Saturday, January 22, 2011

All Inclusive Luxury Ski Resort - Activities and Sports to Enjoy

Do you want to escape from your busy life in the city and have a grand vacation in one of the most beautiful places in the world, where you can enjoy and relax? If you are a sports minded person, you can certainly enjoy an all inclusive luxury ski resort where you can do some water sports, and at the same time have the best fun in your life.

Relaxing and enjoying yourself with some activities can certainly relieve stress. It is important when choosing a luxury resort, make sure they offer many activities and sports so that you have something to do besides from just eating, drinking, and swimming. Although most luxury resorts offers many sports activities just like diving, snorkeling, golf and water skiing.

Water skiing is one very exciting sport, and once you start doing this sport, you will definitely enjoy. Having a grand escapade and vacation is something that is not done often. Once given the chance to have a luxurious vacation, make sure that you choose the perfect place or resort where you can relax, have so much fun, and live like a king or queen. The only perfect place to enjoy is by staying in an all inclusive luxury ski resort, where you can enjoy water skiing until you get tired.

When we say all inclusive luxury ski resort, it does not mean that it is just all about water skiing. You can also enjoy other activities such as:

• Island hopping

• Boating

• Diving

• Snorkeling

• Parasailing

Luxury ski resorts also offer luxurious activities like:

• Eat all delicious food you can. Luxury resorts offer only the best and great- tasting food. Once you dine with them, you will really feel like a royalty living in a big castle.

• Pamper yourself and your loved ones. You can relax by having full body spa, body massage, going to the parlor to beautify yourself.

• Ask for anything you want. You can ask for a personal butler to help you with all your needs.

• Enjoy a pleasant and luxurious room. Sleep like a king in a large and spacious bed. You will be able to relax comfortably in your beautiful and elegant room.

If you wish to enjoy and splurge your money, go with all inclusive luxury ski resort. You will never regret spending a lot of money because your one of a kind experience will all be worth it. Just choose the perfect resort and enjoy!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Getting the Most From a Ski Resort

Whether you are a beginning or advanced skier, the experience of visiting and staying at a ski resort is a thrilling one. It is an entire place dedicated solely to skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. Even people who do not like to ski can stay in the lodge, sip hot chocolate, and watch the comings and goings of the skiers. For people who do like to ski, a visit to a ski resort is a way to dedicate time to improving your skills on the snow. If you are considering booking a vacation at a ski resort, here are some tips that will help you to get the most out of your trip.

First of all, check the snow report before you go to your ski resort. While many resorts make their own snow, an unexpected warm spell can make it difficult for them to keep the hills in top condition. Checking the snow report will tell you what the conditions are where you are going. If they are good, then get out on the hills as quickly as possible. If the snow report is not good then you may want to delay your trip by a week or so and see if the weather turns again.

Once you are actually at the ski resort, do not overlook any of the amenities that they offer. Yes, you can rent skis, poles, and other equipment. However, if you are a novice skier you should also know that most ski resorts offer lessons. A ski lesson or two before hitting the hills can make your trip even more enjoyable. There are things that an experienced ski instructor can show you that will make learning to ski successfully much easier than if you had tried to figure things out on your own. Taking a lesson or two is well worth the time and additional expense in order to make sure you are able to enjoy your time out on the ski slopes.

Very few things can ruin the fun of a trip to a ski resort more quickly than being uncomfortable. In order to prevent this be sure to dress carefully and properly for the weather. This means dressing in layers that are easy to take off and put on as the temperature changes. You also want to take steps to make sure that your feet do not get wet, as this will make you cold and uncomfortable. Do not forget some eye protection such as sunglasses or tinted goggles. The sun reflecting off of the snow can strain your eyes and make it difficult to see clearly. Taking the time to dress carefully can ensure that you will be able to enjoy your trip to the ski resort.

Although it may be tempting to think that you can ski for ten hours on your first day, try not to go to extremes. If you overdo things one day you are likely to be very sore the next day. Instead, ski for as long as you are able, then rest a bit. If you feel better you can ski some more. Many people who plan to stay at a ski resort for more than one day make the mistake of overexerting themselves the first day. This affects the rest of their trip and prevents them from enjoying the subsequent days of skiing that they had planned for.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Enjoy a Cheap Ski Holiday in Courchevel

The Alpine ski resort of Courchevel is a brilliant place to take a budget ski holiday.

In the winter months, the French Alps are transformed into a skier's paradise and there's no better place to take to the slopes than Courchevel.

Fresh snow and wide open spaces have made this a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts for years and you'll find plenty of activities on and off the piste to keep you busy during your stay.

The resort is spread over five villages at different altitudes, including St Bon at 1,100 metres and Le Praz at 1,300 metres. Higher up the mountain, Courchevel 1550 is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, while Courchevel 1650 is also well worth a visit.

Courchevel 1850, the highest village on the mountain, is considered to be the jewel in the resort's crown and is certainly worth exploring during your time in the Alps.

