Advice and Information for the World Traveller on Many Destinations

Archive for February, 2010

For smokers, cruise holidays can vary on the do’s and don’ts of lighting up on board. As cruise and stay getaways cover a wide variety of countries across the world, it can be unclear as to what laws will be applicable to passengers.

Some of the major lines have banned smoking indoors, on their ships, altogether. P&O cruises, for example, have prohibited indoor smoking on their Artemis, Oceana and Ventura vessels since 2008 and passengers are only allowed to enjoy a cigarette on their own private balcony or designated outside areas. Guests who don’t abide by the rules could face a fine. Costa Cruises have adopted a similar policy.

However, if you are looking for smoking freedom, Carnival cruises, have a much more relaxed approach and allow smoking in the casinos, piano bars and live music venues, but not dining areas and the main lounges. Princess Cruises have been a little more technical with their handling of the smoking issue and cigarette smoking is allowed indoors, but cigar and pipe smokers will have to go out on the open deck.

Whether you are a smoker or someone who could do without cigarette smoke for their cruise holiday, it will be worth your while reading up on the policies for different ships. Non-smokers should select a room and balcony as far forward as possible, as when the ship pulls off, smoke from other balconies will blow back towards the stern.

Much will also depend on the nationality of the cruise line; local Mediterranean and Red Sea cruise companies often allow smoking on board.

Winter getaways don’t necessarily have to involve roughing it in a basic chalet. Luxury ski holidays combine spending time on the slopes with the finest cuisine and other amenities designed to help make the experience an unforgettable one.

When looking for your ski deal you should consider the location first. Do you want to go skiing in Europe, the United States or Canada? Once you have made your selection you can start to narrow down your search by country or region.

Now that you have a general area in mind, you can start investigating the different options available for ski holidays. Are you interested in staying at a luxury ski chalet or would a four or five-star hotel be a better choice for you? Luxury apartments are also available to people on ski holidays, and this is a good choice for families and groups travelling together.

Consider the other amenities offered by different resort operators before making your decision. Do you want to stay at a location offering spa services as well as proximity to the slopes? Is luxury dining after a day spent outdoors important to you? Would you like to be able to relax in a pool or a hot tub at the end of the day?

Luxury ski holidays can create memories that will last a lifetime. Picture the kind of experience you would like to have first, and then you will have a much easier time narrowing down your search for the right resort. The only thing you will need to think about is what to pack!