The 7 Best Winter Resorts of the Austrian Alps


Did you know that you can ski in 274 countries and states - even including Hawaii and South Africa? The skiing countries of the world certainly do vary a lot, but if you're yearning for world-class winter sports outside cute, classic little chocolate-box villages with friendly family-run hotels and chalet-style architecture like the gingerbread house out of Hansel and Gretel - and perhaps cosy, gemütlich mountain eateries serving heart-warming comfort food - the Austrian Alps are your destination.

You’ll also find that some of the most extensive glacier skiing is in Austria, with the six highly developed resorts and ski areas of Sölden, Stubai, Kitzsteinhorn, Pitztal, Hochgurgl, and Hintertux, where you can ski for all or at least most months of the year.

The downside? Many Austrian resorts are fairly low in altitude. Therefore, to be sure of decent snow in the majority of destinations it’s safest to go in the middle of the season (which generally runs from late November through mid to late April).

And now, without further ado, here’s a stupendous septet of my favourites... read post

The U.S. Federal Government Shutdown Is Making Americans Cancel Trips


The longest Federal government shutdown in U.S. history is having a substantial impact on leisure travel and will likely continue to do so. It's not just that airport security lines and have become incredibly long, and air traffic controllers confirm flight safety is being undermined, but also increasing numbers of Americans are foregoing leisure travel; 16 percent of travelers have already cancelled a vacation due to concerns about the shutdown.  read post