Category : Travel Advice

If you like mountain biking, whether you are a complete beginner or an expert, Canada has some of the most incredible trails in the world. There is so much choice and so many bike parks, not to mention all the companies that you can arrange your trip with. Focusing just on British Columbia, here are some of the top Mountain Bike Parks in this area:

looks fun, but the trails are more traditional mud tracks

Whistler Mountain Bike Park

This is a serious park, tailored specifically to riders of all abilities, providing the highest quality trails. Boasting over 1500m of trails, often thousands of feet up in the mountains, they are all fully accessible by purpose built lifts. This means you can get in so much more downhill riding, than if you were to try and ride up to where they start.

It costs between $12 and $16 dollars depending on which trail you choose. In addition to the trails, Whistler offers an Air Dome which is 8400 square foot of covered ramps including a quarter and half pipe, and a huge foam pit.

At the bottom you will find a fully facilitated hotel, plus a mountain bike shop both selling, fixing and servicing bikes. You can also rent bikes from here, and all safety equipment, which everyone must wear no matter which trail they ride.

Sun Peaks Resort Bike Park

This is one of the most beautiful locations, offering 595 metres of trails with 35 different routes. This park also offers a lift service to the summit. One of the park’s most recent additions, which has become an instant hit, is the Big Rock Ride XC trail. You can take the lift up to the summit of Sundane Mountain, and enjoy single-track trails down through some of the most picturesque meadows you will ever see, all the way to the breath-taking McGillivray Lake.

Sun Peaks also offers complete Free-Ride camps during the summer, teaching you invaluable skills and techniques, and helping you apply them with supervised rides along a selection of trails. The 5 day camps cost around $400, and they have also introduced weekend women’s camps for 2 days, for around $200. These are very competitive prices for how much you actually get.

Silver Star Bike Park

This is another World Class park, which uses the Comet 4 bike lift, which means there is barely any waiting time. They have recently introduced 3 new jump trails, the Pipe, Dream and Rock Star, which have become an instant success. As with the other trails it has lots of amazing Downhill slopes, XC Routes and plenty of training programmes and camps.

The scenery you will see from elevations at any of these Parks is astounding, with lots of typically Canadian snow-capped rugged mountains. The trails being built simply keep getting better, and to be able to start at the top means condensing your experience into just the fun parts. These parks have made the mountains accessible in a way they never have been before. You can’t help but fall in love with this unbelievable region.

Hoping you’ll be seeing snow this Christmas? Or just looking for an action packed family holiday with a difference? Either way a skiing holiday is a great way to get all the family together, with something for everyone to have a go at and enjoy. From snowboarding to ice skating, to spotting all sorts of amazing wildlife that call these winter wonderlands there home; you’ll be delighted you didn’t opt for the usual winter sun getaway!

Skiing on the Gernkogel

Below are a few of the top ski holiday destinations that many snow enthusiasts indulge their wintery passions in:

The French Alps

As well as breath-taking scenery, snow-capped mountains and huge sparkling glaziers for you to gaze at all day, the French Alps are a haven for anyone with a passion for skiing!

With hundreds of slopes, runs and courses all ranging from beginner, intermediate and advance you’ll have a whale of a time here no matter what your level.

You’ll also have no problem finding a ski teacher here, with the French Alps playing host to many award winning schools. No matter what your experience you can always learn something new or start from the very beginning if you’re completely new to skiing. There are also plenty of places where you can hire equipment and extra waterproofs etc from, so you won’t have to worry about going over your luggage allowance when at the airport!

Austria

Austria is another stunning winter wonderland location that will simply leave you speechless when confronted by its raw beauty.

Many of the best ski locations in Austria are the charming little snowy villages of Mayrhofen, St Anton and Obergurgl. All with a fantastic range of slopes to suit all levels of experience and expertise.

Many of the ski resorts here have fantastic natural ice rinks for you and all the family to take advantage of, just ensure you stick to the designated skating areas advised to you by the resort. Another thing which makes these Austrian villages a great place to go on holiday, is the great culture of apres skiing here.

Apres skiing, for those of you who don’t know, is just having a few drinks after a busy day on the slopes with your fellow skiing buddies. You’ll more than likely bump into a few locals as well, who’ll be able to tell you of a few secret slopes in the area, along with a few tales to boot too.

