The capital of Jordan, Amman is a fascinating and vibrant city located between the desert and the Jordan Valley, with almost half of Jordan’s population in the Amman area it is defiantly thriving. There is a sense of old meets new here with many ultra modern buildings in the centre of this city next to more traditional shops and markets. With the area steeped in history there is defiantly plenty to take in and do.

Amman’s history dates back nine millennia, Citadel hill contains tombs from the early Bronze Age and the area has one of the largest Neolithic settlements. In the early 1900’s Amman became a busy trade rout thanks to the rail network which passed through bringing the cities mixed population to 3000 people, helping the city become what it is today with a fair mixture of different cultures. Amman in now a modern and lively city with well over 2 million people living here with lots of modern amenities like high class hotels, gourmet restaurants, nightclubs and shopping centers. But don’t worry you can still sample some of the rustic charm of Amman with traditional establishments like the Arabic-style communal bathhouse dating back to the Roman era. Amman has also seen Hollywood stars visit it, most recently Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with their twins who were in the Middle East to visit Iraqi refugees in Syria.

It is also easy to get to, with flights to Amman Airport offered by a large number of international airlines, the airport also is only 32km south of the city and there is a regular bus service to Amman’s Abdali bus station however taxi is normally the easiest way to travel and should only take about half an hour.

Citadel Amman

Picture Courtesy of kyle simourd

Designer collaborations seem to be never ending and in the past few years many have got into the hotelier business, designing every aspect of a hotel, the latest to open in the UK is Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh, which features a lot of the fashion house’s signature style of bright patterns and clashing colours throughout. The first designer to take their brand into the hotel business was Donatella Versace with the Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast, Australia. Every aspect of the hotel screams Versace style from antique crystal chandeliers in the gold and cream superior rooms to the detailed crystal glasses in the bar.

For young trendy fashion travelers, the Pelican Hotel by Diesel in Miami comes with individual designed rooms of varying style from room 210, named Halfway to Hollywood which features over the top decadent style seen in Hollywood to room 306, Born in the Stars and Stripes which showcases the epitome of America. If kitsch isn’t your style then why not take a look at the Bulgari Hotel in Milan which is much more understated but still very luxurious and offers a wide range of services from personal shopper and image consulting to luxury car rental.

If you enjoy the luxury of designer clothes then you will adore the designer hotels like thanks to the stylish finishing touches as seen in  the G Hotel that shows of the stylings of Philip Tracey and his wonderful use of shapes and lines that you are used to seeing in collections. Or the French fancy style in Hotel du Petit Moulin by Christian Lacroix in Paris, with a lot of things you would have seen on the catwalk.

Palazzo Versace

Picture Courtesy of steganography

There is nothing better than enjoying some winter sunshine when the weather is grey and murky outside, the Caribbean is an ideal getaway to lose your winter blues with such amazing islands like St Lucia which over the winter period you will find an average temperature of 30C with 8.5 hours of sunshine a day, or St Kitts with its long stretches of golden beaches. The best way to experience these amazing islands in the Caribbean is on a cruise and they don’t have to be hard on the pocket as there are some great cruise deals available. You can visit a different island every day and enjoy plenty of activities from jeep safaris through tropical rainforest in St Lucia, horse riding in Jamaica or swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman. Shop at local markets, enjoy the local rum punch or relax in botanical gardens.

Travel around the Caribbean on a cruise ship where you can relax in comfort and enjoy superb gourmet food in the evening and wake up at a new exciting location the next morning where you can do things you have never done before like snorkelling and scuba-diving or relax on some of the best beaches in the world. Also take in some historical and cultural attractions in Bermuda, like the ports of St George and Hamilton.

Then you can travel back to the UK feeling a lot more refreshed and rejuvenated after some much needed rest in glorious sunshine

stlucia

Picture courtesy of Trent Foley

Popularity of having a cruise ship wedding has grown over the past 5 years, not surprisingly as a luxury cruise ship can be a fun and exciting location for a wedding, you can combine a ceremony and reception with your honeymoon and still have all your family and friends around you to share in the experience.

Weddings take place while the ship is in port at various destinations like the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Far East or Baltic. You can choose to have it either onboard the ship, or have the ceremony on land at a picturesque beach in Hawaii or the Mexican Rivera or for something completely different, on a glacier in Alaska. Then you can have the reception onboard with all your non sailing family and friends before sailing off into the distance on your honeymoon.

For a wedding like you see in old movies you can get married at sea on the decadent Grand Princess, it has its own very romantic wedding chapel and the captain has authority to marry you at sea. Most major cruise lines offer wedding packages and great cruise deals, however with the exception of the Grand Princess you will need to bring your own official to perform the ceremony.

