Located at the foot of Gurghiu Mountains, between the Corund River and the valley of the Târnava Mică River, Sovata attracts tourists not only in the hot season, but also in the cold season too. Being one of the most fashionable spas in Romania, Sovata is a perfect choice to spend your winter holiday with your family and friends for a lot of fun and for a refreshing beginning of the year.

One of the most popular tourist attractions of the area is the Bear Lake, which is unique in Europe thanks to its helio-thermal and salty water. Also, Bear Lake is one of the largest salty and helio-thermal lakes in the world, with well-known therapeutic effects; on summer, its temperature can reach up to 40-50 degrees Celsius. But the Bear Lake is not the only salty lake in the area;
there are four other salty lakes: Black Lake, Nut Lake, Red Lake and Green Lake.

Apart from the possibilities of relaxation and treatment by hot baths (in tubs or pools with salt mineral water taken from lakes), nature comes with an irresistible offer: the ski slope. The slope is only 6 km from Sovata and is perfect for advanced skiers and for beginners too. While you’re in the area, you should also visit Praid Salt Mine (Salina Praid), one of the largest salt mines in the country and Europe; it dates back to the Roman era.

From Corund Village you can buy souvenirs for loved ones: ceramics and some other products made from straw, wool or wood. Here you can
also enjoy a traditional Romanian atmosphere.

Switzerland has become, in the last few decades, one of the most popular tourist destinations, so it is attended by a large number of tourists throughout the year. During the spring and summer, travelers can enjoy magnificent outdoor vacations in the Swiss mountain resorts and on November, mountain ski resorts are beginning to open, attracting a flood of tourists keen on winter sports. Also, many of the Swiss mountain resorts offer numerous activities for those who don’t devote their vacation to the mountain sports, making Switzerland the perfect destination for a winter vacation spent in front of a fireplace or admiring spectacular views from the beautiful forest trails.

Switzerland’s resorts reputation was built upon the comfort and service quality that they offer; also the well-designed ski slopes, good ski lift systems, the beautiful landscapes and the leisure possibilities are other advantages of this luxury resorts.

The most popular mountain resorts in Switzerland are:  Zermatt, Interlaken, Davos, St. Moritz, Crans Montana, Klosters, Saas Fee, Wengen and  Grindelwald.

All this mountain resorts are easily reachable by train or car and they offer a full range of hosting options. Tourists can choose either a luxury hotel, a romantic five-star chalet or small hostels and cheap holiday cottages.

One of the most beautiful natural monuments on the old continent can be admired in Austria. A large part of the alpine region in the south of Salzburg state belongs to the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Krimmler falls are also part of this nature reserve. In Salzburger Land, more precisely in Achental Krimmler peak’s area, from Hohe Tauern National Park, are Europe’s highest waterfalls.

At a height of 380 m, the Krimml Waterfalls are the fifth highest waterfalls in the entire world. Their masses of glacial water provide a spectacular scene, as they fall over 3 terraces on their journey down the mountain. The first stage – the Upper Falls – drops some 140 meters. Then follows a short flat segment, known as the “Schönangerl”, from which the second “Middle Achenfall” stage plunges down another 100 meters. The third tier, the “Lower Achenfall”, is more than 140 meters in height.

The entire area is managed by the Austrian Alpine Association, which has arranged several viewpoints along the Krimml waterfall path: Riemann Kanzel (1.110 m), Regen Kanzel (1.150 m), Sendtner Kanzel (1.170 m), Jung Kanzel (1.210 m), Jaga Sprung (1.220 m), Bergersteig (1.245 m), Schönangerl (1.306 m), Staubige Reib (1.330 m), Bergerblick (1.390 m), Schettkanzel (1.460 m). The paved path was also built by the Austrian Alpine Association from the Water Wonder World to the lowest waterfall. Moreover, the waterfall path takes you to the highest waterfall and offers sensational views of this breathtaking nature spectacle.

Tourist route is open from mid April to late October.
With approx. 350,000 visitors each year they are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Austria. Well, not only this unique natural spectacle brings the tourists here, but also their therapeutic properties, the waterfalls having a positive effect on people wellbeing and health.

The scientific studies carried out at the Krimml Waterfalls confirmed that they have therapeutic properties, the high concentration of negative air ions in the ambient air of the waterfall stimulate the immune system, leading to a persistent improvement of the respiratory tract and positively affecting the function of the lungs. Even the frequency of allergic and asthmatic attacks can be reduced.
The area was declared a health spa since the eighteenth century, and in 1967 this beautiful natural monument was awarded with the “European
Diploma of Protected Areas”, so anyone should visit it at the first opportunity!

