Travel « Protectyourbubble.com Protectyourbubble.com

Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

« Older Entries

Terrain Parks – The Best of the Best

Posted June 17th, 2011
by Guy Oakley

Comments Off

Back in the 1980’s, when skateboarding was establishing itself as a major new urban sport, it become the cool thing to do to empty a swimming pool and use the sheer sides and gentle slopes to perform all manner of tricks and jumps. We’ve all seen 80’s music videos with the typical jelly bean shaped pool and the long-haired California types flipping and grooving along to the music.

When boarders grew out of their pools, along came skate parks. These areas are like vast empty pools, but with the added bonus of more slopes, ramps, half-pipes, rails, pyramids and any number of other small structures that you can use to perform tricks.

A terrain park is basically the same idea, but for snowboarders (and the odd skier). Many of the features in a terrain park are the same as those you’d find in a skatepark, although some of them are designed particularly for snow, firstly because the speeds involved are higher, and secondly because snowboards are attached to their users, unlike a skateboard which can go flying off anywhere.
This means terrain parks are often much bigger than skateparks. Most ski resorts now have a terrain park, and there are plenty of resorts that only have a terrain park, with various levels of difficulty around different areas of the park. If you’re up for the challenge – here are the best-known terrain parks around the world.

Whistler Blackcomb, Canada

Not one, but five parks and more than 200 features over 99 acres of mountain. There are two half-pipes, one of them measuring 22 feet. It really has something for everyone, no matter what your level. Rangers spend more than 24,000 hours grooming the park and it received SNOWBoarding Magazine’s best park in the world award, 2009.

Buttermilk, Colorado, USA

Offering three separates areas for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders, Buttermilk has established its reputation by hosting the X Games on numerous occasions. You can even ride the special runs that they groom for the games if you’re there at the end of the tournament, but as you can imagine it’s the busiest time of the year. Pre-purchase of lift passes is available though, making this trip a must for any die-hard.

Snow Park NZ, New Zealand

Heralding itself as “the first dedicated freestyle terrain park in the world” when it opened in 2002, this park has gone from strength to strength ever since. On-site accommodation is available, and the park has continually invested in infrastructure – opening for the new 2011 season with night runs, learner areas, and a whole heap of creature comforts and extras that will guarantee you a fantastic trip no matter what your level.

Nordpark, Austria

Easily the best park in Europe, Nordpark is smaller than the other parks listed here but boasts an impressive 1,400m vertical descent, giving it an extreme feel that might overwhelm beginners, but will thrill experienced riders. Make sure you go with someone who knows the area to get the best runs, and don’t miss the German Olympic team who put on a show every other Friday night. Excellent boarding for experienced riders.

Posted in Travel | Comments Off
Ski Season Checklist

Posted June 3rd, 2011
by Guy Oakley

Comments Off

I’m not normally one for generalisations, but there are a few things you can say about most people who would consider heading off to work in a ski resort for a whole season. They’re obviously going to be fairly confident skiers. It’s more than likely they’re adventurers too. And then there are other words – nastier words – that could be used, like slackers, loafers or shirkers.

Bear in mind, I’m writing as someone who’s had the good fortune of doing a ski season myself (back in my slacking/loafing days) so I know what I’m talking about. Before going, I consulted an authentic guru of ski season shirking – a veteran of seven seasons, including an 18-month period spent chasing snow from northern to southern hemisphere and back again, and working wherever there were lifts open. We don’t call him Yeti for nothing.

Here are Yeti’s tips for ensuring your ski season goes off smoothly:

1. Sort your expectations out
If you’re envisioning an idyllic four months of little work and carving fresh tracks in powdery snow every day, you seriously need to wake up. Working a season is a long slog, especially because the best way to do it is to start early in the season when everyone – dashing ski instructors included – has to muck in and do the dirty work. You’ll be lucky if you’ve got time to get out onto the slopes more than three times a week, and even then you might be so knackered that you won’t feel like it.

2. Line up a job at home
There are plenty of online recruitment services that will help you find jobs or interviews in ski resorts around Europe or further afield. Obviously languages will be a big help if you want to work on the continent, but you don’t have to be a polyglot to clean toilets (remember – manage those expectations). There’s no language barrier in the US or Canada, but work papers may be a problem if your employer is a stickler for the rule book. In my case, papers weren’t a requirement and it actually added to the adventure – I considered myself a sort of renegade lift-operator, an outlaw on the slopes.
The best jobs to go for if you’re not the best skier are as a chalet host, barman, nanny, cleaner or other basic jobs. If you are a good skier, you can apply for a job as an instructor, lift operator, or groomer – although some type of qualification or experience may be required for these types of jobs.

