Go skiing!

One good method of chasing away the end-of-summer blues is to start thinking about skiing holidays, and they needn’t cost an arm and a leg if you shop around for a good deal.

So where is the best place to go skiing? The French Alps offer some of the biggest ski circuits, spectacular vistas, and all the good things about France, from its wine to its cuisine, as well as some lively après-ski in the pubs and clubs of the Alpine regions. Over the border in the Italian Alps you will find similarly good skiing, as well as the great Italian culture, pasta, pizza and wine. The après-ski in Italy is also renowned for being excellent and not too expensive.

Switzerland offers breathtaking mountain scenery and pretty lakes, as well as a number of places where you can go skiing and snowboarding all year round. Resorts like St Moritz offer the last word in luxury, plus the opportunity to spot glamorous celebrities, but there are value-for-money resorts as well. Another popular European skiing location is Austria, which has a great number of skiing resorts dotted with pretty wooden chalets, and slopes with mountain bars where you can warm yourself up with a little schnapps. As well as modern nightlife, there are also traditional Austrian restaurants offering après-ski music and entertainment.

So whether you are an advanced skier who can’t wait to get back on the slopes, or a careful beginner, a good antidote to winter is to go skiing.


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A winter escape to the Costa del Sol

Here in the UK the leaves are falling, and yet it feels like we have hardly had a summer. If you like to get away for a couple of weeks of sunshine in the cold winter months, then a good place to head for is Spain’s Costa del Sol. The Costa del Sol is outrageously hot during the summer months, and fine for sun worshippers, but in the winter this coast is warm and sunny without being too hot. There are also fewer tourists, making it an ideal place to relax. The Costa del Sol is also a good place to go to for Christmas or New Year, and most of the major hotels do champagne gala nights on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

The resorts of the Costa del Sol include Torremolinos with its fine beaches and long promenade, and nearby Benalmadena with its beautiful marina incorporating a complex of charming shops and apartments. There is also the city of Málaga, famous for its music and vibrant flamenco, and Marbella, well-known for its well-to-do population of ex-pats, its exclusive shops, and top golf courses.

The Costa del Sol is not actually that far from north Africa, and one of the best organised day trips to take from the area is a trip across to Tangier, to enjoy camel rides, a delicious lunch of couscous, Arabic dancing and shopping for bargains in the souk.

Another good trip to go on is to Gibraltar, where you can see Europe’s only wild monkeys, and take a thrilling cable car ride from ground level to the top of the rock.

With a winter holiday in the Costa del Sol you are not short of sunshine, or things to do.


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Lisbon - The illuminated city

One of the oldest cities in the world, Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. Quite literally, the name means ‘enchanting port’ and it certainly lives up to its name with constant sunshine throughout the year and fascinating sites all over the city.

Lisbon has archaeological ruins that date back to over 300,000 years, giving the city a unique setting and beauty. Situated on the Atlantic coast where the river Tagus flows into the ocean, the historic centre of Lisbon is built upon seven hills giving incredible views in every direction.

Nearby resorts such as Sintra promise forests, palaces and dozens of beaches ensuring that there is plenty to do for everyone. There are so many things to see and do in Lisbon that you will have access to a wide variety of different experiences.

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Barcelona - capital of Catalonia

As it starts to get cooler in the UK, and the nights are drawing in, perhaps now is the ideal time of year to head to Barcelona, to catch a bit of late summer Mediterranean sun. Barcelona is a top European destination, for those who like warmth, culture and lots of places to go for a good night out.

Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia, which has its own language and culture, and is famous for Catalan art and architecture. In Barcelona you can see some of the finest works of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, including his famous Art Nouveau Church of the Sagrada Familia, and the wonderful Park Guell. The city also has an impressive Gothic Quarter, with buildings dating back to medieval times.

In the evenings people head for the fine tree-lined boulevard that runs through the city centre, known as Las Ramblas, which is lined with cafes, wine bars, cocktail bars, pubs and clubs, where you can enjoy all kinds of music from hip-hop to jazz.

Barcelona has a wide variety of restaurants, and you can try typical Catalan meals, which make good use of tomato, garlic, aubergine, and the abundant local seafood.

Barcelona has some great museums where you can see fine examples of Catalan art, including the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, and the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art.

Close to Barcelona there are good beaches, covering a total of four kilometres, making it an ideal location to combine a cultural city break with a relaxing beach holiday.

With its art, architecture, beaches and nightlife, it’s not surprising that Barcelona has become very much the ideal holiday destination.


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Long famous for its art and literature, Dublin has produced a staggering number of writers, such as Samuel Beckett, William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, and, in modern times, Roddy Doyle and Maeve Binchy. So a visit to Dublin gives you some idea of what it was that gave so many people such inspiration.

One of the top things to see in Dublin is the beautifully illuminated manuscript produced by the Celtic monks in 800 AD, known as the Book of Kells, which can be found in Trinity College. Other interesting places to go are the National Museum of Ireland, the Government Buildings, Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral, which dates back to the eleventh century.

After marvelling at the sights during the day, the popular area to go for a night out is Temple Bar, with its great selection of pubs, restaurants, small music and theatre venues, and its narrow streets thronging with people enjoying a good evening.

From Temple Bar, you can cross the Liffey by walking over the famous footbridge known as the Ha’penny Bridge – it’s called that because you used to have to pay half a penny to cross it.

The city centre of Dublin is good for shopping, one of the best known shopping streets being Grafton Street, where you’ll find the fine department store Brown Thomas, and other good shops. Waterford Crystal and Aran sweaters are popular Dublin souvenirs.

For good nightlife, Guinness, and a feel for Irish history and culture, Dublin is a great place to go for a city break.


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