Posh & Plush: The World’s Most Opulent Ski Resorts

Looking for a special winter holiday? These resorts should be on your (champagne) bucket list.

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Skiing has certainly become more affordable – to some it now conjures images of packed minibuses, budget cartons of wine and students in their droves. For a more refined ski experience without a box of wine in sight, these posh ski resorts are a far cry from the student ski trip-style winter getaway.

Aspen, Colorado, USA

For a five-star experience, look no further than Aspen’s Little Nell ski-in, ski-out hotel. Come celebrate Christmas or ring in the New Year here and you’ll be sure to rub shoulders with some of Hollywood’s hottest as they holiday in the resort. It’s not just a hotspot for star-spotting: the skiing is excellent, the mountain town is beyond charming and Little Nell’s wine cellar will please any wine buff as it boasts 50,000 bottles of the rarest wines in the world.

St Moritz, Switzerland

Possibly the most luxurious ski resort on the planet, countless European royals and Hollywood A-Listers are among the regulars on the pistes and in the boutiques of St Mortiz each year. Think horse-drawn carriages, high-end boutiques including Bulgari and Chanel and 10,000 private jet landings in the local airport each year… you’ll get an idea of who a trip to St Moritz might have you rubbing shoulders with.

Although many come to St Moritz merely to be seen, the skiing itself is fabulous too. It’s hosted two Winter Olympics and puts on a World Cup ski event annually too.

Whistler, Canada

For a fairytale-esque luxurious ski experience, look no further than this Canadian resort. Tucked away between two enormous tree-covered mountains interlinked by the world’s highest and longest gondola, Whistler boasts natural beauty and extreme luxury perfectly.

Share the five-star vistas from the Four Seasons with elk, deer and even black bears, and enjoy some heli-skiing and decadent spa treatments at the Scandinave Spa while you’re there.

Lech-Zürs, Austria

With 100 five-star and four-star hotels to choose from, the Lech-Zürs ski region is one of the world’s most exclusive resorts. These charmingly picturesque villages boast opulent chalets and luxurious hotels in addition to their manicured pistes.

Understated luxury is how the Austrians do lavish, and its delightfully rustic streets don’t feel flashy or flaunting at all. Effortless perfection and five-star charm make it easy to see why it was the late Princess Diana’s favourite place to ski, and why the Beckhams make it their ski resort of choice!

Eagle Point Resort, Utah, USA

What could be more decadent than having your own private ski resort? With 600 acres, 5 lifts and 40 pistes, the fluffy snow-covered mountain could be yours for up to 200 friends to ski the day away and dance well into the night until it’s time to get into the outdoor hot tubs. If you tire of the après, Vegas is a mere 20 minutes away by helicopter…

Don’t Leave This till Après

Whether you’re whizzing down slopes or chatting up celebrities, you don’t want to have to worry about insurance once you’re on your opulent ski trip. Make sure you have special winter sports travel insurance that covers your snowy antics on and off the pistes so you can enjoy yourself with total peace of mind.

Travel Ban in UAE: All you need to know

It implies that everyone enjoys the freedom to travel inside and outside the country unless specifically objected by law through a travel ban.

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“The freedom of movement and residence will be granted within limits of laws” quotes from Article 29 of the UAE constitution offers freedom and simultaneously curtail it on the basis of law.

The notion travel ban or deportation is used common parlance in UAE and can be imposed on various grounds such as, as a consequence of a criminal act, violating immigration laws, unpaid debts, under a civil claim. The concerned article, by Criminal Lawyers in Dubai, intends to guide the readers in comprehending the laws pertaining to a travel ban in UAE, the procedure for removing a travel ban in UAE and other similar points.

