Skiing Equipment World

Best Places For A Skiing Vacation – Ski Vacations Packages

The following are some of the best skiing places in the world. Check to see if your ski vacations packages include them.

Seefeld, Austria
In the Tirol region of western Austria lies one of the most charming and laid back ski resorts you are ever likely to find in Europe. In Seefeld you won’t find high-rises – instead you will find lots of quaint buildings with wooden balconies and flower boxes. The quintessential Austria of postcards in other words.

A skiing holiday in this town is supposed to be a relaxed affair – both on the slopes and off. This is how it was designed to be more than 50 years ago and this is how it still is. The town center is virtually car free. It’s meant to be a place of relaxation – where you can sip a hot chocolate in peace and quiet while watching holidaymakers from all over the world just having a good time.

Seefeld is not the place to go if you want to party throughout the night. That doesn’t mean there aren’t very good restaurants and during the skiing season it’s easy to find a cozy little place with live music.

The ski slopes in Seefeld are not meant for those who want a wild skiing experience: the town is rather known as a venue for cross-country skiing. In fact the town was the venue for cross-country events during two winter Olympic games held in the nearby city of Innsbruck.

If you arrive in Seefeld without ski equipment, there are a few shops where you can buy good quality Alpine skiing equipment at a reasonable price. You can also rent equipment. Whether you buy or rent obviously depends on how often you plan to ski. For a beginner who hasn’t yet made up his mind whether he likes skiing or not, renting is the better option.

Seefeld is only a short drive away from Innsbruck to the east and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany to the north-west. Both these cities are well worth a day trip. The architecture is stunning and the natural surroundings even more so.

La Paz, Bolivia
Bolivia is not your run of the mill travel destination. To visit this country is to visit the true heart of South America. Where else can you see indigenous ladies wearing their traditional colorful layered dressed and bowler hats, a tropical paradise and snow-capped Andean mountains all in the course of one day?

La Paz will leave you without breath in more than one respect. At 4000m it’s the the highest capital city in world. When you first step off the plane, you will see the snow-capped Mount Illimani. When you take a taxi to the city center, it feels like you are driving down the rim of an extent volcano into the eye of the crater.

The witch market in La Paz is an experience you are not likely to soon forget. Here you can buy all sorts of witchcraft items, including a llama fetus which you can bury beneath your new house for good luck. A little further on is the vast open air market of 16 de Julio where you can buy everything from electronics to a 5 piece drum set or a wireless reading device.

No trip to La Paz will be complete without visiting the well-known coca museum. Here you can see displays depicting the history of coca production in Bolivia. Most people think that the coca plant is only used to produce cocaine, but this is not true. It has been used by the locals for medicinal purposes, to produce tea and against altitude sickness for centuries.

Not many people probably know that a well-known soft drink using the coca name used to contain cocaine for decades – this practice only ended in 1929. Maybe that explains why your grandfather was addicted to a certain soft drink…

If at all possible, try to attend the biggest festival in La Paz, the Festividad del Senor del Gran Poder, held in winter every year. During 2009 more than 30 000 dancers took part in this amazing display of costumes, music and dance. It’s a whole day event, lasting from about nine in the morning until late in the night.

If you are lucky enough to have some good quality Alpine skiing equipment, why not take a day trip to nearby Chacaltaya, at 5400m the highest ski resort in the world. The top of the lift at Chacaltaya is at the same height as Everest base camp, so make sure that you are properly acclimatised to the high altitude before attempting to ski. For most people merely reading a book at this altitude leave them breathless.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria
When you drive from Munich in Germany, through the Bavarian Alps on your way to the Austrian border, you pass through one of the most stunningly beautiful towns in the whole of Germany – Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The town itself is picture-perfect. The architecture is something that you would expect in a scene from Hansel and Gretel. The surrounding mountains are so beautiful that they literally take your breath away – especially if you should be on top of the Zugspitse, Germany’s highest mountain peak. The numerous lakes and rivers in the area, as well as the must-see gorge of Partnachklamm add even more charm to and beauty to the area.

