Jessica Lippe

Once you’ve been on a skiing holiday, you’ll know that it’s something that you’ll want to do again and again. But before your very first time? That’s a different matter. You’ll be thinking about whether you’ll be any good at skiing, whether you’ll enjoy it, and all the small details that need to be taken care of before you set off and while you’re there. You can take it from us: it’s worth all the thinking time you’ll put into it! And to help you along the way, we’ve put together some useful information that’ll make the planning and execution a breeze. Take a read, and begin looking forward to all those sweet carving moments in the mountains!

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Pick Your Destination

The first thing to think about is where you’re going to go! There’s no shortage of outstanding ski resorts, not just in America but all across the globe. If you pick a big destination like, say, Veil or the Alps, then you’ll be throwing yourself into the best skiing terrain on the planet, and also picking a destination that is always abuzz with an atmosphere. But you can also pick a smaller resort, which may indeed be better if you want to keep things tame on your first outing. Skiing is fun wherever you do it!

And a Solid Group of Friends

Skiing is a primarily solo activity, but it should definitely be a group trip. You might not be chatting all that much when you’re working your way down the mountain, but that’s only going to account for around half the time; the rest is going to be spent riding up on the ski lift or resting your body at the end of the day. For those moments, you for sure want to have a good bunch of people around you to make it all the more fun. And if you go with someone who’s an experienced skier, then you’ll be able to receive some useful pointers along the way.

Limber Up

Skiing isn’t the most strenuous activity on earth, but it does require a degree of flexibility and fitness. In the weeks – or months – running up to your trip, consider doing some light exercises. Yoga is actually terrific when it comes to skiing; it loosens up all your muscles, which you’ll definitely need. Being tense in the mountains is not the way to go! Beyond that, it’s all about aerobics so you can keep going all day long. Who wants to head indoors half-way through the day because they’re tired? No-one!

Plan to take Lessons

You don’t necessarily need to have skiing lessons. If you’re with someone who knows how to ski, then you can pick up everything you need to know in an hour or two. However, with that being said, you’re likely to enjoy your trip much more if you take lessons with a professional when you first arrive. Most of the battle is feeling confident on your skis and on any terrain, and a professional teacher will be able to instil this confidence in you much quicker than a friend. It’s possible to reach a decent skiing level very quickly, but only if you know what you’re supposed to be doing!

Get the Right Equipment

You’re only as good as the skiing equipment that you use. And here’s the other thing: you can’t just use somebody else’s equipment because your skis, boots, and poles all need to tailored to your size and weight, and also because there are different types of skis for different skill levels. As such, make sure you’re getting the equipment that’s right for you by booking online with a company like Bridge Street Ski Haus. It’ll ensure you’re as safe as possible when you’re out there in the mountains.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

You’ll be ready to throw yourself into all the joys of skiing when you’re in that cool mountain air, but it’s important that you don’t overdo it. Tiredness can creep up on you when you’re skiing; it’s usually only when you sit down that you realise just how tired your body is. And after a long flight, you’re likely to be more tired than normal anyway. In the first couple of days of your vacation, make sure you’re heading back to the resort before your body gives up on you; you often have to ski multiple runs just to get back to base.

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Know Your Limits

And on a similar line, make sure you’re not going too far beyond your skill level. Confidence is good; overconfidence is not! Ski what you’re comfortable skiing, and then gradually work your way up. You don’t want to go straight from a small run to a complicated run too quickly. If you can’t make it down without falling over every twenty metres, you’ll only set yourself back. Skiing isn’t a competition – if you’re having fun with the small runs, stay there. You don’t need to impress anybody!

Read the Weather

You will hope that you’ll wake up to blue skies and a layer of fresh powder, but even if you do, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the weather is going to stay that way all throughout the day. Weather conditions can change very quickly in the mountains. You can be in blue skies one moment, and then the next, visibility has been greatly reduced, and you don’t see a thing! Make sure you’re paying attention to the forecast, and always make it back down the mountain before the sun sets.

Nail the Apres-Ski

Finally, there’s the apres-ski, which is very often just as good, if not better, than the skiing itself. When it comes to picking your accommodation, pick somewhere that’ll be perfect for relaxing in the evening. You may not want to venture back out when you’re cold and tired! If you have a space with a roaring fire and enough comfortable seating for everyone, you’ll happily spend your evenings playing games and enjoying each other’s company. Here’s to a fun trip!

