The Beginners Ski Packing List

It's nearly ski season and you're going away on your first ever ski trip. You've bought everything you think you'll need, your ski pass, your ski and boot rental and those all-important beginners lessons. But what about those small yet important things that you're almost certain to have forgotten?

The difference between a well packed bag and one that is badly prepared could effect the overall enjoyment factor of your first ski trip....Trust me, you really don't want that.

So take the time to read through this simple list of of things that you should make are in your bag.

Apart from the obvious things like passports, insurance documents and currency, you need to make sure you have items that you may think you do not necessarily require, but are nonetheless very important. Photos for lift passes are something that is often forgotten but can completely ruin your holiday. Imagine the absolute dismay when you get to the chair lift and you're turned away because you forgot to bring such a small yet indispensable item for your pass.

What about sun cream? The sun on the mountain is extremely strong and for this reason you need to make sure you take sun-cream and lip balm to deal with the effects of the sun. Its a fact that the sun is more extreme on the mountain because it bounces off the reflective surface of the snow, meaning you don't just have the biting cold to contend with but also the searing sun.

You'll also need a small back-pack for when you're out conquering those mountains. This way, you can carry all the items you need such as camera, water and food for your day on piste. You should also pack a screwdriver in case you have problems with your skis along with tissues for wiping mist from goggles. Many people also take a spare pair in case of breakages or scratches.

Make sure you take plenty of layers. Don't just take the thickest, woolliest sweater you can find in the hope it will keep you warm. Lots of thin layers and plenty of base layers will mean its simple to add and take off clothes when you need to cool down or warm up. Skiing is extremely taxing on the body and you'll be surprised at how quickly your body heats up. That thick sweater won't seem like such a good idea when its drenched in your sweat and its slowing you down on a pacey black-run descent!

So there you have it, a simple yet indispensable guide to packing for your first ski trip. Now you can go back to finishing your packing (the right way!)

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Finding cheap hotel rooms (without slumming it!)

Don't you just love a bargain?

And there is perhaps nothing more satisfying than finding a bargain when it comes to holidays! The biggest savings to be made are in the realms of accommodation but it requires a little nuance from yourself to discover these cheap rooms! Read on...

The first (and perhaps most important tip) is good timing. The period in which you are looking to book is important because the busier it is, the less likely you are to find accommodation that offers you the very best value for money. Steer clear of half-terms and Summer holidays - if you book accommodation during the off-season you will find markedly cheaper prices and if you are holidaying as a couple you will avoid potentially annoying children!

Secondly you should consider the duration of your stay. Often the longer you stay, the cheaper your accommodation will be. A two week stay will drive the cost of the room down significantly per night as it is guaranteed, long-term income for the hotel whereas an overnight stay will rarely offer you the best priced room. If you are looking for a short stay, try to avoid weekends as hotel owners realise that this is a period in which many people are looking for accommodation.

A sure-fire method of success for finding a cheap hotel is through the medium of internet travel sites. Experimentation is the order of the day here so once you have a hotel in mind look through the huge range of booking sites to establish the best possible price. You could even speed up the process by paying a visit to one of the well known hotel room price comparison sites to collate a range of prices and rooms.

And finally, before settling on a hotel make sure you have looked through review sites to establish whether the place you are potentially staying in is actually upholds a good reputation! A cheap hotel can be easy to find, but a cheap hotel that offers a comprehensive range of facilities or a location to die for is far harder.

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Places to see before you die

In the first of a series of places to see before you die, we look at three locations of eye-opening beauty that will leave you with a burgeoning sense of wanderlust.

Our first entrant is a bona-fide icon. Christ the Redeemer is a 40metre tall statue looming large over Brazil's capital, Rio. It's the first thing you will notice when you land here and the sheer scale and detail of this huge monolith will endure in the memory for a lifetime. I could spend a week writing about how this statue was built, but I'll leave you, loyal reader, to discover this by your own accord.

