3 Alternative Winter Vacations To Try Out This Year
Summer is officially over, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop going away on vacation. There is a wide range of options to choose from in Europe and other parts of the world where you won’t necessarily feel the chill.
- Winter on Tenerife in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands belong to Spain, but they are located in the Atlantic Ocean, just off West Africa. The islands are known for their year-round good weather, particularly Tenerife, which is known as the Island of Eternal Spring. Here you can enjoy a beach break on sand that varies from yellow to black, depending on how near they are to Mount Teide, the island’s dormant volcano.
Popular seaside resorts include Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos, with their lively entertainment, great restaurants and bars. Tenerife is perfect for family winter vacations as the kids will have loads of fun at Loro Park Zoo, visiting the dolphins, penguins and tigers, or at Siam Park with its adventure water park. The family can also head up Mount Teide in a cable car to enjoy the views from the top.
Even better, for those who may be a little cash-strapped, hotel tariffs tend to go down during the winter months, even though the weather is still great. Also, once you have “done” Tenerife, you can plan your next winter trip to the other Canary Islands of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro.
- Go snowshoeing in the French Alps
Skiing is a popular sport in the French Alps, but if the sport is too strenuous for you, a great alternative is snowshoeing. This sport allows you to wander around and explore at a much gentler rate. A snowshoeing adventure in the French Alps offers the chance to wander through the forests and gaze at the snow-laden trees, finding small streams along the way. Visit the quaint villages with their picture postcard houses, all daubed in bright, white snow.
You will often see animal tracks running through the snow and could come across the odd fox or deer as they forage for food under the snow. You will also likely meet up with fellow snowshoeing folk and make friends along the way. Once the day is over, head back to your chalet or hotel for hot chocolate or mulled wine and a roaring log fire.
photo/ Pierre-Arnaud KOPP on Flickr
- Stay in an ice hotel
To take full advantage of the winter months, plan a few days away in a hotel built entirely from ice. Hôtel de Glace sits just outside of Québec City in Canada, and not only are the rooms crafted in ice, the hotel also features one of the longest indoor ice slides in the world. Bora Parc is an indoor water park with loads of fun for the whole family.
On arrival you will be handed a welcoming cocktail in an ice glass – the ultimate way to keep your drink chilled! While staying in the hotel, head to the Nordic area with its sauna and hot tubs under the stars. Also spend some time in the Aroma Spa at the sister property Hôtel Valcartier, where you can enjoy relaxing massages and therapeutic treatments.
As for your room, the walls, ceiling, floor and even the base of your bed is literally made of ice. You are warned to be careful where you put your cup of hot chocolate as you could melt the furnishings!
Have a wonderful winter break this year, whether heading for the sun, snow or ice. This will make things that much easier to get you through until spring appears.
Author: Anne Sewell
