Short Break Ideas

Ski Resorts across the world are doing more to woo us to their resorts.  They are adding more to the usual winter sports, now there is a combination of festivals, celebrating music, food and comedy.  Starting in November, there are ski festivals through out the winter until April, when the season closes.  So if you want to add a bit more to the usual skiing on your next ski break we have collated a list of resorts drawing the crowed.

Chef’s Cup, Alta Badia – Italy
The Chef’s Cup is a high altitude celebration of haute cuisine in the heart of the Dolomites, it was created by Michelin-starred chef, Norbert Niederkofler.  It is the perfect destination for culinary enthusiasts who want to improve on their culinary skills along with their skiing. The Chef’s Cup combines the best of skiing with the best of food. The event attracts up to 400 of the world’s finest chefs; to show of their dishes and share their expertise with visitors. The Chef’s Cup takes place in the last week of January (chefscup.it).

Golfing doesn’t get more treacherous or difficult than at these golf courses scattered around the world. From Camp Bonifas in Korea, which is considered the most dangerous course to the $1 Million(US) hole in South Africa - needs a helicopter to reach the tee, we have list them here. If you are a golfing enthusiast you can add a visit to one of these courses as part of your next short break.

Coober Pedy Golf Course, Australia (Any Hole)
There are no bunkers, no trees, no obstacles and no grass either.  Coober Pedy is a town in South Australia with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants. It’s famous for its opal mines and it is bleak. To make the golf course remotely playable, oil is used to keep the sand compact and to stop it from blowing around.  Players are allowed to carry around a small that’s all the help they get on this nine-hole course.  Bizarrely, Coober Pedy has reciprocal playing rights with St. Andrews.

Copper Canyon also called Barranca Del Cobre in Spanish is a lush canyon system in Chihuahua state northwest Mexico.  The Barranca Del Cobre canyon system is four times the size of neighbouring Arizona’s Grand Canyon and deeper in some areas. Apart from its natural beauty and breath taking views the Copper Canyon offers a train journey that travels from sea level to 7,500 feet in less than 150 miles; giving it the name “Train in the Sky”.

The ride on the Copper canyon railway is the main attraction of the region because from the train it’s like you are seeing the entire world.  The railway system took almost 100 years to build and is considered to be an engineering marvel.  The copper canyon rail excursion is voted the most exciting train journey in the world.

Austria is well-known as a skiing destination but not a lot is known about the ski resort of Ischgl in tyrol.  Tyrol is a lovely mountainous are in the western parts of Austria near the Alps and bordering with Italy, Germany and Switzerland.  In the spring and summer months it offers an excellent landscape for hiking and mountain biking.  But come winter, the area is changed, drawing a different set of trill seekers (the snow worshipers).

Ischgl is also known for its free open air concerts, which have featured headline acts like Elton John, Lionel Richie, Rod Stewart and Tina Turner; attracting over 20, 000 people. The concerts are staged as part of its opening weekends late November, so you never know who you will see from one season to the next.

If you though Thailand was just a beach holiday destination, then think again. Northern Thailand offers all kinds of exciting things to do – once you’ve worn yourself out experiencing all it has to offer, a couple of days relaxing on a beach is the perfect antidote. Here are our top five activities in and around the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai for you to enjoy.
1.    Jungle trekking and hill tribes
If you’re adventurous enough for jungle trekking, head for Chiang Rai.  It’s a truly magical experience exploring the mountains of the north.  Many of the hiking trails pass through the villages of Thailand’s famous hill tribes, who still maintain their traditional way of life.

Pictures of beaches in Scotland were shown to the public and they were asked where in the world they think the beaches were. Surprisingly many thought the pictures were of beaches in Thailand and other places in the Far East. From the north (Scotland) down through Wales to the southern tip of England there are beaches to suit different beach activities. So whether you live in the UK or on holiday why not give one of its beaches a try – my favourites are in Cornwall.

Between June and July the world’s best in body painting comes to Austria to exhibit their skills at the World Bodypainting Festival (WBF). Artist and their model(s) transform the mono chrome body into a colourful work of art in a mixture of photography, fashion, music, drama and dance.  Here you can see how body painting inspires the movies and visa versa. There are awards to be won such as the best Futuristic, Brush, Special Effects, Face Painting and many more.

Like the Disneyland resorts the 4000 passenger capacity Disney Dream Boat caters for moms, dads and children from three months to 17 years.  At a tune of £565 million Disney created an on sea dream holiday experience, offering the world’s first on sea water coaster – ‘The Aquaduck’, French gourmet restaurant, inspired by Michelin-starred chefs (with 200-strong wine list)and a host of other entertainment features.

For this short break idea we have collated a list of marathon events around the world form the for north to the deep south with a mix of weather conditions.  This list offers a world of inspiring locations famous for their long distance races and their breathtaking attractions.

Depending on who you speak to Colombia is synonymous with Coffee, Cocaine and Football. That is because that is mostly what is printed in the news and shown on television but there is more to this South American, Spanish speaking country, than we hear in the news. Colombia is rich in history and culture and unlike the Caribbean islands to the north of it; it has manage the keep some of its indigenous people along with some of their historical sites.