Wednesday, Dec 24th, 2008 Categories: Random Stuff
December 25th has snuck up on us once again, and now all that remains is to shout “Merry Christmas!” to our properties, friends and customers around the world.
Whether you’re escaping to warmer climes, looking forward to hitting the pistes or even just staying close to home to relax, we wish you all happy holidays, happy travels and an awesome, fireworks-filled New Year.
Some of us at HostelBookers, though, will be chained to the desk for much of Christmas… We’re working on a massive IT project over here in London – a brand-new site that’s got even more great features for our travelers, hostels and partners than ever!
It’s a very exciting time for HostelBookers and, although it’s still a work in progress until early next year, the new site is looking rather excellent, even if we do say so ourselves…
So watch this space when you return from your festive celebrations…more news to follow…
Perhaps the biggest party of the year, New Year’s Eve is basically a great excuse to have a few drinks with friends and watch some explosive sparkly things go bang in the sky.
The alcoholic and pyrotechnic recipe is much the same worldwide, and anyone who’s stayed in on a New Year’s Eve of past and watched the celebrations on the TV will tell you that the fireworks display in particular proves an informal competition between the world’s largest cities, with each aiming to outdo the others in terms of scale and spectacle.
While there’s little to behold like a New Year’s Eve fireworks display, finding a good spot from where to view the action can be a little problematic due to the hundreds of thousands who flock to the streets. Here, then, is a roundup of our Top 10 Spots for the Top 10 New Year’s Eve Fireworks Displays…
London’s NYE fireworks display takes place on the River Thames, roughly between Westminster and Tower Bridge. It’s one of the world’s most magnificent, and crowded displays, with people arriving as early as 4pm to secure their place on and around the Southbank.
Popular Spots: The bridges across the Thames are considered the best viewing spots, as is the Millennium Eye (a signature of London’s Southbank). These get immensely crowded, so prepare to get there early, and don’t expect to go to the toilet once you’ve secured your spot!
Recommended Spot: Ignore the lure of the Southbank and head north to Hampstead Heath, where you’ll get a wonderful (and completely free) view out over the city and its splendiferous fireworks.
Popular Spot: New Year’s Eve (or Silvester, as it’s known) in Berlin focuses on the famous Straße des 17. Juni. Here the iconic Brandenburg Gate is transformed into a center stage, hosting a variety of celebrities and bands as the evening rocks along, before the clock ticks over and the fireworks go up.
Recommended Spot: Instead of jostling for position next to the gate, spread out along the Straße, which runs through much of the Tiergarten to the Berliner Siegessaule. The Kurfürstendamm Ku’damm, a huge shopping street a little to the south, also hosts a great NYE party open to one and all.
Rather than one centralized display, Taipei’s government hosts a barrage of displays in venues across the city – as the New Year commences, the city becomes one fantastical collage of bright lights and loud booms.
Recommended Spots: Finding a spot in Taipei is all about working out sightlines, given the city’s high-rise nature. Those lucky enough to have friends in high places (literally) should make sure to book a viewing spot in their apartment. For those less fortunate, the Taipei government suggests a few goods spots, such as the Rainbow Riverside Park.
Popular Spot: Times Square, Manhattan. There’s simply nowhere that can rival it: close on 1 million people; the backdrop of New York’s famous central square, and an iconic New Year’s Eve Ball (covered in Waterford Crystals) that summons January 1st as it drops from above.
Recommended Spot: Times Square. Like we said, there’s simply nowhere that can rival it. This is America, and Americana, at its best, so bite the bullet and head where everyone else is heading. But go prepared! Arrive early afternoon, wear lots of layers, don’t take any bags or alcohol (neither is allowed) and go to the toilet before claiming your spot. Then sit back, banter with those around you, and await the spectacle of NYE New York Style.
Popular Spot: The Main Strip. Unsurprisingly, Las Vegas does NYE on a big and glitzy scale. The Main Strip is certainly something to behold, but it won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Recommended Spot: The Monorail. Las Vegas’ Monorail proves a unique way to see in the New Year. It only costs $5, and it feels a lot more salubrious than jostling with the masses down on the strip.
