Planning Your Next Ski Holiday
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- May 4, 2012
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Shaping Cultural Experiences
Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was a young child. I grew up in a multicultural, bilingual home in the Netherlands with a Polish mother and a Dutch father. My
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- May 10, 2012
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Update & BBC News Link
A brief update: One interview video will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I believe the BBC News One-Minute World News provides well-balanced reporting of news, hence why I wanted to share it. Top stories on May
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- May 11, 2012
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From Nigeria to Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNkCazT_T4&feature=youtu.be
When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained. Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.
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Mark Twain on Travel
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- May 19, 2012
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Pleasing The Taste Palate
Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland. How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?
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- May 23, 2012
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Stereotypes: Truth or Fiction?
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- May 29, 2012
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Annual Human Rights Report
“The world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and
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- May 31, 2012
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Euro Crisis & Emerging Stereotypes
Brief Crisis Breakdown Since the onset of the global financial crisis, or Great Recession, in 2007, the Eurozone has feared impending growing global debt levels, as well as sovereign debt within European countries themselves. In
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- June 4, 2012
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Remembering Tiananmen
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China. Inflation, a lack of career prospects, the fall of Eastern European communism, and political corruption, are all said to have fueled anger
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- June 7, 2012
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Coffee's Uniting Power
A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,
- 3716 Views
- Guest Blogger
- August 27, 2018
- Local Culture
Today’s Culture with Travel post is by Katy Mairs
When it comes to planning a skiing holiday, there is a great deal to consider, from getting the
right clothing and ski kit, to transporting it all to your destination, and perhaps most
importantly, choosing the perfect resort to suit your trip. For a first timer, it’s easy for the
planning process to quickly become overwhelming, understandably so.
Knowing where to start can be a head scratch. So, whether you’re yet to embark on your first skiing holiday or whether you’re eager to plan your next trip, these pointers should help with the process.
Choosing a ski holiday resort
Perhaps the most important aspect of planning your ski trip is choosing your resort, as such,
you may think it to be the most daunting. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be as complicated as
you might think. Essentially, the resort that you choose depends on a few things, but most
importantly – your budget, the time of year you plan to go and your level of skiing experience.
If you’re still at beginner level, you’ll want to research resorts that are best for first-timers, as they will generally have novice slopes closer to the resort. If you’re a bit more experienced, you can look into bigger name resorts with large ski areas that you’ll get full use out of.
You should also consider what else the resort has to offer. If you’d prefer not to be on the hill
all day every day, you might look into a resort that offers different activities such as ice
skating – or even a spa, because who wouldn’t want to hit the spa after a long day of skiing?
If you’re considering travelling with your family, it really goes without saying that you should
keep an eye out for resorts that are good for families. Generally, those that are family-
friendly will offer nursery slopes for children to learn. There may even be childcare options
on offer.
Choosing your accommodation type
Once you’ve settled on your resort, the next port of call is choosing your accommodation.
There are a few option, from catered chalets, to shared chalets, to self-catered apartments,
and hotels. What you choose will depend on a few things, such as the size of your group,
ski-in or ski-out, your budget and how much flexibility you want to have throughout your trip.
You’ll also want to check how close your accommodation is to the slopes (and the bars).
Getting the right clothing and ski kit
When it comes to packing up your ski kit for your trip, you’ll want to make a checklist just to
make sure you don’t leave anything behind. If it’s your first ski trip, you might want to
consider borrowing your kit from friends or family, or perhaps hiring your equipment so that
you can get some practice in before investing in your own kit. And, don’t forget the basics,
such as warm base layers and ski socks, as they could be your saving grace on your trip.
Transporting your ski kit
If you’re hiring your ski equipment (skis, poles, snowboards, helmets) when you arrive, you
won’t have to worry about transporting them there and back. However, if you’re hoping to bring your own or if you’re borrowing your kit from friends or family, you’ll need to consider
how to get them there and back in one piece. Whilst you can always carry them with you on
your flight, the oversized baggage fees could put a dampener on your trip. Luggage shipping
companies provide a welcomed alternative that could not only help you to save time, but
also money when it comes to transporting your ski equipment. You can simply ship your ski
kit ahead to your resort, allowing you to travel hands-free. It’s one less thing to worry about!
Booking lessons
If this is your first ski trip, you might want to consider booking lessons, even if just for your
first few days. Even if you do have a patient friend or partner willing to teach you, the last
thing you want to do is fall out with them during the trip. It’s always a good idea to allow a
professional instructor show you the ropes and help you to start skiing confidently.
Katy Mairs is the blog editor at UniBaggage.com.
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