24 of the best Christmas holiday destinations for 2024
Christmas is a time for family, sure. But who says that family needs to remain at home over the festive period? Break the habit of falling asleep, overstuffed, on the sofa, to Home Alone or arguing over Monopoly, and swap it for a truly unique getaway that everyone will remember for years to come.
Travel news round-up: Mexico food tour, surf's up in London, and zoot alors it's the Tour de Yorkshire?
Plus 'midnight sun' holidays in Scandinavia, direct flights to the Philippines, and eco-friendly snow deals in Banya, Bulgaria. The London Surf Film festival in Hammersmith, which runs from 31 October to 3 November, celebrates all things wave-related with film, music and expert Q&A sessions.
Skiing on a Budget? Give Bulgaria a Go
Sian Lewis heads for Bansko, in Bulgaria’s Pirin Mountains, to see if going Balkan is better on a budget.
There’s a new value ski destination in town, and it’s a far cry from the Alps. Bansko, Bulgaria’s biggest ski resort, is fast becoming a favourite with families and groups of cash-strapped but snow-mad friends alike due to its palatable prices. A ski holiday here can cost less than a quarter of a similar package...
Things to do in bansko in winter: on and off the slopes
Discover the best things to do in Bansko in winter – whether you’re a skier or not – with a guide to visiting this Bulgarian town which combines a ski modern ski resort and character-filled old town. Skiers in brightly coloured jackets weighed down by skis stagger along the pavement, overtaken by a horse and cart and watched by old ladies chatting on a roadside bench.
Instructors using Jägermeister as a teaching aid, hot spas and pistes that all lead to a bar at the bottom: Inside Bulgaria's Bansko ski resort - and discovering it's cheap and VERY cheerful
The first thing to tell you about Bansko, Bulgaria, is what it is not. It's not a sanitised ...
Bansko boasts stellar slopes and a sublime skiing experience
No more than a five minute drive from Snomads’ chalets is the gondola which can take skiers in Bansko up to 2600m high to explore the Pirin Mountains. Investment throughout the past fifteen years has seen the area evolve from an old eastern European village into a renowned, modern ski centre.
All year round in Bansko, Bulgaria
Nestled in southern Bulgaria’s rugged alpine scenery, Bansko is surrounded by meadows dotted with stone-built farmhouses and grazing animals. Within easy reach of Sofia, the town strikes a pleasant contrast with the nation’s cosmopolitan capital. Here’s how to enjoy Bansko all year round.
Eastern European Budget Skiing
Are you dreaming of a family ski holiday that won’t break the bank? Do you want to enjoy the thrill of skiing with your kids and make lasting memories in the snow? If so, you might want to consider these three ski resorts in Eastern Europe that offer great value for money, excellent facilities, and stunning scenery. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you will find slopes..
Snomads Introduces us to Zakopane in Poland, One of Skiing’s Best Kept Secrets
Not long ago, resort skiing was the only option for people searching for their annual ski slope action. But it doesn’t always take into account the needs of skiers who yearn for the wilderness and calm of the mountains away from the crowds. And this is what helps the ‘Winter town’ of Zakopane, which means ‘buried’, come into play.
Ski zakopane's slopes sustainably at reasonable rates
Skiers and snowboarders will not want to waste a moment when visiting Zakopane due to its many and diverse terrains. It is situated within the Carpathian mountains, a range longer than the Alps and the second longest in Europe.
Places to stay: snomads ski chalet, zakopane, poland
Skiing is back with a bang this winter – if you’re watching the pennies or just fancy exploring somewhere different, pack your mittens and head to Zakopane, Poland where Snomads run two laid-back chalets that make the perfect base for exploring the Tatra mountains.
Why Poland holds the key to Europe's most affordable family ski holiday
The last time my husband and I skied together our biggest worry was finding the best après-ski bar...
Zakopane Ski Resort . Affordable Skiing In Poland
There’s no denying that skiing is an expensive business. It can be bewildering too if you’re a newbie. Equipment, ski school, how to get there, where to go. Advice comes from all quarters. I discovered a surprising destination that fits the bill for a fair-priced holiday for all ages.
Day in the Life at a Snomads Chalet in Bansko, Bulgaria
I’m recently back from a week in Bansko, Bulgaria, with Snomads. They’re the environmentally-friendly, super cool chalet company who want to give you the ultimate ski holiday, for a decent price.
Staying in the Snomads Chalets in Bansko: Review
With four chalets within easy walking distance of the town, a Snomads chalet is the ideal spot to spend a winter week. There is an abundance of places to stay in Bansko, which makes it more difficult to pick the perfect accommodation.
Learning To Ski in Bansko, Europe’s Affordable Snow Resort
Hello, Europe in January. That month of seemingly never-ending grey weather. Where winter days roll on forever, and sunlight appears in fleeting moments. Well, this year, I had a plan to beat all that. I was heading to a new country, Bulgaria, to pick up a new hobby, skiing – and I was pretty pumped. Bansko is one of the most affordable Ski resorts in Europe, and it’s also ideal for all levels, including beginners.
Explore and ski the slopes of bansko with snomads
Not only is Bansko one of the most exciting and cost-effective alpine regions for skiers and snowboarders, but it also provides plenty of opportunities to indulge in après-ski once the sun descends behind the Pirin Mountains.
Celebrations in the snow also come in a variety of forms in Bansko, as it could be enjoyed by listening to music and having a drink whilst being re-energized by a traditional Bulgarian hot spring
THINGS TO DO IN ZAKOPANE IN WINTER: ON AND OFF THE SLOPES
Lying on the border between Poland and Slovakia, the Tatra Mountains tower over Zakopane, and are the reason this Polish town south of Kraków is known as the winter capital of Poland. As well as a series of resorts to keep skiers and boarders busy there’s stunning scenery, tasty food, hiking, thermal spas – and good value prices.
Travel: Why Zakopane in Poland is a skiing odyssey that won’t cost the earth
The distant Tatras Mountains get closer and closer as we drive through windy, snowy roads, our excitement growing.
Just two hours from Krakow, the towering mountains form the natural border between the south of Poland and north of Slovakia, and are where we will be enjoying the last days of the winter ski season in Zakopane.