How much time do you and your family, or you and your partner perhaps spend in the great outdoors. Our bets will be not that much, but let us tell you this for sure, you’re missing out. Embracing the great outdoors is one of the best things you can do to give yourself a full life with plenty of adventure. A holiday just pitching up a tent somewhere, without having the hassle of having to get on a plane and faff around in the airport with the transfers, is one of the easiest holidays you’ll ever have to do. So if you feel as though you need a bit of convincing as to why you should embrace the great outdoors, here’s why we think you should.

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Easy To Do So

This is the main advantage to getting out and about in the great outdoors for a little break away. You don’t need all the new fancy holiday clothes, all you need is a tent and a few other bits of equipment, and an area that you’d actually like to pitch the tent in. You’ll need one of the best solar generators to make sure you have some power on your trip if you want to have a really good experience. That way you can power things such as a heater for the night, phone chargers, hair dryers, you name it! It just adds that little touch of luxury to a camping trip that camping actually tries to take away from you. Getting the best airbed mattress that you possibly can is also going to improve your experience. A lot of people hate camping due to the thought of it being uncomfortable. However, with the right mattress, a comfy duvet, and a bit of warmth during the night, you’ll have one of the best camping trips of your life.

Adventure To Be Had

There is plenty of adventure to be had when it comes to embracing the great outdoors. Most of the camping sites that you chose to set up shop in will have some of the most amazing things to do in terms of adventure due to the location they’re in. For example, a lot of them are based in forests, and forests have loads to do in terms of rafting, camp building, kayaking, you name it! Plus, it’s so much easier to actually create your own adventure. If you took some bikes with you you could spend the day exploring the wilderness around you whilst taking in some potentially amazing scenery. It’ll all be a very active holiday, but it’ll be worth it.

Bonds To Be Built

Camping is a better holiday all round due to the bonds you’re able to build. When you’re out in the open, technology is often forgot about… mainly due to there being no signal. But all of the sudden you aren’t buried into phones all day, and bonds can actually be built stronger than they ever were before. It allows you to get to know a person for who they truly are. It is actually a great way to fix relationship problems, or to bring a perhaps distant family closer together.

There are many wonderful places around the world that you can visit and take in all of the culture, see all of the attractions, and also generally be able to tick off yet another place on your list of places visited. When planning a road trip it can be difficult to decide where to go, as there are over 4000 cities in the world to choose from. Many people shy away from visiting larger cities as they are often crowded with the locals bustling about with their daily lives alongside all of the other tourists that want to get in on a piece of the action. However, larger cities often have more to offer if you’re looking for things to do and today, we’re going to give you the top reasons to add Philadelphia to your next road trip.

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The Liberty Bell

If you’re visiting Philadelphia, then it’s almost a crime to not stop by the liberty bell because it’s an iconic symbol of american independence, and it was rang in it’s time for many reasons including some iconic American deaths like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. You can learn more about its history and why it’s so important to Americans. Philadelphia wears it with pride and it’s definitely a must-see, even if passing through!

Reading Terminal Market

If you’re someone to appreciates good food and is always looking to try something new, then the Reading terminal market is definitely a place for you to visit. Exotic seafood and incredible meats are sold at the market, so you’re bound to find something amazing to whip up for dinner. If somehow the food on sale doesn’t tickle your fancy, there are also other stalls available selling kitchenware and other exciting things for you to get your teeth into.

The Magic Gardens

For the art lovers out there, the magic gardens are for you. It’s an extensive and breathtaking gallery of folk art that extends from their halls indoors right outside and goes on for what seems like forever. It’s mosaics galore too, but rather than just a normal mosaic you will find a plethora of displays made out of items that you’d not normally expect to see in a mosaic such as old gardening equipment and wheels. If you’re looking for somewhere to go that you can take some snaps to look back on, the magic gardens are most definitely for you. Another great part of it is that it’s a non profit organisation, so everything that’s there has been put there with absolute love and care.

The Love Park

Formerly known as the John F Kennedy Plaza, Love park is a place to go and simply chill out and appreciate the more simple things like watching other people bustling by, seeing adolescents skateboard through the park, and also admire the LOVE sculpture that’s standing proudly in the middle. This year Love park is in fact, reopening after a massive budget input and revamp, so it’s definitely a place to go and truly experience the joys of Philadelphia!

