Top Ski Resorts in Europe for singles skiing holidays

When choosing a ski resort for the first time, it can be hard to know which one to book. Do you spend countless hours reading reviews, listening to numerous opinions from fiends or trust the resorts offered by holiday companies. Here are a few of the top ski resorts inEuropefor you to consider when making your choice.

Meribel

This wonderful resort nestled in the heart of three valleys in the French Alps. Those that head here are treated to over 600km of piste in the centre of the world’s largest ski areas. Much loved by the Brits, this fantastic resort has a number of traditional style chalets.

The resort is well known for its nightlife and after a hard days skiing, you are sure to have great night out in the cosy bars and restaurants.

Val d’lsere – One of the most popular French skiing destinations, Val d’lsere inFrancehas the charm from its traditional roots but with all the amenities you would expect from a modern resort. There are a number of nursery slopes that are ideal for beginners that still allow spectacular views, then a number of slopes and off piste areas for more experienced skiers including the Espace Killy and the Solaise bumps.

Courmayer – One of the best parts of the Courmayer inItalyis the numerous huts that line the slopes that each have a sundeck, allowing you chill out on and enjoy the views as you descend the piste on your skis. The resort is very popular with experienced skiers as it is home to famous areas like Vallee Blanches and the Toula Glacier. Enjoy the Italian culture as you walk the cobbled streets past the chic stores and take in some delightful food and wine.

St Anton – Home to some of the most exciting slopes inAustria, but also featuring nursery slopes and plenty for intermediates to tackle.  Thanks to The resort has a high speed Telebenne lift that lets Experiences skiers get thrills from unpisted bowls. Like all the resorts mentioned, St Anton also has plenty to do during the evenings with a great nightlife.

If you fancy skiing, but have no one to go with, why not consider Singles Skiing Holidays with a specialist company that will not only make sure you have a great time but ensure you’re well looked after.

Image of Meribel courtesy of Flickr user Leo-seta

Majorca and Portugal, golfing havens

One great advantage to staying in a villa on your holiday is having the freedom to do whatever you want when you want to. Being able to enjoy your favourite sporting activities can be very important to relaxing on holiday and are easily combined if the right holiday accommodation is chosen.

Both Majorca and Portugal have invested greatly in their golfing infrastructure in recent years, meaning that visitors to either destination have access to some of the finest courses in the world. With most golf clubs offering day passes and low green fees it has never been easier to fit in a round of golf whilst staying in one of our many villa properties throughout the Mediterranean.

The fabulous region of Pollensa in Majorca is just one of many that have a range of stunning courses that give you the opportunity to enjoy golf in a picturesque setting incorporating lush countryside and stunning sea views.

Should you choose to stay in one of our Villas in the Algarve you will find world class courses throughout in locations such as Albufeira, Vilamoura and Carvoeiro. Even if you only enjoy the spectatorship of the sport you will find national golfing competitions taking place in the Algarve throughout the year due to the region’s year round warm climate.

So why not choose one of our Villas in Algarve or Villas in Majorca during your next golfing vacation and you could be teeing off in perfect sunny surroundings.

Majorca, the best destination for a villa holiday?

Majorca and its historyIf you are thinking about sampling a villa holiday then you have countless destinations to choose from including Menorca, Majorca, Cyprus and many more. Knowing exactly what to expect is very difficult unless you have been on this fabulous style of holiday before so researching each location can be paramount to finding your ideal location.

Majorca is one destination that really does have everything you could ask for during a summer getaway. Not only does Mallorca have stunning coastlines that are filled with traditional harbours, marinas and fantastic beaches, but for those seeking it, plenty of national heritage on display and cultural attractions to be enjoyed by all.

A large choice of villas available in every shape and size can be found throughout Majorca in many of its towns such as Pollensa, Puerto Pollensa and Cala Dor. Each resort will have added bonuses to take advantage of. For example, if you are looking for a perfect holiday within walking distance of the beach then villas in Puerto Pollensa would be a great choice.

