If you can’t wait to breathe in some clear, fresh mountain air, to marvel at the sun glistening off the snowy Alpine peaks and for that exhilarating thrill as you start to descend a perfect powdery piste...then don’t wait. Instead, head to Austria’s SalzburgerLand – renowned for its 2,500 kilometres of slopes – as the ski season is about to kick off with the largest winter opening party weekend in the Alps.

SEE WHALES BREACH ON THE GARDEN ROUTE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Strictly speaking the Garden Route is just a four-hour coastal drive along the southern edge of Africa, one end an afternoon’s drive from Cape Town, the other two hours from Port Elizabeth. But no other highway is this appealing. It boasts the world’s second mildest climate, losing out only to Hawaii. The year-round rain means that its ten national parks are bursting with flora and fauna: more than 300 species of birds, coral reefs, elephants, dolphins and several types of whale.

We have put a list of 10 destination that you must visit in 2018. If you want you can start ticking off with list with a bang by visiting one of these destination to ring in the New Year, Budapest is our recommendation. There is a mixture of old and new names, you can even chose one for your winter break with a mix of skiing.

If you love ivory sands and glass clear waters but run scared from all-inclusive, honeymoon-style resorts, then Tobago could be just the destination for you.  One of the southern-most islands of the Caribbean. Tobago is dotted with palm-fringed bays and charming fishing villages – all largely unaffected by tourism.

With year-round average temperatures of 29, and a pace of life that’s chilled out at its busiest, where better to while away a couple of weeks in a hammock with your favourite paperback and a rum punch?

A visit to New York doesn't have to be a long one.  A weekend break to the Big Apple is feasible and good way of exploring it bite size chunks.  So, armed with your to-do list: perhaps with activities like to eat a pretzel in Central Park, wander the art-lined walls of the Metropolitan Museum, stroll wide-eyed along Broadway, catch a world-class show, shop the big brands of Fifth Avenue and the vintage boutiques of Williams-burg and go up a very high building.

Fukuoka has been rated as one of the most liveable cities in the world, which also makes it a great place to visit. It is also said to be the oldest city in Japan. However, it is probably best known for its yatai or street food stalls, which serve yakitori chicken, oden hot pots and tonkotsu ramen.  The food served is both delicious and affordable and the cuisine is a reflection of the history of this cosmopolitan city on the north coast of Kyushu, the closest of Japan’s four main islands to the Asian mainland.

Home to nearly half of the world's golf courses, the USA boast natural beauty and diverse landscapes that make for a fantastic golf holiday.  From coastal gems to mountain retreats, USA golf resorts are ideal for those looking for scenic courses as well as plenty of fun beyond the tees and greens.

I know for most the a ski break is all about the slope. But what if you could mix your skiing activities with other experiences? Like fine dining, yoga and wine-tasting, walking and great festival where some of the best artists come to entertain. For those who don't ski or just do a little then, here you won't be bored or feel jealous watching others enjoy themselves, going up and down the slopes.  Well have found 5 resorts where you can slope off for a bit more than just skiing.

You would not think it but Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe, its borders have remained largely unchanged since the 12th-century.  The Portuguese founded the first global empire. Lisbon’s ornate Torre de Belem (torrebelem.pt), Portugal’s symbol of the Age of Discovery, is a Unesco-protected monument and celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2015. The ornate tower was originally built in 1515 as a fortress to guard the entrance to Lisbon’s harbour, and served as the starting point for many voyages of discovery: it was from the beach in Belem that the great explorer Vasco da Gama set sail to chart the sea route to India. UNESCO chose to list it as a World Heritage monument for being ‘a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world’.

Want to get your adrenaline pumping? Here’s an option:  Try toboggan down the Cresta Run.  The process is simple yet terrifying: a rider goes down the run alone on a toboggan, lying head-first, using rakes on the end of special boots to brake and steer. The braking part is crucial, particularly ahead of the infamous Shuttlecock corner. Go flying off there (and into a ‘specially prepared’ falling area) and you get the right to wear a Shuttlecock tie. Whether the tie is worth it is another question altogether.