Advice and Information for the World Traveller on Many Destinations

Costa Cruises is a trusted provider of cruise holidays to a plethora of destinations worldwide. Choose from a number of itineraries based around such destinations as the Atlantic Ocean and Canary Islands, Canada and United States, Eastern Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean, Far East, the Grand Orient, Indian Ocean and Mauritius, Middle East, Northern Capitals, Norwegian Fjords and Highlands, South America, Transatlantic, Western Caribbean and Western Mediterranean.

Costa Cruises offers a variety of cruises and cruise and stay holidays tailored to suit the needs of every traveller, on a fantastic fleet of well equipped and luxurious liners.

Families can enjoy a relaxing cruise holiday together safe in the knowledge that the needs of both parents and children will be well catered to.  The Costa Kids programme is open to children aged between three and 17 and offers a programme of activity and entertainment to keep youngsters occupied at sea, including arts and crafts, sports, games and parties. Run by qualified staff, the Costa Kids programme allows parents to enjoy a bit of well earned alone time safe in the knowledge that their children are well taken care of.

Costa Cruises are also a great option for couples, offering an exciting opportunity to share a wealth of experiences. As well as discovering new and interesting cruise destinations, couples will be able to bond while enjoying a variety of activities from fine dining to relaxing on deck – the stress free cruising travel style will free up time for couples to simply spend some quality time together.

Skiing is the most popular sport in Austria and professional Austrian skiers rank amongst the best in the world. Many people, when they think of Austria, think of cosy Alpine villages and snowy mountain trails. The reality does live up to the hype. For skiers Austria is a wonderful land of old-world chalet villages, lift-linked ski areas, rustic wood-panelled restaurants, mountain huts and exceptional après ski and nightlife. Skiing holidays in Austria can make for a truly memorable holiday.

Whist some might say that Switzerland is more efficient, France more sophisticated and the cuisine of Italy is hard to beat, all agree that for friendliness Austria is the best. Austria is renowned for its after skiing tea times, schnapps on the slopes and late night partying.

The Austrian Alps have three main chains; the High Alps, the Northern Limestone Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps. In the Northern Limestone Alps you will find many natural valleys and resorts such as St. Anton, Lech, Ischgl and Kitzbuhl. The High Alps starts with the Oetzal resorts of Obergurgl and Solden and runs to Innsbruck, Zell am See and Kaprun. The Southern Limestone Alps are on the border with Italy and Slovenia.

Mountain elevation is lower in Austria than in France, Switzerland or Western Italy, but as the winters get colder the further east you travel in the Alps Austria still gets plenty of snow. However, skiers are advised to check snow conditions before planning their vacation if they intend to travel in early winter or spring. High season in Austria is the Christmas to New Year period and February to March. Low season is before Christmas, January after the New Year and late March through to closing in April.

Search on the internet for Ski Holidays Austria to compare packages and prices.

Edinburgh is an extremely accessible city with some lovely architecture, tourist attractions and shopping facilities. It makes it a very popular holiday destination.

If you decide to fly, then once you have landed at Edinburgh Airport getting to the city centre is fairly easy. The airport is situated about eight miles from the city centre and there is a shuttle bus that leaves from the terminal every 10 minutes that takes you right to the heart of the city. There are two services, so depending on your arrival time will depend on which company and route you will take, but both have the same destination. Both services are reasonably priced.

Getting to Edinburgh by ferry is not so straightforward, if travelling from Ireland the ferry from Belfast will likely come into port at Stranraer or Troon and then an additional journey via bus or train is needed to get into Edinburgh. Buses run into the city from all over the country, and there is also the option of coach travel with companies such as National Express who operate from all over the UK.

Travelling from England or Wales is far more straightforward with a choice of options available. All the train routes into Edinburgh run into Waverley Station, which is off Princes Street right in the centre of the city. Of course another option is to drive, with plenty of car parking options it is a good choice, but congestion is always an issue in a major city and needs to be taken into consideration.

London Heathrow airport is the biggest in the United Kingdom.  It is located just 15 miles from central London and is easily reached via the M4 and M25 motorways.  The airport now has five terminals and offers flights to and from all four corners of the world.  It is linked to the London Underground and overland rail services so is an ideal starting point for tourists.

Tourists have a vast number of hotels to choose from at Heathrow and there are several major tourist attractions within easy travelling distance. Legoland is situated at Windsor and makes a fun day out for all the family.  There are rides, shows and Lego interactive building challenges to stretch the imagination.

Ascot Racecourse has several race meetings each year and in June each year Royal Ascot offers several days of racing, royalty and celebrity spotting.  For those who enjoy rubbing shoulders with the upper classes, Windsor Castle is another popular destination for tourists.  The castle is one of the Queen’s official residences and dates back over a thousand years.  It is home to St George’s Chapel, where a number of royal weddings have taken place. Visitors can also view the Castle’s State Apartments.

For sports enthusiasts, Sunningdale and Wentworth golf clubs are close to the airport.  There is also The Guards Polo club which is one of the largest in Europe.  A large number of members are actually non-players and matches take place most weekends during the summer months in Windsor Great Park.

