Val d’Isère, France by Eric

The Village

Frequent skiers would know that when you visit a mountain, almost as important as the snow conditions is the village itself, as it’s where you spend most of your nights, and where you dine. There are a number of classic French restaurants here wherein most have English speaking capacity, and believe me, there are MORE than enough stores devoted to just selling chocolate. If you’re looking for somewhere to dine here, try the Ormelune Restaurant, or perhaps La Schuss Restaurant. Be careful though, ordering a hot chocolate in the village can mean you will literally get a bowl of melted chocolate.

The Mountain

A mountain pass for two weeks will only set you back around $415, and this mountain is huge. It has a wide variety of run difficulties, but typically as you get closer to the top, the runs will get harder and harder. Also, in Europe, ski run difficulty is not measured like you might be used to. It goes from easiest to hardest, as green, blue, red, black, double black, orange, and yellow. Still note that a black run is still as hard as a black run in any other country, orange and yellow runs typically just signal the area is unpatrolled. Another feature of the mountain is the ski classes, and while they are fantastic and most instructors speak English, they can be a bit loose on duty of care when it comes to looking after children (I was left alone by a ski class, and it was not fun). If you want an instructor though, they will really just show you the best parts of the mountain that are hidden away from the other skiers. Discovering these beautiful ski lines is really what skiing in Europe is all about. When your all tuckered out and your feet have gone numb, a mountain restaurant would be the best place to head, and with over five of them, you may as well try them all, but a personal favorite is the ‘La Ferme de l’Arsellaz Restaurant,’ it gives great views and a killer buffet.

Val d’Isère, France by Gimli_36

Accommodation

If you have kids, hands down the best place to stay is ‘Club Med’ on the mountain. Its ski in ski out (which, trust me, is fantastic), they have a bunch of activities for kids and their own ski school. Not to mention the buffet is very filling after a great day skiing. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, try ‘Cretes Blanches Hotel’ in the village. It’s a bit further away from the lifts, and only two stars, but if you’re on a budget it’s the best ‘bang for your buck.’ If there’s a group of you and you’re willing to fork out a little money, you can get a catered chalet. For instance, the Crimson Chalet is right on the mountain edge, with the cable car 50 meters away. You get a private and personal experience with friends or family. If you have the money, go for it. I always envied those who stayed in these tucked away chalets.

Author: Tom Wilson+ is an aspiring blog writer who has travelled to numerous parts of the world and writes by personal experience.

The post Skiing Europe: Val d’isere’s Village, Mountain and Accommodation | France appeared first on Europe Explored.

If you’re thinking on going on holiday to get away from drizzle and wind but don’t know where to go because you don’t know what the best place is to go, it has to be Majorca.

It’s beautiful all year round and many things you’re able to do there, so here is a list of attractions that are in Majorca so you know what to expect from a villa holiday:

The days or nights out are never dull, the Pirates adventure in Magaluf, the most recommended show in the whole on Majorca, and it features acrobatics and dancing that you can watch while eating your lunch or dinner, it is an incredible show for all the family and was spoken like it is a west end show.

For a bit of thrill instead of relaxing, why not go to Aqualandia, It’s only a few minutes from Cala Dor. It’s a great family day out with many attractions, with over 17 different slides and each one is unique, from Adults to Kid’s mini slides also including a massive wave pool and also sunbeds for people who just want to relax. You can easily spend many, many hours there and not realise it.

If none of them take your fancy, why not visit Plama the capitol of Majorca, many scenic options to view from, and easily accessible via train and car, with many of architectural monuments and many visitors coming over just to see them it is a definite must see.

Majorca is full of many more attractions but it is easier to find them, why not go and see for yourself?

View Majorca the worlds bit of sunshine in a larger map

The post Majorca the worlds bit of sunshine | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

It is perhaps mistakenly called water park, because in addition to all kinds of aquatic attractions you can find also the animation programs (such as Latin-American dance, diving lessons, water spinning), or even a gym, bungee jump, climbing wall. There are several thematic attractions – FUNNY LAND for kids, Hemingway port, great acrobatic shows at the 30 m long pirate ship.

In short – it makes no sense to describe all of the largest Italian aquapark in this article. If you want to know more about how to spend time here, we recommend to check out the interactive map at the park official website.

Aqualandia Water Park is open daily from May to September from 10:00 to 18:00.

Admission:
Children up to 100 cm – FREE
Children up to 140 cm – €23
Adults – €27
Adults over 60 years – €23

Admission only for the afternoon (2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
Children up to 140 cm – €19
Adults – €23

All attractions except bungee jumping are included in the price.

View Aqualandia Water Park – the biggest and best aquapark in Italy in a larger map

The post Aqualandia Water Park – the biggest and best aquapark in Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

Powerscourt Waterfall is situated on the River Dargle and is 121 m high. Near the waterfall, there is a learning trail, which guides you through the park with mature redwoods, oaks and beeches. In the trees you can see for example, cuckoos and finches. The area around the waterfall is also a popular place for family picnics. There are even a playgrounds.

You can visit Powerscourt Waterfall in January, February, November and December every day from 10:30 to 16:00. In March, April, September and October, it is open daily from 10:30 to 17:30. In May, June, July and August is open daily from 09:30 to 19:00. Tickets cost €5 for adults and €3.50 for children (under 16). Children under 2 years are admitted free. Students pay €4.50.