If you are a skier, Garmisch-Partenkirchen will not disappoint you. It has some of the most advanced slopes in all of Germany, yet there are also slopes where even those who are taking ski lessons will not feel uncomfortable. Good quality alpine skiing equipment is available for rent or sale in town.

As befits a town with such a large number of skiing opportunities, there’s a huge selection of cable cars and ski lifts in the area. You can even take a train to a location very close to the top of the Zugspitse, form where it’s only a 5 minute cable car ride to the top. Here you will not only find stunning views and numerous ski slopes, but also a very cute little coffee shop.

There’s more than enough guest houses and hotels in the area to ensure nobody goes homeless during the annual ski run, but if you prefer a more serene spot, you can also stay in an accommodation establishment in one of the surrounding towns and villages.

During the weeks before Christmas, the famous Christmas markets get in full swing. Everywhere you walk, you will find cute little stalls selling everything from a black sport watch to glasses of the local delicacy – gluhwein. This spicy red wine is served steaming hot and is the perfect antidote for a cold day in the Alps.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen also has more than enough to offer at nighttime. There are numerous little restaurants where you can have a dinner by candlelight, while sipping a glass of gluhwein. If you hear the gentle sounds of an ibanez electric guitar in the background it will only add to the ambiance of the evening…

The rural area around Garmisch-Partenkirchen is well worth a visit. Not only for its natural beauty, but also for the numerous historical towns. One of these is Oberammergau. It’s here that the renowned passion play has been staged every ten years ever since 1632. It was during the times of the Black Plague and the locals made a promise to God that they will do so if He delivers them from the Plague. This happened and the town has kept its promise throughout the centuries. All over town you will also see beautiful frescoes showing scenes from the nativity play.

The Tarentaise Valley, France
There isn’t a valley on earth that hosts as many ski resorts as the Tarentaise Valley in the Savoy region of France. For years, Europeans have spend their winter months enjoying the recreation available here. Featuring all kinds of skiing, a world-class nightlife and many other pleasures, this locale is a must-visit for any fans of a good time.

Tucked away between the French Alps, the nearest air link to the valley is the small international airport of Chamb’ry about three hours away. However, the most ideal way to reach this area is to travel by rail. The Eurostar from Paris pulls right into the town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the heart of the valley. Plus, it’s a great way to experience this world-famous train.

First and foremost, skiing reigns in these parts. Escape Killy and La Plagne surround an area of nearly 400 km of slopes combined and cover every hill imaginable. From the fiercest black diamond runs, reserved for Olympic trials, to tranquil cross-country inclines, it’s all within the valley limits.

If you’re not an avid skier, you may need some lessons in the fundamentals. There are plenty of instructors, for private or group lessons, that can give you some pointers. Just another reason to grab a giro ski helmet and give it a shot.

Aside from the breathtaking views and world-class skiing, many are drawn here because of the nightlife. Although it’s no Paris or London, there is a surprising amount to do after the sun goes town. With several towns such as Albertville, Aime and Mo’tiers within a reasonable distance, there are dozens of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. After a day on the slopes, there’s nothing like slipping into your leather brown boots and stopping by the local bar for a drink.

If, like many a traveler, you get a little tired after a few days, there’s truly no better place than here to take a day off, sit by the fire and read a good book. There’s a reason why so many writers have found this a great place to ponder and create. There’s something about being so far removed from the regular world that makes you want to grab a warm latte and dive in one of your favorite suspense books.

It’s hard to imagine that anyone would not want to experience the Tarentaise Valley. It’s not just for athletes. If you are a socialite, a reader or just a lover of nature, this place will provide you will unforgettable memories. Perhaps it’s the fact that, at certain points, you are literally above the clouds, but the perfect word to describe it is ‘heavenly.’