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If planning a skiing trip to the South Island of New Zealand, there are a variety of impressive ski fields and accompanying ski resorts where great last minute ski deals and package deals are offered.

There is a long ski season on South Island. In Canterbury, Mount Hutt generally opens in June, with the season continuing until the end of October. The scenery here is spectacular and last minute ski deals often include a variety of other pursuits and après-ski activities.

Queenstown and Lake Wanaka

Dramatic and eye-catching, the Alps that surround the Queenstown resort offer breathtaking views. Queenstown borders Lake Wakatipu, and it inspires respect and admiration as a winter ski destination with its sophisticated, lively resort. Located in an urban setting, Queenstown boasts popular and stylish bars and restaurants, fashionable boutiques and is easy to get around.

The township of Wanaka is quieter than Queenstown, but it has the largest skiable territory in all of New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea and the neighbouring islands of the Pacific Ocean. Last minute ski deals can be arranged to the well-known Treble Cone and Cardrona, offering amazingly good value for world-class facilities. Staying in Wanaka makes sense, as there is easy access daily to Cardrona and Treble Cone by bus and a shuttle service from the centre.

Snow Park NZ is well worth a visit. It is the country’s major terrain park and hailed as excellent for cross-country skiing and freestyle skiing.

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Loyalty programmes are a wonderful way of rewarding customers for past business and, at the same time, keeping them up-to-date with news and fresh marketing initiatives such as cruise and stay options and last minutes cruises. 

Royal Caribbean has a loyalty programme called the Crown and Anchor, which passengers can join, even if they’ve only taken one cruise.

To take part in the Royal Caribbean loyalty programme, once you have taken a cruise, you simply enrol online ready to enjoy the benefits of being a Crown and Anchor member.

The following is a summary of the benefits of joining:

•    The quarterly Crown and Anchor magazine has news and information on special member cruises.
•    As a member, you will receive savings certificates for use at the on-board spas and bars.
•    When on board a ship, you can enjoy evenings just for members.
•    There are discounts for bring-a-friend promotions.
•    You will receive cruise points.  These are based on the number of nights you spend on board the ship.  Just like many airline loyalty programmes, there are tiers that give you more benefits for a greater number of nights on board.

Members of the Crown and Anchor can enjoy exclusive access to their own section on Royal Caribbean’s website, which offers personalised, member-only benefits, offers and promotions.

Royal Caribbean has a proud history of caring for its customers both before and after a cruise.  The Crown and Anchor loyalty programme is just one way of saying ‘thank you’ to its passengers for their business.

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Family holidays are a time for bonding through engaging in different activities together.  With resorts dotted around the 1,190 low lying coral islands of the Maldives, educational fun will certainly be catered for.  Soaking up the sunshine on Maldives holidays and enjoying the pearly white beaches can make all of the anxiety and daily stresses seem unimportant, especially when laughter and exploration are the order of the day.

Most couples are unable to find time to be alone, especially when they are on holiday with children.  This can often leave them feeling less rejuvenated, as the holiday seems tailored around their children’s needs.

The Maldives is an inspiring destination for couples to spend essential quality time together, and finding this time can make all the difference as you are able to reconnect as a couple and bask in the beauty of your surroundings as well as in each other’s company.  That said, the problem is often being able to find a professional child minding service that can give you peace of mind, leaving you to enjoy the precious time you have together. 

Maldives holidays offer you the option of using child-minding services on the different islands.  This way, you know that your children are in safe hands and you are then able to have some time to yourselves.  Your children will not be left to simply sit and waste the day away.  Instead, they too will be able to take in some of the activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, and other water sports for which the island is renowned.

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General consensus amongst seasoned cruise travellers is that just because you get sea sick on smaller boats and ferries does not necessarily mean you will be queasy on your cruise holiday.  Some of today’s ships are truly enormous, and unless you are travelling through very rough seas you may feel very little movement, if any.

