As the first flakes of snow fall on ski slopes throughout Europe and further afield, many ski enthusiasts are gearing up for an exciting season at one of the many stunning winter resorts.

Some of the most popular resorts in Europe this season will include Arlberg, Austria, Chamonix, France and Verbier, Switzerland. America’s top destinations for the winter include Whistler, Sun Valley and Jackson Hole.

For top level skiiers looking to enjoy their sport in some of the World’s top skiing destinations Europe offers the Three Valleys resort if France, which is one of the most famous ski areas on the continent. It offers more than 410 miles of slopes connected exclusively by runs and lifts.

Those British skiiers seeking long and coasting slopes should look into winter holiday breaks at Switzerland’s Davos resort. Its five ski areas covering both sides of the valley offer an endless variety of terrain.

The Aspen ski resort in Colorado has long since been a favourite of British holidaymakers wishing to sample the “champagne powder” which covers the slopes. The three mountains that make up the resort, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountains offer a range of slopes for vaying abilities.

For skiiers seeking a skiing break on a budget there are a good selection of package deals and special offers on this season - holiday experts are advising travellers to shop around to find the best bargains.

This season will see an upsurge in the number of green ski runs on ski slopes worldwide, but this is not to encourage beginners, but rather to promote a more environmentally friendly attitude towards this very popular winter sport.

The Ski Club of Great Britain is on the verge of launching a new online tool which will make it easier for ski reorts to minimise their environmental impact.

The new website makesnowsportsgreener.com has been developed in conjunction with the Travel Foundation and will be launched on 20th October.

The website will offer pratical advice for resorts on the energy savings that businesses such as lift operators, hotels and shops can make in all areas of their trade ranging from buildings to snow-making and transport in and around the resort.

The Association of SnowSports Countries (ASC) is planning to offer free skiing across 46 resorts in some of the most popular skiing resorts in Andorra, Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland.

This one-off offer is open to 1000 genuine first time skiers, for one week only beginning either on the 17th or the 24th January 2009. The event is limited to those over the age of 18 and participants will only have to pay for the standard cost of their package holiday.

Free tuition, lift passes and equipment hire are all included in the package in order to attract more interest, as many travellers who are tempted by skiing are often put off by the added costs.

Many american resorts are aiming to cater for the traditionally non-ski times of year with a range of new and exciting activities such as dogsledding, snowshoeing.

Activities such as kayaking are also highly popular with holidaymakers at holiday locations such as Lake Tahoe, voted number one ski destination by Orbitz in 2007/2008.

Holidaymakers are advised to research their winter holiday destination for non-ski events and activities that will add to their vacation experience.

Non-ski activities also provide travellers with the opportunity to get to know the culture and delights of the area around their chosen destination.

Passengers wishing to fly to New Brunswick, Canada will now be able to do so from Gatwick airport.

This long-awaited service will provide travellers with greater access to the many popular resorts along the Atlantic Coast including Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

The flight operator will be Air Transat, offering both Economy and Club Class on an Airbus A310.

A record number of British people are taking holidays in America, says the Visit USA Association.

New statistics show that there was an 11 per cent rise in visitors to America in May this year when compared to the previous year.

It is believed that the high value of the pound to the dollar is leading more people to take holidays in America.

Peter Moss, Chairman of Visit USA said the figures “really do support the fact that 2008 may well go on to become the biggest year ever for UK travel to the USA - possibly as high as five million visitors”.

British Airways recently revealed that four of its US destinations are in their top 5 global destinations.

Snowboarders are twice as likely to end up with broken bones on the slopes. The most likely ways to fall and hurt yourself is to ‘fall onto and out-stretched hand’ – Foosh as it’s called by emergency staff.

Ski holidays are very popular, and snowboarding is becoming a popular choice over traditional downhill skiing. According to the new research 34% of snowboarders are likely to sustain an injury from their sport, compared to 17% of skiers.

The new research was conducted by Debenhams Travel Insurance.

With the current recession in the US, the Canadian ski resort Banff is seeing a drop in the number of American ski tourists. Instead, the resort is filling up with Japanese and European skiers.

The majority of tourists to Canada come from the US, and Canadians fear that the current bad economic situation in the US will mean fewer visitors to Canada. But ski tourists are pouring in from other countries as travelling overseas becomes more affordable.

Stavros Karlos a town councilman says the town will survive the slump in US tourists. “We lose in some places, and we gain in others — I’ve seen an increase in British and European visitors.”

Many British ski holidaymakers are heading to Canada, especially groups have been booking ski holidays in Canada for this winter season.

A record high number of Brits are heading abroad for Christmas and New Year starting on Friday December 21, according to Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). The busiest day of travel will Saturday December 22 when people head for their holidays to escape Christmas.

