Scuba Diving Vacation

Looking to partake in the warm, clear waters of a Caribbean scuba diving vacation? The warm tropical salt waters, year round warm weather and beautiful white sandy shores of the Caribbean a perfect vacation destination any time of the year for scuba diving.

There are over 30 possible destinations for you to choose from and every one of them has wonderful year round scuba diving available. The main difference between all the choices is if you want to experience the vacation with lots of other tourists or do you prefer to skip out on the tourist attractions and go for more of the local resident feel.

One of the lesser known Caribbean scuba diving vacation destination is a beautiful island called Antigua. With gorgeous hot, white sandy beaches plus plenty of historical attractions, make this destination very memorable. Most of the scuba diving here in Antigua, other then the southern shores, is not deep; but with the stunning coral reefs, most divers do not mind the shallow waters.

A once spectacular Caribbean scuba diving vacation destination is the island of Montserrat. Sadly in 1996 an inactive volcano that is situated on the island became active again and devastated many scuba diving locations along with the main town including homes, hotels and attractions. It is not fully understood how much damage occurred to the coral reef and in fact local residents claim the volcano has not affected the diving nearly as much as is rumored and besides when will you ever get an opportunity to witness an active volcano from a safe distance like you can in Montserrat.

Another incredible Caribbean scuba diving vacation is the British Virgin Islands. Made up of a group of smaller islands, these islands are very popular tourist destinations. Scuba divers can take advantage of amazing caves, sinkholes, canyons and ledges. Probably the most visited dive sites in the British Virgin Islands is the Painted Walls where you will experience all the wondrous colors of the rainbow while you dive. If Wreck Diving is your preference then the R.M.S. Rhone is available to you as well.

Nevis, due to a lack of tourist promotion is a largely unknown Caribbean scuba diving vacation spot, with plenty of fascinating scuba dive sites stretched along the east of Nevis to the west end of St. Kitts. You really must plan to travel around the entire island to appreciate the complete assortment of sites accessible. There are plenty of both inshore and offshore diving with an astonishing natural coral reef that is home to numerous species of corals and some amazing sea life such as sea turns maybe even some sleeping turtles.

Obviously there are dozens of other islands to discover during a Caribbean scuba diving vacation, so enjoy trying to decide on the destination for you.

Skiing Vacation

If you have ever wanted to take the family on a cheap holiday skiing vacation, you can plan a wonderful skiing trip during the holiday to St Anton. The area has one of the most beautiful resorts for holiday skiers. The nightlife is just as spectacular as the skiing. This is your chance to ski the day away and join in the fun at the nightclubs around the resort. You are going to find that slopes are heavily packed with snow and the mountains are challenging. You will find that your day on the slopes is one you have never experienced anywhere else.

Although the slopes are the greatest, the town is mostly sports shops, hotels and bars. The area shops are found about twenty minutes away in Lech. You will find your cheap holiday ski vacation is filled with more fun than shopping anyways. The village of St Anton is a true Austria skiing resort. You will find more excitement in one village than you could find anywhere else. You are going to find intermediate slopes, but for those who need a challenge, there are some steep slopes for the experts. If you think the St. Anton slopes are too easy, you can try the Valluga slopes nearby.

If you are looking for nighttime entertainment, you will find that one place stands out. The Moosrwit is the popular hotspot in St. Anton. You will find hundreds of post skiers enjoying a drink or two at this hot nightclub. If you like British music, Griblies is the place to start your night. They have a British band that plays all the hits you want to hear. The Krazy Kangaroo Bar is a mountainside bar. You will find hip-hop and rock music to shake the night away. You can watch the sun go down while enjoying a nice glass of wine.

Your cheap holiday skiing vacation is going to see more nightlife than you could see in one place. You will want to stop and see The Funky Chicken. If you have a need for some great live entertainment, this is the place to stop after nine. Watch the sunrise at the Kartouche Club. If you are looking for more sophistication, The Platzl’s Apres is a place to stop in at night. You will just love the restaurants in St. Anton.

If you want a quick hamburger and fries, the Hamburger Caravan is a place to go. There is no need to dress up, go as you are and enjoy the food. If you are looking for some fine dining, the St. Antoner Hof is a five star restaurant. The very popular Restaurant Museum is located in a mansion from the pre WWI era and the cable cars station is right there. You will feast on the wild game and some fine wine. After one night of dining and parting, you will need to hit the slopes the next day to work off some added calories. You cheap holiday vacation to St. Anton could not have any more excitement.

Thanks to the presence of the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevadas, and the Cascades, the western portions of the United States feature breathtaking scenery in addition to fantastic skiing conditions. With 12,000 foot peaks, azure blue skies and hundreds of inches of snow it doesn’t get much better. Do you want to blast down the ruggedly beautiful mountains of Montana through waist-deep, dry powder the natives call “white smoke”?

Maybe skiing with the rich and famous is more your style–if so try Aspen, Colorado, known for its majestic four mountains. Mammoth Mountain, Vail, Jackson Hole, Steamboat Springs, Taos, Snowbird, the hundreds of runs and resorts of Utah, Washington, California, and Idaho. Simply too many to list!

Just north of the 49th parallel (the Canadian border) lie some of the world’s best skiing options featuring the top ski resort destinations. Banff/Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada, located in the heart of Canada’s Banff National Park, ranks as one of the most scenic mountain resorts in North America, if not the entire world.

And Whistler/Blackcomb in British Columbia with 8,000 skiable acres and its 100+ bars and restaurants in the village is definitely a “must do” destination. These magnificent mountain peaks provide gorgeous scenery, abundant snowfall, pristine wildlife areas, and the steepest vertical drop in North America. The Japanese have repeatedly ranked it as their favorite international destination.

One valuable tip for planning a ski vacation–get all of your necessary items in a single package or as some travel agents refer to it–”bundling.” In simple terms it means to get your airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rental, lift tickets all from a single source at the same time. Some agencies will even make arrangements for off-slope activities that you are interested in. These inclusive packages make vacationing easy, affordable, convenient and fun. Use online searches to find the best resorts, the most affordable prices and the best travel companies.

A ski vacation can provide you and your family the perfect break during the long, dark winter months, and allow you to experience some quality bonding time. Picture your family conquering the slopes, making snow angels, riding snowmobiles or soaking in the heavenly heated pool as the brilliant stars twinkle brightly overhead. You can choose from a wide array of destinations, accommodations and flight plans. No matter where you want to ski or snowboard, you will find the best deals on the Internet.

Whether you are an experienced downhill racer, a beginning snowboarder, or someone in between, you can get a mountain of free skiing information by doing some research on the Internet. Comparison shop and gain the knowledge you need to become a smart ski shopper!

About the Author

Larry Denton is a retired history teacher having taught 33 years at Hobson High in Hobson, Montana. He is currently V.P. of Elfin Enterprises, Inc., an Internet business providing useful and valuable information on a variety of timely topics. For a chalet full of information, resources and tips about ski resorts, visit http://www.SkiResortSpot.com