The place is impressive not only for its natural beauty, but for the way it’s maintained as well. In the falls area have sprung many constructions, restaurants, hostels, shops, tourist information centers, even an Aqua Park and a House of Water – a space for film screenings.

Also, note that in this region are some of Austria’s most attractive ski resorts (Zillertal Arena, Zell am Ziller, Kitzbühel, Kaprun) and other natural attractions like Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn Glacier and Grossglockner Glacier.

Mount Snow, located in Vermont, is the one of the largest ski resorts in the Eastern United States. Featuring 26 lifts and more than 135 trails, the top elevation at Mount Snow is 3600 feet, with a vertical drop of 1700 feet. There are 20 chair lifts and six surface lifts available.

Snowboarders are welcome at Mount Snow, and there is a ‘kids only’ terrain park as well as a special tubing park. The Grand Summit Hotel and Crown Club sits right off the slopes, and guests enjoy a heated outdoor pool and ski in/ski out accommodations. There is something to suit everyone at Mount Snow.

Many different winter ski vacation packages are available. Many of these packages are really great deals designed to save families money. Child care is available at Mount Snow, and the youngsters will be well cared for, and learn to ski as well. The adults aren’t left out of the learning process either! Both group and private lessons are available.

Mount Snow is very family oriented. At Mount Snow a unique ‘back-to-base’ trail system is used that keeps everyone in your family from getting lost. Kids under six ski and ride for free. When an adult buys a 3 – 5 day ticket during mid-week, their kid receives a free ticket for that same time period as well. During January, the Kids Ski & Learn Free weeks seem to be the most popular family deals.

Mount Snow features a full service health spa that you should take full advantage of. A variety of massages are offered, as well as various skin treatments. Spa packages are also available, and the spa caters to couples as well, and wedding parties are also welcome.  There is also a fully equipped health club and fitness classes are offered. There is always something to do at Mount Snow – even if doing nothing but relaxing is on your agenda!

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Winter activities at Mount Snow also include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, tubing, cross country skiing, and sleigh rides. There is a ski shop on the premises and rental equipment is available. There are several restaurants and bars on the mountain to choose from as well. Again, Mount Snow is family oriented. You will find that this is a very safe environment for your entire family, where you can relax and have fun – without any worry. Be sure to ask about the family deals when you call for reservations or information.

Photo: © Vertexpress

Red River, New Mexico is home to one of the most popular ski resorts in the United States, and has been for many decades. The resort offers six chair lifts and one surface lift, and the trails are equally divided for beginners, intermediates, and experts.

Top elevation at Red River is 10354 feet, and the vertical drop down the face of the mountain is 1601 feet. Unfortunately, it doesn’t snow much, and about 85% of the powder is man made. There are 58 trails scattered over 247 acres. Red River is called the ‘ski town of the Southwest.’

The resort has three restaurants, all of which offer fabulous fare. Lodging can be obtained in cabins, chalets, inns, or private condominiums in the area, and many lodging packages, as well as ski packages are available through Red River Central Reservations. Red River also offers snow pass rates which allow children to ski for free, and teens to ski at reduced rates. This is a great way to save money on your family ski vacation.

Red River also has a ski school, and group lessons and private lessons are available. Even if you’ve never skied before, you will quickly be on the slopes after your lessons. There are even lessons for snowboarders, who are welcome on the Red River slopes. You can also rent all of your ski and snowboarding equipment for very reasonable rates.

The nightlife in Red River is also great. After a day on the slopes, you can kick back and relax at the lodge, or visit one of the taverns in the area. For the younger crowd, there is a great game room located right in the center of the town. One of the great things about Red River is that everything is within walking distance of the lodging areas, and shuttles are provided for transportation to and from the slopes.

You can also enjoy taking scenic chairlift rides, hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, snow-mobiling, and hunting. You can even take one of the jeep tours to go see the abandoned gold mines in the area. So, even if you don’t ski, there is still plenty of fun to be had at Red River Ski Resort.

Childcare is available while you spend your day on the slopes. Your child will be well tended at the Li’l Buckaroos Child Care Facility, and the center provides lunch for your child as well. At Red River, everything has been thought of and taken care of to ensure that your ski vacation is as enjoyable as possible.

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, in Whistler, British Columbia, is a gorgeous alpine resort in the shadow of Blackcomb Mountain.

Rated as the number one ski resort in both Canada and North America in recent years, the Whistler Blackcomb resort is one truly not to be missed.  British Columbia is home to many of the world’s best ski resorts, and Whistler Blackcomb certainly reaffirms this.  The impeccable reputation of the resort is only further bolstered by the eight thousand acres of pristine skiing, and over thirty-five feet of powder white snow which falls every single year, making Whistler Blackcomb the destination of choice for savvy ski enthusiasts the world over.