View Powerscourt Waterfall – the highest waterfall in Ireland in a larger map

The post Powerscourt Waterfall – the highest waterfall in Ireland appeared first on Europe Explored.

Mullsjö Alpine Ski Center offers visitors a total of 6 ski slopes, 2 blue, 2 red, 1 green and 1 black. The resort also offers a training hill for beginners. There is also available the Big Jump for the lovers of snowboarding. Transportation in Mullsjö Alpine resort provides 5 lifts, including a conveyor belt for a child with total carrying capacity of 3900 persons per hour.

The area has a ski school, ski equipment rental, catering, accommodation near the slopes and parking. The slopes are lit because there is also night skiing available. For classical skiing there are 5 and 10 km long circuit.

High season in Mullsjö Alpine lasts from December to April. At that time, the Centre is open daily, from Monday to Friday 9 to 16 pm and weekends 9 to 17 pm. Night skiing is every Wednesday and Friday from 18 to 21:30.

Prices:
ski pass for adults is 220 SEK per day
ski pass for children under the age of 16 is 180 SEK
ski pass for children under 7 years 90 SEK
Weekly pass for adults is 860 SEK
Weekly pass for children under the age of 16 is 680 SEK
Weekly pass for children under 7 years is 310 SEK

View Mullsjö Alpin – one of the best ski resorts in Sweden in a larger map

The post Mullsjö Alpin – one of the best ski resorts in Sweden appeared first on Europe Explored.

Euro Space Center is devoted to space and astronautics and it is one from the few such theme parks in Europe. Visitors have the opportunity to learn and test many devices and other things associated with flights or their preparations into the space. Euro Space Center offers the opportunity to try what kind of experience real astronauts enjoy, when they are going into space. The most popular attraction is about the spacecraft simulator and to try to walk on the moon. Euro Space Center aims to force young people to learn more about the space and various technologies associated with this industry. Therefore, they regularly organizes four-day camps for children from different countries of the European Union. They test here the various situations that may happen during space flight.

Euro Space Center is open from April to mid November, daily from 10:30 am to 17 pm. Tickets cost 11 EUR for adults and 10 euros for students. Children 6 to 12 years pay 8 EUR. Groups of at least 20 people paid 9.50 euros. There is an audio guide also in French, English, German and Flemish. There is free parking for cars and buses.

View Euro Space Center – one of the major theme parks devoted to space and astronautics in Europe Belgium in a larger map

The post Euro Space Center – one of the major theme parks devoted to space and astronautics in Europe | Belgium appeared first on Europe Explored.

It also includes several restaurants and shops with various souvenirs. Futuroscope theme park is open all year outside of January. Opening hours vary according to the season, however, it is appropriate to look at the official site of the park. Admission is different for adults 35 EUR and for children (5-16) 26 euros.

View Planete Futuroscope – latest audio and visual technology theme park in France in a larger map

The post Planete Futuroscope – latest audio and visual technology theme park in France appeared first on Europe Explored.

If you plan the trip to Slovakia, you should visit at least two of them – Domica – the biggest cave in Slovakia located in Slovak Karst and Dobšinská ice cave in Slovak paradise. If you plan to visit Hight Tatras, it is must to see Belianska cave in Tatranská kotlina.

The admission prices are from €4 – €7 (2010) for adults and half for the children between 6 and 15 years, or hadicapped people. The majority of caves are opened from April 1 to October 31 between 9:30 – 16:00. For further details check https://www.ssj.sk/

The list of Slovak caves that are opened to the public

• Belianska Cave
• Bystrianska Cave
• Demänovská Cave of Liberty
• Demänovská Ice Cave
• Dobšinská Ice Cave
• Domica
• Driny
• Gombasecká Cave
• Harmanecká Cave
• Jasovská Cave
• Ochtinská Aragonite Cave
• Važecká Cave

View Round trip through Slovak caves in a larger map

The post Round trip through Slovak caves appeared first on Europe Explored.

At the far shore of the lake you can also visit a majestic Bled Castle.

Bled lake, Slovenia by Mirci

Lake Bled

Lake Bled is considered a symbol of Slovenia. We can find it at the eastern edge of the Julian Alps. Bled is not just a tourist center, but it’s also a spa center with a promenade. There are lots of opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, renting a boat or visiting the thermal pool at nearby hotel Adriatic.

The town dates back to the Habsburg Era, to the early 19th century. The first spa hotel was built here in 1858 by a Swiss doctor Arnold Rikli in relation to its specialization in “Natural Healing”. This first hotel had certainly an important effect on the further tourism developing in this village. Bled is a climatic spa resort with thousands of visitors annually. The local “procedures” include fresh air walking, sport and hiking.

Bled Castle, Slovenia by Sebastian Bergmann

Bled Castle (Blejski Grad)

The castle is situated right on the 140 m high cliff above the Bled lake. In this Baroque castle you can visit a museum focusing on history and culture of the town and surroundings. Its archaeological part shows the history of the region. The castle is open all year round and the basic admission is €8. Further information about Bled Castle you can find on a very nice website here.

The post Lake Bled – the symbol of Slovenia appeared first on Europe Explored.