Alaska

Alaska has miles of white dusted alpine forests for you to hike through, along with a number of hot springs for you to take a warm dip in if the cold snow gets a bit too much.

It also plays host to some of the best snowboarding competition in the world, so it’s the perfect place to brush up on your skills or to learn from the masters themselves. You’ll also be able to hire a board from the plethora of snowboarding schools around, so need to worry to pack or buy your own.

Canada

A little further afield in the land of the Maple leaf, Canada provides some of the best Skiing in the world and caters for every skill level. The world renowned Kicking Horse resort is one of Canadas top resorts catering for all levels of skill, from the red runs for your experienced teenage kids to the baby slopes to learn on.

If you’ve never been on a skiing holiday before or didn’t think they’d be much else to do, then think again. Snow holidays are the perfect getaway for a special family Christmas that will guarantee to fill you with all the festive joys and more.

If you want this years Christmas to be really festive and filled with jolly spirits for the whole season – why not take a trip around the amazing and wonderful Christmas markets of Germany?

Every thing from roasting chestnuts and spicy mulled wine to hundreds of stalls for you to browse around displaying the best in German local craftsmanship. You’ll be mingling amongst horse drawn carriages and the sound of Christmas carolers everywhere you go. Its like stepping back in time, into your very own version of ‘A Christmas Carole’.

Berlin Christmas Market

Below are some of the best places in Germany to get a real taste of their legendary Christmas markets.

Berlin

Of course the nation’s capital is going to have some of the top Christmas markets, that goes without saying.  But although Berlin does not have the biggest ones, people often remark on how traditional they have kept their markets here.

You’ll find yourself meandering through a labyrinth of tiny, holly trimmed alley ways all crammed with hundreds of food, drink and craft item stalls. Also you have the chance to see all the amazing war monuments and memorials all around Berlin, whilst on a break here. The Opera here, is also a simply must for anyone wanting a real bite into German culture with many Christmas themed performances on from start of of October to really get you in the mood for the festivities.

Nuremberg

Nuremberg is home to some of the biggest Christmas markets in Germany and even Europe, so you’ve little chance of getting bored whilst browsing around here!

Nuremberg Christmas markets have thousands of stalls selling the best of Germany’s local produce and wines. You’ll also be able to buy hand carved Christmas decorations, knitted clothes, beautiful ornaments and special handmade toys for special presents for loved ones back home. Such things you won’t be able to find back in the UK, so at least you know you won’t be giving someone a present they’ve already got.

Don’t worry if you need a rest from shopping, Nuremberg has a wonderful variety of live music acts around the Christmas peroid ranging from traditional German folk songs to more modern day twists. Grab one of the famous litre glasses of beer and let your spirits get merry!

Dusseldorf

As well as having the vast array of traditional craft and food stalls, Dusseldorf Christmas markets also have a lot of other fun things to do – good news for people who don’t want to be just shopping all day with mum!

As well as a huge ice rink, you also have a great fair ground here with all manner of fun rides to keep the children entertained all day. You can also catch all the leading German choirs here singing a range of traditional caroles, whilst you warm up with some mulled wine or hot chocolate.

If you want a break from the old routine this Christmas and want to grab a few unique stocking fillers and presents – treat yourself to a well deserved break to one of the most chrismassy places on earth. Although Christmas is one of the best times of year, it can also be one of the most stressful.  Don’t let things get on top of you and always remind yourself of what Christmas is really about. A few days around the Christmas markets of Germany, would have Scrooge himself cracking a smile so get on a plane already!

Image courtesy of Flickr tsteenbergen

Europe is such a vastly diverse continent, steeped to the nines in history and culture. From the Roman Amphitheatres in Italy, to the astonishing wilderness of the Transylvanian castles of Romania, you can truly feel the changes from one country to the next.

However, as culturally diverse as this great continent is, is it equally diverse in its cost of living. Here are 3 of the best places to visit that will not break the bank-

Prague – a city of beauty

Prague

The capital of the Czech Republic, this magnificent city is a great place to start. The central market place is all cobbled stone as are most of the streets, and it is surrounded by huge looming gothic buildings and impossible looking spires that seem as if they touch the sky. Here you will also find Prague’s most famous attraction, the ancient astronomical clock.