There is no doubt that you will find something to keep everyone entertained during a holiday in Majorca, villas with close amenities such as shopping centres and beaches can mean you have the freedom to organise your stay much better then one of the more traditional ways.
With that in mind, it is no wonder that Majorca is one of the world’s busiest destinations and by far the most popular Spanish island for villa holidays.

The Wildlife of the Majorca

The Balearic Islands are famous for their lush beaches and fascinating towns, villages and shorelines. What many people miss out on by not venturing just that tiny bit out of the islands built up or commercial areas is its wonderful wildlife.

Mallorca for example has a wealth of wildlife throughout it, from the sea life within arms reach of its many beaches and coves to its glorious open countryside. One of the best tips is to read up on and research just what you are hopefully expecting to see, you may be pleasantly surprised by just how much of a vast collection of animals and creatures you may find.

So with no more to do, let’s take a look at some of the wildlife you may be fortunate to encounter during a stay in a Villa in Majorca.

One of the first stops for people hoping to catch a glimpse of some Majorcan wildlife should be the Parc Naturel de S’Albufeira. The park is the largest area of wetlands on the island and is home to a whole host of different varieties of wildlife including fish and birdlife. For keen birdwatchers the conserved lagoon is a haven for many resident and visiting birds. As well as the many ducks and mallards there are also several varieties of Warblers that grace the Mediterranean island’s wetlands. With some luck you may well be able to catch a glimpse of the wonderful bird of prey known as the Marsh harrier.

So as you can see Majorca has so much more to offer then just sun, sea and sand during a Villa Holiday.

Top 5 Travel Insurance Tips for your 2011 Holidays

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is often the last thing we think about when booking our holidays, yet quite often it proves to be the most important element on a holiday, especially when things go wrong. People tend to not research their cover and then complain once they need to claim and find something isn’t satisfactory. Here are our top 5 travel insurance tips to consider before you head out on your holidays.

1. Don’t take the included cover from your travel provider. More often than not holiday companies try to get you to take travel insurance when booking your holiday as they get a cut. Usually this is quite expensive compared to what you can find yourself.

2. If you travel more than once a year, then it will be more cost effective to take an Annual Travel Insurance policy rather than multiple single trip ones. Also if you are travelling to the states, sometimes these annual policies work out cheaper than single ones.

3. If you are planning on or think there is a possibility that you might be engaging in some hazardous activities whilst abroad, then check that you have cover and what is included. Different activities are split into different bands and it is always worth checking to make sure you will be covered in case the worst does occur.

4. It kind of goes without saying these days, but you can get much better rates online when it comes to purchasing things like travel insurance. There are many specialist insurance companies who offer great deals through their websites.

5. Once you have chosen your cover and received your paperwork, make sure you keep it safe when you are abroad. It is advised that you keep copies of your paperwork back home and your originals in a safe place at all times when abroad. There is nothing worse than having an accident and not being able to find your insurance details.

Hopefully these simple tips will help you find the right insurance policy for your situation. Have a safe trip!

A Day Out at Paignton zoo

Whilst staying at a holiday park Devon you will have the opportunity to explore South Devon and enjoy everything it has to offer. One of the most popular and most well received attractions in the area is Paignton Zoo. Not only does the zoo have all of the features that you have to come to expect but it also hosts many fabulous exhibitions throughout the year. Priding itself on its value for money and varied events calendar the zoo is the idea place to take a day trip to when staying in a Torquay holiday park.

The Bath fringe festival is en-route


Bath is renowned for its wonderful festivals throughout the year and one of the most important and most looked forward to festivals is the cities Fringe Festival. Held between Friday the 27th of May and Sunday June the 12th, the festival is expected to once again become even more popular than ever.

This yeah you can expect to see over 170 events and shows being performed by artists from all around the world that will keep people entertained and enthralled. One of the highlights of the Bath Fringe festival is that most of the performances take place around the city in venues that are both unique and very interesting compared to the normal locations of theatre and dance productions throughout the year.

Incorporated within the Fringe Festival is the popular Visual Arts extravaganza which is run separately and each year proves to be a list of events that certainly are not to be missed by visitors to the city.