3. Get some leverage
If you’ve got the gift of the gab, you don’t always need a job offer before you leave. Staff turnover in ski resorts is pretty high (did someone say slackers?), so as long as you’ve got someone in a position of authority who can fix you up with work, you’ll probably be okay. You may even strike it lucky with a cushy job in a bar. If you’ve got enough money saved up, you can head out for a month and see what you can make happen off your own back. This was always Yeti’s philosophy, and back in the day he was able to blag his way around most of the ski resorts in the world based on his network of contacts and ski buddies.

4. Get your gear together
If you’re going to work a season, forgetting your toothbrush is the least of your worries. You’ve got to make sure you take basically all of your clothes, on top of all of your gear – and I mean skis, poles, boots, helmet, hat, goggles, gloves, jacket, pants, long-johns, sweaters, socks, pack, sunglasses and toiletries (including sunscreen and lip balm). It’s also essential that you shop around for cheap ski insurance before you go, because you’re going to be poor enough on what they pay you without having to worry about medical bills if you have an accident.
Working a ski season can be a terrific experience, and as long as you follow these guidelines and use your head, you’ll be sure to get the most out of it. If you can live by the maxim “work hard, play hard” you’ll have the time of your life.

Posted in Travel | Comments Off
The Best Driving Holiday Destinations

Posted May 31st, 2011
by Guy Oakley

1 Comment »

With most of us still wary of loosening the old purse strings, the major trend around the UK this year is the “Holistay” – or holiday at home. No, it doesn’t mean actually at home in your own house – that would be a pretty lousy holiday. It means a holiday without paying through the nose for flight tickets and beachfront hotels. There are literally hundreds of destinations near you now where you can find the same fun and interest – and all you need is a car and a sense of adventure! If you don’t have a car – hire one! If you don’t have a sense of adventure –why are you reading this anyway?
England:
Look no further than the Lake District. Home to the largest National Park in England, the Lake District offers heaps of activities, fantastic places to stay and glorious views that will bring out the poet in you. Driving is by far the best way to see it, as the real highlights of the area are only accessible by car. However, you won’t be completely limited to four wheels, as there are railways and steamer boats to ride on too. The area welcomes more than 12 million visitors each year, so tourist infrastructure is excellent and there are plenty of cosy B&B’s.
Scotland:
If you’ve seen any of the Harry Potter films you’ll probably have wondered where they shot the scenes of the Hogwart’s Express steaming its way over a spectacular viaduct. The answer is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, between Fort William and Mallaig on the western coast of Scotland. It’s the most remarkable of many sights on the journey between the two towns – and the area is both extremely beautiful and wonderfully quaint.
If you’re looking for something a bit more lively, head to Edinburgh. The city itself is great and there are plenty of nightspots that are every bit as swanky as London’s, but with a totally different vibe.
Ireland:
Hop on a ferry at Fishguard and in a couple of hours you’ll be in Rosslare on the south-east corner of the Emerald Isle. From here you can head along the south coast to Cork, or up the east coast to Dublin. Our tip is Cork. This isn’t something you need to rush – in fact the best thing is to take your time and enjoy the world-famous hospitality. If you’re looking for the real Ireland it’s difficult to find these days, but you won’t be disappointed if you make it to Bantry Bay, tucked away on the southwest tip with wonderful scenery and the best hospitality in the country.
France:
If you want to cross the Channel and roll the dice with French driving habits, you’ll find several mouth-watering destinations within easy reach by car. Bruges is less than a hundred miles from Calais, and it’s one of the prettiest historical towns in the world. If you want some sun and sand, get the ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre and enjoy the beaches of Normandy. You can even head over to Jersey if the thought of speaking French is too much for you.