For food and drink head away from the centre as it can be expensive. There are plenty of restaurants that will serve lovely local cuisine for a fraction of the overpriced, tourist orientated stalls of the central market.

You cannot mention Prague without speaking of its tremendous selection of beer. The average price for a beer is around 80p to £1 and the quality is out of this world. You will find some of the most expensive UK high street lagers scoffed at here and for good reason, this is nation that are true connoisseurs of beer!

Lagos

Located on the coast of Portugal, this beautiful little town is a real gem. Its quaint cobble stoned streets being overlooked by verandas, it has a romantic almost Mediterranean feel. There are lots of great places to stay from sociable hostels to traditional hotels, all for very reasonable prices. The toe has a very liberal feel, it being commonplace to gather out on the streets on a summers eve to drink and have a chat. The locals and anyone who stays here seems to be very welcoming and friendly, it would be very difficul to not feel relaxed and enjoy yourself!

If that isn’t enough, Lagos boasts some of the most incredible and dramatic coastline in Europe. Tall  cliffs and huge rocks jutting out of the water, interspersed with sandy bays omplete with coves. You can take a kayak and paddle up this amazing shore line, and you can stop and eplore some amazing caves and you will even come across some seret beaches only accsible by boat.

Ljubljiana

This is the capital city of Slovenia. A special city surrounded by the majestic Slovenian mountains, you could lose yourself here for weeks. Fo a capital city is seems much less manic than Berlin or Rome for example, but for this it does not lack at all.

A city or large grey stone buldings with arched walkways beneath, with plenty of high street shopping options. The river runs directly through the heart of the city, the historical old town. There is a walkay down the side of the river which is beautiful to walk along. There are also pleny of bars and resteraunts by the riverside which are all very well priced indeed.  There are lots of incredible statues and sculptures all over the city, and you will often find some very interesting street performers here and there during the day.

You don’t need to break the bank to have a break in Europe. Flights to most major cities are so cheap, and you can do it for much less that you may think when you construct the trip yourself and by using our airport parking comparison, you can be sure to find the best deal around for airport parking.

image courtesy of Flickr – FKLV

We always appreciate it whenever a bona fide money-saving expert recommends gosimply.com (by that, we mean money-saving experts that aren’t biased towards companies that “support” his website) – so we’re over the moon that the guardian.co.uk gave us their royal seal of approval in a recent travel write up.

Don't get ripped off. Book in advance to save a packet on airport parking.

In the recent article, “Where to park and not get taken for a ride”, Marc Lockley, writer of guardian.co.uk’s money-saving column, The Negotiator, recommended to his readers that they “keep checking gosimply.com” to find the best available prices for airport car parking.

Marc also noted that we had the best price for Manchester Airport parking, which was a lovely thing to announce, but won’t be a surprise to our loyal customers.

The savviest travellers know that paying standard gate prices at airport car parks is not the best idea when you’re trying to stay within budget. Pre-booking your parking at the airport will not only be easier on your wallet, but guarantee your space, too. Remember also that the sooner you book, the more you’re likely to save.

We’re dedicated to providing travellers with the very best service on all of the products we offer, so next time you want the cheapest airport parking, be sure to take an expert’s advice and book it in advance with gosimply.com.

Winter wonderland or driving nightmare?

Tweet before you leap

Avoid becoming a statistic. Last year saw thousands of travellers stranded in their cars for hours, and even days. Missing a work day isn’t great, but missing your flight for a well-deserved holiday just sucks. Keep up to date with these tools and you’ll soon be sunning yourself on the beach rather than shivering in the cold.

• Airport Twitter Feeds – Most UK airports have Twitter accounts that they update regularly informing of delays and closures.
• Airport Telephone Numbers – Unsure of airport closures? Give them a ring before you jump in the car.

Pimp your ride before you drive

On a normal day the airport may only be an hours drive away, but snow and ice can turn the simplest of journeys into a living nightmare. With a few of these simple precautions, you can be prepared for almost any situation.