When it comes to skiing facilities, you’d naturally expect the Whistler Blackcomb resort to have it all.  Catering for a broad cross-section of skiing abilities and tastes, there are over one hundred different runs to keep you occupied on your stay.  The natural beauty of these resorts is obvious, and the facilities just add to the overall experience.  In the lap of luxury, you can experience world class skiing, indulging in connoisseur black diamond runs, and lightening fast ski lifts.  With an astonishing 57,000 skier per hour capacity, the Whistler Blackcomb resort is not only high quality, but also in high demand by those in the know across the world.  And after you’re active day, relax in the warmth and comfort of the resorts bars and restaurants, where you can share a joke or two over an open fire when it’s cold outside.   For most people, it really doesn’t get much better than that, and that’s why the resort has attracted such acclaim, on top of its excellent skiing and snowboarding facilities.

But don’t worry if you don’t know how to ski – the resort also boasts activities like golf, a health spa, gourmet restaurants, attractive walks and hiking.  There really is something for everyone at the resort.  Additionally, if you’d like to learn to ski, there really is nowhere better.  The Whistler Blackcomb resort also employs a one thousand-strong teaching staff, making it one of the biggest skiing and snowboarding schools in North America, and indeed in the world.  Whistler Blackcomb boasts an unparalleled number of world class instructors, which serve to ensure a high standard of training for all the school’s participants.  Additionally, with a range of training and tuition programmes available, the Whistler Blackcomb resort truly is one of the best locations in the world to improve your skiing skills.

The Fairmount Chateau Whistler is a truly unique skiing experience, making use of its beautiful natural resources, and a flair for quality and service.  Any vacation at the Chateau Whistler will be an experience not to be forgotten, and with a wrought-iron reputation, you’ll find many skiers choose to go back year on year for their annual vacation.

If you’re looking for a good tip for vacations to the Chateau Whistler, you could do worse than to book direct through their website.  By cutting out the middle man you are paying only the hotel price and no commission, which means you can benefit from a much cheaper stay.  Additionally, on the Fairmount website, you will find last minute bargains and offers which are simply unbeatable anywhere else, so you might just find that your once in a lifetime skiing experience costs a lot less than you had anticipated.

It’s time to plan the family vacation – and everyone wants to go skiing. Don’t worry, skiing isn’t as expensive as you might think, and there are numerous resorts that cater to families, offering a variety of packages designed to save you money. The problem will be choosing the destination.

Most ski resorts have websites. Start the planning process by accessing these websites to determine where you and your family might want to go for your family ski vacation. There are many different things to look for when choosing a resort. The absolute most important thing to look for is a ski school if someone in your family will need instruction. While most resorts do have ski schools, some don’t.  Don’t make the mistake of choosing a destination where one or more of your family members won’t have fun, simply because they don’t know how to ski.

Next, take a look at the slopes, lifts, and trails. You want to make sure that the resort has something to offer everyone in your family. If the resort only caters to beginners, an expert skier will become quickly bored. If you have a snowboarder in your group, and there is no snowboarding park or terrain, that snowboarder will not be happy. There are resorts that serve all winter sports – so make sure that your families interests are covered.

Lodging is the next thing to look at. You want to be comfortable, so where you will sleep at night matters a great deal. In most cases, there is a hotel right at the base of the slopes – but this isn’t necessarily the best or most affordable place to stay. Find out what your lodging options are for the area, and choose the one that is right for your family and your budget.If you will be staying farther away from the slopes, make sure that there is transportation to and from the slopes each day!

Your family will have many more interests that you will need to search for before deciding on a particular destination and resort. Some of those interests may be dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or horseback riding. Resorts do offer these activities, but some don’t – so be sure to ask about the winter activities, as well as the planned events during the time that you will be at the resort. This will help you plan a ski vacation that your family will enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives.

Scotland may be the home of golf, but it’s also a great place for skiing enthusiasts.  With numerous world class resorts, and such a depth of history and culture, Scotland is a great place to visit on your vacation, regardless of your interests and hobbies.  When you think of Scotland, you might think of kilts, and rural mountaintops and sheep, but if you actually get to know the place, you’ll find it is both beautiful, with its bustling, classy cities, ensuring you’re going to have an enjoyable vacation wherever you go in the country.