That said, you could of course be one of the unlucky ones, so it is worth packing some sea sickness tablets such as Stugeron in your bag, and take them at the very first sign that things could get choppy.  In other words, the key here is to take them BEFORE you feel sick; once you do, it may be too late!  For very severe cases, ship’s medical centres do occasionally give injections, but this is a very last resort; the heavy dosage can really knock you out, and you may get a hefty bill for your treatment.  Patches are also available to wear behind the ear, but some people can suffer side effects.

Some people swear by wrist bands such as “Sea Bands”; these are elasticated bands with plastic studs which apply pressure to an acupressure point on the underside of each arm.  Other drug free options include ginger and peppermint.  Eat regularly (interestingly, sea sickness can be much worse if your stomach is empty), but avoid very rich and fatty foods.  Pick a Caribbean Cruise rather than a transatlantic trip, but make sure you avoid the hurricane season!

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Ho Chi Minh City is the jumping off point for a visit to the Mekong Delta – a river that meanders through seven countries before it splits into multiple tributaries in Vietnam.

Once in the area, trips from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta can be easily arranged by hotels or tour shops.  These can be as short as one day, or, for a more comprehensive look at this fascinating area allow three days instead.  On the longer trip you will be rewarded with richer, broader experiences.

Vendors still sell their fruit and vegetable crops off boats on the river and these markets are endlessly fascinating, crazy, and frenetic.  Activity is particularly engaging early in the morning, as tourist boats vie with each other for the best position to see old wooden boats jam-packed with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Wares are advertised in a unique fashion.  Boat owners have a bamboo pole tied to the bow of the boat with a sample of the produce.  Fresh fruit and vegetables are quickly trimmed on board the boats to get ready for sale.

On a one day trip it is possible to see the floating village of Cai Be, although a two night trip will take visitors to see the larger and more amazing floating market of Cai Rang.

Along with the markets on the Mekong Delta, tours may also visit a fishing village to see fish farming, the minority Moslem village and a couple of towns on the edge of the river.  Ben Tre and the Coconut Factory are famous for its delicious coconut sweets.  Visitors are encouraged to sample the goodies on offer and then make a purchase.

Another activity often included in the trips is a cruise along the narrow waterways to see the daily activities of the locals close up.  An easy way to see this area is by taking a tour that can be purchased upon arrival.

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Shoppers will love the variety and price of goods available in Ho Chi Minh City.  Shopping options range from street vendors who ply their trade to tourists as they walk along the street, to swanky shops in comfortable air-conditioned shopping malls. 

What’s more, even though Ho Chi Minh City is a sprawling city of over seven million people, several of the main shopping areas are within easy walking distance of each other.  In District One, if you simply walked from the Ben Thanh Market, to the Saigon Centre, then the Tax Centre and on to the Vincom Centre and Parkson Plaza (which is opposite), it would take you around ten to 15 minutes. 

The Ben Thanh Market is a bustling market jam packed with souvenirs, clothing and much more, whereas the upmarket Vincom Centre stocks imported designer labels and housewares.  The Parkson Plaza has a wide range of cosmetics, clothing, luggage, housewares and even a supermarket.  The Tax Centre is a great place to stock up on souvenirs or to replace your camera in air-conditioned comfort.

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Being onboard ship on one of the seven seas for a week is a great holiday escape. Cruising can be an ideal holiday choice for anyone who wishes to enjoy a little bit of everything, from active adventures to relaxing in the sun. Another great aspect of taking a cruise holiday is the wide range of cruise deals that can be found all year round.

If you are lucky enough to have a flexible schedule, you should take the time to search the internet for sales, read passenger forums and keep your travel agent informed that you are looking for a cruise holiday. The best time to enjoy a cruise at a discounted price is during the shoulder season, which normally includes the early spring or late autumn months. 

If you manage to get a great cruise deal, consider upgrading your room. Even though inside cabins are less expensive, some companies can upgrade the room for a lot less than you might expect, so it’s worth asking.

