truly reinvigorated and revitalised. The skiing was exciting and challenging as it was the first I would see myself sliding the slopes of Meribel, however, it was the aftermath of unwinding in front of a log fire with a hot cup of cocoa and a nice cooked meal that kept me feeling achy from all of the sporting activity. Finding a good comfortable and warm place at a ski resort is imperative to the experience.
Fully catered ski chalets are slightly pricier than a normal hotel and may require some saving prior to going for the holiday. One thing that people should not be too afraid of is spending out on a little bit of money for that extra bit of comfort. In some circumstances the chalet that you book may even cater for your travel arrangements from the airport to the resort. Sometimes a taxi journey with all of your ski equipment can cost as much as booking a chalet, therefore it is cheaper to go for an all-in-one package.
There are ski chalets, which are completely independent from cleaning and catering services, and are large enough for groups of up to eight people or more to share. Therefore, you are given your own privacy and freedom to come in and out of the accommodation as you please. These are very often popular amongst young people or family, providing a real sense of closeness amongst the visitors and making it appear like a temporary second home.
The best types of chalets are ones that are fully catered and equipped with all of the necessary facilities. As much as some people prefer to travel on a budget, sometimes taken the time out on something slightly more extravagant ensures a guaranteed amazing experience, as well as a time to relax and put your feet. These make for a good place to be properly pampered and spoilt with saunas, satellite telephones, broadband internet and a Jacuzzi to name a few of the luxuries.
Even independent ski chalets can come with high quality food, an in-house chef, large double bedrooms with an en suite bathroom and shared kitchen facility. Some chalets will even offer you ski hire, footwear, basic skiwear, ski lessons or pre-book some lessons. This is worth taking up as then there would be no need to worry about travelling up and down with your skiing equipment. You will also be entitled to ski passes so you would not have to worry about waiting in a long queue to try out the ski slopes.
When staying in a chalet, it is not just about residing in a comfortable accommodation, but getting the full package, which include pick up from the airport to the resort. Many of these ski chalets cater for families with small children, in which the services will include a creche or nursery. You will also enjoy a continental breakfast in the morning and very often a chauffeur driven car down to your slopes.
The idea of opting towards a catered ski accommodation is to concentrate and focus on your skiing rather than having all of the headache and fuss over what you would need to do in terms of hiring equipment and transfer arrangements. Putting the extra bit of money in towards your accommodation will prove more than worth it in the end.