In legal terms travel ban is a restriction on ongoing freedom of movement or prohibiting a particular individual from entering, re-entering or exiting the country. The travel ban so issued by the government of UAE restrict the individual to cross the border through any means of transport. As mentioned above, travel ban can be caused through a variety of claims and complaints and some of these claims arose due to legal implications or due to immigration. A travel ban is distinctly different from a labour ban or an arrest warrant, and the difference is highlighted as below:

Travel Ban and Labor Ban: a labour ban does not restrict the individual to enter or exit the country. However, it restricts to receive a work permit from MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization) for a limited period pursuant to Federal Law Number 8 of 1980 concerning the Labor Law of UAE and its amendments. In such circumstances, the employee can either visit the country on a different visa and can apply for a job where a work permit from MOHRE is not required such as in free zone companies or public sector. On the other hand, a travel ban is a ban on immigration to enter UAE for all or any reason.
Travel Ban and Arrest Warrant: An arrest warrant is issued for detention of a person by a competent authority who committed a criminal offence under Article 45-46 of the Federal Law Number 3 of 1987 concerning the Penal Code or who fails to oblige with the final judgment of execution court under Federal Law Number 11 of 1992 regarding the Civil Procedure Code.
An arrest warrant under criminal law is issued if the public prosecutor has sufficient evidence of his guilt, whereas, under the Civil Law, the arrest warrant can be issued by a judge of Execution court, should the debtor fails to submit the claim which is more than AED 10,000. Ergo, the objective of an arrest warrant is entirely different from that of the travel ban, as, in an arrest warrant, the accused is kept in custody until the happening of a specific event, whereas, the travel ban does not let the person enter or exit the country permanently until specifically removed.

In the case of a travel ban, the accused will not be allowed to cross the border or enter UAE, however, it does not mean that he will be detained at the airport unless specifically mentioned by the court or competent authority. All the arrest warrants entail travel ban, but all the travel ban does not require an arrest warrant.

UAE Laws on Travel Ban

The legislature of UAE does not involve a particular law designated to issues pertaining to a travel ban and the procedure for its removal.

However, its existence is evident from various federal laws of UAE. Accordingly, Federal Law Number 6 of 1972 regarding the Immigration law and an amendment through Ministerial Decree Number 83 of 2002 which provides a non-exhaustive list of categories under which an expatriate cannot enter or exit the country.

The preceding list is defined under Article 94 of the Decree as follows:

Individuals restricted from entering the country:

The individual against whom a criminal complaint has been filed;
A person who has been deported by the competent authority;
An individual who has been expelled or has a travel ban from GCC countries;
Anyone who is involved in the activity reported by Interpol;
Someone who suffers from a disease which is hazardous for public health.
Individuals who are restricted to leave the country:

Anyone who holds a travel ban imposed by any public prosecutor due to an ongoing investigation;
Someone who is banned by the criminal or civil court;
Ban issued by the Minister for those who default in the payment of debts of UAE government.
Reasons and Removal of Travel Ban

Although UAE does not have a specific legislature for a travel ban, foreign expatriates can still face travel bans on several grounds which is broadly classified under following groups along with a procedure to remove the ban, subject to the discretion of UAE government:

Violation of laws of Immigration
Under the laws of Immigration, an expat a face travel ban on several grounds such as:

If a person is employed without a valid work permit;
Illegally entering into the country;
Overstay on the visa;
Resigning the job without updating the employer or leaving the country without cancelling work permit.
Procedure for removal

The bans are issued automatically by a competent authority and can be extended for a lifetime. This ban can be imposed if requested by one party like the employer, and the competent authority declares the employee as absconding and imposes a permanent travel ban. The accused can submit an application before the immigration authority for removal of the travel ban. However, it is advised to seek legal representation from Criminal Lawyers in Dubai for removal of such ban.

Outstanding debt In case of unpaid debt, the creditor is empowered under Article 329 and 330 of the UAE Civil Procedure Code, through which he can submit a request before the competent court to prohibit the debtor from travelling when there is a strong apprehension that the debtor will abscond from the country without paying the debt which will frustrate the whole proceedings. Therefore, the request for the ban is to recover the outstanding payments.

However, the ban ceases to exist if the debt is repaid. Procedure for Removal The ban is imposed upon the request of the creditor. However, there are certain conditions and perquisites which the creditor must consider prior to submitting a written request for travel ban as outlined in Article 329 of the Civil Code as follows:

The creditor must prove beyond any doubt that the debtor will

How To Find A Best Travel Agency

Travel agency business grows rapidly now it becomes difficult to find a good travel agency. There are many travel agencies who are operating in many different areas but find a good one is still difficult. If you are need of travel agency here I am giving you some tips to consider for a wise decision.