Check your car's credentials before setting off

• Check your engine coolant. Ensure that your vehicle has the right amount of anti-freeze to deal with the dipping temperatures.
• Top up your windscreen fluid. If in doubt a little more windscreen cleaning fluid is better than too little – it’ll stop it freezing.
• Fill up your tank. A full fuel tank is a must – if you get stuck or stranded, the fuel in the tank is all that you have to keep the in-car heaters running.
• Stay snug as a bug in a rug. Pack a blanket and ensure you have warm clothing. It sounds extreme but many that got stuck last year for a day or more wish they had.
• Charge your phone and grab an in-car charger. There’s nothing worse than a low battery when you need it most.
• Pack some snacks and drinks. A stash of flapjacks and some non-alcoholic drinks will see you through until help arrives.
• Snow chains might help. Last year saw a boom in the sales of snow chains in the UK. If you own them or plan to buy some, do you know how to fit them?

It’s as simple as A to B – or is it?

Work out 2 or 3 alternative routes to your destination so that if you do hit a dead end, you already know what alternative options are open to you.

Oh deer!

Road closures and diversions are a common occurrence when the snow arrives. There’s always a good chance that the most direct route may become impassable for one reason or another. Before setting out, quickly check some of the near real-time traffic services to find out which routes are open and where traffic is flowing freely.

• Michelin Traffic News
• Traffic England Updates
• AA Traffic News

Driving on the slippery stuff

Driving in fresh snow isn’t great but it becomes a lot trickier as it compacts, turning to ice. You don’t have to be a world class rally driver, simply follow these simple tips and you’ll stand a better chance of reaching your destination trouble free.

Winter is not the time to drive like Lewis Hamilton

Don’t brake if the car starts sliding. Even if they’re anti-lock. Straighten your wheels then ease off the accelerator, this should help transfer the weight forward and help you to regain traction.

Don’t accelerate if you’re stuck in the snow. An ice patch will form under the tyres making it harder to get out. Try pulling out your floor mats and shove them under your tyres. Rock the car back and forth gently to get your wheels on the mats, then gently accelerate off. You may have other items in the boot that you may be able to use such as a camping blanket.

Don’t tailgate the car ahead in low visibility. Although following the brake lights of the car in front is an attractive idea – it’s a recipe for disaster. Turn on your low beam headlamps and fog lights. Dim interior lights including dashboard instruments if you can as this will help with exterior visibility. Probably the most important thing is if you can’t see the road, pull over. If you can’t see the road ahead or the road signs, it’s too dangerous. You may only need to wait for a short time before being able to resume your journey.

For more tips on driving in winter weather, check out the following websites:-

• AA Winter Driving Advice
• BBC: How to drive in snow and icy weather

Spend a little, save a lot

Protect yourself from financial losses or expensive bills by investing in some decent travel cover. No matter how well prepared you are, there’s no telling how bad the weather may get or how other vehicles around you will react.

Don't get caught out, get covered by the AA - not snow!

Get Breakdown Cover. Most cover and rescue services are well equipped to deal with roadside breakdowns and if things can’t be fixed, depending on the level of cover you have, they’ll even tow you to your destination or back to your home address, even if it is across the other side of the country.

• The AA
• RAC
• Green Flag

Grab your Travel Insurance. A good travel insurance policy is a must as these should cover you if you’re not able to reach the airport because of weather conditions or an accident. When taking out a travel insurance policy, read the small print or ask to make sure that these situations are covered.

Be wary of abandoning your car

If you get stuck in snow just a few miles from home or your destination, you might be tempted to continue your journey on foot. One word of warning – during last years heavy snow, thousands of stranded drivers found themselves with unexpected bills after their vehicles were towed away and put into storage.

And finally…

If you do get stuck in the snow don’t do this!

This week’s Winter Sports blog looks at safety and what you can do to avoid accidents and any unfavourable situations whilst on the slopes. If you’re a newbie to the piste or want to brush up on your ski etiquette, don’t forget to check out last week’s post on what to do before you hit the ski slopes.

Keep cool in unfavourable situations, be safe and have fun!

From those little niggles to some of the more serious scenarios, here are some more top tips to help ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable winter holiday.

1. Prevention is better than cure!

Ski within your means and be aware of other slope users to avoid a painful accident.

