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AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLemeNT DIstRIBUteD IN THE GUARDIAN ON BEHALF OF meDIAPLANet WHO taKE SOLE ResPONSIBILITY FOR Its CONteNT Where to go? What to do? The right balance Choosing the right Action packed or Mix it up and create destination for you relaxing break the perfect holiday No. 1 / Sep ‘11 WINTER BREAKS A SPECIAL GUIDE TO PLAnnING YOUR WINTER HOLIDAY 2011/12 HAVE A MAGICAL GETAWAY Explore the possibilities: From extreme sports to relaxing retreats, your winter break can be anything you wish for See the light Winter sports Experience the Staying active world’s greatest and having fun light show on the slopes IMAGE BY ANDY KEEN/AURORA HUNTERS.COM SWITZERLAND TOURISM PHOTO: SWITZERLAND TOURISM NOW IN KIDS EARLS UNDER 11 COURT GO FREE £5 off the door price. Quote ‘GUARDIAN’ online NOW* WWW.METROSNOW.CO.UK *Offer applies to adult advance bookings only. Subject to booking fee. 11.SKI_201x40_2.indd 1 13/09/2011 10:08 2 · SEPTEMBER 2011 AN INDEPENDENT INSERT BY MEDIAPLANET CHALLENGES Deciding on a winter break can be confusing because of the vast range of destinations and packages now available. But help is at hand, says Heather Carswell of Lonely Planet WE RECOMMEND The Ski and Snowboard Show at Earls Court from 19th - 23rd October Get planning for 2011. Go to the event to meet our snow sports experts Jenny your winter escape Jones and James Woods - featuring on ith the holidays when prices rocket and page 14 blink-and- the resorts are at their busiest. you-miss- it summer Opportunity a distant Away from the slopes, Europe has memo- plenty of other fantastic winter ry, now ’s trips up its sleeve. A pre-Christ- the time to start looking ahead Heather mas city break can be a great op- W Carswell to a winter escape. Europe makes Lonely Planet portunity to get into the festive We make our readers succeed! a great destination for a festive spirit. Cologne, Prague, Bruges and Enjoyable WINTER BREAKS getaway. As the home of some Vienna are just a few of the spots 1ST EDITION, SEPTEMBER 2011 of the world’s top ski resorts, in- Accommodation varies greatly in with Christmas markets which are Managing Director: Willem De Geer cluding the magnificent Alps, price and quality. One of the most en- well worth exploring with a cup of Editorial Manager: Faye Godfrey Business Development manager: Brits are spoilt for choice with a joyable options is renting a cabin for a mulled wine in hand. Hannah Butler range of action-packed holidays week with a group of friends or fami- Alternatively, embrace the cold Responsible for this issue just a short flight from home. ly. Many cabins include breakfast and and head to northern Europe. Nor- Project Manager: Anna Papakyriacou Phone: 020 7665 4405 With so many options, choos- dinner — which is cooked for you in way, Sweden and Finland have E-mail: ing the package to suit you can your cabin — and is included in the some once-in-a-lifetime experienc- [email protected] Distributed with: The Guardian be incredibly confusing. First do price. Being able to ski straight from es that you can only have in winter Print: The Guardian print centre some research into the resorts. your accommodation can bump up such as seeing the Northern Lights, Mediaplanet contact information: Consider if you want a quiet vil- the price but will make life easier. travelling by a husky-drawn sleigh Phone: 0207 665 4400 Fax: 0207 665 4419 lage or a lively town. It also de- Booking early will ensure that and sleeping in an igloo. E-mail: [email protected] pends whether you have a cultur- you get the type of trip you want Just because summer has gone al preference, such as a penchant and is typically cheaper than doesn’t mean that getaways have to With thanks to for Italian food as this may influ- holding out for a last-minute stop — or your options for a holiday ence which country you opt for. deal. Where possible, avoid school have to narrow. PREMIUM ALL-INCLUSIVE HOLIDAYS BOOK EARLY FOR GREAT SAVINGS BOOK BEFORE 2ND NOVEMBER Save up to £250 visit clubmed.co.uk, call 08453 67 67 67 or contact your travel agent. Scan to visit our website 703057_CMUK_Guardian_ad_201x289.indd 1 14/09/2011 12:33 4 · SEPTEMBER 2011 AN INDEPENDENT INSERT BY MEDIAPLANET INSPIRATION Question: What does Finland have to offer as a winter break destination? Answer: The Aurora Borealis for starters — the ultimate sight-seeing adventure that can be a life-changing experience, says Aurora hunter Andy Keen Fuel your imagination cilities you could ever need. There’s al- experience. It’s so captivating; and the col- CHANGE so husky-sledging, snow-mobiling, and ours are different, depending on which gas- Andy Keen says that the Aurora Borea- cross-country skiing. When I saw