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Travel agency business grows rapidly now it becomes difficult to find a good travel agency. There are many travel agencies who are operating in many different areas but find a good one is still difficult. If you are need of travel agency here I am giving you some tips to consider for a wise decision. The first tip before choosing a travel agency is to check the license of the travel agency. It is important to know that travel agency is registered with your States Laws, rules and regulations. Travel agencies can perform several duties for you like planning holiday packages, booking your airline tickets, hiring hotels and resorts for your accommodation. Always hire a travel agency in which travel agents attitude is positive and lively and ready to help you all the time. You can also find a travel agency from internet, news paper or classified ads. Always go to travel agency and then negotiate with them don’t only talk with them over phone. Many travel agencies provide discounts to their clients to increase their popularity. You can also gain benefit from these discounts. It is also important for you to take rates and specification of services of many travel agencies and then hire a travel agency which is offering good rates.

There are many kinds of travel agency like cruise travel, luxury travel, safari travel or regular travel agency. Always hire agency which is suitable with your travel needs. It is also good to choose a travel agency whose travel agents are certified by ASTA (The American Society of Travel Agents). The ASTA certified members are strictly required to follow codes of ethics. The travel agencies whose travel agents are certified by ASTA are knowledgeable and active in the industry. It is also good to get advice from your friends and family about travel agency they use. You will have to call or visit many travel agencies to find the one travel agency that best suits your requirements. Before hiring a travel agency considers many things like appearance of the office, behavior of travel agent and also the services they are offering. The aim of best travel agency is to provide ultimate services to their clients and establish long term services with a client. As we all know that travel industry grows more spirited, so travel agencies increase the level of quality and type of services they offer.

Mostly travel agencies provides you wide range of services but some travel agencies may specialize in areas like group travel, family travel, adventure travel and travel for the disabled. Many travel agencies are also specializing in providing you religious trips. There are many ways to find travel agencies but it also important to know that you need a holiday package or only you need only booking for tickets. Travel agencies sell travel products and services to their customer. Always choose a travel agency which is old with lots of experience because an experience agency will help you more than any new travel agency.
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Which American Ski Resorts Have the Shortest Airport Transfers

There are so many places to ski around the world, each with their own pros & cons. Here we focus on the american ski resorts and travel times. You may be travelling domestically or internationally, but no matter where you’re coming from, staying near an airport shortens your overall travel time. So it maybe a quick hop from an american city or an international flight from the UK, Australia, New Zealand or South America, but it’s always convenient to have just a short transfer to the ski slopes to get you on the snow more quickly.

Many ski resorts in the USA are near regional airports allowing you to fly close to where you’re staying and skiing.

Aspen & Snowmass ski resorts have the shortest transfer times. You can fly directly into Aspen Pitkin airport right in the mountains from many cities around the US, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston & Chicago. From there it’s a very short 10-15 minutes drive or airport transfer to Aspen town, where Aspen Mountain (Ajax) is located and where the famous town of Aspen with its many shops, bars, restaurants & nightlife hums with activity. Snowmass is also only about 15 mins transfer from Aspen airport. Snowmass is the largest of the 4 Aspen mountains and where most of the ski in, ski out lodging is. Often airport transfers from Aspen Pitkin are included with an accommodation booking, making it super easy to get to your ski lodge quickly & conveniently.

Eagle Vail airport is another example of a regional airport near several ski towns. Beaver Creek si the nearest about 25 mins from Eagle Vail and Vail itself is about 40 mins from there. Beaver Creek is a hidden treasure of a resort and because most day visitors come from Denver, many of them stop at Vail and don’t go on the extra 10-15 mins to get to Beaver Creek. If you fly into Eagle Vail, Beaver Creek is the first ski area you get to and with less people is one to try. Vail ski resort is of course famous for having the largest amount of terrain in Colorado with its incredible back bowls, especially fabulous on a powder day, plus its front side groomed runs for more intermediate skiers & snowboarders.