Recommended Spot: Copacabana Beach. The Beach that parties all year round is, predictably, the place to be as the New Year commences in Rio. It’s always busy, but then it’s always awesome, and the view of the fireworks is equally spectacular.
Without wanting to make too much of a competition of it, Sydney’s fireworks display is probably the best in the world. Not one but two displays go up here (there’s one at 9pm for those who can’t stay up until midnight), illuminating the city in a magnificent, and almost otherworldly manner.
Recommended Spots: There are four official free areas provided by the local council, all within close proximity of the fireworks (which are lit from and around the Sydney Harbour Bridge). Bradley’s Head and North Head in the National Park provide space for 7,000 people, while two more spots in the Botanic Gardens cater for about the same amount again.
Given the relatively limited space, it’s advisable to pitch up early (picnics can be taken to the National Park, but not the Botanic Gardens). If you don’t fancy waiting in one place, simply while away a few hours in the Rocks Area (directly south of the Bridge), which is always teeming with people and atmosphere come the 31st.
Popular Spot: The Champs Elysees. Paris’ signature strip is the headlining site for NYE festivities in the city. Seemingly half the city crams themselves into its boundaries, making the most of the cool Parisian air, and the wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower that’s available. Come 12 o’clock, the Tower becomes the focus of an ever-memorable lightshow.
Recommended Spot: The Sacre Coeur Cathedral Plaza. The area of Montmartre is less crowded than the Champs Elysees, but just as resplendent. What’s more, since it’s Cathedral rises above the city, those who spend NYE here are guaranteed an awesome view of the fireworks display.
The fireworks display in Prague occurs during the evening of the 1st. And what a display it is too! Lasting 15 minutes, the extravagant exhibition costs around the $15,000 mark.
Recommended Spot: If you can get a place on the Cechuv Bridge, do so. If not, anywhere along the riverside will do.
In case you miss this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, why not head to Hong Kong at the start of February and catch the beginning of the Chinese New Lunar Year? The celebrations are just as extraordinary, and the fireworks just as loud and twinkly!
Recommended Spot: Anywhere on or around Victoria Harbour. As with New York, it’ll be busy, but it’s the only place to be!
One of the great lingering myths of travel today is that ski holidays are the domain of the elite. But while skiing does brings a certain air of exclusivity, the inflated prices of the headlining resorts are simply not indicative of the average cost of a ski holiday.
In truth, a cheap ski weekend (or even a longer stint on the slopes) is just as affordable for the budget traveler, as long as you know just how to go about arranging things, of course…
Preparation
Cheap ski holidays are all about being well prepared for what lies ahead. From the monetary side of things to the skill of skiing itself, it’s worth taking time to really think through your plans before embarking on the adventure.
In terms of money, then, skiing is best achieved ‘on the cheap’ if you eschew tour operators in favor of a more ‘DIY’ approach. This will mean finding the best ski rental deals and ski pass deals individually, as well as booking budget accommodation that will fit your needs.
It’s also worth taking a few ski lessons before you go. Find out about your local indoor slope – such as Xscape in Milton Keynes – and book one or two beginner lessons. This will help you grasp the fundamentals of the sport so that once you hit the snow itself you won’t waste time learning how to put your skis on and what to do when you fall over…
Of course, it’s also worth using these lessons to try both skiing and snowboarding. While skiing is probably the easier to pick up, many enjoy the dynamism of snowboarding, especially once they’ve passed the beginner stage. We discuss the merits and differences of the two further in our skiing vs snowboarding article. (What’s your favorite? – Ed.)
Learn to ski
Learn how to snowboard
Equipment and Money Saving Ideas
From a well-padded ski jacket to general ski clothing such as salopettes and ski boots, there’s a lot more equipment associated with skiing than just the skis themselves. However, by renting the equipment you can save a lot of much needed cash, check for deals on-line you’ll find 20-40% discounts compared to high-street prices.
While it may not be as bulky as the above equipment, a ski pass is just as important. Essentially a ticket that allows you access to the slopes, the ski pass is the mountain’s way of garnering money. It can be expensive, but do your research and book online well in advance and you’ll likely make a nice saving here, too.