Posted in Travel | 1 Comment »
Top Ten Golf Holiday Destinations

Posted May 19th, 2011
by Corinne Webb

Comments Off

Forget what Mark Twain and Winston Churchill said about golf, because they were probably rubbish at it. They probably never felt the satisfaction of hitting a perfect bunker shot, never felt the warm glow of splitting a fairway straight down the middle, never experienced the ecstasy of nailing a thirty-foot putt. Golf continues to be one of the world’s most popular and most widely-played sports. People travel the world over to play the best courses and live the golfing dream, but with so many courses around the globe, where do you start? Here we present the top ten destinations for golfing holidays, and a guide to how much each is likely to set you back (1/5 = cheap; 5/5 = expensive).
1. County Kerry, Ireland

http://www.ballybuniongolfclub.ie/welcome.html

The four courses of Ballybunion, Killarney, Waterville and Tralee each boast spectacular views in a county with excellent tourism infrastructure, a unique atmosphere and the very finest seafood. The unpredictable weather can be a problem, but in summer it can be simply glorious. Prices for green fees and accommodation are very reasonable, and entertainment in the evening is stuff of legend. Live music and plenty of Guinness will help you celebrate a terrific round, or forget all about a lousy one. It really is a golfer’s paradise, and as my old man still swears: “If there’s a golf course in heaven, it’s the Ballybunion Old Course.”

Price: 3/5

Best for: Weekend summer breaks, rest and relaxation.

2. Los Cabos, Mexico

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTB1BTaxs58p

Golf in Los Cabos is similar to golf in the deserts of Arizona, with one massive difference – the Sea of Cortés. It’s a truly stunning backdrop to these championship courses, some of which have been designed by golfing legends including Jack Nicklaus. Conditions are perfect nearly all year round and the courses are immaculately maintained. Los Cabos also boasts excellent sport fishing and miles of beautiful sandy beaches. After a round of golf in Los Cabos, there’s nothing quite like supping an ice-cold beer in the 19^th hole and watching the sun set over the Pacific.

Price: 4/5

Best for: All-round holiday experience

3. St. Andrews, Scotland

http://www.standrews.org.uk/About-Us/Gallery.aspx

St Andrews is widely regarded as the home of golf, and a trip to the Royal and Ancient Course at St Andrews has been likened to a pilgrimage for golfers. “It’s like playing golf in a cathedral,” according to one visitor, “there’s something sacred about the experience.” The club was founded in 1754 and, as you would imagine, is steeped in tradition and authority. The R&A is the ruling body for golf in the British Isles and beyond, and organizes 11 international matches each year including the Open Championship, which it has hosted a record 28 times. The vibrant capital Edinburgh is just the other side of the Firth of Forth.

Price: 3/5

Best for: Purists and traditionalists

4. The Algarve, Portugal

http://www.idyllicoverseas.com/images/portugal/algarve-golf.jpg

The Algarve is home to dozens of world-class golf courses, from the Old Course at Vilamoura to the breath-taking Royal Course at Vale de Lobo (see photo). It’s one of the top five golfing destinations in the world for several reasons. The climate is mild from September to May, with summer temperatures averaging 28°. The natural beauty of the area and the jagged Atlantic coastline are awe-inspiring, and the area is teeming with hotels, time-share accommodation and bustling commercial centres.

Price: 3/5

Best for: Family holidays

5. Pebble Beach, California

http://www.pebblebeach.com/golf/pebble-beach-golf-links

Recently named America’s Greatest Public Golf Course, and it’s easy to see why. The exquisite beauty of the course and the coastline, coupled with the unique challenge offered by the links course really make Pebble Beach stand out in the US. There are four other pristine courses in the resort, each with its own style and difficulty. Accommodation encapsulates old-fashioned luxury at its very best, and although rooms in the Lodge at Pebble Beach and the Inn at Spanish Bay don’t come cheap, both hotels will meet and surpass your expectations – guaranteed.

Price: 5/5

Best for: High-rollers

6. Portrush, Northern Ireland

http://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com/gallery.aspx

The only course outside Great Britain to have hosted the Open Championship, the Royal Portrush Golf Club nestles in a picturesque bay on the north coast of Northern Ireland. There are two 18-hole courses, and three of the best-known of the holes are called Himalayas, Calamity, and Purgatory – which should give you some idea of the difficulty of the course! Most of the old town in Portrush stands on a mile-long peninsula that arcs around the bay, and the town also boasts three sandy beaches, although the weather generally isn’t ideal for swimming. The nearby Kelly’s complex offers all kinds of bars and restaurants, and even internationally renowned Lush! nightclub, host to some of the world’s biggest DJs.

Price: 3/5

Best for: The next generation of golfers

7. Les Bordes, France

http://www.lesbordes.com/main.php?sound=true/

Fast-becoming heralded as the greatest course in France, Les Bordes is an absolute monster. It doesn’t play like a typical European course, and as the 18-hole record is just one under par you shouldn’t expect an easy round. The style is unmistakably French, with picture-perfect island greens surrounded by enchanting forests. In such a romantic setting, with spa facilities in the club and with the boutiques and restaurants of Paris less than 100 miles away, this is the ideal place for female golfers to spend a relaxing weekend.