Now Jackson Hole airport is close to its namesake ski resort of Jackson Hole, just 30 mins away by car or shuttle airport transfer. Jackson Hole ski resort is located in Teton Village and is well-known for its expert runs including “Corbet’s Couloir”. However lesser known is the number of blue, intermediate runs it possesses and every lift (except the tram) has access to at least one blue run, to give you some peace-of-mind. Guests who fly into Jackson Hole airport can also access the nearby ski areas of Snow King and Grand Targhee.

Salt Lake City is an international airport with daily flights from Paris & Amsterdam as well as many US cities including Los Angeles & San Francisco, particularly helpful for our Australian clients. From Salt Lake it’s a super quick 35 mins transfer to Park City ski resort, now the largest in the USA. Since Park City & Canyons ski areas were connected by the Quicksilver gondola, this ski area now just called Park City Mountain is huge and offers endless skiing & snowboarding opportunities even for people who are staying for two weeks or more.

Also nearby is Deer Valley Resort, just 45 mins from Salt Lake City airport. This ski only resort is named the number one ski resort in North America by ski magazine year after year and has a plethora of luxury ski in, ski out lodging. The short transfer makes Park City & Deer Valley ski resorts convenient choices, especially with the Town of Park City less than 5 mins away for your to enjoy with its historic Main Street, shops, bars & restaurants.

Salt Lake City also allows access to other Utah ski resorts including Brighton, Alta, Snowbird & more.

Denver International airport is home to at least 2 direct flights from London, wonderful for UK skiers who want to experience the delights of the powder skiing in America. British Airways & Norweigan Air both currently offer direct flights during ski season, with United flights being added towards the end of March / April for Easter. With this direct flight, it’s then easy to hop straight on a shuttle up to one of the Colorado resorts. Breckenridge & Winter Park are approximately 2 hours drive away or sometimes less, depending on snow conditions. Alternatively Vail & Beaver Creek are just over an hour away. Aspen & Steamboat can also be accessed from Denver, but a bit further around 4 hours transfer, so the regional airports can be more convenient.

These are some of the main ski resorts in America close to an airport with short tra

Which Is the Best Ski Resort in Colorado, USA?

Breckenridge Ski Resort

· Breckenridge is a picturesque Victorian mountain town

· Main Street is lined with boutique shops, independent coffee shops, bars & restaurants

· Breckenridge is well-known for its nightlife and offers a range of restaurants from affordable to fine dining of every genre.

· Everything is close together in Breckenridge and you can walk nearly everywhere or take the free shuttle if it’s chilly or uphill!

· The slopes, lifts and ski school at Peak 9 come right down into town just by Main Street.

· The gondola runs from the centre of town up to Peak and 7 and onto Peak 8

· Peak 7 has mostly blue runs, perfect for intermediates

· Peak 8 has a newly built base area & is home to a variety of green, blue and black runs

· Peak 9 has some good beginner runs, plus other terrain

· Peak 10 has some fantastic tree & mogul skiing

· The Imperial Super chair is the highest chairlift in North America and accesses some fantastic black diamond and double black runs

· Peak 6 is being opened this year with new runs & 2 new lifts

Vail Ski Resort

· Designed in an alpine style Vail has 2 main pedestrian base villages “Vail Village” & “Lionshead Village” with gondolas rising up from each.

· The pedestrian villages have a large variety of shops (including the obligatory fur coats), restaurants & bars to stroll around, plus ice rink & fountains, although Vail village is livelier at night.

· Golden Peak base area is 5-7 minute’s walk from Vail Village and is home to the main children’s ski school (there is ski school in Lionshead too).

· There is also some accommodation in East Vail, a less expensive residential area about 15 mins bus ride from the slopes. West Vail also has some larger homes.

· Vail is the largest single resort in the USA and is famous for its 7 legendary back bowls with fantastic powder after a snowstorm. There is so much terrain though in Vail it takes a while to cover it all and mid-Vail is an area which shouldn’t be overlooked.

Aspen / Snowmass Ski Resort

· Aspen / Snowmass is known as the “power of 4” and consists of the 4 mountains of Aspen, Snowmass, Buttermilk & Aspen Highlands, all interconnected by bus.

· All 4 resorts are on the same lift pass and Aspen being Aspen you can even arrange for your skis to be transferred to a different mountain for the next day’s skiing so they’re ready & waiting for you.