Next up, why not go for a scuba at the Great Barrier Reef. An obvious choice you may say. but once you have visited this vast haven for marine life then you really will appreciate why this destination is such a clear-cut choice. When you take to the pristine waters you'll see the world of Finding Nemo come to life and once your done in the water you can take to once of the neighbouring idyllic beaches for a relaxation session.

For something completely different, take a trip to Iceland and take a dip in the Blue Lagoon. This mystical place is surround by untouched, white snow but you'll experience quite the opposite when you step into the bath-warm waters and take in the breathtaking wonder of this all-round once-in-a-lifetime cerebral experience.

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The longest flights in the World

No one really likes plane travel. The thought of being cooped up with a hundred other people at 30,000ft is enough to send shudders down the spine of even them most ardent of travellers, but flying brings so many benefits that far out-weigh the negatives and the initial trepidation is cast aside once we reach our often blissful vacation spot.

However, some people are luckier than others. In my opinion, anything over 10 hours can be deemed as a 'long-flight'. My longest was 13hours and the fact that I was ill throughout it's duration made the whole thing completely unbearable.

Compare this to the longest flight in the World and my personal best seems positively pedestrian.

At almost 19 hours, Newark to Singapore is officially the longest flight in the World -that's almost a whole day and is measured at 9,535 miles. Unfortunately, I have not had the pleasure of embarking on such a flight, nor do I know of anyone who has, but I can imagine there are plenty of passengers pacing up and down their cabins non-stop in the hope of staving off potential DVT!

The second longest flight is L.A to Singapore, (there seems to be a pattern emerging here), and is 17 hours and 20 minutes, or 8,770 miles. If only Singaporeans knew of this American feat of endurance when welcoming these unfortunate tourists!

In third place we have Qantas airways offering a comparatively bearable Sydney to Dallas at 15.25 hours and 8,578 miles.

You may have noticed that there is a distinct lack of European destinations on this run-down. This is because of the geographical location of Europe in relation to major cities in the World offering these aptly named ultra long-haul flights. Until technology advances to the extent that a non-stop flight to Australia becomes available, us Europeans should be thankful!

Ultra long-haul specialist - the Airbus a340

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Short city-break ideas

Need to get away but have the minimal amount of time to spare?


Then why not book a weekend city break? You'd be surprised at the amount of things you can do in such a small amount of time. For best results choose somewhere that offers minimal flying time whilst encompassing the widest array of ideas for your itinerary.

At just two hours, the flight to Barcelona is bearable enough to spend a weekend away in this richly entertaining city. Head straight for the colourful La Rambla on your first day to soak up the Mediterranean atmosphere. Relax for a couple of hours whilst strolling from one end to the other observing the street artists and assortment of vendors. Next you could visit the sea-life aquarium or the world famous Nou camp for a guided tour, before finishing the day with a traditional Spanish platter. Your trip is incomplete until you have savoured the architecture of Gaudi, so spend your second day visiting his most famous works. In particular the grotesque yet beautiful Sagrada Familia. This marvel is his most awe-inspiring work, so detailed that it is still being constructed to this very day.

London is an obvious but excellent choice for a short break away. Easily accessible from anywhere in the U.K, the capital is quick and simple to get to by train or car. Once there, the transport links around the city are unrivalled, giving you the chance to visit a greater amount of the city's attractions in a condensed period of time. A trip on a tour bus will ensure you see as much of the city's attractions as possible, whilst a ticket on the London Eye will mean you get a feel for the scope and excitement that permeates the air of this iconic city. Once you've soaked up the key sights of Tower Bridge, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, you could literally go to town and catch a show at London's world famous West End.

Paris is another city that is within easy travelling distance of the U.K. The Eurostar takes just over two hours from London and once in 'The City of Love' you will discover a well-oiled tourism machine that makes it simple to draw up an itinerary that takes in all of the main sites in as short a time as possible. This city isn't just for lovestruck couples, the whole family will be entertained by the vastness of activities available. The Eiffel Tower and Arc De Triomphe are obligatory attractions but don't forget Paris' World class art museums such as The Louvre and Centre Pompidou for contrasting collections from the world of art.

Barcelona's famous La Rambla

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