Summer Holiday Tips

Zakopane is often called the winter capital of Poland. And it comes as no surprise because this resort offers everything you need for a good winter rest. Those are skiers that mainly arrive here.

During the last years the city applied to host Winter Olympics (unfortunately, it was not a success). Nevertheless, Zakopane attracts skiers not only from Poland, but also from other countries. Those who arrive here for skiing surely want to know what they will find here.

The city is surrounded with mountains. Professional ski centres are located on the slopes. There are also several of them (for kids and beginners) in the city centre. There are a total of approximately 10 ski centres and more than 50 lifts found in Zakopane. One will also find a funicular road to Gubalowka Hill. Here is a list of Zakopane ski centers.

Antalowka is located in the south and north of Zakopane and offers two lifts. Its advantages are: location not far from the city centre, several cafes, ski schools and an opportunity to rent outfit.

Gubalowka and Kaletnicza centers are in the heart of Zakopane, the southern slope of Gubalowka Hill and the northern and the southern slopes of Kaletnicza. Gubalowka is one of the most famous and most visited resorts notable for its funicular (located almost in the city centre), and a breathtaking view over the Tatra mountains. If needed, tracks and two lifts are covered with artificial snow. One good thing about the resort is that there are lots of restaurants, bars, service centers and car parks found at the lower stations. Plus, the resort’s convenient location.

There are several nice lifts located right on the city territory, on its flat slopes. But only Skocznia slope is covered with artificial snow, when needed, which gives you an opportunity to enjoy skiing even when the weather is unfavourable. The lifts are situated in the downtown, that’s why Skocznia is always crowded with people.

North-eastern slopes of Kalatowki are mostly visited by the professionals. Even though there are no snow cannons, you can ski all year round. Kalatowki is one of the most beautiful Tatra glades which has long been popular with those fond of winter holidays.

Budzowski Wierch is 2 km from Zakopane. Its gentle slopes are excellent for the beginners.

Another services are: outfit rent, cafes, ski schools and car parks.

Ko?cielisko, thanks to rapid growth of Zakopane, is now a part of the city. Larger part of the Western Tatra is found on its territory, so the place is excellent for skiing. Its infrastructure spreads over several slopes only. However, the district is well-equipped and, which is also very important, not crowded. There are 6 lifts offered.

Butorowy Wierch lies 2 km west from the city centre, close to Orbis Kasprowy hotel. During several years the place was poorly visited because of some administrative problems. However, in 2001/2002 its tracks gained popularity again. Restaurants, bars, outfit rental and ski service are waiting for you.

Nosal is one of the best Polish ski centers. Despite its small size, there are 9 lifts, a ropeway, car parks, hotel and service centers located on its territory. Most of its tracks are covered with artificial snow, illuminated and ratrack-serviced. Tracks range from professional to easy ones. And of course you will find restaurants, cafes, service centers etc.

Our next stop is at Kasprowy Wierch – the best and the most popular ski resort, however, also very crowded. It is located 7 km from the centre of Zakopane and equipped with 3 ropeways, including chair lifts. A lift to the Kasprowy Wierch is the first Polish ropeway. Ski season starts in mid-December and, if the weather is nice, lasts till the beginning of May.

Good choice of tracks and beautiful nature are the reasons why one should come to Zakopae for winter rest. A bus trip to Zakopane from Krakow takes approximately 20-30 minutes.



By: Tatyana Kogut.

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Christmas and New Years are times that you spend with your loved ones, but an increasing amount of people are now choosing to spend this time abroad. According to a recent survey, a record number of 3.5 million people have booked flights during the Christmas period, with 22nd and 30th December being the most popular dates to travel. The question is why is their an increasing number of people looking to get away?

One possible answer is the number of options customers have nowadays. They can compare so many different prices on various websites and find the best cheap holidays there are. Many people want to get away from the often stressful times of the festive period; destinations such as Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin and New York have proved to be favourites this year.

It is not just airports that are going to be busy this year, Eurostar has had to put on an extra 6 trains to cope with demand with an estimated 150,000 people booking their holidays and travelling via Eurostar. So what about those who have chosen to stay in the UK? Well, 90% say they would swap the inevitable problems of Christmas at home for a fortnight in the sun.

People booking holidays during the festive period is not abnormal, however, year on year the number is rising and the public now prefer to swap the cold winter weather for some European sun. It will be interesting to see whether or not this trend continues as the options for customers grow. Next year, destinations such as Goa, Dubai and Egypt are likely to be the nation’s favourite destinations.



By: Karl Bantleman

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Latvia, or Lettonia as it is called is a country in the Northern Europe, and is separated from Sweden by the Baltic Sea. Most of the region is made up of plains, largely filled with forests and the highest point out here is the Gazinkalns, which is at a height of 1020 feet above sea level. Abundant wildlife can be found in this region because of the climatic conditions and rough terrain in some places near the sea. Since it is situated close to Russia, the winters are quite extreme, with constant snow falls through the season.

When holidaying in this part of the world, one needs to understand the terrain and plan accordingly. Listed below are five things that a tourist to Latvia may want to see while there on holiday.

Aglona Basilica is a church which was built in 1699, it still stands tall welcoming visitors into its walls. The rich architecture and beautifully crafted windows and doors are what make this place so beautiful. People come here to see the icon of the Virgin Mary, who is said to have saved Aglona from the plague that hit the country.

Every country has its share of history, and the Latvian Occupation Museum is well worth a visit. The kind of artefacts and monuments on display speak of the war that took place here, which left the place shattered. Apart from this, the Soviet and Nazi occupation of Latvia is also explained in detail right here. A museum that is a treasure chest of information is at times quite disturbing when we see the gory pictures and read about the events that took place early on.

Museum of Horns and Antlers is a museum with a difference, here one finds different kinds of horns and antlers on display. There are nearly 500 plus elk antlers and all these have been collected by one person during his lifetime. Vaide, a small town on the coastal region of Livonian has its share of beaches and sights to see, when one gets tired of all the horns and antlers on show. If we were to walk down the road, we would also notice antlers hanging from street signs, showing how common these are in Latvia.

Not only is Riga the capital city of Latvia, it is also where most of the Latvia’s population lives. It is a beautiful city in the Baltic region, filled with buzzing life and activities through the year. It is the best place to put down your bags and begin exploring the country from.

Wherever people go, they look for something different and relaxing which is not available in their home town. And in most cases, they seek a beach resort or at least a seaside place to chill out in. Jurmala is one of those beach resorts, which is popular amidst tourists. They come here to put their feet up, relax and relax, breaking away from their daily routine.



By: Andrew Gibson

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