The Best Cheese Steak Around

If you’re one of those that loves to go out for a good steak, and you love cheese, then boos philly cheesesteak is most definitely a place you need to try out as they offer you tender and juicy steaks to devour, served with white fluffy bread, grilled onions, and cheese toppings to absolutely die for. Perfect to line your stomach for any nights out that you have planned!

Morris Arboretum

Nature lovers, there’s a place for you to visit too! The Morris Arboretum is a historic public garden that’s perfect for not only nature lovers, but children too! It teaches them many different things about cultivation and how to take care of plants at home. It also teaches people about how different the world would be if we had no plants on earth, and how people need plants and trees in their lives just to simply survive. Some of the species of plants that they have are absolutely breathtaking, so don’t forget to take your camera!

Boathouse Row

While Philadelphia is a popular city, visiting the quaint area that is boathouse row will take you back in time to a place where boating was a popular choice of transport. There are many social clubs and there are 15 boathouses in general to admire. Each individual boathouse has its own special history, so if you’re visiting be sure to check out the history behind each of them.

Fashion District

For those that cannot be seen in anything but the latest trends, and love flicking through glossy magazines to see who wore what, the fashion district is going to be a mini heaven for you. Packed to the brim with stores that you can browse around, all stocking nothing but the latests trends. The fashion district is currently under construction, but it is open during so. Check their website for more information about when you can go and what else to expect!

Pub Crawl

Philadelphia offers some of the best drinking establishments throughout the whole of America, and you can book yourself onto a pub crawl which will teach you how each beverage has been brewed and give you a little bit of history. Plus, is there anything better than ending the perfect day with a few beers and a good time? I think not!

As you can see, there are a plethora of reasons for you to visit Philadelphia! The great thing is, many of these attractions are open all year round so there’s no time limit on when you need to be there! Just remember to take your camera and be prepared to fall in love with the city of Philadelphia.

We’ve discussed before how important it can be to stay fit and healthy while traveling, but there’s another aspect of health that should be considered: is it possible to travel your way to better health, rather than just maintaining the health that you have?

It’s a tempting idea; a holiday that rejuvenates and improves you on a core level, and from which you return with more benefits than happy memories and a full Instagram feed. If you’re looking for a vacation that can give your health a boost, then you’re definitely going to want to consider these options…

Into the wilderness

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It has long been known that being among nature has an incredibly positive impact on the human mind and body. If you decide to head out of the cities and into the wilderness for a vacation, you can look forward to a mental health boost, as well as improved lung health courtesy of the reduction in exposure to air pollution.

If you want to experience the true wilderness and all the health benefits it can offer, then consider the following:

• The Australian outback

• The Smoky Mountains region of the USA

• A walking holiday in the Yukon, Canada

Spa and image improvements

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Returning home from a vacation may feel like you’re a whole new version of yourself mentally, but why not make that physical too? Spa and image-improving vacations are a great choice, allowing you to combine an uptick in your mental health and physical appearance, while also having the chance to enjoy all the relaxation benefits a standard vacation offers you. Here are a few ideas to try…

• Yaan Wellness in Mexico is considered one of the best spas in the world, and offers a range of treatments that will you won’t want to miss.

• Malaysia is a vibrant, beautiful country with a range of clinics that offer a variety of cosmetic treatments, from botox to CLATUU fat freezing treatments.

• For fans of eastern medicine, China and Hong Kong make for wonderful choices that allow you to indulge your passion and enjoy a health boost as a result.

Go cold

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Most of us prefer to keep ourselves as warm as possible, but did you know there are numerous health benefits to being cold? While you want to ensure you enjoy the cold in a safe way, there’s no doubt that a holiday that includes a few shivers could give your health a huge boost! So where should you go?

• The USA, Canada, and Russia are all excellent options for cold-weather holidays, providing you choose the right region

• Iceland is a stunning country that embraces year-round low temperatures and offers a truly unique experience to any traveler

• If you’d prefer a southern hemisphere option, then New Zealand in winter is your best bet

In conclusion

Should you decide to sample one of the options above, you can look forward to a vacation that also improves your health and appearance even when you’re back on home soil. Enjoy!

