A Magic Christmas in Tuscany

The Holiday season is approaching, and a large part of the world prepares to celebrate Christmas. Did you ever think about spending your Holidays in Tuscany?

During Christmas time this famous region in Italy becomes even more romantic than usual, making it the perfect destination for a quick runaway from your daily routine. Here are some suggestions for your relax, enjoyment and discovery of new places to return to or keep among your most treasured memories.

Wellbeing centers in Tuscany
The region literally thrives with spas, thermal baths, wellness resorts, hot springs and hotels with saunas and fitness areas. You just have to decide in what part of Tuscany you want to stay: the hot springs of Calidario near Livorno, or those of Saturnia, near Grosseto, or why not the Fonteverde spas in the province of Siena, in an unmatched landscape of rare beauty. Then if you prefer to have the benefits of relaxation without the therapeutic properties of natural springs, you may want to stay in Montepulciano, at the newly opened Etruria Resort. Here an ancient villa was restructured to accommodate you in wonderful hotel rooms, and the Etruscan cellars transformed into saunas and hot baths with massages and other beauty treatments. There are many more choices for your relax and beauty: Montecatini and Chianciano Terme, Bagni di Lucca and the Hotel Terme di Petriolo, totally immersed in nature.

Culinary and wine tours of Tuscany

On the rack, Tuscany wine tour

If you already feel well relaxed and in good shape, you can opt in for a wine and food tour of Tuscany. The Christmas season is a special time to be in a wine farm; the newly harvested grapes are being transformed into novel wine, available only for a short period of time, while last year's production is fully ready for tasting. You could go for an arranged tour, or you could delight in crafting one perfect for your needs. The first option removes all worries and burdens. All in all, not everyone loves to deal with bureaucracy and planning. On the other side though, you will have to abide to stiff timing and pick up rendezvous, fixed itineraries and destinations. First-timers will probably be better off with this option. However, if you love to organize your day, or are a seasoned traveler of Tuscany, you should decide on the cellars and restaurants to visit, gather all the info on your most favorite wines and producers, contact them personally to arrange everything, then rent a car to get the freedom and independence to move around at will. You may even go a step further and rent an RV. To make things easier, Tuscany was divided into "Wine Roads". These are common interstate roads that lay on a specific wine producing county. You may start with the "Strada del Chianti Classico", or "Strada del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano", among the most famous ones.


Mountain ski trip to Tuscany
What better than a Christmas Holidays ski trip? The splendid mountains of the region offer a lot of fun for couples and families alike. You may rent a Tuscan cottage immersed in the snow-covered forest, yet nearby a village. A log cabin with fireplace and sauna: does it get more relaxing and romantic than this? The best mountains of the region are definitely the Abetone and Cimone, set next to one another at the border between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna. Here you will find the longest slopes and the most beautiful landscapes of the region; however, mount Amiata and the Lunigiana and Garfagnana mountains also offer their share of splendid natural landscapes and fun. Beginning skiers, especially with young kids, will find their safe haven with them.

These are just a few suggestions for your Christmas holiday in Tuscany. But why choose just one? You could stay in a Tuscan villa on the Amiata mountain, then drive to the nearby coast to discover the fantastic Morellino di Scansano wine, and stop at Saturnia Thermal Baths on the way back. The region offers so much in a relatively small area that you can really take advantage of it all even within a short period of time.

Matt is a frequent traveler of Italy and set up his business there to rent villas Tuscany coast and help you find your perfect wedding villa Tuscany.

3 Alternative Ski Locations For Every Budget

It’s that exciting time of year when Christmas is nearing and the snow season is just around the corner. If you're like me, you are snowboard obsessed and you are probably already starting to plan your ski trip for this year.

It is good to explore and see new things, so rather than going to the same resort every year, why not try somewhere new? To encourage you to get started, I have listed 3 different resorts for 3 different budgets; Check them out!

Bansko, Bulgaria – Great Value, Great Culture
Bansko is the biggest ski resort in Bulgaria, a burgeoning new location in the international snowsports arena. Bulgaria is a typical eastern European country with a rich culture. The ski resorts are small by other country’s standards, but they are cheap compared to larger resorts and still offer plenty of variety for a couple of weeks skiing.

The best thing about visiting Bansko in my opinion is the fact that it is not yet overly touristy, you can still walk into the old town and there are plenty of traditional Bulgarian taverns selling a fantastic array of food.
Since the prices are so much cheaper than in central Europe you can also get some fantastic hotel deals – many of which have spas with hot tubs and even outside heated pools to enjoy. All in all Bulgaria can provide a highly luxurious holiday at down to earth prices.

Ski break

Courcheval, France – High Peaks, Lofty Prices
Courcheval is generally regarded as being the most expensive an exclusive resort in Europe. In the most expensive areas property prices are as high as 37,000 Euros per square metre. The resort is also the highest resort in France at 1850 metres above sea level.

Courcheval is certainly a luxury location, with prices being so high most hotels are done to a high specification and cater for affluent skiers. The resort boasts some of the best quality pistes in the world and the sheer size of the resort can be quite overwhelming.

Gulmarg, India – A True Skiing Adventure
Yes you read right! It really is possible to go on a skiing vacation in India, in the Himalayas. Needless to say, being the highest range of mountains in the world, the Himalayas have a lot to offer, including some of the best snow in the world, massive areas of skiable areas including pistes and powder skiing.

