SWEDEN’S ICE HOTEL FOR CHRISTMAS
Posted by Sunny
I must be obsessed with snow and ice this year. It probably comes from living in Malta, I know I won’t be seeing any really cold weather so I am enjoying looking at and talking about the cold weather elsewhere.
My next Christmas location is the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden which is 200km inside the Arctic Circle. . This is a truly unique Hotel. Every year it is newly built from the crystal clear ice provided by the fast flowing Torne River. Each year it has a new design and newly designed suites.
Inspired by the work of visiting Japanese ice artists, in 1990 the French artist Jannot Derit was invited to have the opening of his exhibition in a specially built igloo on the frozen Torne River. The 60 square metre building named Arctic Hall attracted many curious visitors to the area. Several of them decided to spend the night in the igloo. The next day they raved about the experience and so the Ice Hotel was born. Today it is world famous, not just for the Hotel itself but for its fantastic works of art and its extraordinary experience. It is now a meeting place for artists and world travelers.
There are a number of fantastic suites available. The Seduction Suite sounds hot but is of course made of ice, perfect I guess for cuddling up together, the Moonlight Suite, Crystal Room Suite, Luxline De Luxe Suite and so it goes on. Each one very individual and beautiful. Every room of this Hotel is made of ice. It has to be seen to be believed.
It seems what most people do is spend one night in the Ice Hotel itself and the other nights of their stay in the warm hotel rooms. I think it would be a wonderful Christmas experience to spend the Holiday Season in Sweden at the Ice Hotel. Going to the Ice Hotel is an adventure in itself but you have all the winter sports and activities that Sweden can provide too. So for a truly unique experience try Sweden’s Ice Hotel for Christmas.
A COUNTRY HOUSE CHRISTMAS
Posted by Sunny
With this series of articles on Christmas Holidays I am trying to give you a very wide choice of holidays and perhaps introduce you to some new ideas that you may not have thought of. As the last holiday choice was in Antarctica I thought my next suggestion should be something altogether cosier.
Now whether you live in N. America or Europe one of the all time favourite breaks is the country house weekend so why not take that a step further and have a country house Christmas.
Certainly in Britain you are going to find an abundance of country homes open for the Christmas Holidays. Beautiful old manor houses and mansions. Usually in a quiet country location but near to lovely old towns and villages which you can explore. They provide all the traditional Christmas food and activities that you would expect. From luscious cream teas to a delicious Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Log fires, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, party games, everything you need and want to make it a perfect Christmas.
You can relax and enjoy the Holiday without any of the stresses of preparation and cooking for your family. Just put your feet up and eat, drink and be Merry!
ANTARCTICA AT CHRISTMAS
Posted by Sunny
I have been looking at a number of adventure holidays that cover the Christmas period. One of the most interesting would be a trip to Antarctica. These usually take place aboard converted icebreakers. That sounds a bit rough and ready but believe me they are not. You can expect a high degree of comfort while you view the rugged and beautiful white continent.
From the comfort of the ship you will see icebergs, vast glaciers and soaring cliffs. You will watch the antics of the penguins as they run and slide on the ice. You will see the seals playing and if you are lucky the whales too.
You will learn about the wildlife you are seeing and about the natural environment and the history of the area.There will be expeditions ashore to get an up close and personal view of Antarctica.
So for a very interesting , exciting and unusual holiday Antarctica at Christmas might be just the thing for you. One thing is for sure it will be a white Christmas!
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IN LAPLAND
Posted by Sunny
As Christmas is traditionally a time for children I thought I would tell you about a very special Christmas Holiday in Lapland. Lapland is a winter wonderland up inside the Arctic circle. Also of course it is the home of Santa Claus. Most of the tour companies offer holidays that last between 1 and 5 days. All have that magical and all important visit with Santa Claus and his Elves. Depending on the length of your stay you can also go on sleigh rides pulled by reindeer of course, tobogganing, husky rides, snowmobile rides, visit Santa’s Post Office and of course for those on a long stay a lovely hotel, roaring fires and a Christmas Gala with the all important turkey dinner with all the trimmings for a truly Festive feel.
So if you really want to please your children and give them something truly special and magical to remember consider taking them on a Christmas holiday in Lapland.
RHINE CHRISTMAS MARKETS CRUISE
Posted by Sunny
I have been reading about various cruises available this Christmas. One that I especially like is the Rhine Cruise to see the Christmas Markets. This combines my favourite things, Christmas, shopping, sightseeing and a relaxing cruise.
The cruise starts in Cologne, Germany and takes you along the Rhine stopping in Koblenz, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and finally to Basel, Switzerland. Of course there are several other variations of this. But, all have a lovely itinerary and give you a delightful taste of the old towns of the region.
You get to see the land where so many of our Christmas traditions began, Christmas trees, nutcrackers, gingerbread, candy canes and of course the legend of St. Nicholas himself.
There are walking tours of the cities, you will see quaint old inns, beautiful churches, lovely old mansion houses, wonderous museums, and of course the wonderful Christmas Markets. These cruises also allow you plenty of free time to sightsee or relax on your own.
Added to this are the evenings spent on board ship. After all that shopping and sightseeing you will welcome a relaxing drink and a delicious dinner spent in convivial company. What a wonderful way to start the Holiday Season.