2. Skiing can be tiring so take time out

Tiredness and Fatigue are one of the main catalysts of accidents. Don’t wait until you feel tired, take regular rests and grab a bite to eat

Skiing can be a tiring business. Make sure you grab a break now and then

When you’re on the slopes it’s not always obvious when energy levels start to drop. Skiing and snowboarding is an exhausting activity, ensure that you have regular stops to top up on fluids and some sort of energy snack to see you safely through the day.

3. Respect other slope users

You may be on holiday, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your manners at home! Simple as it may sound, ski slopes can be busy places with fast and slow moving traffic. Basically, treat it like a motorway and don’t do silly things that are likely to endanger others.

Treat a Ski slope as you would a Motorway

• Ski within your ability. Adapt the manner and speed of your skiing to your ability and to the general conditions on the mountain. Not doing so is one of the quickest ways to an accident and injury.
• Skiers and snowboarders in front have priority. Make sure you leave enough space.
• Leave plenty of space when overtaking a slower skier/snowboarder. If they suddenly turn or stop, you’ll still have space to manoeuvre.
• If merging into a marked run, treat it like a road. Look up and down the mountain before entering to get an idea of what’s happening around you.
• If you need to stop, stop at piste’s edge. You’re less likely to be in the way and more likely to be avoided by other skiers and snowboarders.
• Take note of piste signs and markers. Like any road network, pistes have signs and markings that should be obeyed. They are there for your safety and the safety of other people on the slope.

4. Tips for Skiing or Snowboarding off-piste

Off-piste areas are NOT protected from alpine dangers, so extra care must be taken!

Be mindful of avalanche warnings when skiing off-piste

• Check that your insurance covers off-piste activities
• Look for signs around the ski area which will warn you when avalanche danger is present.
• Even when there is no warning of avalanches, there could be local snow slides.
• Unless you know an area well, only ski/board off-piste with a guide (in the USA, skiing/boarding “out of bounds” without a guide can lead to confiscation of your lift pass).
• If in doubt, stay away and stick to the main piste slopes.

5. What to do if there is an accident

The recognised sign for a piste accident is a pair of crossed skis or a snowboard planted in the snow at least 5 metres above the accident area. If necessary, post someone up the hill to give warning to others and prevent anyone from colliding and causing more damage.

Would you know how to administer first aid, like these guys?

A little bit of First Aid goes a long way
This is where a St John’s First Aid course would come in handy. If the accident is of a more serious nature use these rules to aid the injured:

• Circulation – check for a pulse
• Check that the person’s airway is clear and they are breathing
• Assess the general condition of the casualty
• Do not move them if the injury is obviously back, neck or head-related
• Try to stop any serious bleeding by covering the wound and applying firm pressure
• Provide warmth, but give nothing to eat or drink, especially alcohol
• Do not offer painkillers if you have them

If required, contact the rescue services A.S.A.P
In the event of a more serious accident it’s important to stay calm and contact the rescue services giving clear details of:

• Place of accident (piste name and nearest piste marker)
• Number of people injured
• Type of injury

Ultimately, the safety and well-being of the injured person is your priority, but if you’re able to collect these additional pieces of information it will help if there is police involvement:

• Names and addresses of people involved and of witnesses
• Place, time and circumstances of accident
• Terrain, snow conditions and visibility
• Markings and signs

By following these few simple rules, you’ll hopefully stay safe on the slopes, and if you do come across an accident, you should be able to offer some help.

6. Get the right level of Travel Insurance cover

Accidents do happen. Don’t get caught out with expensive medical bills, make sure your travel insurance caters for your Winter Sports activities.

Be prepared, don't get lumbered with hospital charges

We’ve said it before, but we’re going to say it again. Getting adequate winter sports travel insurance is probably the single most important thing to have in place. For little more than the cost of a nice meal, good insurance cover will not only help with inconvenient issues like stolen or broken equipment; it could also be a life-saver, ensuring that you get prompt and adequate medical treatment without delay, if needed.

Next week…

Join us for the penultimate post in this series where we’ll be looking at apres-ski activities around the resort and sharing some fun pastimes that will provide fun for kids, couples, groups and families.

See you next week!