Like most weddings its best to have a look around so you can get the most out of your budget.

During the winter months the rich and famous descend upon some of the best slopes for their annual skiing holiday, below are some of the top 3 European destinations to spot a celeb.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

In the Veneto region of Italy set among the Dolomite Mountains Cortina is Italy’s ski resort for the elite, famous for hosting the Winter Olympics in 1956, remnants of this still exist in the form of the Stadio del Ghiaccio (Ice Stadium), built for the Olympics which is now a public skating rink. Although skiing is now not the main focal point it does have some good runs especially for beginners with good lift access. If skiing is not your forte there are numerous high end designer shops such as Gucci, Prada, and Armani, hence the attraction for the rich and famous, like George Clooney.

Klosters, Switzerland

The renowned mountain resort of Klosters offers a unique combination of a romantic village-like atmosphere and the contrast of the metropolis of Davos which makes it a must for frequent visitors such as the British royalty, including Wills and Harry, their girlfriends and their father. In the tranquil setting of dark-wood chalets Klosters is also a family friendly resort with top notch ski trails, the Davos-Klosters region covers the famous Parsenn ski slopes and has over 300km of trails. For non skiers there are also plenty of activities including winter walking paths, horse-drawn sled rides and toboggan runs and there are also plenty of après-ski activities and nightlife venues in Klosters, and in nearby Davos.

Val d’Isère, France

Originally a small alpine farming village, Val d’Isere has kept many of its rustic features as well as become a modern alpine ski resort, with the quaint ‘Old Town’ that is steeped in tradition looking picturesque when lined in snow. A favorite for the privileged British and French, offering over 300km of marked pisted runs and unlimited off piste skiing making it ideal for skiers and boarders alike. There is also a wide range of restaurants and cafes serving local cuisine, and plenty of places to go out at night. Val d’Isere is also best known for its sports playground with a wide range of activities in both winter and summer.

Klosters

Picture Courtesy of andreaspopp

With only 45 days left till Christmas why not look further afield for your presents this year. There are lots of great shopping experiences around the world but nowhere beats New York.

Why not book a Christmas shopping break to New York with flights offered from all around the UK. It won’t be long before you are shopping in world famous department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Macys, where you are sure to find a gift or two. And if you have children to shop for or you are just a big kid yourself, a visit to FAO Schwarz is a must, with one of the biggest selection of stuffed animals, dolls, and train sets. If you are struggling for a present for that someone special why not visit Tiffany & Co on Fifth Avenue where they will wrap up your present in that little blue box.

Once all the presents are bought, depending on when you go there are plenty of things to see and do. On the 24th November you will be able to catch the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade which sees a wide array of floats, music and street performances not to mention the main attraction the huge familiar character balloons that hover above the city and of course a special appearance from Father Christmas himself.

On the 2nd December the lights will be switched on, on the Christmas tree in Rockefeller centre where you can feel all Christmassy as you skate around on the purpose built ice rink and marvel at the beautiful Art Deco architecture.

Also a must is squeezing in a Broadway show such as Mama Mia, Chicago and Wicked, to finish of your New York experience!

Rockerfeller Centre at Christmas

Photograph courtesy of Allison Harger

Chalet skiing holidays have grown over the years and now are as big as or probably bigger than the traditional hotel skiing holiday and there is good reason for it. A quality catered chalet skiing holiday in either Europe or North America can be seen as a home from home experience. You will find a genuine warm welcome from your hosts in all chalets.  Your skiing holiday specialist can arrange to take care of everything on a chalet ski holiday and you can be assured that you will find a friendly and comfortable environment taking care and attention to detail but still understanding that your relaxation and privacy are essential to a stress free holiday.

However, when embarking on the search for that winter skiing holiday at a catered chalet, why not get a group of like minded people together and ask your skiing holiday specialist to find you a chalet that you can take as a group? Think of the advantages of having all your friends together at a chalet and taking advantage of all that it can offer the fun, the quiz nights and party time all the time!

If you are thinking on these lines do not be afraid to haggle about the price if the leader of the group is prepared to do the negotiations, brochure prices can be used as a guide, you may get nowhere but then you often think this when you are in a Moroccan Souk! Let’s face it it does no harm to try and you never know you could either get a lower price as a group or maybe some discount on lift passes or even free lift passes, you never know! Call your ski holiday specialist and get the ball rolling.

Chalet Bel Alp, Arèches, Savoie, Rhône-Alpes