You'll find it easy to travel between the villages by road or gondola for a change of scenery or simply to experience different eateries and apres ski activities.

The linked ski area of the Courchevel valley features 150 km of downhill runs set in 1,304 acres of mountain dedicated to outdoor sports.

Skiers and snowboarders may wish to take advantage of Courchevel's link to the Trois Vallees, the world's largest linked ski area. Here, you'll also have the chance to see stunning panoramic views of the Italian and Swiss Alps - a unique sight not to be missed.

If you're new to winter sports or simply want to brush up on your skills, you can book private or group skiing and snowboarding lessons according to your ability. Instructors speak English and you'll be flying confidently down the hill before you know it!

Off the ski hills, you'll find plenty of other indoor and outdoor activities to try in Courchevel. Why not spend an evening tobogganing with the kids or playing in the snow? Or head indoors and try a cookery lesson, visit one of the local spas, perfect your game in the bowling alley or try out the indoor climbing wall.

Courchevel is truly a brilliant place to enjoy a ski holiday - plan your winter getaway to France today.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Poconos PA Skiing - Renting During the 2009-2010 Ski Season

As the leaves start changing and the nip in the air descends into a definite chill, winter sports enthusiasts start turning their thoughts toward ski and snowboard vacations. Poconos PA skiing is one of the best areas to hit the slopes on the East Coast, offering a variety of winter sports, including skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and snow tubing to tempt you.

Are you thinking about a Poconos ski vacation? Wondering what you can expect when renting a place in Poconos, PA?

In the Camelback mountain resort area, many rentals available are nearby condos and houses. The area does not really provide the ski in and ski out options that other ski areas do, however, there are lodging rentals available that are literally less than a 1/4 mile from the entrance to the ski area, just a short walk with your poles and skis.

When you rent a place for Poconos PA skiing, you can expect to spend between $150-$300 for a 3-bedroom updated townhome within walking distance of the mountain, with room for sleeping nine people, a hot tub, WiFi connection and cable, and fabulous views. Weekly in-season rates for the same type of lodging will run you between $1400 and $2000, depending on the proximity to Camelback Mountain and the available amenities. Townhomes and condos in the area often provide parking spots for multiple vehicles, as well as kitchen facilities to cut down on eating-out costs.

This is a definite bonus for cost-conscious skiers, as the dining costs at Camelback Mountain can definitely add up to more than $10 per person, per meal. You'll save $30 or more per day by "heading home" and doing your own cooking in a mountain townhome.

In addition, there are homes, cabins, condos, and town homes in the nearby Pennsylvania towns of Scotrun, Mount Pocono, Bushkill, Pocono Township, and others. To find nearby lodgings, look for Pocono mountain rentals at Camelback Mountain Skier.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Winter Fun at Gatlinburg

The period between December to March is one of the best times to visit Gatlinburg. The many Gatlinburg hotels are abuzz with the Christmas spirit and there's a different kind of fun to be experienced here. If you are fortunate to visit Gatlinburg during this time, then the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park, is a must on your itinerary. During the winter months you will find many locals flocking to this resort, to have some fun in the snow. With the latest in snow making equipment, this resort ensures that visitors are always surrounded by heaps of soft white snow. It really doesn't matter if you are a ski expert or a novice, because you can have unlimited fun here. Besides this is the only ski resort in the whole of Tennessee, and is located at a height of 3,000 feet up Mount Harrison.

There are 8 trails for both skiing and snowboarding, with a fantastic scenery for company as well. Each of the trails has been earmarked for skiers who range from beginners to experts. There are certified ski instructors here as well who would be more than happy to show you the ropes and share with you a few tips on how to ski perfectly. Don't worry if packing your set of skis was the last thing on your mind- you can find skis in a number of sizes for rent at the Ski Rental Shop. Try snow tubing at top speed down a 50 foot vertical drop, and enjoy the unpredictable adventure. In fact the new ten lane, 400 feet park meant exclusively for snow tubing was built just so that more than 300 visitors could have the ride of their lives all at the same time! Just remember that children below 3 years are not permitted and older kids must be with an adult at all times. A ride on both the chairlift and the aerial tramway promise to simply blow you away. If you like skating then simply rent a pair of skates at the Ice Skating rink, which is at the heart of the mall. The fee is $9 per person and is really fun to try.

Of course, adventure doesn't have to be entirely about fun in the snow- there's even a well equipped amusement centre here to entertain you and your family. Plenty of indoor amusements such as game stations, skill games and interactive games will thrill your kids. Tickets bought can even be redeemed for toys or gifts later. Adults will enjoy the Alpine Slide, which involves taking a chairlift ride up a mountain and then descending through woods and ski trails. Each person on the sled can control their speed. This ride gives you lots of thrills and brings you close to nature as well. Try the Water rides who have steep vertical drops, and promise to have you screaming in excitement. Bumper cars, mini golf, a park exclusively for kids and a shooting range are some other activities kids will love. Check out the Wildlife Encounter area, where black bears, raccoons, turtles, skunks and squirrels are a few of the animals that are on display here.

