Making life a holiday with interesting vacation and adventure ideas.

We have found some of the best online ski holiday deals for UK snow lovers with Co-operative Travel. Your spoilt for choice with these ski and snowboarding holidays to the most popular ski resorts across Europe including France, Austria, Bulgaria and Andorra and further afield to the USA and Canada. What's more, the Co-operative Travel are the largest independent travel agent in the UK and since they are both ABTA and ATOL bonded, customers have a 100% financial guarantee.

Check out these seriously cheap European ski deals:

• Toulouse, Pas de la Casa Crest Pas Apartments
  10th Jan 2010, 7 nights Gatwick
  Adult prices from £224pp
• Turin, Sestriere Edelweiss Apartments
  3rd Jan 2010, 7 nights Gatwick
  Adult prices from £284pp
• Innsbruck, Mayrhofen Hotel Alte Post
  19th Dec 2009, 7 nights Gatwick
  Adult prices from £369pp
• Chambery, Val Thorens Les Olympiades
  12th Dec 2009, 7 nights Gatwick
  Adult prices from £434pp
• Salzburg, Kitzbuhel Aurach Hotel
  23rd Jan 2010, 7 nights Gatwick
  Adult prices from £474pp

It doesn't matter if you’re new to the slopes or an experienced skier, your sure to find a great deal amongst this fantastic range of ski holidays, which feature offers from all the major ski tour operators including Neilson, Crystal, Inghams and Virgin. Whether staying in a chalet, hotel or in self-catering accommodation there is something for everyone; individuals, families and groups. Take a look, if you like what you see, you can book straight away.

Labels: Europe, holiday, Holiday Deals, skiing, snowboarding

The Caucasian Challenge is billed as a minimal assistance motor rally from Budapest, the capital of Hungary to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. It is an adventure that takes contestants through Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and Armenia. Two weeks of motoring through every type of terrain imaginable, across 11 countries.

Actually, you can race in anything you like, cars, trucks or even mopeds, and since the challenging route goes through the remote and mountainous areas of Europe's Caucasus region, low-tech vehicles might have a distinct advantage. Teams are already registering for next year's Caucasian Challenge, taking place from August 28 to September 13, 2009.

Labels: 2009, Armenia, Budapest, Caucasian Challenge, Caucasus, Europe, Hungary, motor sport, rally, Yerevan

Euro 2008 kicks off next Saturday, 7 June, with the news that every ticket for the 31 matches, being played in Austria and Switzerland, has been sold; a total of 1.05 million tickets. However, there will of course be massive television coverage and the Euro 2008 website has all the latest news, complete with photos and videos.

The final will be held at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, Austria, on 29 June.

Labels: Austria, Euro 2008, Europe, football, soccer, Switzerland

The European Travel Commission was created in 1948 to promote Europe as a destination to tourists from outside Europe. However, their website Visit Europe is also a great resource for European citizens.

The site is currently highlighting various cultural routes, developed by the European Institute of Cultural Routes. The routes link time and place across several different European countries, providing an appreciation of the interconnectivity of what may seem at first sight, to be separate cultural histories. Additionally, they offer wonderful vacation themes, covering subjects as diverse as architecture, music, cheese, wine, gardens and religion.

Labels: culture, Europe, history, Tourism

Eric Millirons, has written an article in WC Exchange about an alternative to the herd mentality of touring Europe on one big bus ride. For many Americans, Eric alleges that the European Tour means "traveling in buses with 40 other Americans, staying in hotels frequented by Americans, eating in restaurants that cater to Americans and seeing only those sights that all Americans seem to love."

The alternative, enjoyed by Eric Millirons and his family is Untours European Vacation Rentals. Untours was founded in 1975 by Hal Taussig and his wife Norma and grew from a desire to introduce Americans to a deeper way of experiencing Europe than the standard superficial bus tour. Norma & Hal Taussig, believe in living simply and in sharing the profits of their business to create a better world; something that they have been creatively working at through their Untours Foundation, which provides Microcredit to create jobs, build low-income housing, and support Fair Trade products, all through the most environmentally friendly means possible. If you read Eric's article, you will see that they also provide great alternative European tours.

Labels: Europe, Tourism, tours, travel, Untours

Every other year, there is a special arts festival called Europalia which usually highlights a single country's heritage. This year's festival coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the EU and to mark the occasion, the cultural diversity of the 27 EU countries will be celebrated through the visual and performing arts over four months, from October 3, 2007, until February 3, 2008.

The festival is centered on Brussels but this is a large festival and extends throughout Belgium and neighbouring countries. Visit the Europalia 2007 website for program details.

Labels: 2007, Arts Festival, Belgium, Brussels, Europalia, Europalia 2007, Europe

Brits travelling across the channel for their annual summer holidays will benefit from most of continental Europe being in the European Union (EU). Sadly, the UK chose to opt out of the Euro and hang on to the Pound, which means that somewhere along the line currency exchange will cost the British tourist money, but that aside, European Citizenship brings a raft of benefits.

UK residents are generally entitled to medical treatment, equivalent to that provided under the state scheme, at reduced cost or sometimes free, when visiting another EU country. However, to obtain treatment under the scheme, they must produce a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). To get a card, free of charge, UK applicants can either apply online, telephone 0845 606 2030, or ask at the Post Office for an application form.

It is only necessary to apply once and remember that an EHIC will last for up to 5 years, so do not leave it until the last minute to apply. Seasoned travellers should also note that the old E111 certificates are now invalid and holders should apply for an EHIC. Presumably, similar arrangements are in place for the citizens of other member states.

Government advice is that EHIC and holiday insurance are complementary. Travellers are recommended to have both because there are some costs, such as repatriation, which are not covered by the EHIC. Some insurance companies actually require that people they insure have an EHIC, while some will waive any excess charge if an EHIC has been used.

Another benefit is the authorisation to drive throughout the EU. However, motorists must again look carefully at the small print of their insurance policy if they take motor vehicles abroad.

The problem is that under current EU law, insurance companies only have to offer cover for damage an insured driver causes to another vehicle or driver, so called third-party insurance. Auto insurance companies are under no obligation to provide cover against theft, accidental damage to the insured car or personal injury; even if these circumstances are covered in the UK by a comprehensive insurance policy.

British motorists taking their cars to Europe must usually notify their insurer and it is sometimes possible to upgrade the level of cover but the upgrade is unlikely to be free. Presently, it seems as if there are only a couple of insurance companies who provide motorists with the same level of insurance cover wherever they use their cars in the EU; if a UK motorist is fortunate enough to have comprehensive insurance with one of these companies, then their comprehensive insurance cover continues when they take the Eurostar or ferry across the channel.

Labels: car, EHIC, Europe, European Health Insurance Card, holiday, insurance, travel

Hungary is expected to join the EU's passport-free travel area (Schengen area) on January 1, 2008, which allows for passport-free travel between participating countries.

There is usually a passport or ID check for air travel inside the Schengen area, but not for surface travel and a common visa is available for nationals from non-participating countries wishing to travel to the area.

Currently 15 countries have implemented the agreement, including non-EU members Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, and a further 15 countries are signatories. Eight of the other signatories are also likely to join with Hungary, leaving the United Kingdom and Ireland as the only two EU members not to fully implement the Schengen Agreement.

Labels: Europe, passport, Schengen, travel