If you have found a cruise that sails through varied climates, be sure you are prepared for them. Not only will this avoid you having to pay premium prices for items you should have brought, it will make your trip much more pleasant knowing that you will have everything you need.

It is just as important to be prepared for other events such as evening dining and nights out. Don’t be afraid to pack everything from bathing suits to wind jackets to formal eveningwear. Remember that a good cruise offers passengers a variety of diverse experiences.

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The Parthenon in Greece is one of the most recognizable icons in the world today and has withstood the assault of both man and nature for more than 2,500 years.  Built to thank the patron goddess of Athena in ancient Greece, the building was known as the Temple of Athena the Virgin.  The name was derived from the Greek word ‘parthenos’ which means ‘virgin’ and the temple was built in the Doric style of architecture, which is characterized by simple, unadorned and plain columns.

Millions of tourists walk around its ruined columns from the western end of the Acropolis and the Panathenaic Way, every year.  It is one historical site that most tourists keep high on their must-visit lists because though archaeologists have been studying it for years nobody is sure how exactly it was built. A word of warning here: wandering around the ruins on a summer day is a very pleasant experience, but the sun can get really hot so it is better to start early or later in the evening unless, of course, it is overcast.

The Acropolis, which borders the Parthenon from the south and west sides, has streets filled with cafes and restaurants. A stroll down the streets is much better than driving up to the site. The Parthenon can also be reached from the Plaka and Monastiraki side, which again is an on-foot journey, and a walk uphill will give you a great view of the sights.

The theatre of Herod Atticus built in 161 AD by the Romans is still used for classical concerts and ballet performances, which will leave anyone attending them spellbound. The stone theatre of Dionysius, which was used for gladiator fights, is also a worthy tourist attraction.

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It’s been a long time since the only place travellers could exchange their foreign currency was at the airport.  Foreign exchange booths can be found in cities across the world. UK holidaymakers can head to their local bank, travel agent, Post Office or branch of Marks & Spencer to obtain most major foreign currencies.  In order to maximise your budget on cheap holidays, however, it’s worth shopping around to find the best rate.

Airports foreign exchange counters may be convenient, but their rates typically aren’t the best because a high commission is often charged.  Likewise, a trip to the high street may offer good deals, but it’s still possible to find better.  It’s not a question of discounts, commission rates or special offers, but the exchange rate itself.  In other words, how much bang do you get for your buck.

The internet has proved a vital resource in this respect, and within seconds of going online it’s possible to get an accurate idea of what you should be getting.  Once you’ve checked out several currency exchange websites and found the best rate, simply exchange your currency and have it credited to your bank account or credit card.  Alternatively, have the cash delivered to your home, although you’ll need to give yourselves a few days to make sure that it arrives in time.

All this without leaving the house and without any surprises: you’ll know exactly what you’re getting.  Popular currency exchange websites include Travelex, ICE, FairFX, XE and my Travel Cash, while the Financial Times website is another useful resource for comparing currencies.

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Widely regarded as the birthplace of Western civilization, Athens is home to a rich history.  Once the centre of a great empire, it still remains a vibrant and fascinating city filled with sites that have astounded tourists and locals for many centuries. 

The weather in Greece tends toward hot in the summer, which makes the other three seasons better times to plan a holiday in Athens.  Once in the city, tourists will find that they can reach major landmarks without needing to travel long distances.

The Acropolis

One of the most visited sites in the city is the Acropolis with its ancient temples demonstrating that the Greeks knew how to design beautiful architecture thousands of years ago.  The centrepiece of the Acropolis is the Parthenon, long regarded as the international symbol of both Athens and all of Greece.

The Agora

Another important tourist site is the ancient marketplace known as the Agora.  The history of the Agora alone makes it worth a visit.  This is the place where the philosopher Socrates discussed justice and morality with his students.  Later, the Agora became the setting for St. Paul’s efforts to persuade the ancient Greeks to convert to Christianity.

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