It’s known as Borneo to Malaysia, but two other nations that each have a piece of the island call it Pulau Borneo and Kalimantan. It measures 287,000 square miles and is split in half horizontally by the Java Sea and the Celebes Sea. As you fly over and take your first quick look at this the largest island in all of Asia, you can instantly compare to a cliche paradise. Deep green lagoons, muggy forests and sunny jungles and surrounded by gem blue waters. Tall trees with lime green leaves have conquered the landscape. If you want the chance to walk among them, you can touch their thin trunks that are dotted with pale patches. The wildlife is spectacular and often surprises people as there are orangutans, flying squirrels, proboscis monkeys, Loris’, bay cats and even rhinoceroses. Yet with a land of forests and jungles, there are also mountains that live among the mist and for those spiteful enough to climb them, give some of the best views out toward the open waters.

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King Louie needs help

On the island, there is a concerted effort being made to rehabilitate orangutans. At the Sandakan Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center, they take care of orangutans that have been abandoned and perhaps orphaned. For those of us who watched the animated Disney movie Jungle Book growing up, we have an affection for the character King Louie who was a mischievous and hip orangutan himself. To get here, it’s just a day trip from Kota Kinabalu; that’s if you are staying in a hotel in the coastal city. Other arrangements can be made, but this is one of the pickups. From here you’ll get on a flight and travel to the center. You can interact with the orangutans and play with them. They’re immune to human contact and are incredibly playful and clever.

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Upward and onward

Ever climbed a mountain surrounded by jungle? Well, that’s exactly what Mount Kinabalu is. Booking with a dedicated Borneo travel agency you can opt for different routes to climb this 4,095-meter natural marvel. For those who are avid climbers, you may want to look at the Mount Kinabalu via Ferrata packages as it will be steeper and involve ropes, pegs and other proper climbing equipment. For those looking for more of a trek up the mountainside and using safer trails, take a look at the normal packages. These will be more budget based on a choice of four trails and none of them going any higher than 1,500 Malaysian Ringgit. Once you get to the summit, as you’re in the northern part of Borneo, if you look out in this direction you can see the small and sporadically spread the Spratly Islands. A little to the east and closer you’ll see the Pulau Banggi island. Turn around and look south, the pattern of mountains and jungle hills will be the signature piece of your trip.

Borneo is one of those islands that gets tucked away in the thousands of other islands across the Asian continent. So why would you go here rather than the others? Well, it’s a jungle that is 40,000 miles squared larger than the United Kingdom. So much adventure and untapped wildlife live on its surface leaving you plenty to discover.

Travel is an expensive business and some people just can’t afford a week away. That’s why the weekend city break is becoming more popular these days. You can still go out and discover new places but it’s a lot more affordable. The only problem is, when you’re just going for the weekend you’re limited on what you can do. You’ve got to see a weekend break in a different way to normal travel and prepare for it differently. Follow these rules and you can make sure that your weekend break is a success.

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Pack Right

Packing the right stuff for a weekend break is vital, especially if you want to cut your costs by avoiding taking an extra suitcase. Make sure you get yourself a good quality weekender bag that is the perfect size for everything you’ll need on your trip. Click here to learn more about choosing the right weekender bag. When you’re trying to decide what to pack, think about what you’ll already have at the hotel, that means cutting down on certain. You’ll also have to be economical with your clothes. Think about what you’re going to be doing and pack an outfit specifically for each occasion, with just one or two spares. If you don’t plan properly, you’ll end up packing a week’s worth of clothes for a 3 day trip.

Prioritize Activities

When you’re only going for a short trip, you haven’t got time to fit everything in, no matter how efficient you are at planning a schedule. You’ll just have to accept that there are some things you won’t be able to do, that’s why you’ve got to prioritize. Make a list of all the possible sights that you’re interested in seeing while you’re there and then start listing them in order of importance. Then work out how much time each activity will take and you can start deciding what to cut from the list. It’s also important that you make a solid schedule for the entire trip. Normally, it’s a good idea to leave a bit of time free for exploring but on a weekend trip, you don’t always have that luxury. If you’re not planning properly, you’ll end up wasting valuable time.

Look At Maps Beforehand

Finding out where everything is can eat up a lot of time, which you don’t have that much of on a weekend trip. That’s why it’s important to check maps of the city beforehand and start planning some routes around. You can plan the most efficient routes around the city so you’re not wasting time walking back and forth all the time. You’ll also reduce the risk of getting lost and wasting half a day finding your way back to the hotel.

Pre Book Everything

If you’re on a week long trip and you go to a restaurant you’ve checked out, only to find that they’re full, you’ve got time to come back later in the week. If that happens when you’re on a weekend trip, you might have missed your only chance. Any places that you’re excited about going should be pre booked beforehand to avoid any disappointments.

Good planning and making the best use of your time is vital if you’re going to make your city break a success.