The village of Gulmarg is widely believed to be the best resort in the Himlayas and the resort itself sits at an amazing 2,700m above sea level, which is almost as high as the highest peaks are in Europe. Unfortunately, the Himalayas still relatively under-developed as a ski destination, and are perhaps not an option for everyone, but if you have the funds and a strong sense of adventure they offer perhaps the best ski experience of any resort in the world right now.

This guest post was brough to you curtesy of Birmingham Airport Parking .com

Family Friendly Ski Chalets

Family Friendly Ski Resorts

Ski holidays are a great way to entertain the entire family during a break. Ski holidays mean that everyone can get a slice of what they are after. The kids can hang out in the chalet with a nanny while the grown-ups hit the slopes. An activity based holiday is also a good idea for a family get away as it means that everyone will be busy skiing and won’t have any time to be bored!

Booking family friendly ski chalets can be tricky as you will need to do some research and make sure the resort covers everyone needs and has a wide range of difficulty ski runs and also that the chalet is suitable for young children. The following ski resorts have family friendly ski chalets and lodges:

Val d’Isere – Good resort for non-skiers and flight links to Manchester and Gatwick
Meribel – Intermediate heaven with traditional villages and a good night life
Morzine – A traditional family resort with a short airport transfer
Alpe d’Huez – Ski in and out chalets with activities included in lift pass

The family friendly chalets in these resorts will be fully equipped with all the essentials such as stair gates, changing mats, microwave sterilisers and sterilising tablets, washing machine access and a selection of toys. Bed guards, potties, toilet steps and seat and table boosters are also available on request from most holiday operators.

A lot of holiday operators also provide full fat fresh milk for infants, home-made purees and food for babies, children’s cutlery and crockery, car seats in resort and pre-bookable infant packs.

Rooms in ski chalets tend to be sizable, as they are designed for accommodating a large number of guests. As such most rooms in ski chalets can fit cots. It could be a good idea to book a nanny if available, through your holiday operator as this will free up parents times and allow you more opportunity to enjoy your holiday. Ensure that nannies are qualified and their experience is checked by the holiday operator.

"A short airport transfer will also reduce stress levels"

The main considerations when choosing a chalet for a family ski trip is the length of the airport transfer as you don’t want all your troops packed onto a bus for any longer than is needed. A short airport transfer will also reduce stress levels at the end of the holiday, as you will have more time for packing and won’t have to worry about being held up on the way to the airport.

If there are going to be parents looking after the children in the group you will need to make sure that there is lots to do in the resort and that everything is within walking distance from the chalets. Also check whether activities are included in the lift pass price as this will mean any parents taking care of the kids will be able to head into the resort and keep the kids entertained at no extra cost.

Family ski holidays are a great alternative to the usual break as you can take the kids during the winter holidays which will mean that you don’t have to interrupt school terms and everyone gets a slice of the fun!

Jonathan is a freelance writer who has frequently taken some family ski holidays so understands the stress they can involve!

How to Save Money on Your Ski Holiday

Save money on your next family ski vacation!

The depressed economy has kept many families from going on their usual winter ski vacations, although this doesn't have to be the case. There are a ton of ways to save money on every aspect of your trip if you are willing to search for great deals. Below are some helpful tips to help you reduce the costs of your family vacation this year.

Transportation

While flying is often a much faster mode of transportation, driving or taking a train are much cheaper. This is especially true for families. Not only can you save money on gas, but this money can be used to purchase snacks along the way, saving money by avoiding pricey restaurant stops. Also, if you plan to bring a lot of luggage, including any ski gear, driving or taking a train can help you save money that would be spent on checking extra baggage on a plane.

Hotels and Lodging

Hotels are often one of the most expensive parts of a family vacation. This is because people tend to book rooms from names they recognize from large chains. However, there are many other, less expensive options that include bed and breakfasts, condos and motels. While these may not include all of the same amenities as the larger chains, they will provide a nice place to rest after a long day of skiing. We enjoy this Vail lodging portal.

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is going to help you cut costs in a number of ways. Many airlines or rail stations will provide a discount for people who book their trip in advance. This also includes planning ahead for peak travel times and avoiding the times of year which are most popular. Hotels and other lodging businesses will also usually offer a lower rate for those who book in advance. Shopping around is the best way to get the lowest prices available for your vacation.

Pack a Lunch

Another thing that many travelers do not consider is the high cost of food while traveling. While it is enjoyable to experience the local flavor at restaurants, this can add up quickly. It is a good idea to do some grocery shopping for your trip and take packed lunches when you go skiing. This will help you save a tremendous amount of money by avoiding the overpriced mountaintop restaurants. You can also purchase snacks for your hotel room and save money that way.

Ski Passes

Aside from transportation and lodging, ski resorts also have their own ways to help you save money. Vail's Epic Pass costs $649 and allows you to ski as much as you want whenever you want. This is a huge savings opportunity when you consider that the 7-day pass is $499. Other ski resorts have similar offers as well. These passes are an incentive for those who plan to stay for longer than a week. If you are a ski enthusiast, this is definitely the way to go. Some resorts also offer childcare for free, so this is definitely something to consider if you are traveling with your family.