This year the visual festival will be basing itself on Stall Street; premises around the area will not only host indoor exhibitions but will also have installations available for the public to view outside.

This year will see a large amount of street art performance, giving visitors to the festival a chance to see all of the unique and exciting shows with the least amount of effort. Everything from street theatre to juggling will be dotted around the city throughout the Fringe Festival.

Each year the festival becomes larger and larger and as a result accommodation in Bath becomes harder to find, to make sure that you are in with the best chance of finding a great Bath hotel book as early as possible!

Take a trip to Bangor from Snowdonia

The mountains of Snowdonia are a wonderful place to visit, set in beautiful and tranquil surroundings the area is one of the most outstanding areas of natural beauty in Wales and possibly the world. There are many Snowdonia holiday cottages to stay in that will give you the option to not only enjoy the mountains but also the surrounding areas. Even if you plan on making the most of your holiday in Snowdonia and its open moorland and mountainsides, it can be a good idea to venture a little further afield and explore what the area has to offer.

There are many towns and cities that you could be visiting when you choose to stay in North Wales cottages. Bangor is one such city and is a wonderful Cathedral city within Snowdonia that is not only full of character but also has a wealth of activities and features within it, making a visit all the more special. As to be expected, being a university city Bangor has a very diverse offering of shopping outlets and a wonderful selection of nightlife and dining facilities. Due to the cities costal location it also has a picturesque pier and seaside with great views of the Menai Strait.

Just outside of Bangor you will find the lavish and grand Penryhn Castle, the neo Norman mansion not only contains stunning gardens but also features a range of attractions to keep people of all ages entertained including mazes, steam engines and even a collection of Old Master paintings.

Bath’s praise from Arts Minister

The Somerset City of Bath is renowned not only in Britain but also around the world for its many self organised festivals which focus on comedy and literature right through to fashion. The city also has fabulous historical cultural connections and architecture located throughout its boundaries.

At the beginning of this month the city was visited by the culture Minister Ed Vaizey who embarked on a tour of many of the cities most famous cultural attractions such as the Roman Baths, the Museum of East Asian Art, the Bath Fashion Museum, The Egg theatre and the Holburne Museum

After his tour the Minister gave some great praise on the City of Bath by saying “Bath is a most remarkable place. As you walk around the streets, you find there is a gem on every corner.”

The Minister was particularly interested in seeing the Holburne Museum that is currently about to re-open after a £13million makeover and renovation which has helped it extend it’s reach upon sectors like education. Mr Vaizey was delighted with the museum’s progress and commented “You want to make sure that museums like this, which has resources to provide education, are integrated into the community,” he said. “The key thing is to join up the dots.”

Judging by the success of the minister’s visit the numerous organisations within Bath will continue to provide a huge effort towards providing cultural exhibitions and outstanding events for many years to come. The city has seventeen different museums all within the city centre that are all enjoyed by the many people taking a short break in Bath or Spa Breaks.

New tourism strategy for the Peak District

In the old days a holiday in Britain was stereotypically portrayed as a dreary experience compared to other ‘international’ holiday destinations. An image of eating fish and chips in a rainy seaside resort plastered with bed and breakfasts was the normal perception of a holiday in the UK’s mainland.

Thankfully the UK’s tourism industry has done a great deal to improve not only the perceptions of English holidays but also the facilities the UK provides. With this in mind the government have just released information that they are launching a tourism strategy to make the number of people who regularly take their holidays in the country more in line with the amount who travel out to other destinations.

Another one of the goals of the new government initiative will be to create several new ‘Super Destinations’. When most people think about a holiday in England they would immediately think of London as the main city to take a trip to but the new plan would promote several great locations such as the Cotswolds, Peak District and the county of Cornwall and market / brand them as a new and appealing package to potential holiday makers.

The initiative is hanging on tight to the reins of the expected tourism boost of the royal wedding and the 2012 Olympic Games and the funding for the project will be the first tourism marketing project to take place since the government froze any such actions due to financial constraints.

So this year could be the ideal time to take a holiday in a Peak district cottage and discover just why a peak district holiday is one of the reasons the area has been chosen as a ‘Super Destination’.