the es are burning in the air at the time.” lis — the world’s greatest atmospher- place it fired my imagination.” Finland is a fascinating country, says ic light show — changed his life. In his But that was nothing compared to the Andy and he feels that it — and the Au- early twenties, Andy had woken up one first time Andy saw the awesome Auro- rora — helped his condition. “You can to- morning paralysed from the waist down ra Borealis, which is caused by highly tally relax and re-charge your batteries and was eventually diagnosed with a con- charged electrons interacting with ele- there,” he says. “It helped me re-focus.” dition called Periphal Neuropathy. After ments in the Earth’s atmosphere. “The The Finns are very welcoming and loyal, making a recovery, he is now Chief Execu- first night in Vasatokka I went out onto have family values and English is widely tive and Founder of the Neuropathy Trust the frozen lake and the Aurora appeared spoken. Finnish food is fabulous and var- — and an Aurora Borealis hunter. right overhead. The whole place lit up. ‘The whole ied, too, says Andy – not just the stereo- Three years ago, Andy saw Joanna Lum- I just lay on my back in the snow and place lit typical reindeer and fish. ley’s TV documentary about the Aurora watched it.” Tourists have an 80 per cent Then there are winter activities. Borealis — aka the Northern Lights. He chance of seeing the Aurora, says Andy up. I just “Around Inari there are places where was so impressed that he started his own — but you have to look for it. It won’t lay on my you can snowboard,” says Andy, “but the tour company, Aurora Hunters, based at necessarily come to you. back in the focus is more on cross-country skiing. Vasatokka, in Inari, northern Finland. And lots of people like to go snow-shoe- Captivating snow and ing. Don’t try it when you are Aurora- Facilities No description of the Aurora can possibly watched it’ hunting, though. It’s exhausting!” “It’s basically a nature resort slap bang do it justice. “You have to experience it,” Andy Keen in Aurora country,” says Andy. “There is says Andy. “And when you first see it, you Aurora hunter TONY GREENWAY no light pollution and it has all the fa- turn back into a child again. It’s a spiritual [email protected] Even Ibiza doesn´t have a disco ball five kilometres in diameter. THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ARE SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF. AN INDEPENDENT INSERT BY MEDIAPLANET SEPTEMBER 2011 · 5 INSPIRATION 4 VISIT FINLAND: POPULAR DESTINATIONS Helsinki The Finnish capital is 1 compact (it’s home to just 500,000 people) and easi- 1 ly navigable by foot or tram. Plus it’s by the sea, surround- 3 ed by an archipelago of tiny islands (around 330). In 2012, Helsinki will become the World Design Capital. Turku Currently the European 2 capital of Culture, this is Finland’s oldest city, located on the southwest coast on the shores of the archipelago. Rauma Founded in 1442, this sea- 3 side location features the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Rauma, the largest pre- served medieval wooden town area in the Nordic region. Lapland Rovaniemi is the capital TAKE IN thE BEAUTY 4 of Lapland — and the of- 1. Igloo camping in Finland ficial town of a certain Mr San- 2. Be different. Go husky-sledging 3. Beautiful scenery in the winter ta Claus. Activities include 4. The spectacular view of the snowmobiling, ice fishing and aurora borealis husky sleigh rides. PHOTOS: ANDY KEEN/COPYRIGHT HTTP://AURORA- HUNTERS.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2 4 Reach and focus Do you want to communicate your products or services to a UK or pan European market? Mediaplanet is the world leading independent publisher of focused reports, distributing topical supplements through the leading quality and midmarket press. With more than 1,000 publications published in 2011 across 18 countries and 27 offices worldwide, Mediaplanet has become the most successful media company within its field. For details regarding future publications please contact Business Development Manager: Hannah Butler 020 7665 4414 [email protected] 6 · SEPTEMBER 2011 AN INDEPENDENT INSERT BY MEDIAPLANET INSPIRATION For lovers of the white stuff, there are numerous snowsports championships and festivals across Europe and beyond this winter Festival Fever: What’s on - and where? OCTOBER 2011 FEBRUARY 2012 Ski Championships which have APRIL 2012 Relentless Freeze Festival World Snowboarding Championships moved from Italy to Switzerland Snowbombing 28-29 October, Battersea Power Sta- 10-19 February, Oslo, Norway and is now part of the broader Mo- 9-14 April, Mayrhofen tion, London www.wsc2012.com mentum Ski Festival.

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