For holidays in the sun, the Canary Islands, Egypt and Goa are number one choices. For city breaks, Dubai is attracting more Brits than before due to the great shopping facilities in the city.

For New Year people are taking city breaks in European cities like Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin.

Many people are taking advantage of the great early snow conditions and are taking ski breaks in France, Austria and Italy. The weak dollar is attracting some to take a ski holiday in America.

ABTA president Justin Fleming said: “This is always a peak time for travel as people make the most of the bank holidays and once again there are a record number travelling.”

If you are heading for a ski holiday this winter, you should be getting ready for it as soon as possible. The UK skiers have been adviced to include balance training to their fitness program prior to their ski break.
BalanceMaster has given out five main tips to skiers preparing for their 2008 ski holiday.

“Professional Australian skier, Jono Brauer, has stated most ski injuries occur as a result of imbalance of strength in the legs and / or poor core stability, and balance and coordination work should be incorporated into all ski fitness programmes,” said Peter Hope of BalanceMaster.

1 - Cardio work is great for circulatory and respiratory health, and also endurance – remember tiredness can result in injuries.

2 - Concentrate on strength work relative to the type of exercise you will be doing, eg skiing or snowboarding – resistance training can be very useful.

3 - All-round mobility work helps prevent injury, so you can react quickly and prepare for a fall; it also allows injury-prone areas to flex and stretch.

4 - Incorporate balance work into your plan, as this boosts core strength, posture and coordination. Dynamic muscle stability is key on the slopes.

5 - Always speak to a fitness expert, and seek medical advice if required. Plan ahead – you may need two to three months to get ski-fit.

Source Travelbite

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games (VANOC) have revealed the mascots for the Olympic Games.

Quatchi, Miga and Sumi are three creatures greeting and entertaining people coming to the games. The design team have put much thought into the mascots, wanting to make sure they appeal to children all around the world, represent the people, geography and spirit of Canada and the British Columbia.

The VANOC describes the mascots:
Quatchi is big, gentle and shy; Miga is small, mischievous and outgoing; and Sumi is a natural born leader with a passion for protecting the environment. The mascots are mythical creatures from local legends.

Click here to see the mascots

The heavy early snow fall this year is making the Canadian ski resort Whistler consider opening the ski season early. The operations crew is busy preparing the resort for the season opening on 22 November, but as the snow keeps falling the resort is considering opening early.

“Giddy anticipation is definitely the overwhelming feeling in Whistler right now,” says Doug MacFarlane, Whistler Blackcomb’s Mountain Manager. “It’s dumping snow on the mountains right now. This weather system has been a huge boost for our early season conditions and will build an excellent base for the rest of the season. Our on-mountain webcams can give people an excellent idea of what is going on up on the mountain.”

Ski Holiday specialist Ski-Direct reports that Canada is attracting more ski holidaymakers than in previous years. People taking group ski holidays especially are heading to the slopes in Canada, according to analysis of early bookings made at through specialist online ski holiday booking agency www.ski-direct.co.uk

A number of trans-Atlantic airline companies have announced extra services to Canada’s ski resorts this winter, making the pristine powder and awe-inspiring peaks of Canada more reachable for ski holidaymakers from Europe.

Another boost to Canada’s popularity is the excellent snow conditions its resorts enjoyed during the Winter 2007 season.

Jon Pearce from Ski-Direct says: “Canada is world-famous for its skiing. Snow conditions in the Canadian ski resorts are excellent and have some of the longest ski seasons in the world. Many of our customers return to Canada year after year once they get the taste of it.”

Canada is an ideal destination for group ski holidays, as the ski packages available at the Canadian ski resorts are often more flexible than those available in Europe.

Ski-Direct specialises in putting together the right ski holiday for groups of any size.

Ski-Direct has received the largest number of bookings for major North-American resorts, from both groups and individuals. The spectacular Banff area in Alberta, Canada has been a favourite this season. Banff is the only North American ski resort located in a National Park. The unspoilt ski resort offers three unique mountains for skiers of all grades.

Another noticeable trend in ski holiday bookings this season is that people tend to be making bookings at the High resorts in Europe. This may be due to some disappointment in snow conditions last season. Late bookers seem to be waiting for snow fall to decide where to go for their ski holiday.

Only Andorra bucks this trend, the small country is famous as an ideal destination for skiing on a budget.

Information about worldwide ski resorts and Ski-Direct holidays can be found at http://www.ski-direct.co.uk

Most bookings (groups and none groups):
All major resorts in USA - especially Breckenridge, Winter Park
All Canadian ski resorts - especially Banff, Whistler
All High French ski resorts – especially Alpe D’Huez, Les Deux Alpes
High Italian ski resorts - especially Sauze, Livigno, Cervinia
High Austrian ski resorts - especially St Anton, Obergurgl
All Andorra ski resorts
All Switzerland ski resorts

The Canadian Tourism Commission UK has launched its winter campaign in the UK with the slogan “You haven’t skied until you’ve skied in Canada”.

