Winter In Europe

Exploring Europe during the winter is one of the best-kept secrets in travel!

Winter is such an enchanting time to visit Europe; in fact it should be mandatory that at least once in your lifetime you experience the magic of a White Christmas in this part of the world.

If you are worried about going to Europe during winter – don’t be! You will find the weather is often surprisingly mild, the city streets and attractions less crowded than during the summer, and the local shops filled with incredible winter bargains. Not to mention the great deals you can get on airfares and tours before you leave.

How about a visit to the Christmas Markets in Rothenburg, where you are plunged back into the 16th century as you enter through medieval walls and follow the narrow cobblestones streets to the market square with its town clock, or what about the sparkling festival lights of Prague and Budapest? Or a Mozart and Strauss concert in Vienna. 

Winter offers you a chance to see Europe in a whole different-albeit dimmer-light. The season presents you with a chance to put on your woollies and hike snow covered peaks, or squeeze into a tux and go to an opera gala.

Winter has charms of its own. Instead of a seat at an outdoor cafe, think of wandering through Venice's wintry fog, peering into the city's steamed-up windows in search of a cosy café or, better yet, think of eating rich, winter foods beside a roaring fire beneath the intricately carved timber-beams of an historic guild hall restaurant in Basel, Switzerland. 

In winter, European cuisine changes dramatically. Southern Mediterranean dwellers wouldn't think of eating heavy cream sauces in summer. But once the leaves fall off the trees, European kitchens burst into winter mode. Creamy, long-cooking sauces, preserved duck and goose, root vegetables, and the roasting of wild game all contributing to aromas that will leave you wishing you could stay in Europe forever. 

Of course some places are indeed quite chilly. But the south of Italy, Spain, Portugal and most of Greece are pretty balmy in winter. Winter is a great time to visit Spain's Andalucian trio of Seville, Cordoba and Granada. Or perhaps you'd rather take a winter visit to almost deserted Pompeii with a stopover in Naples in order to eat some of the best food in Italy. So Why not travel in winter? Hotels and airfares are cheap, and sweaty summer crowds are a dim memory!

For more information on any of the areas featured in this blog, contact World Travel Professionals to speak with one of our consultants. We encourage and welcome all user comments and aim to use our blog to interact with our interested readers!      
  

Ski Canada

Ski Canada – Big White

Big White is situated in British Columbia, Canada and is open from Mid November until mid April . Primarily accessible from Kelowna which is a regional centre approximately 1 ½ hours away.

A snap shot of Big White:

• 56 km from Kelowna, BC
• Average snowfall of 7.5m per season
• Base elevation of 1508 M and the summit at 2318m, Village at 1755
• 118 runs, serviced by 16 lifts over an area of 3052 hectares
• Novice runs to Black runs
• Restaurants, cafés and bars to suit all tastes
• Approx 17,000 rooms on sale every night! Youth Hostels, Chalets and Condo’s
• Most accommodations have excellent lift access
• Plenty of off ski activities, especially for Après skiers

The resort area offers child care, full ski instructors teaching kids, beginners and experienced alike. Locals offer a FREE guided your of the mountain several times a day to orientate new comers. The fact that most of the staff on the mountain is not coincident… the resort is owned by Australians.

All in all a perfect destination for Australians!

Let’s hear from our very own client Peter Kent of Brisbane.

"I first experienced Big White in 2004/05, it was mine and my family’s first skiing experience and we had such a good time we have planned to return ever since. When we decided to go on holidays this Christmas there was no contention, we easily settled on returning to Big White.

Our holiday was coordinated with a group of over 50 Adults and kids, all friends from Brisbane. The kids were always busy. There were so many Après ski activities that after the first few days we needed to have a day off to recharge! Most did pre and post Ski arrangements, some at the Californian Theme parks and some at other ski resorts and some a warm up in Hawaii.

Both times we have been to Big White the local “Kelowna Rockets” Ice Hockey team had a home game. If you want to see a “blood sport” then Ice Hockey is for you. The locals don’t seem to be happy until they see a fight! They are in the palyoff’s this year so they all seemed to go away happy.

Overall Big White is a definite on the list for skiers. It always has great snow. The only down side is access. Kelowna can be pron to closure due to fog. When we were due to return to Australia the airport was closed for 3 days. We ended up hiring a car and driving to Vancouver (approx 4 hours) to catch the following day’s flight. All car hire, last minute Vancouver hotel and the change in flight was done with minimal hassle (to us) by our friend Ros Bulat at World Travel Professionals. Wouldn’t go travelling without her! 

We had a great time. Happy Skiing"  

For more information on any of the areas featured in this blog, contact World Travel Professionals to speak with one of our consultants. We encourage and welcome all user comments and aim to use our blog to interact with our interested readers!