It’s also worth considering the time of year you go in order to take advantage of ski deals. The season runs from December to April, so booking during these times is inevitably more expensive. That being said, it can be hard to find cheap resorts during the rest of the year, as many are simply not covered in snow come the summer months.
To enjoy a discount ski holiday, then, try taking advantage of the mini-lull that often occurs in January (especially in Europe), when operators panic into offering great last minute ski deals.
Insurance
Skiing is an adventure sport and while hundreds of thousands return from the slopes every year without so much as a graze, there are clearly risks. Add to this the fact that skiing requires a lot of equipment, and acquiring the right ski insurance becomes of tantamount importance.
Insurance tends to be relatively cheap considering what it offers, though be careful to check what’s included in each package when buying. The most important aspect is the medical cover, which will help you in the unfortunate case of an accident. Things to look out for include the amount of hospital bills the insurance covers you for, and whether it will repatriate you (fly you home) in the case of an emergency.
Aside form the medical bits of any package, check whether it also includes equipment and ski pass cover (many mountains are not sympathetic to those who’ve lost their pass). Equally, in case you start to feel adventurous half way through your trip, check to see whether the insurance would cover you for off-piste and glacier skiing.
Check out the following sites for insurance when you go skiing:
And so you’ve got your insurance, pass and equipment… all that remains is to pick a destination and book your hostel and you’re ready to hit the slopes (that’ll be quite literally for many beginners, too).
Here’s our pick of the Top 10 Budget Ski Destinations this year…
Are you headed off to enjoy the snow this Christmas? Tell us your top tips for ski holidays on the cheap, and how to make the most of your time on the slopes. And if you fancy yourself quite the expert, feel free to share advice with other readers and images and videos from your latest trip!
Ever since snowboarding began to rival skiing for piste space back in the 60s, a debate has raged as to which snow-bound pursuit deserves ultimate bragging rights.
The question might sound simple: is it better to slide down a mountain side using two sticks and a couple of poles, or carve out a course with your feet stuck to a single piece of wood? And never one to shirk a challenge (or fail to respect the weight of history), here’s our definitive skiing vs. snowboarding comparison… in 300 words, or so.
Starting Out
First off, the fact that snowboards are a proverbial pain for newbies can’t be avoided. Having strapped on, it’s inevitably impossible to stay still whilst standing upright and you quickly develop a bum like a wet lettuce. And if you hit a flat bit of snow… well, you’re stuck.
Skiers, on the other hand, have the luxury of poles to help drive a bit of momentum and it’s easier to balance on two bits of wood than one so they also tend to have drier behinds.
So as far as beginners go, skiing wins out; it’s easier to pick up the basics and your holiday is likely to be rather less frustrating.
Moving On
From sporting enthusiasts themselves to people who like to sit in the bar to watch (and drink), it’s generally agreed that snowboarding is more rewarding for intermediates. Skiers may have the edge in terms of speed, but you get to freestyle with a board. That means jumps, rails, half-pipes… basically all the things that make you look sexy on the slopes.
The winner here has got to be snowboarding. It’s way cooler, and not just because it doesn’t have a history of day-glo one-pieces.
Up and Up
The real snow-lovers who’ve managed to master both skiing and snowboarding will tell you that the two sports have equal (if different) merit at an advanced level.
That might sound like a horrendous cop-out, but there’s a fair chance that if you can grab, jib, flip and fake (and know what all that means) then you’re going to look pretty good, no matter what is attached to your feet.
But there’s one last big thing to take into account, whatever your level. Hint; it’s got something to do with falling over…
Whether it’s a week with your board or a ski holiday that you’re looking forward to, there’s still plenty of scope to hit the slopes on a credit-crunch budget this year… just book cheap accommodation at the chic resorts of Chamonix and Aspen, or head to hostels near the excellent conditions of Whistler in Canada and Zermatt, Interlaken (in Switzerland) and Innsbruck (Austria) in Europe. And for a really budget-friendly break, try Poland’s Zakopane…
JC
What’s your take on the ski vs. snowboard debate? Are you a die-hard ski fan? Or perhaps a dedicated snowboarder?
Tell us about your favorite slopes, and whether you think this destination suits the ski or snowboard experience!