The timing for the campaign is good, since recent figures suggest that Canada is benefiting from the relatively poor ski conditions experienced in some ski resorts in Europe last winter.

Many Ski holiday operators are offering more destinations in Canada for this winter season and the rise in the number of low-cost flight carriers to Canada’s ski resorts over the last few months has resulted in a wider choice of bargain Canada ski holidays.

Canadian Tourism Commission Managing director Maggie Davison said: “Some of our resorts have already had their first snowfall and we are looking forward to a great season.

We had some of the best snow conditions last year and if you add the increased capacity and the buzz building up for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympics Games in Vancouver, we can confidently say you haven’t skied until you’ve skied in Canada.”

Forbes Magazine has compiled a list of worldwide luxury hotels that offer good value for money and excellent facilities.

1. Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur
The hotel is close to prime shopping areas, including designer stores, such as Fendi and Dior. It’s also close to Kuala Lumpur’s top tourist sites like Kings Palace and the Petronas Towers, which is the world’s tallest building.

2. Domaine Des Hauts De Loire, Onzain, France
This former hunting lodge sits deep in the heart of the Loire Valley and is furnished in a 19th Century style. Its well respected restaurant uses herbs and vegetables grown in the hotel’s grounds.

3. Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
This is a floating river hotel and offers a wonderful Oriental experience. As well as luxury bedrooms and restaurants (nine of them offering different cuisines) this hotel has a 100,000 square foot fitness centre.

4. Rialto Hotel On Collins, Melbourne, Australia
Famed for its large guest rooms, this Venetian style-hotel has a rooftop swimming pool and is close to Mebourne’s main attractions.

5. Four Seasons Resort, Carmelo, Uruguay
This luxury hotel boasts a large pool, an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding and a spa.

6. Tu Tu Tun Lodge, Gold Beach, Oregon
Home-baked cookies and white chocolate fudge are among the delicacies this hotel offers. Guests can also enjoy kayaking, golfing and fishing and boating excursions.

7. Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, Canada
This sensational chateau has an art deco swimming pool and is close to the Rideau Canal, where visitors can enjoy four miles of ice skating in the winter and canoeing in the winter.

8. Casa Santo Domingo, Antigua, Guatemala
Fancy a holiday in a 400-year old monastery? The hotel also boasts a large collection of items from the country’s baroque period and it is situated in the best-preserved colonial city in South America.

9. Cashel House Hotel, Galway, Ireland
This 19th Century manor house hotel is a great place for people looking for activities on holiday - The concierge can arrange activities such as golf, horseback riding, deep sea fishing and hiking or climbing in the Twelve Pins of Connemara (a local mountain range).

Source: Forbes.com

What could be a better way to spend Halloween than staying in an haunted hotel?

Here is a list of hotels in America with the spookiest reputations.

The Marshall House, Savannah, Georgia.
This historic city is home to a number of ghost stories and the hotel itself was a hospital for wounded soldiers during the Civil War. Since the 1960s when remains of amputated bones of these patients were unearthed, guests have been reporting a phantom nurse taking their pulse, and a little girl searching for her father.

Lizzie Borden B&B, Fall River, Massachusetts
Lizzie Borden is the subject of a nursery rhyme (”Lizzie Borden took an axe/ And gave her mother 40 whacks/ When she saw what she had done/ She gave her father 41.” ), but the death of her parents is officially unsolved. This B&B is not only the actual site of the murder, but guests “enjoy” a recreation of the last meal of the Borden family. Many guests say they have felt experienced the restless spirit of Lizzie in the house.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
This grand hotel in the Rocky Mountains is the inspiration for Steven King’s slasher horror, The Shining, as the author stayed in the hotel. It’s no wonder he was so inspired as a number of spirit sightings have been reported there. These include the original owner and his wife, she regularly entertains quests with her piano playing.

The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
The world famous transatlantic cruise ship has been a docked hotel for thirty years. The first class swimming pool is the place where the most regular spooky sightings have been seen, including wet footprints leaving the pool even though no-one is there.

Voting for the 55 categories in the British Travel Awards has begun - and everyone who completes a voting form will be entered into a free draw for a chance to win one of 50 holiday and travel prizes.

The prizes include a 12-day Baltic cruise for two; 40 pairs of tickets to a Jongleurs Comedy Club; Club Class ferry travel to Calais, Bilbao, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge; a Caribbean holiday for two; a seven-night Mediterranean cruise; luxury five-star holidays to Canada, Cuba, Turkey, Spain and Tenerife.

There are both trade and consumer sections for voting in and they ca