One of the most famous Scottish ski resorts is Aviemore.  A classy, traditional ski resort, Aviemore is located within the Scottish Highlands, and is the ski resort of choice for many across the world.  Loved for its friendly atmosphere and great skiing, Aviemore is more than well equipped to give you a great time.  It’s bars and restaurants are simply first class, offering wholesome food and drink to keep you well refreshed.  Additionally, it’s holiday village feeling enhances its friendly, relaxed ambience, and makes you feel a million miles from home whilst still comfortable.

Alternatively, there are some more ski resorts in the Scottish Highlands which are particularly good value for money.  It is important to watch out, though, given that some resorts cater for the top end of the market, and you could end up paying a lot more than you bargained for.  As long as you do your homework before you leave, you should fin the resort that is perfect to cater for your needs, and your wallet.

One thing to watch out for before you arrive in Scotland is to change your currency into Sterling Pounds.  Your best option is to go to your local travel agents, or your local currency conversion centre before setting off.  That way, you will be sure of exactly what you are getting for your money.  It is a good idea to be wary of the commission, and the exchange rate you are being offered, and it can sometimes be quite tricky to get your head around the numbers.  Make sure you work everything out before hand, and shop around so that you don’t get wripped off.

For excellent deals on Scotland, why not go online? Additionally, there you will find a great deal of information on what to do in Scotland, and information on the depth and variety of Ski Resorts.  If you choose not to go to a ski resort, but rather a city, and you want to cram in some top quality, affordable skiing during your trip, you are also in luck.  There are loads of dry ski slopes in and around the cities, like at Polmont for example, which is located midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh, which is ideal for some quick and cheap skiing.  Additionally, there are several indoor artificial snow ski slopes which you can visit.  These innovative inventions are used to help train national level skiers, and are also open to the public at certain times, so why not pop along during your visit?

Why not consider Scotland? With so many excellent deals on skiing package tours at the moment, you’ll definitely be glad you did, and you are guaranteed to have an enjoyable, fun holiday in this picturesque, ski-enthusiast’s heaven.

With all that Big Sky, Montana has to offer skiers, it is amazing that so few know about its existence!

Known for its wide open slopes and short lift lines, Big Sky Ski Resort has one of the largest lift served vertical drops in the United States. Over 5300 acres of ski slopes and trails await skiers, with over 33 feet of snowfall each season.

Big Sky Ski Resort features twenty three lifts, 220 trails, and a 4350 foot vertical drop. The top elevation is 11154 feet. Along with the ski lifts, there are also two cable car lines available. While there are beginner slopes, most of the slopes are geared toward intermediate and expert skiers.

There are many places to lodge in Big Sky Resorts Mountain Village, which rests at the foot of the impressive Lone Peak mountain. Enjoy Sleigh Ride dinners, ice skating, parties, snowmobile tours, and a variety of community events. At Big Sky, there are no strangers. Big Sky, Montana is one of the highest rated Ski Resorts in the United States, and there is something here for everyone.

If you will be traveling for a ski vacation, it is often difficult to know what to pack.

You may not even have a problem knowing what to pack, but instead have a problem figuring how to get everything that you need from your home to your destination. Skis do not easily fit into suitcases, and if you are flying, this presents a huge problem.

Start by knowing what is available at your destination.

Is there a rental shop? How much are the rental fees for skis, boots, and poles. If it is reasonable, and you don’t mind skiing with rented equipment, this is a viable option – and it makes packing and traveling much easier.

If you don’t care for rented equipment, there is another option. Find out if there are any ski shops in the area. There usually are. Get prices on skis, poles, and boots, and then ask if they buy used equipment.

If they don’t, ask if there is anyone near by that does purchase used equipment. Call that place to get an estimate on how much you could get for barely used ski equipment. Figure the difference in the money you will spend on the ski equipment, and the money you will get for the used equipment when you are finished with it. If it isn’t much more than what it would cost you to rent the equipment, go for it!

Ski suits, ski jackets, and sweaters can be very bulky, and hard to pack. These items will take up a lot of room in your suitcase, and leave less room for other clothing and essentials. If you are trying to pack for a two week ski vacation, it will be impossible to fit everything you need into one suitcase.

There is a way to solve this. Call the lodge or resort where you will be staying. Tell them that you need to ship a package, for yourself, to them, and that you need that package to be there when you arrive. Ask them if they will hold it for you at the desk. In most cases, they will. Next, get a box, put all of your ski suits, your ski jacket, and any other bulky items in the box, and ship it to yourself, in care of the lodge or resort. Shipping can be overnight, two day, or three day depending on how far it must travel. Depending on how much the box weighs, you will usually pay less than fifty dollars to ship a package in the continental United States….which is a lot less than you would pay an airline for extra baggage!