The resort even has some great places to shop which are located near the Downtown Tramway as well as the Ski Lodge area. These shops, manned by friendly attentive staff sell everything from sports wear to food to souvenirs and t-shirts. Tourists say that some of the best shopping in Gatlinburg can be done here. If you get real hungry from all that strenuous activity, just head to the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant. Fine dining doesn't get any better than this because the view of the mountains and slopes, are a fitting accompaniment to a meal here.

Choosing to stay at one of the city's many condominiums in comparison to Gatlinburg hotels, may actually be a good choice during the winter months. Many condos offer great facilities such a heated pool, a Jacuzzi and even a fireplace to help keep out the cold. You need not worry about being away from the heart of the city, because there are many condos which are located downtown. Take for instance the Laurel Inn, which offers visitors a choice in condos of one or two bedrooms, a gas lit fireplace as well as hot tubs. This inn also overlooks downtown Gatlinburg and is located on Holly Ridge. Mountain Vista Luxury rentals, which offers online bookings also has suites with a fireplace, a whirlpool, a heated pool as well as a luxury bathroom. The free wireless internet facility is wonderful for those who wish to stay connected to the office or family, whilst on holiday. If you are stopping by Gatlinburg for just one night then stay at the Oak Square which has more than forty condos to offer visitors. One bedroom suites with an attached kitchen, a Jacuzzi, a fireplace and wireless internet facility are also available. If you wish to keep an eye on your budget, then the Olde Gatlinburg rentals promise to win you over with their low rates and wonderful suites. Whatever be your preference, Gatlinburg has the solution.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Ski Area Marketing - 6 Ideas for Snazzier Ski Resort Blog Posts

Over the last few years, I've been doing a fair amount of blog posting and even more blog reading. Here are 6 things I've found and noticed that your resort can blog about to drive visitors to your site over and over again, especially if you use your social media outlets (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) to promote each post.

1) Stories
Find people on Facebook/Twitter who mention your resort and let them tell their "epic" story. They'll spread it like wildfire. Stories are the best testimonial a resort could ever have. When you tell stories, use Facebook and Twitter tags alike in your promotion. This gets people the story is about to tell their friends about it, and encourages others to share their stories as well with the hope of getting their name up in lights.

2) Riding Tips
Tips about riding, waxing boards and skis for snow conditions, etc. Give valuable information from talented people that work at the resort like Ski technicians, educators, police officers, etc. If these videos can also post it on YouTube for additional exposure and embed into your blog.

3) the history Resort, as it happened
We all have a great passion for business success, especially when our lives, you become part of how our favorite ski resort. Tell the story of how your holiday was and who played a role. Spread out, do a little 'interviews, and you'll have some killer blog content.

4) Video / Photo Contests
Photo and video contests are a great way to create/gather user generated content and if users get to vote they'll send their friends over and over again to the site. Don't forget to post these to Facebook and tag the photographers so that the pictures and your album show up on dozens of Facebook walls.

5) Resort Tips
Give tips on secret stashes, when to get the best groomers, where to go if you want good tree skiing, etc. Give them reasons to come back to the resort and find the stashes you are blogging about.

6) Fun Stuff / Trivia
Anything where the winner gets a prize. Contests like this make people want to pay attention to your blog. The prizes can be small like a free t-shirt or bigger like a free day pass. Doing this at set patterns (like weekly) and labeling the contest as such help keep people coming back as well.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Eb-5 Visa Investors Help Expand Jay Peak Ski Resort

At the end of December, the Jay Peak Ski Resort in Vermont officially opened its new Tram Haus Lodge, which was largely funded by foreign investors participating in the country's EB-5 visa program.

Bill Stenger, one of the resort's owners, says that Jay Peak received investments from 35 citizens of other countries totaling $17.5 million to open the new lodge, which includes 57 luxury suites, several eateries, a bar, fitness center and ski rental and repair shop, VermontBiz.com reports. This was the signals the new age of the resort and gives a shining example of a well managed EB-5 program will work and benefit not on ly the investors who are involved but also the community in which the project is located.

According to Stenger, British citizens accounted for about 60 percent of investors, while the rest are nationals from countries including Brazil, China, India, Korea, Mexico and Canada. The expansion project is expected to create hundreds of jobs at both the resort and in the surrounding area of Orleans County.

The Jay Peak owner told the news source that the EB-5 visa program seemed to draw in potential investors, especially from Canada and the United Kingdom, who wish to retire in the United States and young business leaders looking to enroll their children into an American university.

Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont, is also using funding from EB-5 visa holders to finance a new 40,000-square-foot guest services center and expansion of the ski facilities, but at the time of this article going to press we could not confirm if Sugarbush has accepted or processed any I-526 applications.

In exchange for their investments, the foreign financiers are given a conditional green card, granting the petitioner, their Spouse and their children (under the age of 21) the right to live and work in the U.S., and after a 2 year period this application is then submitted for review and a removal of the conditions which will allow the investor to be eligible for full citizenship.