If you are new to skiing, the whole idea of going on a ski holiday can be quite daunting. On a number of occasions I have seen people who have never skied before worry about things which just aren’t true. So, here I expose the top 10 ski myths:

1. A skiing holiday has to be expensive

Things have changed in the world of skiing – no longer is it an elite sport for the rich. It is quite possible to take a family of beginners skiing and for it not to break the bank. How?

- Go self catered. Self catered ski accommodation is often excellent and doesn’t cost very much per head. You can also choose to squeeze more people in on sofa beds to bring the price down even more. Don’t book via large tour operators – go directly to local estate agents or independent property suppliers.

- Drive. With four people in a car, and if traveling to areas in the Northern Alps, driving is a very cost effective way of getting to a ski resort. – Try and avoid the main school holidays (Christmas, New Year, Half Term) if at all possible.

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Located in a dream place, Castor Mountain Ski Resort is the most exclusive winter center of Argentina, located at the south hill of the mountain, where is protected to the winds and its excellent snow can be compared to the snow in Moscu, Russia.

The ski tracks in Castor Mountain counts with the best preparation for winter, and from the 600 meters above the level of the sea, the ground is planted with grass to retain the snow when the defrost starts. In its 600 hectares, the ski resort has 24 ski runs and a snowpark, with a slope of 800 meters.

In Castor Mountain, everyone can learn the winter sports. It counts with a team of 60 instructors to teach ski and snowboard in individual or collective classes, or also more extreme styles, like ski off piste and mountain guides service, where the students will learn rescue techniques and risk management.

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Bulgaria ski packages really are starting to come to the forefront of ski holidays in Europe. Both markets for long holidays and short breaks, first time skiers and seasoned veterans are catered for everyone looking for something a little different from the norm. Bulgaria ski packages could be the ideal option if you’re suffering the winter blues or just want to go somewhere where the snow is a fine powder, the sun never disappears and the air is as crisp as nature intended.

When you add all these things up, it doesn’t take a genius to realize why Bulgaria is fast emerging as a popular ski-ing destination with amazingly cheap prices on their ski holidays. Compared to strong contenders such as Italy, France and Switzerland, Ski resort prices in Bulgaria are more than competitively priced.

If you’re concerned that the overall “presence” of Bulgaria isn’t quite what you imagined, then you might be right, but not in the way you think. Gorgeous landscapes, friendly locals and some of the cheapest prices for food and drink this side of the Atlantic. This amazing combination makes for a country that has others talking and raising it’s profile at a phenomenal rate. Yet luckily for the holiday maker, this raised profile hasn’t raised the prices.

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This wonderful ski resort is located at 21 kilometers from the picturesque and beautiful city of San Martin de los Andes, inside mountains Chapelco and counting with forests in the middle of the ski runs, so you can ski through trees covered with lichens, like magical veils that decorate the snow.

San Martin de los Andes zone has all the charms of a patagonian city, with the exquisite gastronomy and its specialties such as chocolates, lamb, deer, jabali among others; and a exuberant andean flora, with species of trees such as pine, cypress, rauli and ñires, most of them inside of the incredible Lanin National Park.

Located at 2000 meters above the level of the sea and with a base at 1250 meters, in Chapelco Mountain there is snow during the whole winter, so you can practice white sports from the beginning of season.

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As is typical of a weeks winter ski holiday with us, I offered the guests one day skiing in Alpe d’Huez. When you buy a 6 day ski pass at Les Deux Alpes you get a couple of days free in Alpe d’Huez. Since the center of the resort is only 25 minutes drive away from our Lodge, it is a nice day trip out and guests get the chance to see the famous cycling 21 hairpin bend climb.

This week Alpe d’Huez and the British Universities Snowsports Council are hosting the Universities ski ans snowboard championships, so the resort was a little crazy with hundreds of students enjoying the fresh snow and sunshine.

Alpe d’Huez, most famous for key cycling stages of the Tour du France is also a fantastic ski resort. It has nice easy return piste to the town center, beautiful satelite villages such as Villard Reculas and Vaujany to explore and suposidly the longest groomed black run in the world. Once away from the often busy main area in front of the resort, you can find hidden tree skiing around Auris, steep moguls from the tunnel and backcounrty routes off the pic Blanc at over 300 meters.

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When thinking of New York, images of bustling streets, crowded subways cars, overflowing sidewalks, street performers, endless buildings and hordes of tourists come to mind. Central Park, China Town, Downtown, Hells Kitchen, Wall Street and Times Square. But how many times have you thought of seeing New York from a sail boat? Viewing the waterfront sights without the hassle of long lines and overcrowded ferries, sailing down the Hudson River to New York Harbor and sitting within 100 yards of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island or the historic Brooklyn Bridge. This is an unforgettable way to experience New York City and its breathtaking views and has become one of the prevailing ways to experience the city.

Sailing season is right around the corner and yachting companies are busy gearing up for what promises to be a spectacular season. Many locals are already scheduling charters and sailing lessons to experience the solitude and serenity that only sailing can bring. “This winter has been particularly long and harsh. New Yorkers are ready for their much deserved break” said Amanda Vlastas, Manager of Atlantic Yachting. “Sailboat charters are the perfect getaway from the daily stresses of life and leave you feeling fresh and rejuvenated.”

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Yacht Charters can often be amazing holidays, but many people are nervous about chartering with children. They worry that, aside from the obvious safety reasons, the kids will also be out of control because of insufficient space on board for the kids to play. But from experiencing many people who have chartered yachts with kids, this is almost never the case if properly planned. In fact children normally love the experience of being on a yacht, respect the rules, and are so fascinated by the experience that they are much better behaved than they would be if cooped up in a hotel room!

The boat choice is critical. We normally recommend catamarans, because they offer so much space, both inside and outside. Catamarans also don’t rock back and forth, making it a much more pleasurable cruise for the entire family, and there are no dangerous stairs to get from the cockpit to the galley. Once the kids adapt to the boat, they quickly learn that they will have plenty to do – a new beach every day, jumping off the back, snorkeling after turtles and fish, deserted islands to explore. It’s what kids are made for!

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A cruising yachtsmans’ worst nightmare is being run down by a merchant vessel, particularly at night, far offshore. Statistics however, show us that this is far more likely to happen close to shore in busy shipping lanes where the density of these large vessels is much greater.

A radar reflector therefore, is a piece of equipment that all cruising sailboats should have. Recent tests have shown that they are not necessarily that effective, depending on their positioning in the rigging, heel of your vessel, other clutter in the area and the sensitivity of ships receivers close by to name a few. There is much written on this subject which you can research.

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There are three main types of sails that can be seen on dinghies and yachts and that you will always here about in sailing. They look different and do completely different things. They are…

* The Mainsail
* The Genoa/Gib
* The Spinnaker/Gennaker

The Mainsail

The mainsail is the work horse of the entire boat and provides the power for the boat to move. It must be properly trimmed at optimized to get the most out of it. If you are beating the sail should be fully in, reaching half in half out and if you are running fully out.

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For a first time boat buyer, locating your perfect boat can be a difficult task. There are many parts that should be applied when boat shopping. Following are some things to consider when purchasing a boat. Ask yourself, “What is important to me?” This is your first step before you even look at a boat. What will you be using the boat for. Personal, sports, fishing or just cruising are all deciding factors in the type of boat that is best for you.

Another step to take before purchasing is stopping to consider your families ideas and feelings. It is pertinent that you discuss buying a boat with them before purchasing. Otherwise hard feelings and problems may arise, which will cut into the time you get to spend on the water.

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