Polly Hayes

Vilamoura: The Algarve Resort with Va Va Voom

15 February, 2018

You’ll probably recognise the beautiful marina at Vilamoura from pictures in celebrity magazines, in which sports stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo stroll down the waterfront in the sunshine. Renowned as the playground of the rich and famous, Portugal’s leading costal resort oozes glitz and glamour and, unsurprisingly, boasts a raft of high-end entertainment and facilities to amuse its well-heeled clientele. Although it’s probably most famous for its world-class golf courses, there are plenty of other activities on offer

Flaine: The Bravely Brutalist Ski Resort

12 February, 2018

The French ski resort of Flaine has had a complex, varied lifespan since it was first constructed in the 1960s. Flaine has always courted controversy. Architects and intellectuals in France praised its design as a cutting edge Modernist development, while at the same time local residents and farmers protested against it as a monstrosity. Finally completed in the 1980s the Brutalist architecture of concrete blocks fell out of favour in the 1990s, gaining the resort the unfortunate nickname “Phlegm”, and

An Accessible Guide to Los Cristianos

11 February, 2018

A holiday to Tenerife’s seaside resort of Los Cristianos is never going to be a hard sell to the kids as a destination for a family holiday: guaranteed sunshine, great beaches lined by cafés selling fresh ice creams and cold drinks, and hotels with multiple swimming pools. But did you know that Los Cristianos is also one of Spain’s most accessible resorts? Creating non-barrier spaces for wheelchair users has been a priority for local government here, with the result that

Get Surfing in Playa de las Américas

19 January, 2018

It can seem a long, hard slog through the cold, grey days of winter into spring, so breaking the season up with a sunshine getaway can be a much-needed tonic for the entire family. If you’re looking for somewhere in the sun but want more than just lying on a beach, then a surfing holiday to Tenerife’s Playa de las Américas could be just what you’re looking for. The great thing about surfing on the south coast of Tenerife, particularly

Courageous, Crazy, Chilly: Exhilarating Family Fun in Megève

17 January, 2018

Of course you come to Megève for the great skiing, for the charming medieval Alpine charm and the excellent shops and restaurants, but it’s the extra activities that will really get your pulse racing. Megève holds a Family Plus Mountain award which, in France, means that it has gone above and beyond to ensure that there are an extensive range of activities and facilities to keep the entire family entertained. What this means to you is that after a day on the slopes skiing or snowboarding, there will be plenty of other high-octane excitement on offer for you and your

Skiing without Barriers: Val d’Isère for Disabled Skiers

13 January, 2018

Gone are the days when winter sports resorts could get away with providing little or no facilities for those with disabilities. Today, thankfully, the modern resorts are working hard to improve their accessibility credentials. Thanks to the spotlight that’s been placed on winter sports at the Winter Paralympic Games, neither the resorts nor potential practitioners see the world of winter sports as exclusively for the able-bodied anymore. The resort of Val d’Isère is one of the winter sports resorts in France that leads the way in this field, working hard to ensure that its lifts, ski schools and accommodation welcome

A Self-Guided Tour of Heraklion

12 January, 2018

The island of Crete has a long and turbulent history of occupation, conflict and resistance. It is a history that is written across its cities and reflected in their architecture, and nowhere is this more evident than in the beautiful coastal capital of Heraklion. As the birthplace of the ancient Minoan civilisation, Crete was first occupied by the Romans and the Byzantines, then by the Arabs, the Venetians and finally the Ottomans. It was not until 1913 that it was declared an autonomous state and united with Greece. Of course, each occupation left its mark on the island and particularly

Luxury Dining in Morzine: A Restaurant Guide

10 January, 2018

The French town of Morzine is far more than ‘just’ a ski resort, it is a year-round holiday destination popular with the French and English alike. It is no surprise, therefore, that as well as the cafés selling hot chocolate and vin chaud to winter sports enthusiasts, there are also a range of excellent eateries to satisfy this year-round cosmopolitan crowd. Of course, that’s not to underplay its role as a ski resort, Morzine is, after all, the capital of France’s famous Portes du Soleil ski area, linking it to the resort of Avoriaz and others stretching across the Swiss

Hersonissos

Start Planning Your Summer Sizzler on Star Beach in Hersonissos

16 December, 2017

As the days get shorter, the temperature begins to drop down to single figures and January exams loom, why not give yourself something to look forward to by booking your summer getaway now? There’s nothing like a light at the end of the dark tunnel of the winter months to get us through those grey skies and biting cold. Believe me, the party resort of Hersonissos on the Greek island of Crete will shine quite a light.

Ski

Go the Distance: Cross Country Skiing in Seefeld in Tirol

15 December, 2017

If you and your family are looking for a slightly different winter sports challenge this year, but can’t bear to give up the fresh air and stunning Alpine views of previous ski holidays, then you should seriously consider cross country skiing. Nordic skiing (as opposed to the Alpine variety which is basically about pointing your skis downhill and going as fast as you can) is a wonderful way to explore the beautiful mountain landscapes at a slower pace.

’Sno Laughing Matter: the Cortina Snow Run

14 December, 2017

If you adore the stunning Alpine setting of Europe’s ski resorts but want a new challenge that doesn’t involve skis, then why not try the Cortina Snow Run. This 17km night time run – held on 25 February next year – will take you through the stunning Dolomites scenery, running on prepared pistes, on a course which organisers believe should take no more than five hours.

Flaine

Roll Up! Roll Up! Flaine’s Exciting Winter Entertainment

8 December, 2017

The ski resort of Flaine, part of the Grand Massif ski area in France’s famous Haute-Savoie region, is the perfect place for a family ski holiday, not least because it really knows how to entertain young visitors. Created as a purpose-built resort in the 1960s, Flaine has become hugely popular with families, thanks to its compact, car-free centre and excellent skiing opportunities for all ages. Whether you and your children are beginners or old hands who want to try out some of the 265km of runs in the Grand Massif ski area, there is something for all ability levels here.

Soelden

Off the Beaten Piste in Sölden

7 December, 2017

Made famous as the location of the snow sequence in the James Bond movie Spectre, Sölden, in Austria’s Ötz valley in Tirol, is a great place for a winter sports getaway. But don’t limit yourself to the excellent intermediate runs or to the two snow-guaranteed glaciers, because there’s much more going on in this popular resort than just skiing. (And I’m not even talking about the very lively après ski scene in this bustling resort.) There are so many winter activities on offer that, whether you are travelling alone or with a group, you will always find something rewarding and

Search

Categories

shuttledirect.com

legal information

social media

business services

© 2003 – . Shuttledirect operated by Viajes Alameda CV-Mm037A