Price: 4/5

Best for: Golfing lovebirds

8. K Club, Ireland

http://www.kclub.ie/photo-gallery

The Kildare Hotel and Golf Club doesn’t have the same history as other courses on this list, but what it lacks in tradition it more than makes up for in comfort, luxury and quality. And despite its youth, it’s already established in golfing lore – it was home to Europe’s epic Ryder Cup win over the USA in 2006. It’s more of a leisure complex than a golf club, with futuristic spa facilities, fishing, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, cycling and walking all popular with visitors. On top of all this, the main restaurant has a Michelin Star and there’s a new Thai restaurant that’s sure to tantalise your taste buds.

Price: 5/5

Best for: Keeping the whole family busy

9. Nevada, USA

http://res.gdol.com/ap/p.php?a=wi&p=36737

When I say Nevada what I really mean is Las Vegas. There are several quality courses around Vegas, and golf in Nevada is very similar to golf in Arizona. It’s Vegas that makes the difference. Finishing your round as the sun goes down and driving back to Vegas as the strip lights up is a truly invigorating experience. The imposing Spring Mountains provide a majestic backdrop to courses to the west of Nevada, and as for Vegas itself – there’s no place like it on Earth. It has to be seen to be believed.

Price: 4/5

Best for: Stag trips, boys only weekends

10. Asagiri Country Club, Japan

http://www.mtfuji-hotel.com/english/images/eng_index_img15.jpg

A wild-card entry that just made it onto the list, this course is well-known for its jaw-dropping views of Mount Fuji. It’s a very relaxing and serene course, and the near perfect symmetry of the mountain transcends the golf to provide an altogether more spiritual and energising experience. The only downside is the expense, with green fees in Japan almost obscenely expensive and flights hardly going cheap either. But for those who have got the readies, playing at the foot of Mount Fuji is its own reward.

Price: 5/5

Best for: Lamborghini drivers

You may also be interested in travel insurance.

Posted in Travel | Comments Off
Five Reasons Why You Need Winter Sport Travel Insurance

Posted May 16th, 2011
by Guy Oakley

Comments Off

If you’re planning a trip to the slopes then read on and be warned – winter sports can be hard on the skeleton as well as the wallet!

1. You’re going to spend a few days falling over.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a green run novice or a double black diamond headcase, if you go skiing or snowboarding it’s highly likely you’ll bail at least once. In fact you’ll probably fall a fair bit, and it only takes one unlucky fall to break a wrist, crumple a knee or knock out a couple of teeth. Then you’re looking at medical bills and ambulance expenses, and all of that can add up. Winter sports holidays don’t come cheap, so insurance can keep the costs down in the long run.

2. You might really, really wipe out.
Everyone’s got one really massive wipe-out in them, no matter whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth. Go to YouTube and search “ski wipeout” and you’ll see what I mean. Close your eyes and picture the ultimate wipe-out victim lying on a hospital bed – leg in traction, both arms in plaster, head all bandaged up, eating through a straw, etc. That could be you, and if it is you’re not just looking at hospital bills, but also six weeks off work. A decent winter sports insurance policy will pay out compensation for injuries and cover you for loss of earnings.

3. Ski and snow gear costs a packet.
If you rent your skis or snowboard, you’ll pick them up and return them each morning and evening. This reduces the amount of time you’re at risk of having them damaged or stolen, but there’s always a chance that something can go awry, especially given that the equipment is worth so much. If you take your own gear, you can either try sleeping with it all under your pillow, or take out insurance and sleep easy.

4. The weather might be rubbish.
Imagine you go to the beach and it starts snowing. Rubbish, right? Well now imagine you go skiing and it’s a balmy 15°. Even more rubbish. If the weather lets you down and your piste is closed when you arrive for your trip, insurance will either reimburse any money you’ve paid for lift passes or cover you to head somewhere where conditions are better.

5. You’re a badass.
Winter sports travel insurance normally covers skiing and snowboarding, but if that just doesn’t float your boat you’ll probably want to try heli-skiing and carve your way through fresh powder, or put your body on the line and try ski-jumping, or go all out and try the luge. Whatever you choose, more adrenaline means more risk – and more time in traction if it all goes belly up.

The most important thing is to talk your options through with a consultant and READ THE SMALL PRINT. Then hit the slopes and relax in the knowledge that no matter what happens, your wallet’s going to be just fine.

Posted in Travel | Comments Off