· Aspen town itself is well-known for its sophisticated, lively & varied nightlife

· Aspen has a plethora of restaurants, bars, designer shops, art galleries to choose from, plus has an ice skating rink & even a rugby field right in the middle.

· The rich & famous often frequent Aspen, so people watching is a sport in itself here

· Aspen mountain has a gondola from the middle of town and consists of blue runs and above but is not really for beginners.

· Snowmass has the most skiing of the 4 areas, but is a little quieter especially at night.

· Snowmass is great for families with its new ski school & childcare centre “The Treehouse” & has tons of ski in, ski out accommodation, making getting to the skiing very convenient.

· Snowmass is a huge ski area, covering every type of terrain. It even has a people mover lift which the locals call the “skittles” to take you from the base area to the mall area part way up the mountain

· Buttermilk is the beginner mountain and home to the X-games, Aspen Highland has advanced & expert including hike to terrain.

Beaver Creek Ski Resort

· “Not exactly roughing it” is their slogan and that pretty much says it all

· Guests skiing in Beaver Creek are spoilt by the escalators taking you up to the slopes so you don’t have to walk up the steps, the chaps unloading your skis from the ski bus and the complimentary freshly baked cookies at 3pm each afternoon.

· On the same lift pass as Vail Beaver Creek is only about 20 minutes away

· Beaver Creek has a quiet sophistication and is slightly more reserved than the flashier Vail. It is home to the rich & famous and ex-presidents and celebrities have their homes here.

· Beaver Creek Village is compact and designed around the ice rink and has a high standard of restaurants, boutique shops, galleries & bars.

· It has some good ski in, ski out accommodation including The Osprey, Beaver Creek, which is the closest hotel to a chairlift in North America.

· Bachelor Gulch is the second base area at Beaver Creek with the Ritz Carlton Hotel and its outdoor pool at the bottom of the slopes & other ski in, ski out accommodation.

· The third area of Beaver Creek ski resort is Arrowhead. The town of Avon 10 minutes outside Beaver Creek has more affordable accommodation and has a gondola which goes up to Beaver Creek Landing, from where skiers can take another lift to access the Beaver Creek ski area.

· Beaver Creek seems to groom its intermediate slopes non-stop, plus is host to the “Birds of Prey” world cup race, which is ski-able but not for the faint-hearted!

Steamboat Springs Ski Resort

· The historic town of Steamboat is about 10 minutes drive from the main ski area.

· The town has a western feel to it with shops selling cowboy boots & hats, amongst the sophisticated restaurants

· The strawberry hot springs are natural mineral springs, just a few minute’s drive from Steamboat and are a must after some strenuous skiing.

· The ski area has 6 peaks of world-class skiing, including some fantastic glade skiing.

· Steamboat coined the name “Champagne powder” and is incredible on a powder day

· The base of the ski area is developing more and more each year and there is now the main area around the gondola and Ski Times Square just a little further along.

· There are some top-notch ski in, ski out places to stay at the base with every amenity you could imagine.

· Steamboat is pretty family friendly & offers free children’s lift passes with an adult pass, a nice touch.

Winter Park Ski Resort

· Winter Park is a down to earth town, more low-key than many of the other ski resorts and thus good value for money.

· They say that the only time you see a fur coat in Winter Park is when it’s on the animals!

· The town is where most of the shops, bars & restaurants are, set along its main street and has quieter nightlife, some late night bars, but no clubs as such.

· The base area is about 10 minutes drive or bus from town and is the closest resort to Denver.

· Winter Park Resort is known as Colorado’s favourite, is where many Coloradans learnt to ski and is still very popular with local residents

· A skiers mountain Winter Park has the most consistent snow year after year, 30 feet or so.

· Winter Park Resort consists of the main base area at Winter Park with its beginner area, intermediate & advanced runs, Mary Jane, famous for its epic moguls, Vasquez Ridge a quieter area, with blue and black runs, Parsenn Bowl, above treeline with intermediate & advanced skiing & the Cirque for expert skiers. If you’re into tree skiing, there is some fantastic natural terrain on Eagle Wind.

For expert advice on these USA ski resorts & your next skiing holiday in Colorado USA visit The ski holiday USA specialists

Helen Gienke