Skiing holidays are exciting when they are spent at top resorts such as the four described below.

LAVIGNO is an Italian ski resort just south of the Swiss border in the Valtellina alpine valley. Being a duty-free resort with over 200 tax-free shops and more than 100 hotels, it is an excellent choice for those looking for such shopping bargains. It is one of Europe’s highest villages, has good snow conditions, has all levels of runs, and is close to St. Moritz. It is also popular with snowboarders and cross country skiers. You can enjoy snowmobiling and tobogganing as well as ice skating, bowling, etc.

There are approximately 100 restaurants with every type of cuisine, about as many bars, and two nightclubs in Lavigno. That contributes to a busy night life and a party atmosphere at usually cheap prices.

SERRE CHEVALIER in the southern French Alps has four ski areas that are connected by ski runs, buses, a lift system, cable cars, and six gondolas. All levels of skiing ability are available including cross country trails. There are nursery slopes, beginner’s ones with an excellent ski school, intermediate ones, and advanced ones with a long Olympic run and the exhilarating Isolee black run.

Serre Chevalier is the southern Alps’ largest winter sports complex and is one of France’s top snowboarding destinations. In the summer months the outdoor activities include hiking, mountain biking, hang gliding, canoeing, night skiing, and more.

ARABBA is a tiny traditional Italian village but is also one of the most famous resorts on the ski circuit. It is at the top of Val Livinallongo and offers 41% beginner, 45% intermediate, and 14% expert runs among its 50 slopes. It has good protection from the high mountains and a good quality of snow.

Arabba’s restaurants serve mostly Italian and traditional cuisine, and there are some lively bars. There is a snowboarding park, ice skating, swimming, and more.

Further down the valley, archaeological finds revealed inhabitants dating back over 10,000 years.

LA THUILE is actually in the northern Italian Alps but is on the French border and shares a ski area with a neighboring French resort. The combined area has a capacity of over 50,000 skiers per hour. There are all ability levels with beginners having their separate ski area and lifts. Experts have 29 black runs over 16 miles including the Le Defi which pitches at 71%.

Heli-skiing is popular, especially with its being banned in France. Those skiers are taken up to the top of the Rutor glacier and led back down by Alpine guides, ending up 7,200 feet below. There is snowshoe hiking, a short toboggan hill, and other outdoor activities.

La Thuile has old small hamlets but also a large modern complex. The Sports Club has an indoor pool, sauna, solarium, gym, squash courts, and a climbing wall. In about 30 eating places you can find such Italian cuisine as home-made pizza, pasta, and focaccia. There is also a Disco Pub.

If you take the children, you will find a day care, Miniclub, a snow playground, and a carousel lift.

Puerto Pollensa is a beautiful unspoiled port on the Mediterranean Sea. Its clear waters are shallow for safe swimming for children, and there are many water sports available. There are also four small coves that can be explored. Its palm-lined pine walk promenade has a marina, shops, cafes, and restaurants. Locals and visitors love to stroll there especially in the early evenings.

One luxury four star hotel is ILLA D’OR, which overlooks that walk promenade. The hotel has a classical style but also modern amenities such as air conditioning and satellite TV in its 119 elegant rooms. There are two swimming pools including an inside heated one. There is also a Jacuzzi, a sauna, a tennis court, a gymnasium, a Health and Beauty center, spacious terraces, gardens, and much more. Its La Terrasa is open in the summer and is a gourmet restaurant with excellent food and spectacular views. Breakfast is a buffet with a dietary corner, if needed, and you can sit out on the patio at the sea’s edge. Lunch is a la carte, and there is a large selection of dishes at dinner. The lounges offer a variety of entertainment and internet access. Excellent service and the visitors’ comfort is of prime concern in all areas of the hotel, and everything is spotless. You can also expect to find a chocolate on your pillow!

Another luxury place to stay is the five star BARCELO FORMENTOR HOTEL in nearby Formentor. It is in the center of landscaped gardens that grow their own flowers, limes, lemons, and melons. The hotel is only 300 meters from the beach and offers spectacular views of Formentor Bay. Guests can enjoy an outdoor pool, a children’s pool, a gym with fitness equipment, a sauna, a hot tub, beauty and massage treatments, laundry facilities, and much more. There is free parking, a doorman or doorwoman, and a concierge desk which can arrange for boat and other excursions. There is a complimentary abundant breakfast buffet, and you will be greeted by a large fruit basket in your room that lasts for days. This hotel is due to undergo a multi-million Euro makeover even though it is quite livable currently, has an old world charm, and the staff is very polite and cheerful.

Fantastic beaches. Great weather all year round. A whole host of unique visitor attractions. Lanzarote really does have all the right ingredients for a winter sun break. And there’s never been a better time to visit this small Canary Island located just off the coast of Morocco. As flights to Lanzarote are available from just £9.99 return this winter from low cost specialists Ryanair.

Lanzarote has long been a hot favourite with British tourists. As along with the other six Canary Islands this is the closest winter sun destination to the UK, with flights clocking in at a manageable four hours.

As a result Lanzarote welcomed over 1.5 million visitors last year alone – with around 60% of them arriving from airports across the UK. But despite the island’s popularity it still manages to remain largely unspoiled. As high rise buildings were outlawed in the 1970´s whilst strict controls are in place to govern development. Restricting tourism to just three well contained resorts on the south east coastline.

