Seasonal

Ski in Style Gstaad, Switzerland
For the holidaymaker looking for discretion, nothing quite beats dining in a vault once used to stash Swiss wealth during the Second World War.  And that’s exactly what guests can do at the splendid Gstaad Palace, nestled in the Alps, just a short drive from the country’s capital city, Bern.

Perched on the side of a hill above the village of Gstaad, the grand hotel belonging to the Scherz family celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.  The building is steep in tradition, although one of the more recent additions to the hotel is the large spa complex, with a steam bath flotation pool.  Guest are encouraged to relax in robes in a warmly lit room, while looking out across the heated outdoor plunge pool to the slopes, where skiers and snowboards can enjoy 250km of pristine pistes.
 

In winter the city of Montreal becomes a hive of winter activities and especially in the Jean-Drapeau Park (home of the Canadian Formula1 Grand Prix) - they have created the Montreal Snow Village. Like Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finland they have created an ice worshiper paradise. With Montreal city landscape in the background, the snow village is the celebration of everything Ice; there is the ice hotel, bar and restaurant all house in huge igloos.

Ski Resorts across the world are doing more to woo us to their resorts.  They are adding more to the usual winter sports, now there is a combination of festivals, celebrating music, food and comedy.  Starting in November, there are ski festivals through out the winter until April, when the season closes.  So if you want to add a bit more to the usual skiing on your next ski break we have collated a list of resorts drawing the crowed.

Chef’s Cup, Alta Badia – Italy
The Chef’s Cup is a high altitude celebration of haute cuisine in the heart of the Dolomites, it was created by Michelin-starred chef, Norbert Niederkofler.  It is the perfect destination for culinary enthusiasts who want to improve on their culinary skills along with their skiing. The Chef’s Cup combines the best of skiing with the best of food. The event attracts up to 400 of the world’s finest chefs; to show of their dishes and share their expertise with visitors. The Chef’s Cup - Alta Badia, takes place in the last week of January (chefscup.it).

Austria is well-known as a skiing destination but not a lot is known about the ski resort of Ischgl in tyrol.  Tyrol is a lovely mountainous are in the western parts of Austria near the Alps and bordering with Italy, Germany and Switzerland.  In the spring and summer months it offers an excellent landscape for hiking and mountain biking.  But come winter, the area is changed, drawing a different set of trill seekers (the snow worshipers).

Ischgl is also known for its free open air concerts, which have featured headline acts like Elton John, Lionel Richie, Rod Stewart and Tina Turner; attracting over 20, 000 people. The concerts are staged as part of its opening weekends late November, so you never know who you will see from one season to the next.

The Santos cycle Tour Down Under is an ideal opportunity for you to see and experience Southern Australia and especially Adelaide.  The tour takes place in January and last for seven days. This short break is especially for those of us who experience the harsh cold of winter and offers us the chance to escape the cold for a week or two, and lap up the Adelaide sunshine, take in the laid-back life style of Adelaide.

The Tour Down Under has become a major fixture in the road cycling calendar; it draws some of the world’s best cyclist; those that have ridden here in the past includes Lance Armstrong, Andre Greipel,  Cadel Evans and Britain’s team sky.

Fuji Rock Festival Japan
The Fuji rock festival is held in Naba ski resort of Niigata it was founded by Masahiro Hidaka. It is now in its 14th year; Masahiro said it was inspired by a trip to Glastonbury. The festival is Japan’s largest outdoor festivals it attacks over 30,000 fans and is said to be the cleanest festival in the world, with round the clock recycling and round the clock cleaning (smash-uk.com/frf10).

Forget the rivers of Venice, the city of Paris and Germany and go somewhere where the temperature forces you to be closer to each other. Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finland offers this unique experience with their Glass Igloos rooms and other ice experiences.  The Kakslauttanen Hotel in Saariselka, Lapland, has crafted deluxe, window-roofed igloos in which couples can fall asleep or in love beneath the Northern Lights.

Under the theme “come for the run, stay for the fun” the Reggae Marathon is run in Negril, on the western point of the Island over looking the Caribbean Sea.  According to Reggae Marathon website, the Reggae Marathon was started in 2001 and has grown over the years. The event now has visitors going to the island just for the race.

If you are not up to a full marathon you can take part in the half marathon. After running so many miles you can relax with your feet in the water on one of Negril’s many white sandy beaches. “Negril's powdery white beach is Jamaica's most famous and among the best in the entire Caribbean”.