If you are taking your first cruise, it is important to be aware of what will need to be organised for your trip. Cruise holidays involve a little more than simply turning up at the ship and being whisked away on your voyage; there are several arrangements that will need to be made before you set sail.

Booking flights to the departure destination is, of course, the first thing you should look at. Many cruise deals offer packages, which include the cost of return flights in the price, but if you opted to fly separately, it will be well worth your while looking for the best deals, especially if you are going on a long-haul flight. It is also vital that you give yourself plenty of time between the flight arrival and the cruise departure. You should also allow for any potential delays.

Some cruise companies provide transport from the airport to the pier, but the majority will require that you book at least 14 days in advance. They can also look after your baggage, taking it right from the airport to the ship, but it will be your responsibility to ensure that this is done. If arranging your own transport to the pier, porters are nearly always on hand to take your luggage.

Another area that requires attention is the documentation for the trip. As well as tickets it is essential that you have a valid passport that will be accepted at each port of your cruise and stay holiday. Depending on the countries being visited, you may also need to obtain one or more visas.

Group skiing holidays are great with all the fun and camaraderie that a number of like minded friends have when they get together on a skiing holiday. Whilst you may have organised a ski holiday for yourself or your family booking one for a group of perhaps 8 or more people presents a different challenge. Using a ski holiday specialist is the best place to start because you will receive friendly, efficient and helpful service from their experienced staff and you will have a dedicated point of contact for your group right from the start. There are a thousand things to plan such as rooming, equipment, lift passes, special diets, medical requirements and transport, let the ski holiday experts take everything off your hands.

A fantastic place for a group ski holiday is Sestriere which is in the heart of the fab Milky Way skiing area, one of the World’s biggest ski circuits. Purpose built and snow sure Sestriere hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics and investment is ongoing. Sestriere is a great choice for beginners because there are wide village nursery slopes and some long gentle blues which are ideal for snow plough experts. The lift system is easy for beginners as well. They will find the links to Sauze and Sansicario a bit of a struggle but there’s plenty to do locally. For keen intermediates and advanced skiers Sestriere has fantastic possibilities. There is over 400kms of great skiing featuring plenty of interesting ski journeys to Sauze, Sansicario, Cesana and eventually to Claviere and Montgenevre. Sestriere is modern, cosmopolitan, and well equipped with a big choice of après ski. It’s very much a leading part of the Italian ski resorts. Nearby Borgata is an old mountain community with some nice traditional buildings but hardly any nightlife, not quite the place for a group of skiers, stick to Sestriere guys which is large, lively, popular and well equipped.

As one of the most spectacular natural attractions in North America, tourists flock towards the Niagara Falls. Here, running along the border between Canada and the USA, the waters of the Niagara River plummet downwards forming the most powerful waterfall in North America.

The Niagara Falls can be seen from either the US or Canadian side. From the US side (in the state of New York), Prospect Point Park and Goat Island offer some of the best views. A trail leads from Goat Island to a point beneath the section known as Bridal Veil Falls, where the Cave of the Winds viewing platform takes visitors right up to the plunging water.

On the Canadian side (the province of Ontario), Queen Victoria Park provides some great views. A series of underground walkways can be accessed from here, leading to cleverly situated observation rooms that give the impression of being within the falls themselves. An observation deck at the top of the nearby Skyline Tower gives a splendid overhead view of the waterfall.

The famous Maid of the Mist boat cruise is available from both sides of the Niagara Falls. Passengers are taken to all the major points along the waterfall; prepare to get wet, as the Horseshoe Falls section takes tourists deep into the dense spray of the falling water.

The twin towns on each side of the river are both called Niagara Falls. They are connected by three bridges allowing easy access from one to the other. The nearest city on the US side is Buffalo (about 23 miles), while Hamilton is the closest in Canada (40 miles).

Unsurprisingly for a large city like Moscow, there are plenty of sights and tourist attractions, and from historical to theatrical there will be something to please everyone. Flights to Moscow have become cheap over the past few years and once you have landed at Domodedovo Airport you are only 14 miles from this fantastic city. Probably the best place to start would be Moscow’s Red Square, home to a host of sights such as the Kremlin, St Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s tomb.

St Basil’s Cathedral

Set in the middle of Moscow’s Red Square and arguably the most recognisable tourist attraction in the city is St Basil’s Cathedral. Although somewhat chaotic, the architecture is a true work of art. Built in 1561, it was originally called Potrovsky Cathedral but was renamed later by Tsar Ivan the Terrible, who is said to have liked the cathedral because the domes reminded him of Tartar’s heads on sticks. Rebuilt many times, the cathedral you see today is around 200 years old.

The Kremlin

The Kremlin is a fortified collection of buildings in the heart of Moscow overlooking St Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square. Contained inside the walls are three ancient cathedrals, which are all open to sightseers, together with the Kremlin Palace, which is the official residence of the Russian President. The Presidential palace is not open to visitors. Tickets to tour the Kremlin are available to buy at the ticket office located in Alexander’s Garden.

Lenin’s Mausoleum

Lenin’s tomb was built in 1930 to house the body of the Bolshevik leader.  It is rumoured that there is an underground railway hidden beneath the tomb ready to whisk away the body at any sign of hostilities.

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!