A CHRISTMAS CRUISE
Posted by Sunny
Because Christmas is a family time the cruise companies are offering family holidays for Christmas, Hannukkah and New Year’s Eve. It needn’t be just your immediate family, why not take a group. Grandparents, in-laws, friends and make up your own wonderful Christmas party.
There are cruises to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Australia, Europe, across oceans, up rivers or around lakes, city tours, Christmas Market cruises, whichever you chose you are sure to have a great time.
The pleasure of a cruise is that everything is under one roof. Once you are unpacked that is it. No driving to the next scenic spot or repacking as you move on to the next tourist site. You can just relax and enjoy the journey in the comfort of your own traveling room. Beautiful scenery, excellent food, excursions, exciting nightlife, great shows and entertainers, fabulous party nights, relaxing bars, trendy boutiques and if you are feeling more energetic a range of sports facilities and activities. There is something to suit everyone. If you want to spend some romantic time together a cruise is the perfect place. Even if you have the family with you this is possible, there is so much to see and do the whole family will be kept entertained.
So for a truly relaxing Christmas this year why not try a cruise.
A TASTE OF WINTER IN COLORADO
CHRISTMAS IN COLORADO’S WINTER WONDERLAND
Posted by Roy
There can be few better places to spend Christmas than in a snow-covered resort in Colorado. Log cabins, open fires and hearty food. The perfect setting for your families Christmas fun and parties.We recommend that you book early as Christmas is a popular time for skiing holidays. Accommodation tends to becomes scarce if you leave it too late.
Here are our Hot Tips for the Best Ski Resorts in Colorado this Christmas:
Aspen Mountain
Vaill
Steamboat
Keystone
Breckenridge
All these resorts have excellent facilities for beginners, intermediates and the advanced skier. Many provide tuition and also special care for children.
Remember if skiing is not your thing, these resorts offer a multitude of other activities:
Snowmobiling
Dog Sledding
Ice Skating
Sleigh Rides
Balloon Rides
Snowshoeing
Spa Treatments
Shopping
After a hard day on the piste, one can enjoy the vibrant, après ski nightlife provided by the many bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Or, just curl up in front of a roaring fire and sip a warming drink while you watch the snow falling on the winter wonderland outside.
All in all, a fun, exciting, healthy and never-to-be-forgotten Christmas Holiday in Colorado!
A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS IN ORLANDO
This year why not treat the whole family and have Christmas in Orlando, Florida. What better place to celebrate than Disney’s Magic Kingdom. At Disney Land there are special shows, fireworks and the Osborne Family Spectacle of Light. At Epcot you can see Holidays Around the World/ Candlelight Processional. There will be guest narrators, massed choirs and orchestra, telling the story of Christmas with Lights and Christmas Music.
Over at Universal Studios they are having a Grinchmas. The entire Seuss-themed Island is colourfully decorated for the season and guests are invited to meet the Grinch in his lair. Also throughout December the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade comes to Florida. A wonderful parade, complete with festive tree lighting by Santa Claus!
In nearby Kissimmee Lakefront Park There will be 20 tonnes of snow, strolling performers and a spectacular fireworks display.
All over the Orlando area special Christmas festivities are planned. The Hotels, Theme Parks and Resorts, Sea World, Shopping Malls; every familiar attraction is ready and waiting to show you a good time this Christmas.
So forget the idea that Florida is just palm trees and beaches, you can have a fabulous Christmas experience here in Orlando with snow, ice, Santa and his Elves and all the traditional holiday cheer, then relax with a cool drink on a beautiful beach.
COSTA RICA - PARADISE
This small state of around 50,000 square Km, about the size of Switzerland sits in Central America between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is unique in having no military, no nuclear plants, lots of culture no winter and almost no illiteracy. As someone once said “It has more teachers than Cops.” Costa Rica is considered one of the most politically and economically stable countries in Latin America.
Although Costa Rica is a small country, there are an endless number of places to see. You can laze in the sun at any one of the more than 50 beaches, visit some of the more than 160 parks, reserves and conservation areas, or visit one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
One can choose the hot, Pacific coastal lowlands where rainfall varies with the season or the wet Caribbean coast or the cool, 13,000 foot high mountains which have no snow. The Central Valley around the capital, San Jose, has an altitude of 3,800 feet and enjoys 20 degrees C the whole year round. December to April is the dry season, while the wet season lasts from May to November. The climate is considered one of the healthiest in the World.
San Jose and Cartago, among other cities, house some of the country’s most interesting museums, including the Gold Museum and the National Theater, butterfly gardens and other natural history museums like serpentariums and ranarios (snake and frog museums).
You can get a unique perspective of the forest and breathtaking views from the aerial trams and suspension Bridge. After all Costa Rica is an Eco Hot spot, you don’t want to miss the forest, the wildlife and insect life it contains.
Every month of the year there are festivals and events which give a glimpse of Costa Rica’s culture and beliefs.”Ticos” are renowned for their friendly nature which is quite apparent during the numerous fiestas, topes (horse parades) and carnivals that are celebrated throughout the country.
The rivers, rain forests, beaches, coral reefs and volcanoes provide a wide array of activities including whitewater rafting, canoeing, fishing, diving,bird & wildlife watching, snorkeling, surfing. This place is a true paradise with something for everyone and I do mean everyone. Whether you are a retiree looking for a tax haven and relaxing walks on the beach, a family wanting a fun holiday for the kids or an adventurous soul who wants thrills on a holiday, you are going to find it in the beautiful paradise that is Costa Rica.
Latest Images
-