Evolutions in the world of travel have opened the doors to various holiday adventures. Sometimes, though, you simply can’t beat a few days of sun, sea and sand. This is the ultimate form of relaxation and is particularly rewarding when you lead a hectic life. If you’re going to take this type of vacation, though, it’s vital that you make the most of it.

Here are my five simple tips to ensure that those lazy days on the beach are everything you hoped for and more.

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Get the beach bod. Nobody in this world looks perfect, but having confidence in your skin is vital. Even if you don’t usually subscribe to the idea of sculpting a better body, having more confidence on the beach will improve the trip greatly. A few weeks of increased exercise and healthy nutrition will make a telling difference. Besides, it’ll make you feel far less guilty about tucking into those holiday treats.

Stay by the beach. Jetting off to a warm climate with sandy beaches is great. Unfortunately, the enjoyment will be greatly reduced if you have to travel an hour to actually reach the beach. While you will seek comfortable accommodation, the location should be the priority. In Florida, you can find a host of great properties at www.harmonybeachvacations.com. However, it’s not just the Sunshine State where being a stone’s throw from the beach is key. Always check this factor before booking.

Go at the right time. Depending on where you’re going, the climate can change through the year. An appreciation of those elements is vital. Whether it’s these great winter destinations or simply adjusting the dates for your trip to a set location with the weather in mind doesn’t matter. Of course, this may result in an increase in flight prices and other costs. Still, a 15% increase for triple the fun is a worthy trade off.

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Do something new. Sitting by the sea with a cocktail or 10 might sound like heaven. Still, you don’t want to return home feeling as though you missed out on an opportunity. The beach is a great place for snorkelling and other adventures. Visit www.paralenz.com to get a diving camera for the ultimate photos and memories. Meanwhile, water sports or even helicopter rides can be a great way to do something extra. Even if you simply explore the local area or take a day trip to a nearby city, this will leave you feeling far more satisfied with the trip.‎

Pack the right things. Having already established that looking great on the beach is key, finding the right fashion trends should be on your agenda. You may assume that the local stores will have all the necessary lotions etc. But you don’t want to waste your entire first day sourcing those goods, so packing those is vital too. Apart from saving time once you’ve arrived, it’ll put your mind at ease during the preparations and planning phases.

There are so many different cities that you could visit in the US, all of them offering their own unique experience. Some are definitely more popular than others, and one that always have an amazing stereotype surrounding it is LA. Los Angeles is a city in southern California, and it is known for being home to the rich and famous, the infamous Hollywood sign, the walk of fame, and many more. But those are all just the things relating to celebrities, and boy are there a lot of them. However, there’s just so much more to LA that draws millions of tourists in each day. If you’ve got LA in your sights, here’s why you should be visiting.

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Beaches

The beaches are one of the main reasons why so many people come to LA. They have long been famous for their incredible stretches of sand, lovely blue warm waters, and plenty of things to do on the beach. Venice beach is one of the largest beaches, and most famous. It has a unique style to it, there are usually tons of street performers lining the strip, as well as multiple shops to tickle your fancy. If you’re feeling extravagant, you could even hire a Los Angeles charter jet to travel up state a little further. As they do, you can usually have some of the best views of LA beaches, as there is honestly just so many of them. Santa Monica beaches is another famous set. Both of these are home to the celebs, and if you’re lucky enough, you might even get to see a sneak peak of one or two relaxing on the beach!

Amusement Parks

There’s plenty to do to keep you occupied in terms of beaches, but if you’re looking for a bit of fun with amusement parks, LA is your place to go. The biggest one on most people’s hit lists is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Whether going with children or not, it’s a firm favourite due to the sheer scale of it, and the fact it feels as though you’re being transported to the set of Harry Potter itself. There’s also the Santa Monica pier which is great for a few amusement rides, classic theme park games, as well as a lovely sunset if you’re there of an evening. The amusement park on the peer stays open until late at night, when it does get dark, the vibrant lights of the theme park look amazing.

The Nightlife

If there’s one thing LA knows how to do right, it’s throw a good party. Well, you’d expect it to with the potential for many celebs to suddenly wonder in. Make no mistake, it is one expensive night out, but it is one to remember. If you head to downtown LA, you’re going to have a slightly more relaxed, definitely not as expensive night. Head up to Hollywood and you’ll need to take a hell of a lot of money with you. However, you do have the chance of meeting a celeb!