During the winter month’s visitors can expect to enjoy temperatures in the region of 20 Celsius plus – making it plenty warm enough for says by the pool or on the beach. With very little chance of rainfall – as this arid island is located just 100 miles or so from the outer fringes of the Sahara Desert.

Indeed sand from the Sahara was used to create some of the beaches in the main resorts when tourism first took off here in the 1970´s. But there are still plenty of all natural beaches to explore around the island. Such as the huge 8km long sweep of sand at Famara and the attractive coves and bays of Papagayo. Both of which are regarded as amongst the best in the Canaries.

Lanzarote´s main attraction though is the surreal volcanic region. Forged in fire some 250 years ago this area is now one of Spain’s most treasured National Parks and welcomes close to one million visitors a year. Boasting an incredible lunar like landscape of lava fields and spent volcanic peaks.

There’s no shortage of good value accommodation options either. As you’d expected on an island that has been welcoming tourists for over forty years.

The best selection of hotels and villas in Lanzarote are located in the resort of Playa Blanca. Which is located right at the southern tip of the island – making it the best choice for a winter sun break. As even on a small island such as Lanzarote there´s a pronounced microclimate at work.

Tunisia is in the northern part of Africa on the Mediterranean Sea and is the approximate size of the UK. It has 800 miles of beaches as well as vast deserts and modern hotels. It therefore offers an excellent holiday destination which is only three hours of flying time from the UK and takes you to a whole different world.

The beautiful beaches and waters offer a variety of sports such as sailing, fishing, snorkeling, and water skiing. Boat trips include ones where you can watch the dolphins or go on a pirate ship with actors dressed as pirates and doing battle, etc.

Port El Kantaoui has a beautiful 300-yacht marina surrounded by shops, cafes, and restaurants. From here you can take a trip on a glass-bottom boat or sailing vessel and also go scuba diving.

Also interesting to explore are historical sites including ancient cities such as Carthage, ruins including a Roman coliseum, towering minarets, mausoleums, museums, walled towns and fortresses dating back to the 10th century, medieval castles, the holy city of Kairouan with its Great Mosque, and mineral baths dating back to Roman times.

Tunisia is a shopper’s paradise where it is expected that you will barter to obtain products such as exotic carpets (one shop demonstrates carpet making), leather goods, jewelry, pottery, brassware, embroidered kaftans, and more. Many shops and restaurants are located in the harbor area which is also fun for a walking tour.

Local food specialties include such interesting dishes as Brik (pastry with egg, herbs, and tuna), Couscous (steamed semolina grains with chicken or meat, fish, and vegetables), and Makroudh (a honey cake stuffed with dates and soaked in honey).

In a weekly souk (bazaar) there is even the unusual experience of watching camel racing and camel bartering.

You can take a safari into the Sahara Desert to see the area where Star Wars was filmed and visit a Bedouin village and enjoy a feast there.

Many fishing villages that were small and sleepy (some still having fishermen mending nets and silk weavers producing a large part of Tunisia’s wedding cloth) have become tourist playground resort areas with hotels offering many amenities including lush gardens, Moorish architecture, gourmet restaurants, entertainment, and Thaiasotherapy spas with treatments using hot sea water.

Other entertainment can include a trip to the Casino Caralbe, biking, horse riding, golf and tennis courts, or a trip on a local tourist train.

The Alton Towers Theme Park in Staffordshire, England is truly an adventure for “children of all ages”. There are theme rides for the youngest people as well as adults. In 2008 it attracted 3.1 million visitors, which made it the UK’s second most visited theme park.

Alton Towers itself dates back to the 8th century when it was a fortress of many buildings. It was also the Gothic country house of the Earls of Shrewsbury. In the 1970s the building was stripped out and then had concrete floors added so it so it could be opened up to the public. There is an expensive project planned to restore the oldest parts of the house. There are also a number of unusual gardens including a Dutch garden, a Swiss Cottage, a Pagoda Fountain, and more.

In 1980 the theme park was opened, and over the years many sections have been added and some rides moved from place to place. Towers Street is the first area you come to. It has shops and a view of the gardens and the ruins of the Towers. Sometimes at Halloween there is a spooky maze at the ruins.

Planned for 2010 by Merlin Entertainment is the theme of a crypt in a mysterious forest and a special roller coaster.

The newest addition in 2009 was Sharkbait Reef, which has a 20-metre ocean tunnel, and where you can interact with underwater species. Another 2009 addition is Cloud Cuckoo Land for the younger guests and is a fantasy garden full of bright colors, a show in the Theatre, a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ride, and a play area. A new ride there is called the Twirling Toadstool.

Storybook Land has a “Squirrel Nutty Ride” where the children travel in acorn shaped powered cars.

Old MacDonald’s Farmyard contains a small petting zoo, a carousel, a boat ride, Old MacDonald’s Singing Barn, and a few rides.

Adventure Land is for visitors between ages 5 and 11 with its main ride being a spinning roller coaster.

Mutiny Bay is pirate themed with actors roaming the area dressed as pirates. Battle Galleons is a water ride where guests travel along a track in boats.

X-Sector has the world’s first extra-wide roller coaster with a steep vertical drop after hanging over the edge for three seconds. There is also the world’s first inverted roller coaster and the world’s first roller coaster where the riders’ feet are suspended freely.

Book Alton Towers Tickets here